Many of us trust our mind more than we trust our heart.
We were taught at a young age to value the mind more than the heart because emotions can be so turbulent! They can easily blaze out of control, like a wildfire in drought season, so isn’t it best to be led by the mind—the logical part of us that is “more reasonable” than the heart?
Not only are emotions volatile, but the Bible says the heart is morally corrupt and more deceitful than anything else! That doesn’t sound good, right?
And so, we grow up thinking the heart cannot be trusted. “It would not be safe for me to open this door and allow my heart to become more prominent in my life. Life is better when I keep my heart quietly tucked away and depend more on my mind. More thinking, less heart.”
The Healed Heart
It is true that the heart can be morally corrupt, but that is not the only thing the Bible says about it. To walk in healing, we need to remember what else the Bible says.
Twice in the book of Ezekiel, the Lord says, “I will remove your heart of stone and give you a new heart.”
The human heart can be healed, and when it is healed, it becomes the entrance point for God’s healing power. Through the heart we encounter His righteousness.
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness. (Rom. 10:10 NKJV)
In ancient Hebrew culture, the heart and mind were considered one faculty, not two. The Hebrews didn’t separate them the way we do in Western culture, nor did they make one more valuable than the other.
The heart was seen as more than the source of emotions; the Hebrews also considered it to be the source of a person’s will, moral conduct, spiritual life, and thought life.
Many of us believe that the mind thinks and the heart feels, but according to Scripture, that isn’t actually what happens. Feelings and thoughts can originate in the heart, and the mind expresses both.
Are we willing to let go of cultural and religious assumptions and accept the good things God is saying about our heart?
Thinking Clearly
Until we accept that our heart is valuable, it will be very hard for us to experience healing.
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. (Prov. 23:7 NKJV)
Reconnecting the heart and mind is essential for healing. Yes, sometimes it’s important to use the mind to reason through wayward emotions and take them captive, but trying to quiet down or suppress the heart makes the mind ineffective, because the heart is a source of thoughts.
Only when we are in touch with our heart can we connect with God and others, be creative, and think clearly. If you are having a hard time thinking clearly, it could be that you have rejected your heart or are not in touch with it.
How to Reconnect the Heart and Mind
How can we learn to trust the Lord with our heart—to let Him lead us “heart first,” the way He often wants to?
How can we begin to reconnect the mind and heart so we can be healed?
Here are some ideas.
1. Learn how to sit on Jesus’ lap like a child.
To reconnect the heart and mind, we first need to be connected heart to heart.
Our heart and the heart of Jesus need to be touching one another, and then we need to live that way. We see a picture of this connection in Mark 10:13–16:
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. (NIV)
We need to live a lifestyle of being held by Jesus. That is one of the best ways we can begin reconnecting the heart and mind.
2. Renounce any vows you made as a child to protect yourself against needing love.
Every vow we made as a child, the judgments we passed on our parents, the lies we started to believe because we got hurt—these things can separate the mind and heart and make the heart less loving.
Take some time to consider these questions:
“Did I make any vows in my childhood about not needing others to love me?”
“Did I vow that I didn’t need anybody to hold me, pay attention to me, or be there for me?”
“Have I shut down my heart? Do I believe it is unsafe for me?”
“Do I believe any lies about how much Jesus values my heart?”
Renounce the inner vows and any lies the Holy Spirit brings to mind, and ask the Lord to forgive you for shutting off your heart.
3. Reverse the lie.
Ask Jesus to reveal His truth to your heart to replace the lie. Speak that truth over and over to yourself until it begins to feel like your reality. His truth = your reality.
Pray about all these things, and come into agreement with Jesus about living from your heart. You will be amazed at the joy that comes from a mind and heart working together!
If this topic intrigues you, check out these other Elijah House resources:
• Living From the Heart Jesus Gave You (book)
• Reconciling Heart to Mind (CD)
• Heart and Mind (MP3)