It Begins in the Mind

“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others,

I myself should become disqualified.” - 1 Corinthians 9:27

The mind is a wondrous expanse of capability and possibility. In fact, a real phenomenon that can happen is pseudocyesis or phantom pregnancy. This is where an intense desire or fear of pregnancy causes the body to mimic physical symptoms. These symptoms include a swollen belly, missed periods, or even labor pains, without a baby being present. It is all in the mind of the person. This proves that the mind is incredibly powerful and does control us. If you note, it is the intense desire or fear that causes this to happen. That same level of intensity and fear in our minds about other areas can prompt the body to react just as severely. In fact, you can think yourself into a depression or even possibly cause autoimmune diseases to take place.

The mind can work just as powerfully in a positive manner. A scientific study was conducted to test the power of the mind. They took two basketball teams and had them shoot free throws. One group went out and shot 100 free throws with something like 30% accuracy. The second was to sit for 30 minutes in the locker room and visualize making a perfect free throw 100 times. Then that team went out on the court and shot 100 free throws with 75% accuracy. What is the difference? The mental focus and structure of their thoughts. Mentally, they had made the shot 100 times already. That increased the actual level of successful shots. People have lifted cars in emergencies, survived crushing depths, and even overcome pain to reach crucial goals.

Buddha said, "The mind is everything. What you think, you become". Marcus Aurelius stated, "A man's life is what his thoughts make of it." Solomon said in Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Perhaps the best way to put it for this discussion is as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "A man is what he thinks about all day long". This means you access that power all the time. It also means you can control it. Your thoughts and the direction they take will determine where you walk. The key is what you think about all day long.

Paul is saying the same thing when he said, “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection.” He didn’t just control it, he disciplined it.

He trained it, focused it, directed it, and operated in Christ as he saw fit. This meant he made it do what he saw God desired of it. He controlled his thoughts and let that affect his body as needed. What was on his mind all day long? The law of God, “For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.” (Romans 7:22). Therefore, his walk was in accordance with the law of God.

He was completely selfless in this cause. He did it for God and others (Galatians 2:20; Phil 1:21-24). Just as Paul did, we must think about the law of God all day long. Work to create godly mental structures in line with God’s word. Then our body and manner of life will follow. We must do this to reach our heavenly goal and so that others can have that hope as well.

- Steve Johnson