ISSUES ISSUES ISSUES ISSUES ISSUES

WHAT ARE THE LAWS OF THE MIND ?

Law = that which governs or has a tendency to rule

There are 8 basic laws of the mind in the Bible and more than 100 additional principles which govern our thinking. As the Supreme Ruler of the universe, God has ordained laws for the government not only of all living beings, but of all the operations of nature. Everything, whether great or small, animate or inanimate, is under fixed laws which cannot be disregarded without consequence.

1. BEHOLDING - It is a law of the human mind that by beholding we become changed. Man will rise no higher than his conceptions of truth, purity, and holiness. {PP 91.2} We become changed into the image of that upon which we dwell. LT631893. HC248. That which we allow ourselves to look upon oftenest, and think of most, transfers itself in a measure to us. {RHM241887 par.3}

2. RESPONSIBILITY - The mind must be kept awake to a sense of responsibility or it will settle back into a state of even more careless inattention than before it was aroused. {4T 398.2}

3. MENTAL ACTIVITY - The human mind will have action. If it is not active in the right direction, it will be active in the wrong. {3T 152.2}

4. ADAPTATION - The mind gradually adapts itself to the subjects upon which it is allowed to dwell. It becomes assimilated to that which it is accustomed to love and reverence. GC 555

5. SUBSTITUTE DESIRE - It is an important law of the mind--one which should not be overlooked--that when a desired object is so firmly denied as to remove all hope, the mind will soon cease to long for it and will be occupied in other pursuits. But as long as there is any hope of gaining the desired object, an effort will be made to obtain it.--ST, F91882.

6. THOUGHTS - The thoughts will be of the same character as the food we provide for the mind. {5T 544.1} If the thoughts are rightly disciplined, it will be a far less difficult task to control the feelings. (STM251882 p.14) If the thoughts are wrong, the feelings will be wrong; (5T3101885) Right thinking lies at the foundation of right action. {RH, JNY231894 par. 6}

7. EXPRESSION - The ideas and convictions of the individual mind will seek for expression. {SpTA06 39.2} The bent of the mind of every individual will show itself. BC,O231889

8. PHYSICAL RELATION - The relation which exists between the body and the mind is very intimate. When one is affected, the other sympathizes. The condition of the mind affects the health of the physical system. {STJNY 271909 par. 9}