By: Kevin Cauley
Many people view the inner workings of their mind like the Wizard of Oz: “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.” God, however, has created man with unique mental faculties. We have a reasoning mind, conscience, will, and emotions. Each of these aspects of the human psyche operates together to make us a functioning human being, and we need to give attention to them.
Sometimes we hear the voice of reason. We need that voice when we are studying for an exam or trying to get a certification for a job. God also appeals to our reason (Isaiah 1:8) when trying to convince us of our need for repentance and salvation. We must use our reason to study God’s word and evaluate our own lives in relationship to it (2 Timothy 2:15).
At other times our conscience speaks to us. When we have done something wrong, that “little voice” in our head condemns us for what we have done. The conscience is part of God’s design, and it is there to either approve our actions or accuse us of wrong (Romans 2:15). The conscience is a powerful part of our psyche. We must listen to our conscience (Romans 14:23).
Another part of the psyche is the will. When we need to do something—and it must be done—people talk about making themselves do it. That “small voice” may be saying, “Let’s do this! Get going! You’ve got this!” The human will is a powerful force that moves us to action. John 7:17 says that we will to do God’s will. We must use our will to serve the Lord by having self-control (2 Peter 1:6).