The Laws of the Mind 561
function actively together with the Holy Spirit if we expect Him to
lead us. We will walk after the spirit if we exercise our inner man to
cooperate with the Holy Spirit and use as well our outer man to
follow the movement or silence in our spirit.
An Open MindBesides experiencing God’s direct revelation, we also frequently
receive truth through the preaching of the Word by other children of
God. Such truth is first received in the intellect before it reaches the
spirit. Since we make contact with the utterances or writings of
others with the mind, there is hardly any possibility of this kind of
truth reaching our life except through the channel of the mind. An
open mind is consequently of paramount importance to spiritual life.
If our brain is full of prejudice towards the truth or towards the
preacher, truth will not enter it nor will it extend to our life. No
wonder some believers derive no help—already have they decided
what they would like to read or hear.
If a Christian is familiar with the process whereby truth is
translated into life he will perceive the significance of a mind being
unimpeded. Truth is understood initially by the mind; next it enters
and stirs the spirit; and lastly, it is manifested in practical living. A
closed mind prevents truth from entering the spirit. A closed
mentality is a prejudiced one; it opposes and criticizes any item
differing from its idea; its notion becomes the standard of truth;
anything contrary cannot be truth. Such a mentality deprives the
opportunity for many of God’s truths to penetrate into the man;
consequently it damages the believer’s spiritual life. Many
experienced saints can testify to the necessity for an unprejudiced
mind in regard to revelation of truth. Oftentimes enough truth has
been communicated to us, but we simply have not comprehended it
because of the lack of an open mind. How many are the years that
God must expend in removing all obstacles before we can accept