Mind and Emotion

Jenessa writes:

Hi there...I agree that we need balance. I am a bit confused about the way that the Holy Spirit transforms us.  The Bible says, 'be transformed by the renewing of your minds." Is this in isolation of our emotions being transformed and balanced and put into right perspective?

 Janessa,

Thanks so much for your thoughtful question.  I would argue that the renewing of the mind includes the emotions, as emotions are part of the mind.  The Hebraic mindset really saw the mind as referring more to a holistic you rather than the western idea of just reason and logic.  The word does speak to the intellect in my view, but this is not intellect separate from emotion as we often see it in our modern world.  So the renewal is very much connected to the emotions.  Further, as emotions are linked with thinking, as we renew the way we think, the emotions will also naturally be renewed – although it may take some time to sink down deep.  When are emotions are transforming is when we can know that the truth is making its way deep into us.