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"Understanding is a wellspring of life . . ." Proverbs 16:22a. As was said of Joseph, it pays to be diligent and honest in the development and use of one's mind.
Sometimes truth is not immediately apparent, but the truth always prevails. Emotions such as anger, fear, and jealousy are damaging to a person's physical, psychological, and spiritual life. Medical doctors S. I. McMillen and David Stern deal with this subject in chapter 18 of the book None of These Diseases. "They remind us that there is a vast network of nerves which reaches out from the brain and touches every organ of the body." Mind upsets can lead to electrical and hormonal and chemistry imbalances. "A mind upset makes the body sick." (S. I. McMillan and David Stern, None of These Diseases (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 2000), 170.)
What an advantage it is to know that decisions based upon emotions cannot be trusted, and that, by the truth of God's Word and His indwelling Spirit, the counterfeit ways of the world can be seen and rejected! God spoke to His people saying, "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 33:11). "For God so loved the world [you and me] that he gave his only begotten Son [to die on the cross in atonement for man's sin], that whosoever believeth in him [accepts Christ] should not perish, but have everlasting life [be born again spiritually and have fellowship with the God of heaven" (John 3:16).
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