Ambrose Bierce, the 19th-century cynic, said, “The brain is an apparatus with which we think we think.”

I agree . . . I think.

The human brain is the most unrivaled mechanism in the world, and certainly the most complex part of the human body. These three little pounds of remarkable matter govern thought, memory, emotion, senses, motor skills, breathing, and every process that regulates our body. It’s an extraordinary gift from God . . . a gift we rarely think about.

According to the National Science Foundation and the Dent Neurological Institute . . .

• Sixty percent of your brain is fat, making it the fattiest organ in the body. However, don’t plan on dieting—these fatty acids are critical for the brain’s performance.

• A speck of your brain tissue the size of a grain of sand contains 100,000 neurons (or nerve cells) and one billion synapses (the connectors that transmit information between the neurons). Altogether, your brain contains as many neurons as there are stars in the Milky Way, and more synapses than there are galaxies in the known universe.

• Your brain’s storage compartment is virtually unlimited. However, if you need more storage, the brain will create it for you.

• Your brain averages about 36,000 thoughts per day—95% are repetitive thoughts from the prior day, and 80% of those thoughts are negative.

• Your brain works fast. It dispenses information to the rest of your body at speeds up to 268 mph.

• Oxygen is critical to your brain. The harder you think, the more oxygen your brain uses. So, breathe!

• 75% of your brain is made of water. Even a 2% dehydration can cause acute changes in memory and focus. So, hydrate!

• Exercise promotes blood flow to your brain, which produces more neurons and increases brain volume, which enhances memory and learning. So, exercise!

• Your brain can generate up to 25 watts of electricity—enough to turn on a light bulb. So, light it up!

• Yawning provides air conditioning to an over-exhausted brain. So, yawn! (But probably not during your sermons.)

We really are “fearfully and wonderfully made!”

It’s for these reasons that your doctor, nurse, shrink, and WebMD keep telling you to take care of your brain—eat properly, get plenty of sleep, exercise, reduce stress, and drink fluids. Do not take your brain for granted.

Interestingly, the word brain never occurs in Scripture. In fact, there was no Hebrew equivalent for the word. But make no mistake; Scripture had the brain in mind! When speaking of the brain, the Old Testament writers used the words thinking, innermost being, or mind as placeholders. The same is true in the New Testament, where the words heart, soul, understanding, or inner mind are often substituted.

Paul was especially fond of the word mind, using it dozens of times, including . . .

. . . to the Corinthians, “Have the mind of Christ.”

. . . to the Ephesians, “Be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind.”

. . . to the Philippians, “With one mind, striving side by side for the faith.”

. . . to the Colossians, “Set your mind on things above.”

. . . to the Romans, “Do not be haughty in mind.”

Even the literal meaning of repent speaks of the brain—to change one’s mind. However, according to Scripture, those who won’t repent, God abandons them to their depraved minds.

Leading a church is heady work. Every week, we discipline our minds to “accurately handle the word of truth,” and to “admonish every man and teach every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ.”

The brain is at the heart of the gospel and requires constant maintenance by our Creator. As the psalmist prayed, “Examine me, O Lord, and try me. Test my mind and my heart.”

So, here’s our homework assignment: “Let God re-mold your mind from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all His demands, and moves towards the goal of true maturity.” (Romans 12:2; J.B. Phillips)

Ron Walters is a former pastor who now serves as a ministry consultant and speaker. He resides in Poulsbo, Washington.