Renewing Your Mind

Ever since I was a little girl, I can remember my mom telling me over and over again, “Garbage in = garbage out!  Whatever you fill your head with, those things will eventually spill out all over the place.  And if it’s not pretty, you are going to have a very ugly mess to clean up later!”

Her words ring true today. Whatever we fill our minds with always has a way of making an appearance later…whether in our conversations, our attitudes, our thoughts, our insecurities, our doubts, our beliefs, or our convictions.  God created the mind to be a very powerful tool.  But like any tool, it can be misused…and if not used properly, it can cause much damage.

Romans 12:1-2 speaks very directly concerning the mind. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

How do we not be conformed to this world?  By being transformed by the renewing of our mind.

So what does that mean exactly?  The word “renew” here in the Greek Transliteration is anakainosis which means “completing a process to make fresh or new through the power of God.”  Renewing our mind is to take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5b) and change them into something fresh and new through the power of God.  We can’t simply let go of bad habits, put aside thoughts that are of the flesh, get rid of music or television shows that aren’t glorifying to God, reduce our intake of ugly conversations, or stay away from things that bring us down.  All of those things need to be removed.  This is a must in order for God to be glorified in us.  Yet taking something out isn’t enough!  We must replace the old with new God-honoring thoughts.  We must increase the influence of His Word in our lives.  The replacing creates the renewing.  If we leave that space void and empty, something will rise up and demand to fill it.  So, we renew that space, we make that space new by filling it with Jesus.

This might look different to different people.  For some, it will be taking old habits and replacing them with new, positive habits.  Old music that brought glory and attention to the world can be replaced with music that causes you to dwell on the grandeur and majesty of Creator God Himself.  A television show that tears down the kingdom of God could be replaced with an intentional family game night, a new Bible Study, or an extra hour of exercise for the week.  A relationship that tempts you to gossip might need to be replaced with a new friendship that will hold you accountable to the holiness of God and His truth and grace.  Thoughts of anxiety or fear can be replaced with memorized portions of Scripture such as For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7).

The point is this:  If we expel something from our lives through our own power and self-determination, we will eventually falter and turn right back to the very thing we despise.  But, if we fall on our knees and cry out to the Renewer of our minds and thoughts, He will give us His strength to overcome.  His power within us will help us stand in victory!

Today’s Challenge:  Read through Psalm 119.  This chapter of the Bible is a beautiful passage that encourages a true and passionate love for God’s Word.  Ask God to fill you with delight over His Word.  Memorize Psalm 119:30-32.