Renewing our minds is essential to our maturity!
My mind is where the battle takes place.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 12:
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, Holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
When we have a renewed mind, we think from GOD’S perspective, not man’s perspective. When you think from GOD’S perspective, all of Heaven backs you up. When you don’t, you are on your own.
Also in Romans chapter 8:
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is Life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity (at war) against God; for it is not subject to the Law of God, nor indeed can be.
8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
There is no middle or neutral ground, you are either with HIM or against HIM. Your mind is either being renewed or it’s at war with GOD.
In fact, the mind-set focused on the flesh fights God’s plan and refuses to submit to His direction, because it cannot, it will not follow the Agape Law of GOD. An unrenewed mind is set up to disobey and this will be hazardous to your health! We set ourselves up for disobedience or we set ourselves up for obedience, according to how we think.
Sin violates our design given to us by Our Heavenly Father! When we choose the inferior to the superior, our life is hindered by such decisions.
If I am not willing to be a living sacrifice to My Heavenly Father, how can I expect to reap the benefits of being a joint heir with Christ? How can I expect the Gifts of The Holy Spirit to be fully operational in my walk? How can I expect the fullness of blessings in all areas to manifest on my behalf? Am I satisfied with living my life in the “inferior”?
“Good and acceptable and perfect Will of God” are not three dimensions of GOD, they all describe the exact same thing, the Will of GOD.
A person’s life is transformed by the measure their mind is transformed. This determines our eternal impact as we walk on this earth. A transformed mind transforms a person, a transformed person transforms a city.
The Gospel is not anti-intellectual nor is it mindless… It is superior intellect! After all, Whose mind designed and created all things, the entirety of science, mathematics, languages, etc.? Who is the True Author of creative thought?
When we learn to think the way FATHER does, we open ourselves up to HIS Superior Intellect.
The word “prove” in verse 2, means to examine, discern, authenticate, validate in an extensive and focused manner. If we don’t know the good, acceptable, and perfect Will of GOD, how can we discern the words and actions of others with whom we come in contact? How can we make proper decisions that affect our future?
If I immerse myself in the Word of GOD, my mind is renewed. If I immerse myself in entertainment, my mind is unrenewed. Ultimately, I will reap the consequences of where my mind is focused.
Don’t focus on guilt or shame of past mistakes. Repent and move forward by renewing your mind so that you will walk in a greater awareness of the superior and respond accordingly.
Repentance is your access to the renewed mind! The word repent means to change the way you think. You are deeply moved to sorrow by the consequences of sin, you change your way of thinking.
Paul explains this as he recorded by The Holy Spirit in 2nd Corinthians chapter 7:
9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a Godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
10 For Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
And in Hebrews chapter 6:
1 Now is the time for us to progress beyond the basic message of Christ and advance into perfection. The foundation has already been laid for us to build upon: turning away from our dead works to embrace faith in God,
If my “works” are not alive, I need to do an about-face and repent! My mind needs to be renewed.