Romans 12:2 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.
In Friday’s post we focused on the good, acceptable, and perfect. Today, let’s focus on “renewing” our minds. One of our greatest challenges is to shift our thinking away from our own sphere of experience. We all have a tendency to believe what we see and hear, no matter what the source. We begin by listening to our parents. Later, others in authority impact our thoughts and beliefs. Teachers, officials, politicians, and others who have some foundation of credibility impact our thinking.
In Wednesday’s post, I focused on Truth. All Truth originates from Our Heavenly Father and if we want to immerse ourselves in the Truth, we must meditate on HIS Word day and night. To do this, we must train our mind. This is the act of renewing our mind. If we don’t discipline our minds, we WILL be conformed to this world and all its trappings. Those who are currently in power are counting on this. Advertising agencies are hoping that you don’t renew your mind because they want to sell you another knickknack to gather dust on the shelf or in the closet.
If you will take time to renew your mind, you will begin to flow with the Spirit. Your life will become more effective and you will be drawn into your calling. However, it takes discipline. You must set aside those thoughts of lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life. You must identify anything negative that does not line up with HIS Word and cast those vain imaginations down. First, clear your mind. Remove the noise. Turn off the television, computer, cell phone, radio… Go into the closet if you have to. You must quiet your mind.
Your spirit should control your mind and body. The flesh controls the weak in spirit. As we focus on knowledge without wisdom and understanding, the mind begins to take control. We then begin to overanalyze everything and we become suspicious by nature. Our minds create problems to be solved. We begin to rationalize away anything that would suggest that we are on the wrong path. After all, would our own mind betray us? Absolutely!
Judges 17:5 The man Micah had a shrine, and made an ephod and household idols;fn and he consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. 6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
In the book of Judges, Israel would be delivered and then revert back to their previous traditions. The cycle of judgment would start over and create another need for deliverance. Each time, the time of judgment increased in length.
Our mind is not the source of Truth, Our Heavenly Father is. Our mind will attempt to control us and steer us away from Truth. Men have conjured up all sorts of alternatives to the Truth. They would have us believe that life does not begin until the child comes through the birth canal, as though the child was an inanimate object for nine months. They would have us believe that disease is the absence of a pharmaceutical drug. The mind creates enemies and adversaries, Love reconciles them.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Truth, honesty, justice, purity, lovely, good reports, virtue, and praiseworthy… this should be what we think about, meditate on, and place our focus.
Notice that Truth comes first. If you know the Truth, you can discern the others in the list. Renewing the mind requires us to meditate, think, dwell on HIS Word. If you bombard your senses with other sources, don’t expect to mature as a Son of GOD. Loud music is designed to dull our sense of hearing. 250 cables channels are designed to burn up the time, eliminating any time for meditation. Is entertainment bad? No, just excessive, unbalanced, time-burning attention to anything that would draw you away from becoming sensitive to HIS Spirit would be an issue.
When we renew our minds, we are then prepared to minister life to others. Once our mind is renewed, we become purveyors of the Truth, a standard of light to those residing in darkness. Our life will expose the lawlessness and promote repentance. Our joy will be like a magnet to those in turmoil and they will want to experience that same heartfelt joy in their lives. Wisdom and understanding will come forth out of your mouth. As you renew your mind, you will focus on what is important and relevant to your calling rather than just biding time. As a man I knew once said, “Stop your stinking thinking!” Only those with a renewed mind will truly be able to bring for the Kingdom. Everyone else will be attending the school of “correction”.