“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” — Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
Renewing Your Mind
Your mind is the battleground on which the war for your emotions, purpose, effectiveness and fullness of life is won or lost. It’s your mind that is attacked daily by the enemy. It’s your mind that the world is trying to influence for its own benefit. And it’s your mind that the Lord desires to renew daily in order for you to live in abundant relationship with Him. So if the mind truly is a battleground, how do you come out the winner? How do you come out victorious over Satan and his schemes?
Scripture says clearly that to achieve victory over your mind, it must be continually renewed by the power of God’s Word. Romans 12:2 (ESV) states, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” God puts conforming to the world and being transformed by the renewal of your mind in opposition. There is no grey area. Your mind is either being won for the Kingdom of God or lost to the world. You are either thinking pleasing thoughts to God or not. You are either experiencing the abundant life Jesus made available to you or not.
For a long time, the idea of renewing my mind felt exhausting. Honestly, reading the Bible was incredibly boring for me. But I discovered that the Bible is only as life-giving to me as I am willing to be transformed by it. Until we actually sit down, open our hearts, and allow ourselves to be transformed by God’s Word, we will never experience the life that comes from victory in our minds. The thoughts that plague you — the thoughts that rob you of freedom, peace and joy — will never leave you until you allow your mind to be renewed by God’s Word.
To ignore the war being waged around us is to lose the war. Our enemy longs for us to become complacent against his attacks. He longs for us to believe sinful thoughts, wrongful attitudes and lies are just a part of life on earth. He knows he has no power against the ability of God’s Word to transform us.
So, how do you renew your mind? Philippians 4:8 (ESV) says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Set your thoughts on the things of God. Begin every day by setting your mind on the wonderful character of the living God and your new identity in Christ. If you will allow God’s Word to be the foundation of your thought life by spending your first moments meditating on Scripture, the battle for your mind will be won for the Kingdom. The negative thoughts and insecurities you face daily will flee from you in the glorious light of God’s truth. That’s God’s promise for you today and every day.
Take time today to meditate on Scripture and experience the transformative power of grace over your thoughts.
— Craig Denison, First 15
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