Renew Your Mind Daily

People love to talk about their resolutions at the beginning of the new year. They love to talk about the new diets, goals, and vision boards that they curate. The trips that they want to take are written down, and the dream boards come to life. In religious circles, people talk about the year's prophetic words, what they see in the spirit, and what individuals believe the body of Christ should be expectant of over the coming months. It is often a time for people to cleanse their minds of old things and to look forward to the future.

I believe that the cleansing of the mind is a primary principle of Christianity that often gets overlooked. We must renew our minds daily, not just at the end of a calendar cycle. Romans 12:2 states, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

Furthermore, the new year is not the only time we are called to renew our minds. As Christians, we are set apart because we are called to renew our minds daily. As we enter the new year, it is no different from the day before, the present day, or the future day to those who remain in a state of consistent renewal. I encourage those who have not made the conversion to begin to focus their eyes on the Lord, to renew their mind daily on the word that breathes life, and to refocus their eyes on the things that matter the most. As I reflect on my own life, I find that many of the moments I have slipped up were in the moments my mind was off track. Whenever I did not take the time to renew my mind even the smallest of things tripped me up. In fact, for all of us, many of the mountains that we climb were mountains that the Lord never intended for us to have to climb. The reason we had to climb them, is because we lost our focus on him and we did not follow through on the teaching in Romans. When we renew our minds, we can hear the Lord separate from our fleshly desires. God can direct us in a peaceful whisper rather than the lesson of climbing a mountain. When I think about some of the things that I went through that I know were out of my control I think that the renewal of my mind was imperative to my ability to respond in a way that would be pleasing to the Lord; especially in the trying seasons of physical pain, emotional strain, isolation, weariness, and loneliness. Jesus is the refreshment of our souls. His blood cleanses us and his body nurtures and sustains us.

This year, I believe that there is an opportunity and invitation from Jesus to walk through the door to the next level of faith for many. I believe that this could be a year of elevation, but only for those who follow simple principles such as the renewal of their mind. The warfare will be evident as we approach some of these doors, but when we keep our eyes on the Lord, repent, renew our mind, and worship him in thanksgiving daily- we will walk through the doors that God has for us.

As I meditated on the renewal of the mind and stepping through the door to the other side , I began to see a vision of what these doors to the next level looked like. The doors were lined up next to each other in the sky resting on top of clouds. The doors that I saw looked more like archways. As people walked through the doors, I saw cloaks and shawls lying across their shoulders. The cloaks and shawls that lay across their shoulders represented different anointings and blessings over these individuals' lives. I saw that some walked through the doors, and they were given a cloak of self-control. I saw another walk through the archway, and they were given the cloak of humility. I saw another walk through the door, and they were given the gift of motherhood and the other fatherhood. I saw another walk through the door, and they were given the cloak of reverence and holiness. I believe that these doors are not doors to power, fame, or fortune, but a closer walk with the Lord in holy reverence. These individuals are going to be walking in greater measures of virtue.

This is a season where we will begin to see visible now more than ever the separation of those that wish to walk in virtue with the Lord and faithfully wish to serve him and those who will fall away. It is my prayer that as we renew our minds and focus on the Lord, we receive a deeper profound revelation of kingdom living and understanding of Christian principles. It is in the continual renewing of the mind that one can clearly and accurately seek out the purpose of their life and see the will of God take over. It is when we do so he will be able to truly transform us and the things that we say and do will reflect his light in all aspects of our life. So regardless of whether it is the new year or a new day, as Christians, we can renew our minds daily and rest in that we are a new creation emanating Christ's goodness all the days of our life. Amen.