Renewal of the Mind Part II

One of the founding principles of Christianity that we touched base on in the last post was from Romans 12:2 which states, “do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” It is the renewing of our minds daily that sets Christians apart. We do not need a new year, because we are given a new life as born-again Christians. To extend this thought a step further, it is worth bridging the gap with what to renew our minds with and what to set our sights on each day. Meditating on scripture and worshipping are great ways to renew our minds. The scriptures that I feel led to share are Ephesians 6: 17-18, Colossians 3:1, and Philippians 4:6-9.

Ephesians 6:17-18 states, “Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken word of God. Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly always intercede with every form of prayer. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers. We see in Ephesians that salvation fully delivers us from evil and it is described through the imagery of a helmet protecting your thoughts from lies. The devil is often the voice inside our heads speaking shame, condemnation, and the like into our ears. So to renew our minds we must put on our helmets to protect our thoughts from lies. What is our helmet? The helmet is our salvation. It is reminding us that Christ loves us so much that he speaks words of life and peace over us. He speaks goodness, and blessings over us. He speaks correction through gentleness. Just as the thorns of his crown piece his head, his selfless act of dying for us pierce our minds and kills the lies of the enemies. Our minds die on the cross, our salvation heals us. To put our new life into practice, one of the ways we can do so is taught in Philippians 4:6-9 which states, “Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable, admirable, beautiful, respectful, pure, holy, merciful, and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always, put into practice the example of all that you have heard from me or seen in my life and the God of Peace will be with you in all things.”

The practical application of this scripture in our lives looks like taking captive every negative thought or evil thought and redirecting it to God. I have found in moments where I step back into my flesh saying things out loud to God and telling him every detail as we are directed helps to keep me on course. For instance, I might say, “God, I am so angry right now. I feel like such a bad person for even saying these things. I feel guilty for having these feelings. I am so mad. I could scream! Yet you Lord, you pluck every bad thought out of my mind. You died on the cross for my salvation. Your stripes set me free. You set me down along a peaceful flowing river and bring me back into your holy presence. I will forever meditate on you Lord. I will not allow the enemy to speak lies over me or attack my peace. Lord, you are authentic and real. Lord, you are beautiful and respectful. You are pure and holy. You are merciful and kind. You will surround me with people who are these things too. You have set me a part for special relationships that will be real and honorable and loving.” After you talk to God you will find your emotions begin to steady and regulate.

It says in Colossians 3:1 that “Christ’s resurrection is your resurrection too. Therefore, we are to yearn for all that is above, for that’s where Christ sits enthroned at the place of all power, honor, and authority.” Lord, together we do not battle against flesh and blood, but of principalities and the darkness that covers this earth. Thank you, Lord, for filling me with your goodness and power so that we might war in worship, prayer, repentance, and communion. Thank you for redirecting my thoughts to things that our lovely and pure. I thank God for walking through this every detail with me. Thank you for taking care of me. Thank you for sharing in the crucifixion so that I might let the things that do not serve the kingdom in me die so that you might live through me in our resurrection. Thank you for choosing me and sacrificing for me. Daily, my mind is made new and pure. Daily, I will pursue you and the renewal of my mind as we look to things eternal. Amen.