I hope you’ve had a chance to read my first lesson in this series, Our Spiritual Makeover: God’s Ultimate Edition, Part 1 Removing the Mask. Today we begin the second stage of our spiritual makeovers: Renewing our Minds
As you look at the pictures above please note that last picture is for my poodle, Zoe. I wanted her to see what could have happened if she had fallen into the wrong hands. When I look at these pictures I can’t help but ask, what were they thinking? Have you ever done something and asked yourself that question? I have. I think that’s because somewhere within us we all understand on some level that thoughts lead to actions.
What we are thinking is important. My take on a statement Gandhi once made is this: “Thoughts lead to actions; actions repeated become habits; habits make up our character, and our character becomes our life, our destiny.” Because of the path our thoughts can lead us down God desires to master our thought-life.
II Corinthians 10:5 admonishes us to “bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” I can accomplish this by asking myself what God’s word says about every choice I face. If God says the choice is bad I should stop calling it good. This helps me to think God’s thoughts. When I think God’s thoughts, His master craftsman (the Holy Spirit residing in me) uses those thoughts to renovate my mind.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” Jer. 29:11.
“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand’ Ps. 139.
“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” Phil 4:8 8.
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer” Ps. 19:14.
Success or failure in our spiritual makeover rests with what we do with our thoughts.
God’s word instructs us in Romans 12:2, “be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of the mind.”
If you’re like me and find it difficult to wrap your mind around the wording of RoI have a helpful paraphrase of Romans 12:2: “Don’t let the world press you into its mold. Be different from who you were by exchanging your thoughts with God’s thoughts.”
The Greek word translate renew means to renovate. When a master designer comes to renovate an old, dirty, worn out home, the first thing he does is tear out the old walls, cabinets, sinks, floors, and counters. He gets rid of all those old things attached to the main structure of that house. He then replaces those discarded accouterments with new, updated ones with a completely different design. He changes the character of that old house so that it’s transformed into a totally new dwelling.
That’s what God, our Master Designer, wants to do in us.
He tells us “tear down” those old thoughts, ideas and philosophies in our minds and replace them with His thoughts so that He can transform our character into the character of His son.
Remember the process: Thoughts – Actions – Habits – Character – Life
I want to share with you 5 steps for us to practice that God can use in our spiritual makeover to help transform our thought-life.
1. Ask God to help you recognize the thoughts you think that are contrary to His word.
2. Search the Bible to find 2 or more scriptures that refute those false thoughts and that will help you replace them with God’s truth
3. Memorize those passages.
4. When the false thoughts resurface, recite God’s truth (out loud if you can) trusting God to help you and repeat this step until the false thoughts yield to God’s truth.
5. When God’s word commands an action – Just do it.
Don’t forget to check back Friday for the last stage in Our Spiritual Makeover: God’s Ultimate Edition, Part 3 Revealing the Makeover.
Thanks!
Great approach to the renewal of the mind. I particularly liked very much the practice part. Thank you Carla. God bless you!