Ephesians 4:23-24 – “…that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” NASB

Romans 12:2 – “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” NASB

Sometimes when I hear teaching about the thought life, I almost feel like I am in a “meta-physics conference” and being taught “mind over matter” and other forms of “mind control.”  I have had experience with that to a degree.  In my military training, I learned to virtually block out pain so I could function for a time regardless of the injury.  After I came to Christ, I stopped practicing that technique because I considered it bordering on the “metaphysical” and did not want to align myself with anything associated with the demonic world.

Yet, it is clear from Scripture that the Bible teaches us to take control of our minds, or our thought lives and we are instructed to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  We are instructed about the importance of renewing the mind, which is largely “thinking the thoughts of God.” 

We are to replace our carnal, worldly, earthly, natural thinking with thoughts that are inspired by the heavenly realm and from the perspective of God’s Omniscience.  It is “transforming” and allows us to “guard” our thoughts, “recognize” the intrusion of things foreign to the things of God, and exercise “discernment” when things look good on the surface but hidden beneath are elements of destruction.

A renewed mind is a mind that is focused on God first and foremost.  It is completely obedient to His desire, will, and purposes.  It enables us to put on the new self in righteousness, and holiness, and walk in His truth.  It enables us to walk not in conformation to the mindset of the world but to march to a different drummer, The Holy Spirit, and walk pleasing to God in all things.  It enables us to see, know, discover, prove, and pursue the will of God and walk in a state of Peace that the world neither understands nor can provide.

Our minds are like computers and the adage “garbage in, garbage out” is completely appropriate.  If we feed our minds garbage, then we will find our lives filled with the debris of this world and cluttered with things that hinder our walk in Christ.  If we fill our minds with the things of God, we find that we are able to stand against and resist the temptations of this life and walk in harmony with His Word, Will, and Way.  We do this through prayer, the study of His Word, listening to the Holy Spirit, and actively standing against things we know and recognize to be foreign to Him, His nature, and character.

I have no interest in “mind over matter” but I am interested in having a “spiritual mind” that honors Christ and walks in obedience to His call and purpose.  May you find that as you feed your spiritual man you find your mind being renewed day by day and your thought life become clearer, your peace becomes stronger, and your understanding of spiritual things becomes greater! 

Blessings as you pursue His purposes for your life.  Have a beautiful Sunday in the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.