Renewal of the Mind - Are We Ever Through?

A few weeks ago I was finishing up with a series on Renewal of the Mind.  However, I do say that renewal of the mind is something that cannot be talked about enough.  But it's not the talking that changes us - it's the actual reality of our minds being changed.

I have pictured my mind like a house with many rooms.  One thing is true is that there is not a soul on this planet, believer and unbeliever alike that is not stubborn.  God has to break through and break ALL stubbornness.  Also that ALL thoughts formed in the mind which are unbelief, false, and of a lie ARE stubborn.

So when God works on renewal of our minds according to TRUTH, there is truly real breaking down of thoughts that have had a STRONG HOLD on our souls before and after Christ.  It can even be teachings of men that were formed in us that are not truths at all - but just teachings of men.  I've seen this in my lifetime.

And all thoughts comprised present actions of all kinds.  The question is whether our actions come from life and peace or flesh striving.

When we bought a new car, can you not remember being excited about it?  (I've only had two new cars in my life).  I mean everything is new and you even say, "Just smell that new car smell!"

Well guess what?  When Christ came in His Word says, "Behold ALL things are new."  So He does want to create new rooms in ALL of our minds that are according to the Mind of Christ.  He creates that "new mind smell!"  :)  "For the mind of the Spirit is life and peace."

An exercise I have found very helpful these days is simply having a greater intimacy with the Holy Spirit in my heart.  And through Him, ask Him to reveal any thoughts that are still in mind that are not according to the life of Jesus Christ.  He can show us those "toxic, stubborn thoughts" that were created in my soul - that want to stay a part of my soul, but are NOT according to His glorious TRUTH.

And He did and is doing this.  It's amazing - there is/was some residue!  A new excitement has been bubbling up in me in that the Lord's life is real - and so is His mind which is only the mind of TRUTH.  He Himself says, "You shall KNOW the Truth and the Truth shall set you free!"

There is a true and real practicality to God.  It is through intimacy and relationship AND fellowship with Him.  Then we realize on a deeper level that HE did indeed come to save us, and save us to the uttermost.

It's like a 3-way light bulb.  We can either be FULL of Him who is the light, or live on the first watt of simply just being born again.  He came to give us "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."  II Corinthians 4:6

So you say, "Sue, that all sounds good but how and where do I really, really start?"

I say the first thing is to realize we do have to take the time to be with the Lord.  Not in a group setting where we just hear more knowledge and get more information, but actually take the true effort to sit down with the Lord and speak with Him.  And groups are good if it's all about TRUTH and knowing JESUS.  And sometimes we have to be in groups, until we really are formed in the true things of God - but again, it's got to be the right group.

Get out a piece of paper and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything that is keeping me from understanding spiritually ALL that He truly wants us to know.  And better yet - ask Him to REVEAL the things that are FREELY given to us by God in His Son.  And to make them MINE/YOURS - possess them for real in my own heart and soul and in yours.

My daily life is a real clue as to what my thoughts are.  If I am constantly in anxiety - if I never think about the Lord and am worshipping, praising Him, aware of Him, trusting Him - then in reality - something else has a hold in my mind.  He has called us to let HIM have our minds.

There are a lot of distractions in this world - that keep us from the ONE PERSON who has called us to a life in HIM.  He is indeed the ONLY ONE who can change our lives.  We are transformed by the renewing of the mind and we do not do this without HIM.  And God DOES renew our minds by the Spirit and HIS WORD.  The Word of God is life - but HE wrote it!  It's His Word - not mine or anyone else's.  So may we ask HIM to teach us in all things.  And when we listen to others teach, may we listen for TRUTH of Him, relying on Him to let us "hear" Truth and nothing but the Truth, "so help us God!"

He does ALL the real interpreting of His own Word.  Sometimes He has to "tear down" interpretations we picked up along the way that are not in accordance with Truth.  It's that room - again - one of those rooms in the mind has a stubborn thought in there.

So by the Spirit, we do put to death the deeds of the body as Romans 8 tells us.  But remember too, that deeds first came through thoughts of the mind.  Let us then, by the sweet, intimate reliance on God's Spirit be taught by HIM what Truth really is, and we will see all those other thoughts be torn down which only exalt themselves against the true knowledge of our Lord and Savior.

Sue Gaither