Renewal of the Mind - Part III

There is one thing I know the Lord has taught me.  It is in regard to the new man, the inner man within us.

We may have all heard the breaking down of our being into 3 parts:  spirit, soul, body.  I Thessalonians 5 refers to this.  "May the God of peace..."

On a day to day basis, we do not consciously go around thinking of ourselves in 3 parts - we operate as one.  However, if we ever stop and become aware of how we are impacted by our thought life, we will be able to discern the difference between the spirit man, the soulish part, and the body.

There is NO doubt that our thought life affects our entire being.  Have anxious thoughts, and the body is affected.   It's automatic too.  The brain does not know the difference between real fear or imagined fear.  It is going to fire up those adrenal glands, or whatever part  of the body is appropriate in addressing the fear.

It is such a blessing to have the Holy Spirit more or less "dissect" us.  Now when I was in biology class in the 10th grade, it was NOT a blessing to me to dissect a frog.  Yuck.  But for the Lord to split me apart and help me understand the greatness of His salvation imparted to my inner man is the greatest blessing to me now and forever.

There is a phrase I've heard many times and it goes like this:  "If I can ever get it through your thick skull...."

God's Word of Truth and Life really does have to penetrate.  It has to get through a pack of lies and formation that took place in our souls before and after we became children of God.

We are going to be affected one way or another by how much our minds are truly renewed.  This is why I truly believe that ALL the teachings we have ever heard are worthy to be "tested," dissected, rehearsed, reviewed.

Why?

Because God has promised that if we are renewed by His Word, we shall be transformed.  So if I am not being transformed from glory to glory, faith to faith, I'm held up somewhere.

Another reason for the blessing of the Holy Spirit dwelling in the inner man.  God's Word was never meant to be interpreted by man without the Holy Spirit.  He is our Guide.  He is the Truth.  And God has already given us information from His Word as to the effect God's Word will have:  Life and Peace, Freedom, Liberty, Fruitfulness, Glory, Faith, Hope, Love.

Growing up I never liked myself.  I did not like how I looked, what I said, what I did - it was never good enough.   Where did I get this?

From the devil.  Somewhere from the time I was old enough to have a conscious understanding that I was now a person, Satan had planted a lie in my soul that I should be ashamed.

But there is another side to this too:  Some may not have experienced negative thinking like that.  Instead they may have thinking that puffed themselves up - and yet both sides of thinking come from the enemy.  There is only One mind to have - and that is those thoughts which come through Christ alone.

Prove it.  "Casting down imaginations, bringing every thought captive..."

God used my thinking though, in my life, to get to searching.  And I really did find and continue to find that there is no information worthy, helpful, life-giving, life changing except God's Word taught to me by the Holy Spirit of God.  Yes, He uses people with the gift of teaching and those who have depth in Him, but today I have different ears.

My ears hear the difference when there is the Life and Liberty of God's Truth and Spirit.

I love to learn ALL about the history of the Lord and the future prophetic events.  It's great.  But I also LOVE to hear over and over again the work of the cross, the work of redemption, the gift of God WHO came to dwell in our hearts, the continued hope of glory we have in Him until we see Him.

We may all have ailments of this decaying body - but we are promised the glorified body that of our Lord's.  But as far as the inner man and our minds (souls), there is no limit to the Lord's renewal, impartation of Truth, treasures He can and will deposit, work out in us, rehearse with us - you name it - it's all as much as we desire!

We get this glorious opportunity to truly know the Christ within and His Word.  All we have to do is be dependent on Him for the whole package!  We are called to "let go" of our own understanding, our own agendas, even our lives as though we can direct them properly.  We are called to believe, to trust, to seek, to know, to be filled with Him.

May we truly, truly make this our life's goal as Paul did:

"That I may Know Him, and the power of His resurrection..."

Sue Gaither