Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Renewing of the Mind: Part Three


Chapter Twenty-four: What to focus on in your thoughts

Let's begin by reviewing a very important Scripture.  It's Philippians 4:8 which says,  " Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable (of good repute)—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—let your mind dwell on these things."  These are the kind of thoughts that God would have you replace your negative thoughts with.

The Scripture above listed out certain "types" of thoughts to think about.   Let's look at each of them:

·        Whatever is true.  But not only what is true (and not false) but also is real and is not a lie.  We oftentimes do this to avoid admitting real problems in our own lives.  We want to avoid our own limitations, weaknesses and sins.  

·        Whatever is honorable. Is it worthy of honor or inspire respect?  Is it valuable, dignified, or noble? We are not to have our minds filled with nonsense and foolishness, although there is a time for fun and games.  Our mind is to have a seriousness of purpose and self-respect.  In turn, it inspires respect from others.  Respect has to be earned.

·        Whatever is right.  This means those things that are upright, righteous and conforms to the principles found in the Scriptures.  It means we look at things the right way--from God's perspective.  Is it consistent with the character of God? Would God think this way?

·        Whatever is pure.  This refers to moral purity, nothing that stains, defiles, contaminates or corrupts, particularly in sexual matters.  Impure thoughts, especially of a sexual nature can riddle one with guilt and shame which are not productive to either spiritual growth or peace of mind.  Allowing yourself to dwell on any type of impure thing creates a downward spiral.  

·        Whatever is lovely.  Is it attractive, pleasing, agreeable?  Even sinful things can be attractive and pleasing, so make sure that you're not being drawn in to sin.  Does the thought give you an inner sense of peace and harmony with God.

·        Is it admirable?  Does it cause us to think and speak highly of others? Our old sin nature loves to think of others in a bad light and loves gossip as it makes us feel superior.  This can lead to pride and self-righteousness.  However, the real end result is lack of spiritual growth.

·        Is it excellent?  Does it cause us to dwell on God's glory and the work of His hand?  Does it cause you to want to do your best at whatever you put your hand to?  It causes you to fix your attention on eternal values and not the things of this world.

·        Is it praiseworthy?  Does it meet with God's approval?  Would He want you to dwell upon the thought?  Would it bring Him glory?


You may think that this is a lot to take in and incorporate into your thought life, but the bottom line is that most sins you cannot get control over are a result of your having allowed your mind to dwell on things that God would never have approved of.  God knows it's so important that He commanded us in Romans 12:2, " Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will."  God knows that our inner thoughts and the things we think upon, have a direct impact on our relationship with Him.  God wants us to learn how to discipline our minds, just as we discipline our flesh by fasting.   Remember, you can't flee from what you think in your mind.  You can't just make your mind go blank.  Instead you need to replace the wrong thought with a thought that will edify and lift your soul toward God.  It can be a favorite song, a favorite Scripture verse, spending time alone with God praising Him, or thanking Him for the good things He's done in your life. Hebrews 12:2 says, "...fixing your eyes on Jesus...".   To fix means to focus or concentrate.  The primary way to discipline our mind is to learn to focus our thoughts upon God.  The more you focus on Him, the more you are drawn to Him. We have no excuse for not developing a renewed mind.  Victory can be accomplished if we submit to God, to His Word and His Spirit.

If Scripture tells us to keep our attention on something, we must be able to do it.  God isn't going to tell us to do something if we are unable to!  He has given us the ability to choose what we dwell on.  Other thoughts may come into our minds, but God has given us the ability to cast them aside--or we can just allow them to linger.  This is where we have to make the decision.  If we make the correct decision and replace the unhealthy or sinful thought with those that God would have us think on, then we will be able to protect our thoughts from the thoughts that Satan or our own flesh will attempt to put in our minds. One of Satan's goals is to keep us questioning what we're doing, doubting ourselves and our decisions.  He loves to keep us in a state of confusion.  Sometimes he can try to get you so confused it seems like you don't know which way to turn! 




 

Many believers, who are sincerely trying to follow Christ, struggle with ongoing negative, sinful, critical and defeating thoughts.  Scripture reminds us that without God in his life, man is a totally depraved being, possessing selfish and ultimately self-destructive thought patterns and behavior.  So, if one has Christ in their life, why do they then continue to struggle?  Because of what they allow their minds to think on.  Good thoughts, ones that are in agreement with Scripture minister peace and health to your mind.  However, negative, critical or worrisome thoughts  cause distress, which also affects your mind and also your body. When you feel uncertain or confused, remember, I Corinthians 14:33 tells us, " For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace."

Please be aware that for those people who have really struggled with their flesh and sexual sin and given into temptation to the point where they feel they'll never get free from it, renewing the mind may be very challenging and a lot of work for them.  My writing about it makes it sound simple, but putting it into effect on a daily basis may be a difficult struggle for some.  And if you've tried to and failed, you may feel disillusioned as to whether this will work for you. I would encourage you to not give up and to keep on trying.   Proverbs 24:16 tells us, " for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again."  This Scripture is encouraging God's children to get back up and try again.  The main point here is not that we fall, but that we get right back up and give it another try. 

If you decide to start the practice of renewing the mind, and daily pay attention to your thoughts, you will begin to enjoy spiritual growth and a closeness with God that you haven't experienced before.  You will also put up another roadblock for the enemy.  It will produce mental stability and mental health because you are now filtering every thought and allowing only those thoughts that God would approve of to remain.

Psalm 1: 1-3 says, " Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers." This is telling us that there is a direct connection between thinking on God's word and living a fruitful life.

Years ago, when I began my profession as a mental health counselor, a Scripture that challenged me was Second Timothy 1:7 which says, "For God does not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."  I wondered what the phrase "of a sound mind" referred to.  As I started looking into it, I discovered that the words sound mind are the translation of one Greek word which literally means "saving the mind"...a mind that has been salvaged for its intended purpose. Therefore, one can presume that to live with fear affects our mind, affects the way we think and ultimately affects what God has intended for us.  Remember when I said that fear is one of Satan's main tactics...makes more sense now, doesn't it!  If he can keep us caught up in fear and worry, he knows that we will be unable to be used for our intended purpose.  So we have a choice...to allow God's Spirit to dominate our minds and keep us in a state of  sound mind, or we can allow our carnal, sinful nature dominate our thoughts and reap the results of confusion and chaos.

By now I hope that you understand how critical it is to watch your thoughts and what you focus upon. The Apostle Paul told us that our lives will be transformed by renewing our minds.  What we need to focus upon is the fact that we are children of the most High God.  However, if we don't have a daily intake of God's Word (just as we need to eat daily), we will begin to slowly return to where our carnal thoughts run our lives. Renewal of the mind is a continual, life-long process that requires daily input from God's Word and spending time in His presence. God's Word has the ability to change your life by the renewing and transforming of your mind.  Proper thoughts result in a peaceful heart, which is in turn "life to the body" (Proverbs 14:30).  Psalm 119: 15,16 says, "I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word."  Those who learn to control their minds and their thoughts, will be blessed by God and will not be so easily tormented by the enemy.  

The New Testament makes very clear that the renewed mind never becomes perfectly renewed in this life, but is in a constant process of being more and more transformed.  Our minds will undergo this process for as long as we are in these earthly bodies, as Satan, sin and our flesh will continue to be at war against those things of God.  The good news is that as our minds are daily transformed, we will be empowered to do His will and more able to stand up against those things that try to hold us back. 

Another translation of Romans 12:2  sums it up nicely: "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its mold, but let God remold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves you toward the goal of true maturity."

In the next teaching series, we will look closer at what it takes to grow more spiritually mature.




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