Transforming the mind part 1

Rom 12

Do not conform to the patterns 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.

Psychologists reckon that a person's mind is set by the time they are 5 years old. And when they reach adulthood, they have already established a pattern of thinking. You can call this a mindset. These are ingrained pathways, which bring the same results over and over again.

When you are born again, God comes into your life. He wants to give you the mind of Christ so you can start thinking the way that he does.

This renewing process starts with a decision. This decision will affect your whole life and will see you either be fruitful or not. Will you allow God to change your mind?

How do we do this? How do we renew our minds?

We focus our minds on the things of God and His word. Spend time with God and listen to him. Don't focus on the negative stuff and the mistakes in your life - as soon as you do that, you will keep drawing more of that toward yourself, because what you focus on, will increase. Instead, move your mind to the next place where you want to be.

God said: Do not let the sun go down on your anger. So here God encourages you to move your thoughts toward a positive end. He knows that if you allow those negative emotions and focus to linger it will have a negative effect on you.

The bible says that the god of this world blinds the eyes of the unbelievers. This is what happens with your mind if you are not renewing it - you are leaving it open for other influences. Hollywood will gladly fill the vacuum with its ideas.

1 Cor 10 - talks about the lessons we can learn about the Israelites journey in the desert. You know the story.

The problem with them was that they grew up in Egypt. They had the mindset of slaves. They depended on their masters for food and clothing and were told what to do. They were protected, but also used and abused at the same time. They did not have an original thought between them!

God may have carried them out of Egypt, but Egypt was still inside of them! What should have been a 2 week journey turned into a 40 year affair. They just went around and around in circles. That is the un-renewed mind. It just goes round in circles. Physically they were following Moses and God was with them, but mentally, in their minds, they were still in Egypt. They went back to their old tracks, to their old comfort zones. They could see what God was doing, but they were not on the same page as Him and ultimately they died, not receiving the promise.

So to you the challenge is this: Get on the same page as God, spend time with Him, renew your mind according to the word of God. This way you will be able to walk away from your stinking thinking and find new and higher paths to follow. You will be able to take possession of the promises of God and live an adventure with Him.

Jer 29:11 say: For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and an expected end.