Renew Your Mind
Have you ever been in a place where your mind is spiraling out of control and there seems to be nothing you can do to stop it? Perhaps you find yourself unable to move because fear has overtaken you and every thought you have is consumed with worry.
Or maybe you are going through a breakup and insecurities are running rampant in your mind. Thoughts like “I’m not good enough” or “What did I do wrong?” or “Does God really have my best interest in mind?”
You may be a senior in college and your future looks really uncertain. You want to trust God’s sovereignty, but you find yourself in a place exploring all the “what-ifs” life has to offer.
At some point or another, I’ve been in all of these places, so I can certainly relate. I’m really excited to share with you the tools I have found from sound Biblical Counseling teaching and by the power of God’s Word about renewing the mind. By His grace and His grace alone, I am learning how to take my thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5), renew my mind in His Word and by His grace, and I am experiencing the fullness that comes from it!
So, with that being said, what does it mean to renew your mind?
According to the THAYER’S GREEK LEXICON, Electronic Database, renew means: “to be spiritually transformed, to take on a new mind”
Since renewing the mind is spiritual, it occurs by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is only by the person and work of Jesus Christ, that man is rescued from judgement for sin and into fellowship with God the Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38, KJV)
When you put your faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead also dwells in you. This is the power within the believer which makes effective mind renewal possible.
“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Romans 8:11, KJV)
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:26-27, KJV)
The Bible gives us much instruction regarding this transformation of our minds.
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24, KJV)
Renewal of the mind occurs between putting off the “old man” and putting on the “new man” (see Ephesians 4:22-24 above)
PUT OFF the old man
The old man is “corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” (Ephesians 4:22, KJV)
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Romans 6:6, KJV)
RENEW the mind (this is the part of the three-fold change I want to specially elaborate on today)
Remembering that this renewal is spiritual and is only by the power of the Holy Spirit is important. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18, KJV). It is He Who does the work in us. We are wholly dependent on Him and our efforts come from His initiatives.
Our minds are renewed when we fix our eyes on the glories of Christ. The Spirit within the believer works from the outside in by exposing the mind to truth which exalts Christ. He leads us to hear the gospel, to read the Bible, and to fill our minds with the perfections of Christ.
With that being said, we renew our minds by reading and delighting in God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (KJV)
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2, KJV)
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11, KJV)
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2, KJV)
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16, KJV)
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8, KJV)
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3, KJV)
PUT ON the new man
The new man is “after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph 4:24, KJV). The “fruit” of the new man is found in the rest of Ephesians 4:
“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4: 25-32, KJV)
My prayer is that you would be encouraged and challenged to read your Bible with eyes and hearts that search for the revelation of the glory of Christ. I pray that you would pray and ask for the Holy Spirit to renew your mind as you read the words that bring life, so that you may desire the perfect will of God.
As we seek to renew our minds in Christ Jesus, my we follow after the Psalmist in Psalm 119:25-32
My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame.
I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. (KJV)
In this Psalm, we see the influence of God’s Word upon a heart that mourns and laments regarding its downcast tendencies. The Word of God leads the Psalmist to prayer, confirms his choice (the way of truth), and inspires a renewed mind.
The Bible is the surest source of help and the place we should go to renew our minds.
It may seem counterintuitive, but when we are struggling with our thought life so much so, that the Bible isn’t appealing, the best solution is to turn to the Bible. Renewing our minds does not rest in our own confidence or ability to read the words, but in the Word itself and the Holy Spirit’s enabling, as His way of giving us life and breath. He is bigger than our most overwhelming thoughts. He is more than able to renew our minds. Our job is to keep our eyes fixed on Him.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3, KJV)
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, KJV)
Photo credits: My WONDERFUL friend, Caroline Gemes <3
