With Biblically based and practical keys, this plan will change the way you think about thinking and set you up to live victoriously in your thoughts. Learn how to overcome fear and live in the love of Jesus daily. Enjoy this seven day devotional guide to renewing your mind.
Sarah Cheesman
Day 1
Scriptures: Matthew 12:34, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Romans 15:13
This seven day mind renewal isn’t denial or pretending a problem doesn’t exist; it’s denying the problem is a place of influence and re-aligning our belief systems to empower the truth. “There’s no such thing as a hopeless situation, just people who are lacking in hope.” Steve Backlund. So we are going to tear down lies, replace them with the truth, and become those who are brimming with hope in every area of our life!
“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34). The overflow of your mouth is evidence of what you’ve been meditating on. Therefore, the best way to watch what you say, is to watch what you think and what you allow your heart to steward. Taking your thoughts captive is a great way to begin to steward truth and good thoughts!
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Every time you have a thought that is contrary to the truth about your future according to the Word of God, grab ahold of it, tear it down, and replace it with the truth. You might be busy the first couple of days, and that’s okay! Don’t look at this as a short-term practice but a total revolution of the way you think for life!
Fast: The lies about your identity (who God says you are) and your future. Tear them down!
Feast: On truth from the Word of God about who you are and His promises to you.
Scripture Meditation: “Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his superabundance until you radiate with hope!” (Romans 15:13 TPT).
Day 2
Scriptures: Ephesians 5:26, Ephesians 1:18
Fasting Lies
“The perspective of joy and hope is the fruit of good beliefs.” Steve Backlund
As we feast on truth revealed in the Word and position ourselves to receive revelation from the Holy Spirit, it exposes belief systems in us that are under the influence of a lie. As lies are exposed and replaced with the truth, it creates a new pathway of believing and changes the narrative in our mind and our mouth!
This is the renewing of the mind that comes through the washing of water by the Word, daily (Eph. 5:26). As you take your thoughts captive and replace them with the truth, lies are exposed, and there is a stunning opportunity to align your belief system in a certain area to what God says about it! And then believe it! Over and over and over again.
Fast: The lies about your identity (who God says you are) and your future.
Feast: On truth from the Word of God about who you are and His promises to you.
Scripture Meditation: “I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.” (Eph. 1:18 NLT).
Day 3
Scripture: Matthew 6:22
Nourish Your Soul
What we feed our soul directly impacts our thoughts and words. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” If the menu you’re eating of consists of the news cycle, gossip, and socials, you’re probably not going to be producing a lot of healthy outcomes. Just like we develop a taste for healthy things in the natural, it’s the same with spiritual things. It’s a discipline until it becomes a delight.
This week is a great opportunity to develop taste buds for finer things and “eat clean” by feasting on the word, worship, adoring Jesus, fellowship with the saints, playing with your kids, and spending time with your spouse.
Fast: Negative sources that pollute your inner-man.
Feast: Look at Him! Set your gaze on life-giving truth from the word!
Scripture Meditation: “If you are a single in vision, your whole body will be full of light.” Matt. 6:22
Day 4
Scripture: Psalms 103:1-5
Make a Joyful Noise
When you bring an offering of praise “in the midst of” you realign your focus to the beauty and majesty of just how great our God is. It causes you to take your eyes off yourself, difficult situation, problem, how you feel etc., and places Him in His rightful place as the ruling authority and the One who has the first and final say on every scenario you face.
Our faith is activated as we enthrone Him and we’re encouraged again as we remember that He is who He says He is and that He can do what He says He can do.
Instead of focusing on difficult situations today, praise Him in the midst of and your hope and joy will be renewed. You can remain positive in the midst of difficult situations when you do this.
This is the opposite of denial. It’s activating faith to see mountains move! Then you can celebrate and remain in joy as He brings forth the victory He’s promised you.
Fast: Pity parties!
Feast: Look up and live! Through praise, activate your faith and give Him the glory and honor due His name! Tell your soul to hope in God!
Scripture Meditation: Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Ps. 103:1-5
Day 5
Scriptures: Colossians 3:1, Philippians 4:8
Think Truth
Now that you’re doing a great job taking thoughts captive and exposing lies, you’ve got lots of brain space to think about glorious things! So let’s fill the space! Today, set your mind on things above, not on earthly things (Col 3:1). Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, if they are of good report, if they have any virtue, if they are praiseworthy, think on these things! (Phil. 4:8).
As you meditate on the nature and character of God and the beautiful ways of His kingdom, hope will begin to infuse the perspective you look through. As you practice this long term, in the natural you will strengthen neurological pathways and begin to train your brain to default to hope, joy, and thanksgiving! Isn’t that wonderful!?
Fast: Negative pathways of thinking. Refuse to go down the rabbit hole! For example “See, bad things always happen to me!” Take your thoughts captive and replace them with the truth! “There is always a solution!”
Feast: Fill your mind with happy thoughts. “Jesus loves me!” is a happy place to start!
Scripture meditation: “Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.” Phil. 4:8 TPT
Day 6
Scripture: Hebrews 13:15
Gratitude
Lifting your voice and setting your thoughts on thanksgiving is a beautiful way to position yourself to remain in truth and victory.
When I was a teenager, on a school trip, we were staying in a very cold place with very cold showers. I distinctly remember my friend and I beginning to, out loud, give thanks for the fact that we had running water. Gratitude begets gratitude and on thanksgiving began to extend beyond the shower. Pretty quickly we didn’t even notice the water temperature.
Giving thanks in the midst of is a wonderful way to shift your thinking off yourself and position them back onto Him! An offering of praise is only an offering when it costs you something. Thanksgiving in the midst of difficult or hard situations, no matter how significant or insignificant it feels, will keep your thoughts set on God and shift your perspective back to the greatness of who He is where nothing is impossible for you!
Fast: Complaining! It only causes difficult situations to remain difficult.
Feast: Give thanks to the Lord for He is good! His love continues forever! Praise Him in the midst of the good, challenging, disappointing, and glorious moments of the day.
Scripture meditation: “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” Hebrews 13:15
Day 7
Scripture: John 8:31
Keep Going!
As we come to the end of our seven-day guide, I sensed some may be feeling fatigue from the constant intentionality of taking thoughts captive, replacing them with the truth, and looking for the good. Be encouraged! Don’t give up! You are doing a great work and shifting into new mindsets and ways of believing that will serve you for life!
If you try to flip over a very large and heavy boulder from a stationary place, it’s hard work. There comes a point though, the tipping point, where, if you keep lifting, what once worked against you, begins to work for you and gravity is on your side. At that point there is a change in momentum, and the boulder becomes unstoppable in its force, movement, and direction.
Right now it may feel like you’re trying to turn over that heavy boulder in your mind and soul. But if you refuse to quit, you will reach a tipping point where your thoughts will begin to work for you and feasting on truth, displacing lies, and hope-filled perspectives will become your new normal!
Welcome to the promised land!
Fast: Lies that say, “You’re not good at this!” or “Things aren’t getting any better.”
Feast: Keep your eyes on Jesus. Feast on His word; read your Bible (every day!) Nothing can renew your mind like it does. Jesus’ words will feed and nourish your soul today and continue to shift you towards a hope-filled perspective.
Scripture Meditation: “If you continue in my word you are truly my disciples and then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31