We are told to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. But how do we actually renew our mind? How do we change our negative thinking and direct our mind to God-glorifying thoughts? In this three-day Bible Plan, we explore how you can change negative beliefs.
Neal Samudre
Day 1
Scriptures: Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Challenge Thoughts
After studying the topic of joy for years, I’ve come to read Romans 12:2 NIV in a different light. It says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind . . .”
The first thing I noticed was “the pattern of this world.” The world, in fact, does have a pattern. Psychology shows that there are patterns of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that empty people of joy and hope. This pattern is one of sin, hopelessness, and negativity.
One must ask, how do we break this pattern? How do we fall into the pattern of life God desires for us—the one of joy and hope?
The answer to this question was the second thing I noticed about Romans 12:2. This verse gives a clear answer for how we are to resist this pattern. “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind . . .”
Behavior change begins with the mind. This is what Romans 12:2 says and this is what the latest discoveries in psychology say.
Yet how do we practically renew our mind, so we can live in the pattern of life God designed for us?
That’s the subject of this Bible Plan.
To begin this Bible Plan, I’ll start with the answer 2 Cor. 10:4-5 presents on this matter. This is where we first see the language of “taking thoughts captive” for God.
One might feel uncomfortable with the war language used in this verse, but it’s actually a great metaphor for what’s happening in our minds.
The pattern of this world will try to present new evidence, arguments, and claims to work against our knowledge of God and the hope we have in Him. If we take this evidence in, then the pattern of this world will only empty us of hope.
Instead, 2 Cor. 10:5 suggests we take every thought captive and make them obedient to Christ. This means, we must learn the ability to challenge our thoughts.
Without the reflex of challenging our thoughts, we’ll just take our observations of the world as truth. We’ll get new evidence, arguments, and claims to work against our hope, and we’ll take it in, assuming that our observations are correct.
Scripture is clear: our thoughts need to be challenged if we want to make them obedient to Christ.
Today, ask God to help you challenge thoughts that try to work against Him. Learn to ask, “Is this true, or is this just a thought that hurts me?” In time, you’ll be able to identify the thoughts that attempt to stray you from hope in Christ.
Day 2
Scriptures: Mark 9:14-29, Matthew 7:7-8
Ask for New Evidence
How can we challenge our negative thoughts when our minds lead us to doubt? What do we do with doubt?
We find our answer to these questions in Mark 9:14-29. In this passage, a desperate father brings his possessed son to Jesus. The father already brought his son to the disciples, but the disciples could not cast out the spirit.
So the father begins . . . “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us,” he says to Jesus.
After seeing how the disciples could not cast out the spirit, the father was plagued with doubt.
Before we progress any further, we need to recognize: this is normal. The father had all the evidence telling him his son was not going to be healed. The evidence of the disciples’ failing validated his doubt.
We might have evidence that is validating our doubt and sustaining our negative thoughts. But what happens next gives us a clue on how to challenge these negative thoughts . . .
After Jesus rebukes the father’s statement, the father says something interesting in Mark 9:24 NIV. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
How can the father both believe and not believe?
It is natural for doubt to coexist alongside faith. It is doubt that keeps us hungry for growth in our faith, and it is faith that keeps doubt from taking over.
The father, however, asks for help with his doubt. He is asking for new evidence.
This is not asking Jesus to prove himself. This is asking for his mind to be renewed. Help me overcome my unbelief.
When we want to believe God-glorifying thoughts, let’s not vilify our doubts. Instead, let’s ask God to give us evidence to believe what He wants us to believe.
Matthew 7:7 says ask and you will receive. Today, ask that God will give you the evidence your mind needs to keep doubt at bay. With this new evidence, your mind will be renewed.
Day 3
Scriptures: Colossians 3:16, Psalms 149:1, Psalms 33:3-4
Repeat Thoughts You Want to Believe
At the beginning of this Bible Plan, I shared my renewed understanding of Romans 12:2. Today, I want to share my renewed understanding of singing worship songs.
I used to believe singing worship was just for the happy Christians—those who had no doubts in their mind. Now I know, singing worship is for all Christians—the grieving, the hurting, the torn, the depressed. Singing worship has a benefit for everyone.
Here’s what changed my mind . . .
I learned that beliefs are just repeated thoughts. If you want to believe something new, you just have to repeat a new thought.
Singing helps us naturally repeat the thought we want to believe. So when you sing about trusting God in church, the more you sing it, the more you believe it.
This helps me read Colossians 3:16 NIV in a new light. It says, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
Singing helps us repeat thoughts of God so His word can dwell in us, so we can teach others, and so we can remember what God has done.
I also believe this is what the Psalms mean when they say, “sing a new song.” Singing a new song can help us repeat God-glorifying thoughts and cement them as deep beliefs.
Today, you can sing a new song. You can repeat the thoughts you want to believe. And as you do, your mind will be renewed.
Remember this as you sing in corporate worship or on your own. Your mind might be struggling with negative thoughts and doubts, but that’s all the reason to sing louder.
God has a new pattern for this world—one that’s filled with joy and hope. But to conform to this new pattern, we need a new mind. My hope is this Bible Plan will help renew your mind for joy.