The Renewing of the Mind

Scripture: Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (NKJV)

God is a Master at taking the broken, the lost, and the societal outcasts and transforming their lives. He takes the least of us and transforms us from the inside out, and then in us and through us He does great and mighty things for His Kingdom. The Bible is filled with these stories. 

From average fisherman to world-changing Apostles, or an outcast shepherd to Israel’s deliverer (Moses). God can take anyone, renew their mind, and transform their life into a fire-filled world-changing follower of Christ. 

What if we are a few simple revelations away from a completely transformed life? (Check the bottom for insights here.) 

Well, if we want a transformed life, it starts with a renewed mind. 

First, “do not be conformed to this world.” Conformed, in Greek, suschématizó – assuming a similar outward form by following the same pattern (Patterns- a repeated decorative design). 

The world and the enemy are trying to decorate your mind with ways of thinking that produce sinful living. You don’t need to go any further than listening to the music the world produces, watching the movies the world creates, and reading the content that the world produces. None of it helps us foster a renewed mind. 

Relationship with Jesus and knowing His Word is what helps us nurture a renewed mind and live out a transformed life. 

Tips for stepping into Renewed Thinking:

• Read your Bible daily and journal about what stands out to you
• Journal about the promises of God in your life
• Listen to content that lines up with a Christ-like life

Prayer

Lord, help me identify areas of my thinking that are not aligned with You. Father, fill those areas in with Your Truth and Love and let Your Grace fuel me so this becomes a daily habit. 

Scriptures: Romans 12:2, Matthew 13:31-32

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (NKJV)

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” the Apostle Paul continues. Once we spot how the patterns of this world have become prevalent thinking patterns in our minds, our next step is to enter into a metamorphosis with the Holy Spirit. 

If we look at the word, “be transformed,” in Greek, we see the word, metamorphoó – metá, “change after being with” and “changing form in keeping with inner reality.” This word metamorphoó is where we get our English word metamorphosis from. 

Here is the definition of our English word metamorphosis, a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one, by natural or supernatural means. Oftentimes this word is explained through the process of an egg becoming a larva, then becoming a pupa, and finally becoming a butterfly. 

But in the Kingdom, it doesn’t start with an egg, it starts with a seed. 

Matthew 13:31 “…“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 32. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.” (NLT) 

As we nurture the seeds that the Holy Spirit plants in our hearts we begin to develop new patterns of thinking as our transformation from a sluggish caterpillar blossoms into a vibrant butterfly that takes flight. 

Tips for cultivating a renewed mind:

• Replace Netflix with learning content, like Bible documentaries, History shows, or The Chosen Series 
• Replace scrolling Social Media with reading your Bible on your phone 
• Replace consuming Social Media with producing faith-filled content for Social Media 

Prayer

Holy Spirit, I ask for self-control. Guide me into information that enriches the renewing of the mind within me. God, I ask that you would convict me of watching shows that work against the renewing of the mind. Transform my life and guide my attention to Godly life-giving content.

Scriptures: Colossians 3:2, John 18:36, Proverbs 23:7, Deuteronomy 30:19

Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. (NASB)

Just as the Apostle Paul implored us in Romans “to not be conformed to the pattern of this world,” he reminds us in Colossians to do the same thing. Paul explains that our minds are to be set on the things of Christ’s Kingdom, and Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world. (John 18:36)

What we fill our minds with dictates how we think, and how we think determines our vision and our vision drives our actions. 

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. (NKJV) It takes intentionality in a world that’s seemingly gone mad to fill our minds with content that facilitates renewed thinking. 

Think about this… 

When we hear the word “invest” or “investment,” it’s safe to say that we think of actions that people take with their money in hopes of multiplying their money. This is true, but my life changed when I realized that all of my actions are an investment in my future. All my actions are investments that bring about a future sequence, be it good or bad, this is why it’s called “con-sequence.” 

Going to the gym and eating well is an investment that brings about a sequence of health, just as much as not going to the gym and eating badly is an investment that can potentially bring about a sequence of being unhealthy. 

The content I put in my mind is an investment in my thinking, and worldly content produces worldly thinking. The same goes for Kingdom content, it produces a renewed mind and transformed life. No matter what I do with my time, or don’t do with my time, it’s an investment in my future. 

Deuteronomy 30:19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. (NIV)

We have a choice every day in what we invest our time and resources in, and all those investments (good and bad) put a future sequence in motion, whether we realize it or not. 

Prayer

God, help me to invest my time, resources, and energy in ways that help me grow in renewed thinking and a transformation of life. Lord, fill my mind and time with Your Voice and Ways.

Scriptures: Proverbs 23:7, Philippians 4:8

Proverbs 23:7 ​​For as he thinks within himself, so he is. (NASB)

The Hebrew word for “he thinks” in this verse is, shaar – to calculate, reckon. This verse tells us that the way someone processes things in their mind determines exactly who they are. 

In other words, the patterns that you develop in your thinking produce a transformed life. It’s worth noting that our lives can be transformed into something that is undesirable if we are not careful as to what we think about. 

Let’s look at it like this. 

What if your mind is like your spiritual stomach? 

When it comes to our physical body our mind responds to what we eat and drink. If I eat sugar my mind will immediately react to the sugar. The same thing happens when we consume different foods, caffeine, alcohol, etc. 

This is why our stomach is also called our Second Brain by medical professionals because what we put in our stomach changes the way we think…be it good or bad.

This same concept rings true when it comes to the way we think. If I fill my mind with an unhealthy mental diet, I can’t be upset when I’m thinking in negative and unhealthy ways. What I fill my mind with will be digested through my words and actions, there is no way around this. What I think about is who I will become. 

Philippians 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (NLT)

Paul tells the believers in Philippi, “to fix your thoughts.” The Greek word for fix your thoughts in this verse is, logizomai – I reckon, count, charge with; reason, decide, conclude; think, suppose. We get our English word logic from this Greek word. 

The Apostle Paul is, again, telling the believers to let their thinking patterns be filled with “what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.” And the content that we fill our minds with is what digs those thought highways into place. 

Prayer

Lord, help me fill my mind with “what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.” Holy Spirit, I ask that You show me how to fill my mind (my spiritual stomach) with things that help me become more like King Jesus.

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Colossians 2:13-15, John 10:10, John 8:44

2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5. casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (NKJV)

Let’s start with the word that is the focus of this entire passage, strongholds. This word in Greek is ochuróma – a fortified, military stronghold; a strong-walled fortress. This verse is the only place in the entire Bible where this Greek word is used. 

Strongholds are pockets of our thinking where lies have fortified themselves with the goal of affecting the rest of our thinking in negative ways. Pastor Bill Johnson said it well, “When we believe a lie we empower the liar.”

When we believe lies by feeding our minds content that is not from God, like when we constantly complain, or when we gossip, we allow lies to slowly creep into our thinking patterns and create areas where they can fortify themselves and carry out military-like exploits to attack other areas of our thinking. 

In this whole passage, the Apostle Paul uses military terminology, because if we don’t attack the strongholds in our thinking those strongholds will attack our thinking and hold us back from being transformed into the Image and Likeness of our King Jesus. 

On the Cross, Christ defeated the enemy, Colossians 2:13-15, but that same enemy is a criminal and is still actively trying to kill, steal, and destroy, John 10:10. The Bible tells us in John 8:44 that the enemy is the father of lies.

These strongholds (mental military fortresses) that harbor lies in our thinking need a direct attack thrown at them. 

Here is how to destroy strongholds:

• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify them. You can’t defeat an enemy when you don’t know where they are
• Find verses that directly confront those lies and meditate on them, declare them, and pray that those verses become real in your life
• Write down the strongholds that you want destroyed, then write down the truth and promises of God that directly combat those hindering strongholds
• Fasting and prayer. Fasting will grant you clarity and empower you to confront those strongholds, and prayer will be the vehicle to finish the job and destroy any lingering lies

Scripture: Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2 Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes. (TPT)

Scientific studies have shown that our thinking patterns actually carve out pathways, or highways, in our physical brain. These are called Neural Pathways and are formed when our nerve fibers deploy information between different parts of the Central Nervous System. The old saying goes, “Neurons that fire together wire together.” 

As we think about new revelations from the bible, and as we process new information we are literally digging new roadways that our thoughts travel down. This causes neurons to fire with new neurons, causing a rewiring of our brain and mind. 

Ever feel like your thoughts are on a loop, and the same patterns keep playing out? 

Well, that is exactly what’s happening. The good news is that you can stop traveling down that pathway, and you can create a new pathway and pattern for your thoughts to travel down. 

When the Apostle Paul is talking about “a total reformation of how you think” he is saying that you can create new pathways for your thoughts to travel down. These new pathways will be filled with truth, hope, faith, and love. You can change the way you think, God doesn’t want you stuck in that loop forever. 

Here are some of the best ways to dig new roads for you thoughts to travel down:

• Be aware of the content you’re filling your mind with because it is fueling your thinking patterns. Fill your mind with the bible, worship, new books on topics you need to grow in, and sermons or podcasts that promote the renewed mind
• Writing is proven to expedite the process of digging new neural pathways. Write daily about hope, faith, and love. Write daily about the ways Jesus wants you to be thinking, speaking, acting
• Reading is like taking your mind to the gym. If we don’t work our bodies out regularly, we get sluggish and susceptible to health issues. Our mind is similar in the sense that if we don’t challenge ourselves to read, learn about new topics, and exercise our thinking we get sluggish in our thinking and can be susceptible to lies and blurry spiritual vision

Prayer: 

Lord, I ask that you fuel my thinking and actions to help me create new faith-filled neural pathways.