Being Made New
OUR MindS

Last week it was mentioned that the goal of discipleship is to be made new into the image of Jesus. Because this is a process it takes time for Jesus to shape us into His image by chipping away at what doesn’t belong and refining the rough edges.

In this process Jesus transforms our image in four main areas, all of which are tied to the deepest areas of our identity and our purpose. Those areas are our minds, our hearts, our hands and our feet. We’ll start by examining the work He does with our minds.

Watch your thoughts for they become words. Watch your words for they become actions. Watch your actions for they become…habits. Watch your habits, for they become your character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. - Margaret Thatcher

Our destiny, or you might say our image, has a very real connection to our minds. For what we think and ultimately what we believe will set us on that particular trajectory.

The Apostle Paul, author of the much of the New Testament, shares this idea in his letter to the Romans found in the first chapter.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth...21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen… 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. - Romans 1:18,21-25,28-32

To sum that up, Paul says that we have all been guilty of believing the lie, that the our own image or the image of created things is more to be desired than the image, or Glory, of God himself. We suppressed the truth, believed a lie, and out of that belief we became futile in our thinking, debased in our minds, darkened in our heart and our hands and feet acted upon those beliefs in all varieties of sinful ways.

So the intentions of our heart and the actions of our hands and feet are anchored by the beliefs and thoughts of our minds. What this means is that truth matters. Believing that which is true will set you on a proper trajectory to soar. Exchanging that truth for a lie will lead to wreckage.

This is why God’s Word so passionately addresses our minds.

Romans 8:5-8 says

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

A mind chasing it’s own desire is death; a mind chasing Jesus is life and peace.

So the question must be how do we change our mindset?

Paul says in Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern 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.

We are transformed by having our mind renewed. Our mind is renewed by having, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians, the ‘mind of Christ’. Our goal is to set our minds on what Christ sets His mind to, which is on the will of God. We want to fulfill the greatest commandment Jesus gave, which is to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. We want to love our neighbor as ourselves. We want to know Him more, and experience Him more, and so we set our minds on pursuing Him faithfully.

Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, is going to slowly begin to challenge and chip away at where our minds have conformed to the pattern of this world; where we have our minds set on our own desires. He is going to teach us truth by studying His Word and having us get around other believers by being in small groups or on MVMT teams or talking about Jesus and the Bible as a family. Additionally journaling can provide an opportunity to record and track your growth and also be able to analyze your thoughts and mindsets.

Of course having our minds renewed is not just a mental exercise of learning more things. Rather having a mind of forgiveness, and a willingness to give the benefit of the doubt to people. A mind of hospitality, a mind of generosity. These things are not just about knowledge, and not just about an action, but about a mindset where we are always looking for an opportunity to serve, give life, and help set people free.

As we lay our lives more completely before Him in faithful pursuit of Him, He will renew our minds, so that we are no longer futile in our thinking, and debased in mind, but rather that our minds are full of truth and we are focused on the having the mind of Christ.

Here are 3 things you can start doing today to renew your mind.

Join an LH Group and/or a MVMT Team

Start a Bible Reading Plan

Start Journaling