Renewing Your Mind

The Challenge of Renewing Your Mind
(overview)

• How can a person renew their mind?
• What can I expect from God in changing the way I think?
• What role do your emotions have in determining what you think about?

Here's a couple of hypothetical cases to help clarify my point:

Trevor became a Christian two months ago. He regularly attends church, making new friends-but he is still struggling with anger.

"I can't stop my outburst. I get really irritated at the way people treat me,"  he states. Every day I pray to God, but every day people still make me angry."  He also confided that he is constantly struggling with lustful thoughts. 

_____

Larry, 34 years old, has been a Christian all his adult life. He grew up with a father who verbally abused him.  "I can still hear my father saying-you'll never amount to anything! You're good for nothing!"  And the damage still hangs on even through Larry is now a father and loves God.

The struggles may not be identical, but many Christians are caught up in major battles in their mind. The promise in 2 Corinthians 5:17 sound great, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (NIV) But reality becomes bigger than life itself is when we are challenged in our thought life.

The old way of thinking has not gone away. Many still struggle with temptations in their mind, bitterness, depression, fear, hopelessness, frustrations, problems and putting it bluntly-evil and lustful thoughts.

Prayer is important but we need to do more than pray.

Romans 12:2 goes to the heart of the problem and offers God's solution- "Do not conform any longer 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." (NIV)

"Being transformed means transformation "is not something I can do."

The promise is powerful! If I renew my mind. God has some awesome benefits and rewards. 

1. I will be transformed-not just cleaned up on the outside--but completely transformed on the inside, too.
2. I will know and understand God's will for my life
3. How many times have you said,  "I wish I knew what God wanted me to do i n this situation. "Here is the path to knowing God's will-- His good, pleasing and perfect will.  

I will continue this blog with giving 4 steps that will turbo-charge your desire to operate with a renewed mind.

Remember, keep praying because prayer is important--it's just that there is more that is required of you.  

Check back for updates. I will post at least one step each week for the next four weeks.

DAH