RENEW YOUR MIND
RENEW YOUR MIND
The “mind” is very often referred to as the “thought”. And there is a lot that goes on in there. In fact, research has shown that the human mind is capable of between 50,000 to 70,000 thoughts a day. That narrows down to about 35 – 48 thoughts per minute.
The bible says “Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12: 2 NLT
So what is on your mind? What are you thinking? What are your 35 or 48 thoughts a minute all about?
There is a lot that can be done or undone in the mind. We can be constructive, productive or creative in our thinking. This is very good. Yet on the other hand we can be negative, destructive and damaging in our thinking. Surely, that is bad. The choice is entirely up to us. “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil” Deuteronomy 30: 15 KJV. A renewed mind will lead to life in abundance. A mind in the state of stagnation is evil and will gradually lead to death. (No growth, no productivity.)
Let us bear in mind that the mind is a very private place. Nobody goes there with you. Even your nearest and dearest have no idea what goes on there. Therefore you are solely and entirely responsible for what happens in your mind and this is why you must make every effort to guard it and fill it up with good thoughts. Because it is a private place the contents are not for everyone. “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.” Proverbs 29: 11 KJV.
Who we are or who we will be is a product of what we think or what is in our mind. When you make a decision and suddenly decide you would rather go with another option, that change takes place in the mind. You have “changed your mind”. When you make a decision to start studying your bible daily, that decision is from a “made up mind”. Yet if not handled carefully and filled with uplifting thoughts, the mind can be taken over with evil. If one acts irrationally they are said to be “out of their mind”. When one does something wrong, they are often said to “not be in their right mind”. Likewise we must have heard of “mind games”. Dictionary.com defines these so called games as “Psychological manipulation or strategy, used especially to gain advantage or intimidate.”
Manipulation, oppression, intimidation, pride and the like all begin in the mind. After all it is said that “ideas take root or are formed in the mind”. Also remember what they say “the idle mind is the playground of the devil!”
Are you in a mess right now? Are you perhaps in a scandal? Are you confused about the choices you have made or are about to make? Are you leaving school soon and are worried about the future? Did your significant other cheat on you and its hurting so bad? Then go to that place where nobody can go with you even if they wanted to. It’s in your mind. Go and change the setting there and “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these.” Philippians 4: 8 KJV
Do not allow the devil to play mind games with you. Fill your mind with thoughts of God and thoughts of good. For “Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee:” Isaiah 26:3 KJV
Go to the word of God and renew your mind.
Oluyinka Ego-Martins©