As promised last month, my November blog provides some biblical assurances God has provided to help us change what we choose to think about and dwell on.
Inner transformation and sanctification can be accomplished in this life only if we are willing to do our part by fully cooperating with the Lord and claiming the incredible supernatural power of His Holy Spirit. I want to share some verses from the Bible with you to show you that God really does want to come after our thought life and to put right and positive-type thinking into our mind.
- God transforms us by renewing our minds
Consider the following texts:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 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.” (Romans 12:1, 2).
“… that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4: 22-24).
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16).
All three of these verses use the words “renewing” and “renewed” in reference to our minds. Here God has given us an incredible, powerful, spiritual secret to sanctification that He wants to complete in each and every one of us. It involves mind renewal through God’s Word and by His Spirit on a daily and progressive basis.
- We are transformed by having the mind of Christ
Paul makes one of the most weighty statements in all of Scripture when he says “But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).
We have the “mind of Christ.” Think of the implications of this promise. As a result of having direct access to Jesus through the Holy Spirit – we have His mind, or put another way, we have His mind operating within us. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit imparts His thoughts and His ways of thinking directly into our minds. Not only do we have the power of the Holy Spirit within to clean up our thoughts, we also have direct access to His mind so we can truly learn how we should think and act.
In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul exhorts the Corinthians to “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” We are called to “imitate Christ” – to act the way Jesus acted. If we place these two verses side by side, Jesus is telling all of us loud and clear that He wants all of us to think like He thinks and act like He acts. He wants to become our perfect role model after whom we pattern both our inner life and our outer life.
- God has given us sound minds.
In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul declares “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”. This text emphasizes three distinct words – power, love, and sound mind. God is telling us that not only can we get a sound mind from Him, but we can also get a mind that has a spirit of power and love in it. We just have to learn how to connect to it, believe it, and act on it.
One of the most incredible blessings that God has given us in this world is a good, clear, sound mind. If we are walking with the Lord, the Holy Spirit will move to impart this sound mind to you. If you are into memorizing Bible verses, I highly recommend that you add this one to your list.
If you look around, however, you will notice that many nonbelievers, and former Christians are not operating with very sound minds. All you have to do is spend a few minutes with those who lust after the materials and immoral things of this life and you will be able to quickly tell who is operating with a sound mind and who is not. Their lustful pursuits have caused their thinking to become distorted, warped, debased, and at times, downright unstable.
As a result of this deterioration in their minds, many have lost their marriages, the good relationships they had with their children, and some of their close friends. Some minds have literally deteriorated to the point where the individuals have taken their own lives.
No matter the challenges you may be forced to deal with, remember that we now have the mind of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit operating through us to help keep your thinking “sound” and “powerful.” This kind of mindset from the Lord is already in you.
- Our thoughts will be established by the Lord
Since God is all-knowing (omniscient) and all-powerful (omnipotent), He is the only One who has direct access to our thoughts. Demons and other people cannot read our mind or our thoughts. Praise the Lord! However, because God can read our thoughts – we will not be able to fool God or hide anything from Him. Many people are very good at hiding everything from those close around them, but God is always one step ahead of us.
There are two Bible verses that we should note. The first is Proverbs 15:26: “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but the words of the pure are pleasant.” This Bible text is telling us that God can literally read our “thoughts”; what’s in our minds – our unspoken words. Notice also, that the Lord uses a very strong word – “abomination” – to describe the thoughts of people who are considered really wicked and evil.
How many of us remember the BTK serial killer from the state of Kansas. When he was caught, he pleaded guilty to the charges that were brought against him. He also told the court and the rest of the world the horrific details of all of his crimes, all done while he was masquerading as a deacon in a Christian church. His evil and wicked thought life, which eventually led to his horrible crime spree, is a perfect example of what God describes as an abomination in His sight.
The second verse, “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established” (Proverbs 16:3) gives us another special promise. It says that if we are willing to commit our works to the Lord, our “thoughts will be established.”
If we are committing our works to the Lord, we are operating in full surrender with Him; and if we are operating in a full surrender with Him, the Holy Spirit will help us to establish our thoughts.
5. We Must Bring Every Thought into Captivity to the Obedience of Jesus
I want to end this discourse with one last verse from the Bible. It shows us that God wants us to take control of our thoughts i.e., what we choose to think about. The verse is 2 Corinthians 10:3. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 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 … .”
The Bible says that we are the ones to bring every thought into “captivity” to the obedience of Jesus. This means we are directly responsible for what we choose to think about and dwell on. We can either choose to think about godly things – or we can choose to think about evil things. The choice is ours.
As such, we should let no one manipulate our minds, including hypnotists who may want to plant his suggestions into our minds. God, the Holy Spirit will help you out if you are willing to allow Him into your heart.
One of my favourite writers, E.G. White,[1] echoes the Biblical counsel we’ve been given. She says “Cut away from yourselves everything that savors of hypnotism, the science by which satanic agencies work.”—Lt 20, 1902. (Selected Messages 2:350.)
Moreover, she writes “… We do not ask you to place yourself under the control of any man’s mind. The mind cure is the most awful science which has ever been (p.717) advocated. Every wicked being can use it in carrying through his own evil designs. We have no business with any such science. We should be afraid of it. Never should the first principles of it be brought into any institution.”—Manuscript 105, 1901. (Medical Ministry, 116). “…Fearful is the power thus given to evil-minded men and women. What opportunities it affords to those who live by taking advantage of others’ weaknesses or follies! How many, through control of minds feeble or diseased, will find a means of gratifying lustful passion or greed of gain!”—The Ministry of Healing, 243 (1905).
Conclusion
The human mind is a battlefield in the area of spiritual warfare. Demons try and move in to tempt us to move into their dark ways of thinking and living – and God moves in also to move us to live according to His ways. The choice will always be ours as to which side of the fence we will choose to live on.
The next time a bad thought flashes across our minds, we decide what to do with it. We can either choose to let that bad thought slide right out of our mind or we can choose to really start thinking about and dwelling on it.
Once we start to really think about and dwell on that bad thought – we start to feed it. If we feed it, it will grow, possibly into mental stronghold or some type of addictive and compulsive behavior.
This is why the wise man Solomon said “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” In other words, we can become what we think about! So, let’s confront our cognitive distortions. Let’s ask God for strength to cultivate right thinking; to show us how to get our minds properly renewed through His Word and by His Spirit… and don’t forget to claim His promises.
[1] https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Mind,_Character_and_Personality/Hypnotism_and_its_Dangers
Valentine’s Day is celebrated every year on February 14. Many people either love the day or hate it. I actually have a love-hate relationship with the day. I don’t mind the red but I hate the pink and the ubiquitous little sugary-tasting, heart-shaped candy. Many break the bank to buy jewellery and flowers for their loved ones, and there’s a whirlpool of passion, if only for a single day. Everything seems contrived: mass dining, gossiping and giggling, and a whole lot of lovey-dovey fluff. Even couples choosing to ‘break up’ for maximum negative impact.
Over the past few years, I’ve revised my thinking about Valentine’s Day. With so much hatred, sorrow and disappointment and in the world, I’ve chosen to embrace the ‘good’ about it; to show love. I’ve also attributed more meaningful sentiments to the colours symbolizing the day: red for the blood that flowed so freely on Calvary for me, you and the whole world; and white for the purity of character. This year, I’m trying my hand at a bit of poetry. I’ve written an ode to the day of love. Hope it brings meaning to you on that day, and always.
A Valentine’s Day Ode (‘Kinda’)
Love is a divine principle, forever in the heart of a Creator for his creatures
Love is an expression of gratitude – to him, to her, to them
Love is surrender, a breaking heart for a beloved’s misfortune
Love is friendship, beautiful and secure.
What is the path to love?
Second chances; overlooking myriad faults
Winding, meandering through bitterness, tears and sorrow
Slaying your ego, that small, puffed up part of you
Stepping into the fear that wants to freeze your heart and close your mind.
Silencing the inner critic so you can respond to the instinctual voice that’s also speaking to you
Being able to give and receive love.
What is the look of love?
A pair of wide outstretched hands welcoming you into a warm embrace
Longing eyes meeting even if for a brief wink across a crowded room
Gut wrenching laughter; wry smiles; families dining and bonding
Attentive silence when you are pensive, solemn, alone
Romantic celebrations, imprisonment, and even martyrdom
Words of trust, and caring that tell you to be careful
Your beloved at the window waving a sweet goodbye.
A whisper in the still of the night and the awe that befalls a magnificent sight
The cries of rapture from the delivery room amidst the beating of a newborn’s heart
A cross on a hill, a Savior and resurrection day.
What does love feel like?
A warm touch; a reassuring tap on the shoulder in the morning
Spasms of pain from a broken heart; two hands intertwined,
A hug that makes you want to suspend time except for you two
The joy of cleaning up watery puke because you know that person would do the same for you without question
The warmth of wanting each other when times are good and a craving for each other’s presence when they are really bad
Hope. A nervous heartbeat
A quiet acceptance that they’ll always be there.
What is the taste of love?
The pleasure of soft, wet kisses on the lips; have one, then two, never get enough
The thrill of thick, chocolate covered hazelnuts and strawberries melting on the tip of your tongue
The saltiness of tears streaming down the face which bring out the flavour of you
Spicy, adventurous, and passionate caresses; nervousness that makes your stomach heave in the most pleasant way
Sometimes it’s a little bitterness too – a lesson harshly learned; a stake of betrayal driven through the heart and mind.
Like you.
What’s the smell of love?
The unique smell of a worn shirt – no deodorant, no perfumes, no fragranced detergents
The menthol of pain rubs being massaged into sore, tired limbs after a strenuous workout in the gym
The smell of perfume, a nice fragrance – lavender incense
Sweaty feet; breast or formula milk
Lube. Grease.
What is the goal of love?
To mimic God
To experience him; to know him; to feel him; to talk with him
To believe in Him; to believe His word
To put others first; to care; to share and to give to others
The lame; the poor, the blind, the naked; the undeserving and unlovable
Caring about another person’s “highest good.”
Happiness.
Procreation.
Edification.
Eternal life.
What will you do with love?
Experience it. Know it.
Feel it. Devour it.
Send cards, flowers and valuable gifts.
Let it consume you.
Love – even if it’s only for a brief moment.
Every February 14.
There are several dictionary definitions for the word “reach”. However, these two resonate with me: “to strain after something; or to succeed in achieving something” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reach.
When my daughter was a toddler, my husband and I bought her a container of large-sized blocks. She adored the gift of mostly primary-coloured plastic blocks: red, yellow, blue. There were also a few green ones. Our intentions were to teach her about colours, to count, and especially to allow her to be creative. Sure enough, she did all of the things we anticipated. What we didn’t countenance or make allowance for were some of the things her young developing mind would also inspire her to do with our gift.
You see, in a relatively short space of time, she found a purpose not only for the blocks inside the container but for the container itself. She masterfully converted it from a storage receptacle for the blocks to a “step stool” that allowed her to reach out and grab anything she wanted that was out of her reach – a cup that most times was filled with liquids; a book from its stack; fruits, cookies and other food items; and even soil from my potted indoor plants.
Oftentimes, we wondered how several items that were supposedly out of her reach were on the floor or otherwise out of place. Then one day, we saw her process, first-hand. Wanting to reach up to the kitchen sink faucet, she carefully maneuvered her “step stool” into position. Then she mounted it, carefully balancing herself, as she tiptoed and with determination strained and turned on the faucet. I still remember the intense look on her face as she playfully splashed the water through her fingers, creating a soggy mess on the countertop and kitchen floor. Although, she had reached up and achieved her goal, I rushed to stop her folly before serious property damage could result.
As I reflect on this incident, I think about the many powerful men who have been dethroned due to the recent wave of sexual harassment allegations that were brought against them. In a sense, they had carefully positioned their “step stools” and accomplished their goals only to leave a big, soggy mess behind. My heart also goes out to the children – young boys and girls – in the homes of “the fallen”, or those vacated by them. Who will teach them about appropriate expressions of masculinity, and how to speak up in a timely manner? Who will help them cope at school and college with the negative fallout from the inappropriate behavior of their dads, brothers, and uncles? Who will help them maintain the same sense of value for their dads as they have for their moms? Perhaps, more importantly, who will help them develop respect for self, for others, and for humanity as a whole?
As a society, we must all reach out and take on the challenge of making a difference for the next generation of boys and girls. Action is required from perpetrators – they must recognize that time’s up; and victims alike – it’s time to speak up. Action is also required from the mothers of the children who have been directly affected. Right now, you all are hurting from the betrayal of your own mates. So take a pause to reflect and to acknowledge your own feelings. Then, reach out to your children, both boys and girls.
No doubt, the embarrassing and shameful news has reached the ears of those old enough to receive and process it. They too are hurting. Have candid, age-appropriate talks with them. Remember, teenage boys especially. They are notoriously difficult to reach; at least that is what a bunch of teachers say. Avoid selfish decisions. Take appropriate action not only for the short-term but for the long-term as well. We all need to create a better world for our sons and daughters to grow up in. I encourage you to take your “step stool” and position it. Then reach out to achieve what matters, and enjoy the “splash” you make.
Favourite Quote: ”Can’t never did anything”- My Mom, Evelyn
Please leave me a respectful comment with your contact information
