Tranforming our Minds- In the Light of Scripture

We can be quite the creatures of habit, can't we? How many of us, after moving a piece of furniture that has been in the same location for some time, find ourselves going to the former location of that furnishing expecting to find it there? We do this out of habit for awhile until we get used to going to its new spot. I don't know how many times my family went to the original location of the garbage can (after I moved it) until we finally had ourselves trained to take a different path in order to get to where we needed in order to put the garbage in the can.

This little scenario made me think on how important it is that we steer clear of paths we used to follow before we were converted and train ourselves (through the renewing of our minds) to follow the right path, the one that leads to righteousness, (Romans 12:2 reads, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”. If God first does a work of grace within our hearts making us a new creation, we still may go to those same old places we once went to out of habit, places we should not be finding ourselves as Christians, “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Ephesians 5:8-10).

Even though, as those who have been born again, God does (by His Spirit) put the desire in our hearts to produce good fruit such as “...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control..” (Galatians 5:22-23), we must understand that we still live with a nature to sin- so there is a struggle that goes on within us when faced with temptation, (see Romans 7:14-20). We must exercise our responsibility to be obedient to God's word, which tells us the importance of thinking on things that are good and pure.. etc. ”Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things”(Philippians 4:8).

We train ourselves to think this way through the study of God's word so it will be easier for us to be obedient to scripture's teaching when it tells us to; “Set your minds on things above, not on the things that are on earth...put to death what is earthly in you; sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, covetousness which is idolatry....In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander and obsene talk... Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:1-10).

When we fail to draw near to God, our love for Him will grow cold and the temptations to sin will be harder to overcome. Any time we give in to the temptation to sin, we are showing our love for that sin to be stronger than our love for God, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire” (James 1:14). We are given the ability (through God's Holy Spirit) to do right, but if we are not filling our minds with His word, [“I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11),] drawing near to God, [“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:7-8)], and seeking the help of His Spirit to guide us into right living, we will often find ourselves off that right path. We also must understand our responsibility to exercise our wills to obedience. John 3:36 reads, Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” In Proverbs 4:26-27 we are admonished to, “Ponder the path of your feet, then all your ways will be sure, Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”

If we put garbage into a garbage can, it just makes sense that if we dump that can out, we will see only garbage. It is the same with our minds. We must expect that the kind of fruit we produce in our lives will be a reflection of what we put into our minds. If we put the kinds of things into our minds that would produce unfruitful works of darkness in our lives- those things that are opposed to godly living, then we cannot expect to produce good fruit that leads to righteousness. Our thoughts, words, and actions are a reflection of what we put into our minds. That is why it is so important that we fill our minds with God's word. In Hosea 4:1 scripture reads, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” We cannot be as discerning as we need to be about the kinds of books, movies, and music we expose ourselves to if we are not filling our minds with God’s word first and foremost. The Bible is very clear in its teaching that if we acknowledge Him in all our ways, He will direct our paths, “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:6). “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

That pathway we are led along (by the Spirit) is the path of sanctification, which grows continually brighter as we grow in our knowledge and a right understanding of God's word until we reach a full understanding of it- which won't be until we are fully sanctified in heaven. We can liken this to the sun as it slowly begins to rise, gradually illuminating the dark of the night before until it is fully risen and totally dispells all darkness, “the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day” (Proverbs 4:18).