Changing Your Mind

by Micky Galloway

In Romans 12:1-2 we read, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, (which is) your spiritual service. And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” The necessity of renewing the mind is also taught in Ephesians 4:22-24, “that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit; and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.” Unless there is a change in the mind, i.e. a change in the way we think, any change in our lives will be superficial. Changing the things we do on the surface seems simple enough, but to change our lives to be like Christ, we must change our minds. Herein lies the difficulty. How do we change the way we think? Indeed, the tools given by God are “…mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds,” and they are effective to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (II Corinthians 10:5).

To change our mind, we must be willing to actively pursue the things that will transform our thinking and thereby transform the person.

1. Meditate on God and His word. Consider the many admonitions from the Psalmist. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers: But his delight is in the law of Jehovah; and on his law doth he meditate day and night” (1:1-2). “The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul: the testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring for ever: the ordinances of Jehovah are true, (and) righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the droppings of the honeycomb” (19:7-10). “I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart” (40:8). “Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth” (78:1).

I would encourage the reading of the entire Psalm 119, but consider these excerpts. Psalms 119:11-12, “Thy word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Jehovah: teach me thy statutes.” Psalms 119:14-16, “I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” Psalms 119:23-25, “Princes also sat and talked against me; (but) thy servant did meditate on thy statutes. Thy testimonies also are my delight (and) my counsellors. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.” Psalms 119:96-100, “I have seen an end of all perfection; (but) thy commandment is exceeding broad. Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers; for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, because I have kept thy precepts.” Psalms 119:103-105, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! (Yea, sweeter) than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path.” We cannot meditate on those things that we do not know. Spend time reading God’s word. It will change the way you think.

2. Keep your mind in communication with God through prayer. When one of the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1), he uttered the deepest and most universal desire of the human heart: the desire of finite man to make real, personal communication with Him that transcends time, space, and matter – God. Prayer is not a futile act. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8). God would not draw nigh to men were He not able and willing to hear their prayers to Him. We are assured that God cares for man and that He hears and answers prayer. “For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears unto their supplication” (I Peter 3:12; Cf. Psalms 34:15). “(C)asting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you” (I Peter 5:7). Communication with God changes the way you think. That is why we are to “Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17).

3. Involve your mind in worship through regular assembling with brethren. In Hebrews 10:24-25, we can see the command to “not forsake the assembling of the saints together.” This instruction is too plain to miss without help. It was the “custom” of some to “forsake” (egkataleipo) “to leave behind in some place, … to desert” (Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994) this blessing and not “consider one another to provoke unto love and good works.” Assembling is one way that we show consideration for the spiritual well being of one another. Our willful absence in essence says we are not concerned about such spiritual well being of others and that we are not particularly concerned with our own individual edification. If one’s heart is not right before God, he must repent and change his heart. Obviously, there is value in our assembling together. It will change the way you and others think - who can deny it?

4. Set your mind on things above. “If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2). Our thoughts should be occupied with the things of Christ and where He now dwells, where our final home is to be, where our great interests are. Since we are raised from the death of sin, and are made to live anew, the great object of our contemplation should be the heavenly world. This is certainly in contrast to the things on the earth, wealth, honor, pleasure. Our affections should not be fixed on houses and lands; on low and debasing enjoyments. Love heavenly things; study them; let your hearts be entirely engrossed by them. You are responsible to direct your mind’s attention to think on certain things. The apostle Paul directed, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, 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 things” (Philippians 4:8).

5. Learn what you must put off and what you must put on. “Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry… but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth: lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings” (Colossians 3:5, 8-9). “(A)nd have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him … Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye: and above all these things (put on) love, which is the bond of perfectness” (Colossians 3:10, 12-14).

Indeed, we become what we think. We can change our thinking and therefore our behavior by denying the input of unholy things and by filling our minds with positive things. Let us remember in this ongoing and often difficult task of transformation and renewing our minds, that we are not alone. Paul reminded the Philippians, “being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ … So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure” (Philippians 1:6; 2:12-13). Isaiah challenged the people of God, “Come now, and let us reason together” (1:18). He called upon them to think like God wants them to think. This could only be accomplished by them implementing the tools God gave them. If we are determined to do the same, God has promised to bless our efforts. The result is a changed mind and a changed person.