Renewing the Mind

We’re at War! – Part 2

Once again you find yourself doing something that you know you should not be doing – yet you can’t resist and in spite of your better judgment you do it anyway, only to endure that strong sense of conviction afterward. You may not feel like it when you are caught up in “the moment”, but making a firm decision to obey God’s Word, is an integral weapon in defeating Satan’s attacks.

Corinthians 10:3-5: For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Bringing your thoughts, behaviors/actions in line with the Word of God is critical in winning the war against the enemy. Making up your mind to do so, however, is one thing, actually doing it; therein lies the battle.  When we accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, our old lives and past sins were washed away.  While we are new beings in Him because His Spirit resides within us, we still have the same old mind with the same old memories and the same old thought patterns.  Our obedient Spirit desires God’s way; our carnal Mind wants it our way and so the two are constantly in battle.

Galatians 5:17: For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

To be truly obedient, our mind needs to change. It is essential that we renew our mind, constantly lining up our thoughts with the Word of God.

Romans 12:2: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Sometimes I feel like I can benefit from a collar that zaps me every time a bad thought lingers in my mind. Short of a drastic measure like this, we should strive to reprogram our mind by consciously brushing away unwanted thoughts and focusing on thoughts that are edifying to the Spirit. It’s a day to day, minute by minute, second by second uphill battle and while difficult, it is not impossible. It starts with a choice; a strong commitment to do the right thing and is fueled by our love for Jesus Christ and the power of His Word which we should consume daily.