More Than External Transformation
I point this out for one reason: to make the point that the nonconformity to the world does not primarily mean the external avoidance of worldly behaviors. Thats included. But you can avoid all kinds of worldly behaviors and not be transformed. His face shown like the sun, and his clothes became white as light! Something like that happens to us spiritually and morally. Mentally, first on the inside, and then, later at the resurrection on the outside. So Jesus says of us, at the resurrection: Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father .
We are perfectly useless as Christians if all we do is conform to the world around us.
Transformation is not switching from the to-do list of the flesh to the to-do list of the law. When Paul replaces the list the works of the flesh, he does not replace it with the works of the law, but the fruit of the Spirit .
The Christian alternative to immoral behaviors is not a new list of moral behaviors. It is the triumphant power and transformation of the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ our Savior, our Lord, our Treasure. has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life . So transformation is a profound, blood-bought, Spirit-wrought change from the inside out.
Renewal As An Essential Means Of Transformation
And in Romans 12:2, Paul now focuses on one essential means of transformation the renewal of your mind. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Oh, how crucial this is!
- If you long to break loose from conformity to the world,
- If you long to be transformed and new from the inside out,
- If you long to be free from mere duty-driven Christianity and do what you love to do because what you love to do is what you ought to do,
- If you long to offer up your body as a living sacrifice so that your whole life becomes a spiritual act of worship and displays the worth of Christ above the worth of the world,
then give yourself with all your might to pursuing this the renewal of your mind. Because the Bible says, this is the key to transformation. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.
Whats wrong with the human mind? Why does our mind need renewing? And what does this renewal look like? And how can we pursue and enjoy this renewal?
Free Renewing Your Mind Printable
I created this free renewing your mind printable so you take these steps with you. All you need to do is click this free renewing your mind printable link to get the free printable, print it on card stock , cut it out, punch a hole in the corner, and use a loose leaf ring to secure it.
You can also laminate them if youd like. It will help keep them in good condition. I pray that you can benefit from this free printable.
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Freedom To Be Enslaved To Christ
This is why the Christian life though it is utterly submitted , even enslaved to the revealed will of God is described in the New Testament as radically free.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom . For freedom Christ has set us free stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery . You are free in Christ, because when you do from the inside what you love to do, you are free if what you love to do is what you ought to do. And thats what transformation means: When you are transformed in Christ you love to do what you ought to do. Thats freedom.
The Problem With Our Minds
There are many who think that the only problem with the human mind is that it doesnt have access to all the knowledge it needs. So education becomes the great instrument of redemption personal and social. If people just got more education they would not use their minds to invent elaborate scams, and sophisticated terrorist plots, and complex schemes for embezzling, and fast-talking, mentally nimble radio rudeness. If people just got more education!
The Bible has a far more profound analysis of the problem. In Ephesians 4:23 Paul uses a striking phrase to parallel Romans 12:2. He says, Be renewed in the spirit of your minds. Now, what in the world is that? The spirit of your mind. It means at least this: the human mind is not a sophisticated computer managing data, which it then faithfully presents to the heart for appropriate emotional responses.
The mind has a spirit. In other words, our mind has what we call a mindset. It doesnt just have a view, it has a viewpoint. It doesnt just have the power to perceive and detect it also has a posture, a demeanor, a bearing, an attitude, a bent. Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
The problem with our minds is not merely that we are finite, but that we are fallen.
The Bible says we have exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man . And the image in the mirror is the mortal image we worship most.
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We Are No Longer Slaves To Sin
23. Romans 6:1-6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
Develop A Strong Relationship With God
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
James 4:8
Jesus paid an enormous price not only for your sins but also so you can have a relationship with The Father.
The more we spend time with a person the faster we get to know them. The same thing happens with God, the more we spend time with Him, the more we get to know Him, what He likes, how He acts, why He said the things He said, etc.
Nothing will help you to renew your mind more than developing a strong relationship with God, and part of that is to know Him through His word.
Remember, God is looking for a relationship with you, He wants to be part of your life, part of your everyday. Jesus said He will never leave us or forsake us so He is with you all the time. Talk to Him, listen to Him. Get to know Him through His word.
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How To Stop My Negative Thoughts
Struggling with negative thoughts? Maybe with low self-esteem? Self-put downs?
When I think about these thought struggles, I am amazed at how easy it is to adopt or fall into a bad thought habit. Thats right, I said it, a habit. All our thought patterns are, in fact, habits.
We have all been trained on how to think and what to think. And these habits can even impact our ability to problem solve, and our ability to decide how and what we use to filter truth vs. untruth. Even learned helplessness is copied and can develop into a thought and behavioral habit.
This is great news, because just as we develop bad habits, we can retrain our thinking and learn new habits. It is actually pretty simple but requires truth, faith, and commitment.
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Its safe to say, we are the sum of our habits. If you want to know your future, just look at your habits today! It will show you where your thoughts and behaviors will be tomorrow.
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
I guess thats the difference between freedom and chains. You may have fear, but fear doesnt have to have you.
Five Steps To Renewing Your Mind
Judy Allen
What does your stream of consciousness sound like?
There are words floating through my mind at all times some are good and purposeful, and others are not. My mental monologue generally contains too much self-focused and self-defeating babble.
What a stupid thing to say! Did she just ignore me? Thats a good idea for a blog postor maybe its just dumb. Id like to ________, but I dont know if I can pull it off.
On, and on it goes. Its exhausting.
My mind needs a refresher. Maybe you too will benefit from these steps.
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Rest In The Truth That You Are Accepted In Jesus Christ
Ill pray for the Lord to protect my mind, help me recognize the enemy, and work to keep my mind focused on God. Sometimes I will be successful, and sometimes I will not be. Over time, it will be more often the former.
There are days when all I can do is rest in the truth that I am at peace with God, that I am free from accusation, and that I am Gods child.
Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are at peace with God. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ .
In Christ, we are free from accusation. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus .
In Christ, we are children of God and heirs along with Jesus. The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirsheirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ .
My identity in Jesus Christ is the central fact that influences my present circumstances and determines my eternal future, and it is available by faith alone. Dont doubt dont wonder dont question it.
Accept Gods gracious gift, and rest in it.
+ The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry.
Luke 24:49 Acts 1:4 Acts 1:8 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth.
Acts 8:12-17 Acts 10:44-46 Acts 11:14-16 Acts 15:7-9 With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as:
an overflowing fullness of the Spirit, John 7:37-39 , Acts 4:8 a deepened reverence for God, Acts 2:43 , Hebrews 12:28 an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work, Acts 2:42 and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost, Mark 16:20
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Two Other Biblical Diagnoses
Now before I turn to the remedy and how we find the renewal of mind God demands, consider two other biblical diagnoses of the problem. Consider the way Peter describes our mind-problem in 1 Peter 1:1314, Prepar . . . your minds for action. . . . Do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance. There is an ignorance of God a willful suppression of the truth of God that makes us slaves to many passions and desires that would lose their power if we knew God as we ought . The passions of your former ignorance. Paul calls these passions, deceitful desires .
They are life-ruining, worship-destroying desires, and they get their life and their power from the deceit of our minds. There is a kind of knowledge of God a renewal of mind that transforms us because it liberates us from the deceit and the power of alien passions.
The other biblical diagnosis is in Ephesians 4:1718, You must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
By The Renewal Of Your Mind
But today I want to focus on the phrase in Romans 12:2, by the renewal of your mind. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed , that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. We are perfectly useless as Christ-exalting Christians if all we do is conform to the world around us. And the key to not wasting our lives with this kind of success and prosperity, Paul says, is being transformed. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed.
That word is used one time in all the gospels, namely, about Jesus on the mountain of transfiguration : And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light .
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Bible Verses About Renewal Renewing Your Mind & Renewing My Mind: Gods Word Renews Our Minds
10 Bible Verses about Renewal, Renewing Your Mind, & Renewing My Mind:Gods Word Renews Our Minds.
What does the Bible say about Renewal?Join us as we explore 10 Inspirational, Motivational, Uplifting & Encouraging Bible Verses, Scriptures, Quotes & Passages about Renewal, Renewing Your Mind, & Renewing My Mind. Dear Friends, Gods Word Renews Our Minds! May we all be encouraged, strengthened and renewed as we continually read and meditate on Gods Word as well as put it into practice in our lives.
10 Bible Verses about Renewal2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away behold, the new has come.
Romans 12:2, NIV Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what Gods will is his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Colossians 3:10-11, NLT Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesnt matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
Ephesians 4:23, NLTlet the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
Galatians 5:22-23, ESVthe fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control against such things there is no law.
Scriptures On Fear To Memorize To Renew Your Mind
Faith over fear. Youve probably heard that phrase a time or two. Its a great slogan for a t-shirt, but putting that line into practice can be hard when the challenges of life make you fearful. Thankfully, Christians arent powerless against fear. The Bible is a living and active book with the truth you need to battle those fearful thoughts.
Not sure where to look, or what verses could help you overcome fear? Read on to discover 10 Scriptures on fear to memorize to renew your mind.
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+ The Initial Physical Evidence Of The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit
The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance.
Acts 2:4 The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues, but is different in purpose and use.
1 Corinthians 12:4-10 1 Corinthians 12:28
Learn The Word Of God Meditate Upon It Store It In Your Heart
Let Gods Word become an intrinsic part of your life. Let Scripture become so deeply ingrained inside of you that it automatically shapes your thoughts, guards your heart, and influences every decision and action you make in your life. Abiding in Gods Word is integral to walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.
A friend recently confided that she longs to store more of Gods Word in her heart but shes finding the process of traditional Bible memorization quite challenging. Learning verses by rote causes her mind to tense up, making it difficult for her to retain new material.
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The Holy Spirit Renews The Mind
This brings us finally to the remedy and how we obey Romans 12:2, Be transformed in the renewal of your mind. First, before we can do anything, a double action of the Holy Spirit is required. And then we join him in these two actions. The reason I say the Holy Spirit is required is because this word renewal in Romans 12:2 is only used one other place in all the Greek Bible, namely, Titus 3:5 where Paul says this: saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.
Theres the word renewal which weve seen is so necessary. And it is renewal of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit renews the mind. It is first and decisively his work. We are radically dependent on him. Our efforts follow his initiatives and enablings.
