If you’re a Christian and someone walks up to you and says, man your brain washed. Say thank you for noticing.
Today we are going to talk about renewing your mind. Our thought life is not as private as we’d like to think it is. God knows the hidden secrets of our lives.
Psalm 139:24 says, Search me oh God and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.
If there is any wicked way in you, you can rest assured that Satan has been using your mind for his playground.
What we think affects how we feel.
Those feelings or emotions are a powerful driving force in our lives. They can make us act out or act on those thoughts and that’s not always a good thing.
God gives us the tools we need to overcome those thoughts that are not Christ-like. Let’s talk about some of those tools and how to apply them in our daily lives.
The first thing is to not let those thoughts find there way into our lives to begin with.
It has been said, that the eyes are the gateway to the soul.
Matthew 6:22-24 puts it like this, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
We need to avert our eyes from things that will corrupt who we were made to be. We were made in God’s image. We don’t want to corrupt that image with lustful thoughts. So when a pretty girl with a short skirt passes by, don’t give her a second thought, because if you do it’s too late. You will have that image running around in your mush-mellon all day. Don’t let the devil get up to bat. Let him be a permanent bench warmer, and not on the playing field of your mind.
The following verse is a good place to start.
“We fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18
It’s not just our eyes that we have to reign in. What we allow ourselves to hear can corrupt us just as quickly. If you listen to music with foul language and suggestive lyrics that’s not a healthy diet for a spiritual mindset.
If you want a double dose of trouble, watch that show American Idol. I’m sure there’s a lot of you that watch it. I used to watch it. But the name of the show says it all. When we idolize someone on a stage with a beautiful voice and seductive clothing we’ve got a problem.
It takes a conscious effort to stop allowing the things of this world to enter into our lives. It’s a daily struggle. It’s not just a struggle it’s a war and the battle rages on every day. And it will continue on until he calls us home.
Now the next thing we need to deal with is the thoughts that are already there.
Thoughts that came into our lives before we closed the floodgates of our senses.
You can tell when your mind is going in a direction it shouldn’t. Thoughts that just come out of left field. There was no reason for your mind to go there, but it did. As soon as that happens, nip it in the bud as Barney Fife would say. Don’t let it get a stronghold on you.
2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
When something is in captivity it can’t go anywhere. It’s not free to run around and do as it pleases. So how can we stop that evil thought dead in its tracks? With God’s word of course!
Psalm 119:11-12 “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou O Lord, teach me thy statutes.
Start by finding scripture that speaks to your heart. Read it and meditate on it. Make it a part of who you are. Commit those verses to memory and They will be arrows in your quiver.
After a while you will find that you are controlling your mind and your mind isn’t controlling you!
Another area of our mind that we need to get a handle on is the graphic images that have been lurking in the background.
Our imagination knows no bounds when it comes to lust. These images didn’t get there overnight. So it’s going to take some time to replace them with more wholesome and pure illustrations.
Focus on God’s creation. Let the work of his hand be the canvas that paints your mind. A sunset, the ocean, a soaring bird, anything that will divert you from the x-rated movie that’s playing in your head.
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Next we draw strength through prayer. When we talk to our heavenly Father and we are honest about the condition of our mind He will give us the strength to endure the battle.
Philippians 4:6-7 be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God period in the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, put the needs of others above your own.
If it isn’t all about you, your mind will be more in tune with Christ. As we do His will, we will change the way we think. If we’re not serving others and we’re just sitting around idly it becomes an opportunity for our minds to wander. It may be a cliche but idle hands are the devil’s workshop.
Galatians 5:13-14 you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Well we’re just about done for today. But I have some final thoughts.
We don’t just need to bring our thoughts into captivity. We need to feed on God’s word even when those thoughts aren’t there. Because if we don’t, Satan is going to come back with a vengeance.
Matthew 12:43-45 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
This brings us to the end of another episode of perspective for today. I’d like to thank you for listening and may God bless you always. Let’s close in prayer.
Heavenly Father we just give you thanks and praise for what you’re doing in our lives. Lord we just pray that you will give us the strength to take every thought into captivity that we may focus on you and not the things of this world. Lord let us just dim this world so that your light may shine bright. father let your holy Spirit bring to remembrance scripture father that strengthens us that fortifies us each and every day Lord that the battle may be one in Jesus name we pray amen