CLEAR
MIND
Romans
12:1-2
“Therefore,
I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living
sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of
worship. Do not conform any longer 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 God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Nothing on earth can match the human
mind. We should be awed. God made people in His image. We just learned that Believers are gifted
with the mind of Christ at salvation.
Now the opening Scripture confirms three striking things:
1) Believers’ bodies can be offered to
God as our spiritual act of worship (see lesson linked below);
2) Transformation happens by renewing
of our (Christ) minds; AND
3) Humans can test and approve what
God’s will is!
The key is renewing of our minds.
Clear, focused thinking is
deliberate. People must carefully choose
what we allow into our minds. (Everything
the eyes see and everything the ears hear).
When we let our guards down, the world will squeeze our minds into its
mold. That cluttered mind becomes
fragmented. It doesn’t focus well—let
alone on Spiritual things.
The word “foolish” describes a
fragmented mind.
Believers’ Christ-like minds think
rightly—regardless of circumstances and challenges. Our minds need maintenance, though. Just like keeping consciences reliable,
Believers’ minds need renewing from time to time.
Only surrendering ourselves to God
renews Believers’ minds. When He has
authority over our thoughts, clutter becomes clear. Feelings change, wanting righteousness. Our words become pure. Our behavior aligns with renewed
attitudes. Living the “abundant life” is
the same thing as the “fullness of His will” Jesus came to give us (John 10:10).
Who Believers become and everything we achieve
originates from how we think. It just
makes sense to let the One who created us guide our thoughts!
Take
Home Nugget
A clear mind is controlled by His Spirit, aligned with God’s
Word. When God
has authority over our thoughts, discernment [dis-SERN-ment], or sound judgment
follows. As we yield our lives to Him—filling
our minds with His will from Scripture, God transforms our lives.
God empowers His kids to peer deeper
than what’s seen on the surface. We see what
situations should teach from His point-of-view.
We can choose "good" from "bad" alternatives, and even "best" from "better."
Knowing what is God’s will can be
very confusing. One devotion writer
advises, “Pray, surrender, read His Word, then decide. Put it in God’s hands. Believe He leads from His will.”
I’m in Your hands,
Lord. Lead me from Your will to what is
Your will for my life. Thy will be
done! Amen.
Adapted from “Keeping a Clear
Mind” by Dr. Charles Stanley. June 10,
2015. In Touch Magazine. Georgia, USA.
J.D.
Griffith
Here’s another eBook by J.D. Griffith:
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