Taming the beast within us is a process which takes time. For some it may be a matter of exercising self control. For others it will be an excruciating journey of dying to self layer by layer. Regardless of the path one takes to gain control over their will, they will absolutely have to tend to the manner of their mind.
This is a key component to our struggle with sin. For the mind is a processing unit in the body that receives, sorts and stores everything we encounter. Left to its own programing, it will adopt the most frightening manners: by exchanging truth for lies, it will bend towards savagery and self worship leading an individual into the darkest of thoughts and a life separated from God.
In his devotional for the day, Oswald quotes 2 Corinthians: "bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ..." (10:5NIV). This is a must for the believer. For if we do not take hold of rebellious and threatening thoughts, they will wreck havoc in our minds: tainting what is good and true with their poison. Toxins which act like cancers are: anger, jealousy, unforgiving spirit, bitterness, envy, pride, self loathing. These are the elixirs of spiritual death because they are self focused: they corrode any thoughts of God and leave us vulnerable to the enemy's manipulation. We may think we are in control of our lives when our thoughts are void of God, however that is another misconception.
"Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity...Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them," (Romans 1:28-32NIV).
Since birth our minds absorb information like sponges: our parent's patterns of thought and the beliefs of our community fill our thoughts. Therefore, a mind submerged in a home or community which chooses to ignore the teachings of Christ will no doubt soak up harmful concepts and reasoning like: there is no God, there is no truth, there is no hope and there is no devil longing to drag you to hell. Good people, who live moral lives can still find themselves in bondage to the lie that claims: righteous living can get them into heaven. No! Only a personal relationship with Jesus built on the foundation of his sacrificial death for our sin will grant us access to eternity with God. ANY other concept is a LIE and must be rebuked.
The mind dripping with these thoughts must literally be squeezed by a holy hand in order to begin the process of renewal: literally wrung out and left to dry before it is able to absorb the truth. God is real, there is such a thing as absolute truth, there is abundant hope and the devil is as evil as the bible claims. When a mind begins to take hold of these thoughts, applying the body of truth that supports them in God's word, then and only then will the mind begin to change.
A mind in the hands of God is indeed in store for a restoration. What began as a sponge will be transformed into a temple. The walls will be wallpapered with the Word of God and truth will be its furnishings. Thoughts will center round the throne and a mighty Spirit will rule over the new territory. New patterns of thought will develop that mirror God's own, AND...it can all begin with a single prayer: Lord Jesus forgive me for entertaining ungodly thoughts. I ask you to cleanse, renew and transform my mind at every conscious level: consciously, subconsciously and unconsciously. I bind my mind to the mind of Jesus Christ, that my thoughts would be His thoughts. In so doing I cut ties to any and all lies I have agreed with in the past and willfully take hold of the TRUTH. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
The mind can be a beautiful thing when it minds its manners. With the muck of the world denied access, the mind becomes a sacred meeting place where the LORD meets with his child and reveals the most inspiring truths and visions. Once the mind is renewed, the rest of the body follows. The eyes move from the mirror to the world: which is seen as God sees it, the ears are tuned to the truth, the heart begins to truly love, the mouth speaks a new language of faith, the head bows, the hands serve and the feet follow the LORD.
A new mind means a new life for the believer!
PLEASE Lord, help us submit ourselves to your restoration and learn to mind our manners! THANK YOU, Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment