You need a change of mind

Most people desire a change in their lives. For some, it is a change in their spiritual life, for others it is a change in their finances and for some it is a change in their relationships. However whatever the change desired, very few recognise the important role the mind plays in bringing about such a change.

So many times the bible reminds us that we are spirit beings with a soul and a body.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Thessalonians 5:23

When we become born again, it is our spirit that becomes recreated the soul and body remains unchanged. That is why we still battle the same old thoughts and behavioural issues that have to do with the mind (which is a faculty of our soul). However God does not want our souls to remain the same. He wants us to change and be more like him. That is why we are admonished in the scriptures:

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2

Some time ago, the Lord told me that: To change a man, you must first access his mind and influence his thinking.

Why you may ask does the mind play such an important role in the change of a man? Well the bible says: Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23

The new living translation says: Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do

The word heart here is used interchangeably with the mind which we use for thinking. That is why we also see in Proverbs 23:7 for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…

The important thing to note from this verse of scripture is that we are what we think (…for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…). Our thoughts affect everything we do. In fact one translation says “out of the heart are forces that govern life”. Therefore to change what a man is it is imperative that first of all his thoughts be changed.

Your mind is key to living the God ordained life

The difference between man and God is as wide as the difference between the way man think and the way God thinks. God declares:

…my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8

In order for us to become more like God in character and thinking, we must adopt the God way of thinking. It is therefore not surprising that after we have become saved and sanctified by grace through the blood of Jesus the scripture thereafter emphasises the renewal of our minds.

Our transformation from workers of iniquity to workers of righteousness, from hatters to lovers, from worldliness to godliness and from failure to success can not be achieved through forceful legalistic laws or any other means, but simply by the change of our minds.

Too many people are trying to become on the outside, what they are not on the inside. You can not get a man to live right for as long as he thinks wrong, because …as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…

When God wants to change a person and move him to higher level (nearer to himself) he first influences the person’s thinking through the agency of His word.

For example when God was preparing Joshua for successful leadership he first instructed Joshua to meditate (a function of the mind and its thinking faculty) on the word day and night. Joshua 1:8. As we meditate on the word, we being to learn to think like God, in our finance, our relationships etc and as much of God’s way of thinking that we adopt and do, so also will be the transformation in our lives. Notice that Joshua is first to meditate (change of thinking), then secondly he then is to observe to do and finally the result is that he is prosperous and have good success.

You can not make a man willingly do what he has not become part of in his thinking. You can force him, but when you are not there, he will revert back to his old ways. That is why rules and regulations don’t change people, what changes people is a renewed mind. More so God only promises us the reward of eating the good of the land when we are first willing (again an activity of the mind) and obedient. (Isaiah 1:19)

The devil is after your mind

It is not surprising that even the devil does not try to influence or change a man without influencing his thinking:

2Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The devil knows that once he can get people to think carnally, then he can keep them from living for God. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God Romans 8:7. The power of evil in the occult world lies in the ability to manipulate men by influencing their thinking through such practices as yoga, trans-accidental meditation, hypnotism etc.

This explains why the mind is the battle ground of a man’s life whoever you give the access to your mind, will stamp his influence on you and control your life for good or evil.

Now you can understand why the things that defile a man are not the things that go into him, but the things that come out of him

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashed hands defileth not a man Matthew 15:18-20

The problem I have with modern day preaching and ministry is that too many of the times when we should be influencing men’s mind and inspiring godly thinking in them for a positive change through the agency of God’s word, we are busy exciting them and making them hallo. Not that there is anything wrong with excitement but it just seems to be the focus of church these days, to the neglect of sound teaching of the word. That is why there is so much church these days but little transformation of lives.

“The church that marries the spirit of an age becomes a widow in the next generation”. … Dean William Inge

I dare to say at the risk of being tagged a physiologist that “A good minister or ministry is one that positively affects the thinking of people through the word of God. The bible says: If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 1 Timothy 4:6. See that what makes a man a good minister here is by how much your ministry affects the mind of the people with words of faith and of good doctrine.

How to renew your mind

1. Recognise that you have the mind of Christ

The mind of God can only be discerned and accessed spiritually by those who have the spirit of God.

11 for what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1 Corinthians 2:11-12

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

As a believer, your spirit man is born again and in touch with the spirit of God. The Spirit of God therefore reveals the deep things of God (that is the mind of God – vs. 10) to your spirit because the things of God can only be spiritually discerned (vs. 14). So your spirit man which has access to the mind of God and who knows you and your thoughts (for what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him vs. 11) becomes the delivery channel for helping you to think the thoughts of God. Perhaps it is in this sense that the scripture says we have the mind of Christ (vs. 16).

Thus technically speaking, we can think like Christ. It is important for you to recognise that having the mind of God and thinking like God is not something that is so distant from you that you can not have it.

2. Let the mind of Christ be in you

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:5

Having the mind of Christ is one thing, allowing that mind to permeate and govern your life is another. And I believe that this is where we face the biggest challenge. Too many are resisting the mind of God or the God way of thinking and yet wondering why they are not like God.

The word “LET” here means to allow, to permit, to yield, and to give room to. It is an act of our volition. Until we allow and give room to the mind of Christ in us we will continue to be carnally minded and conformed to this world. However if we truly want to see a transformation in any are of our life, then we need to get rid of all prejudice against the God way of thinking and allow the thoughts of God to be imprinted in our minds.

Our prejudice against the God way of thinking are often based on false misconceptions that Gods ways are not favourable. However God himself asserts:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

The God way of thinking is not harmful or unfavourable, but good, peaceful, and guaranteed to get you to your destiny

3. Meditate on the word

The word of God is the agency by which we learn the things of God. It is the food of our spirit man. Hence as new born babes we are admonished to desire the sincere milk of the word that we may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2). As you meditate on the word of God day and night your spirit is energised with the mind of Christ. The more energized your spirit is, the more of the mind of Christ that is available for you to adopt in renewing your mind and hence transform your life.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

The word of God is the key ingredient in the renewal of our minds. The word is powerful enough to discern our thoughts and address any contradiction of the mind and bring our thoughts in line with God’s way of thinking. How well will we meditate on the word will determine how much transformation, prosperity and success we have in life (Joshua 1:8).

4. Guide your thoughts…think on these things…

One reason why we do not see an effective change in our thought patterns is that we are often too passive when it comes to dealing with the issues of the mind.

If you do not proactively do something about your mind, your thoughts will remain the same. We need to take responsibility for what we allow in and out of our minds. The bible says we are to be diligent in this matter (Proverbs 4:23).

We must not underestimate the intensity of the spiritual warfare between good and evil to gain control over our minds.

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 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; 2Corrinthians 10:4-5

As we diligently meditate on the word of God, any thought that is contrary to God will be exposed so that we can deal with them. But not only are we to cast down contrary thoughts, but we are to focus on thinking right, that is give our minds to the thoughts that are right.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

As you begging to appreciate the importance of a renewed mind and allow the mind of Christ (the God way of thinking) to be in you, you will begin to see a transformation in your family, finances, ministry, carer and life as a whole.