Image via WikipediaWhat does God want to do for the MINDS of His children? In order for this to happen within us, the Bible says that we must: "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up ; against thee knowledge of God" and take "captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (II Corinthians 10:5) So then, if our minds are to be renewed as God wishes so that we may love Him with ALL our minds, we must: Freely give all of our thoughts to Christ in obedience.
Here are things which Help us to RENEW our mind:
Reading books about the lives of God's people.
Reading Christian magazines.
Studying the life of Christ with an open mind.
Seeing films about the miracles of the world around us in nature.
Studying science and biology so that we know more about the world around us.
Watching Christian Television.
Listening to Christian Radio.
Surfing the Internet for Christian Sites.
Here is a list of things that do the reverse:
Listening to and telling off-color jokes.
Reading Playboy magazine.
Watching whatever happens to be on the television.
Watching programs and movies which show violence, crime, and sex.
Using words which may be taken in two ways, one of which is dirty.
Refusing to allow the truth to do away with the prejudices that we have.
The process of renewing one's mind has both a Positive and a Negative side. Both of them are equally important. We must Reject everything that is impure and not of Christ's Lordship of our minds. That is the Negative side. But, on the other hand, we must also Take Hold of those things which are pure and good so that every thought can be taken captive to Jesus Christ's Lordship of our minds. Read the following verses carefully. They show us the Positive side of renewing the mind. Note: They are all commands.
"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." (I Peter 1:13)
"... whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." (Colossians 3:2)
It is rather easy to see that all of the verses which were quoted are COMMANDS to believers. They demand ACTION on our part. We are to prepare our minds, we are to think, trust, and set our minds upon the truth of God. In other words, our minds are renewed as we Keep Them Occupied with the things of God. If we do NOT, then Satan has opportunity to place other thoughts into our minds. According to Hebrews 8:10, where should God's commandments be?
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