How Do I Renew My Mind?

A question I often hear from sincere Christians is, “How do I renew my mind?”

My first answer is that we don’t renew our own minds. We are changed by the “renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5), and it really can be quite effortless.

How did I become someone who once thought that God was wrathful, vengeful, punitive, impatient, easily angered, and not pleased with me; to someone who knows that God is good, loving, merciful, patient, kind, and He really likes me?  The answer is that Someone taught me.  The Teacher made it real to me.  The Spirit inside me convinced me of things I never could have believed on my own.

Since we do have this Teacher with us, it’s really a matter of rolling with the changes that are offered to us.  We have been changed, and we will continue to be changed as we look at God’s goodness.

“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord, who is the Spirit, makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.” – 2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT

Going forward, our minds are going to change about many things.  Our limitations on God’s goodness will fade.  How we feel about ourselves will change.  Our so-called “flaws” will mean nothing, for, in God, there is nothing wrong with us.  How we feel about humanity, even the worst ones in the headlines today will change.  We are feeling more compassion and gaining in understanding.  We will love these people much like our Father does, and we are becoming healers.

Finally, I would say to us all, to expect our minds to change about these things.  It’s okay. Don’t resist.  God is showing us something better than what the noise of common Christianity is shouting.  His thoughts are becoming our thoughts.  It will be beautiful and attractive for the world to see, and it will be powerful in healing our land.

Oh, it’s getting good!