Monday 16 September 2013

Romans 12:2 “Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.” WEB

Don’t be squeezed into the mold of this world, like putty in the hands of a workman.  Don’t allow yourself to get forced into a carnal culture that you know doesn’t bring glory to God.  Rather, go through a metamorphosis. In other words, let God transform you.

How does this happen? By renovating or restoring the mind.  Only then are we able to test, examine, prove, and discern what the will of God is on a daily basis.

When I was just a young Christian I heard a preacher say the following, and it has stayed with me all my life.

Sow a thought – reap an action.

Sow an action – reap a habit.

Sow a habit – reap a lifestyle.

Sow a lifestyle – and reap your destiny.

It all begins with a single thought.

You don’t do anything without a thought.  Your brain controls literally everything you do, everything you feel, everything you ever want to do.  It all starts in the brain.  Even when you are sleeping, your brain is hard at work processing everything, including all the things that your consciousness filtered out during the day.

Most people feel like they are prisoners of their thoughts.  Flip Wilson, an American comedian in the 1970’s made popular the expression, The devil made me do it!  Contrary to what some demon chasers teach, the devil CANNOT enter your mind and put thoughts there.  He can only create an environment conducive to certain types of thinking.

Rather, you are in control of your mind, your will and your emotions.  You don’t have to think anything you don’t want to think, do anything you don’t want to do, or feel anything you don’t want to feel.  God provided all the grace you need to take control of your mind and be transformed.

Let me ask you a few questions, just to stimulate your thinking today.  What kind of a person do you ultimately want to be?  What are the qualities you most want to be remembered for when your life is over?  What do you want your destiny to look like?  Now, please, before you get into your busy day take time to think on these things.  And then, write them down.

Now, here is the next question.  Keep in mind the kind of destiiny you want to acheive in this life.  Now ask yourself this question: what kind of a lifestyle do you think it will take to achieve such a destiny?  Write that down too.

We’re getting closer to the conclusion.  Once you’ve identified the kind of lifestyle you need to acheive your destiny, ask yourself this question: what kind of behavior should you be exhibiting in order to achieve that kind of a lifestyle?  Write that down as well.

And finally, what kind of thoughts should you allow in your mind that will produce the kind of behavior you want?  Please, please, write this down too.

Your thought life that you have today is not an accident.  It has been developping under the influence of your will since you were about 6 years old.  It is very hard to change all the old patterns of thoughts.  But it is possible.  Writing these things down and praying over them is the first step towards being renewed in the mind.  So, commit this to God and declare in faith that you will only sow the right kind of thoughts.