The Need & Power of a Renewed Mind - Romans 12:2 | Part 1
Mar 8, 2023 | by Teacher Michael Carter
The Need to Renew our Minds
One of the most important components in our lives is our thinking. Our success spiritually and naturally is predicated on how we think about ourselves, God, His Kingdom, others and the world we live in. Where we are currently in our natural and spiritual lives in part, is the result of our thinking. If we desire change, it starts with your thinking.
- You must learn a new way to think before you can learn a new way to be. ~ Marianne Williamson
- We are products of our culture and interpret the world through our mental conditioning. ~ Myles Munroe
One may say; I don't need to renew my mind, I'm saved and living fine so far.
All of heaven rejoices because you are saved. But you only have entered the doorway of your relationship with God and His Kingdom. An unrenewed mind is like standing in the vestibule of a house. Your there, yet there is plenty more to learn and discover in the house. Herein is the need to renew your mind in regards to God’s word. There is so much more in God’s house to learn and experience. It’s done through renewing your mind. Our minds need to be upgraded.
There is so much power in how we think. Proverbs 23:7
It matters not if what we are thinking is true or not; if we believe it; it becomes our reality. It then impacts and influences our lives. Therefore, we will live accordingly. And that includes our thinking about the world, and yes God. We will not experience God above our knowledge of Him and His word. There is so much power in our thinking. We all need to renew our minds.
I encourage you to read the book by James Allen called As a Man Thinketh. You can read it from our list of free PDF books here on our web site under growth. Click growth, hit the PDF book library for the list of free books and have at it.
There is a need to renew our minds because our minds need to be converted. Psalm 19:7
When we became born of God’s Spirit our spirit was recreated, but our minds were not. Your worldly and even your religious thinking will hinder your personal growth as well as your relationship with God and His kingdom. Renewing your mind lines you’re thinking up with God's word, will and kingdom. And it gives you God's perspectives opposed to the worlds.
We cannot put new wine in old wineskins. Matthew 9:14-17 / Matthew 3:2
Your old thinking will not fit or work in your new life with God and His kingdom. This is why Jesus told them to repent. The word used there means to change your thinking. Jesus was explaining to them, as well as to us; He was returning the kingdom of God to God's people. However, their minds must be renewed in order to operate in it effectively.
There is a need to renew our minds because of the deceptions and error in the land
People do things in the name of religion that has very little to do with God and His kingdom. But if you don't know and you follow what's typically done, you will continue in error. Often people include their culture into their relationship with God and the practice of their faith. Which in some cases has nothing to do with God, nor are they scriptural.
Renewing our minds gives us God's principles and the tenants of the faith to lead us to live out our faith. Renewing our minds frees us to live out of faith according to God's word.
There is a need to renew our minds because the enemy has sown deception in the world. 2nd Corinthians 2:11 / 2nd Corinthians 4:3-4
The enemy uses our thinking against us. The word devices used in this text is the Greek word no-ay-math. It means concept or thought. A few of them sown by the enemy are secular humanism, Darwinism, egalitarianism, individualism, materialism and relativism. The enemy uses them to deceive and pollute the thinking of people and separate them from God and His word. Many succumb to them unknowingly. Thankfully, God gave us the truth of His word to renew our minds, liberate, lead and help us to navigate through it all successfully.
A suggested read is 7 Toxic Ideas Polluting Your Mind by Anthony Selvegglo. He goes in detail on some of these areas.
There is a need to renew our minds in regards to God being All Mighty God.
He is Jehovah-Elohim, the creator of all things. Genesis 2:4-25 Renewing our minds and perceiving God as the all self sufficient self existing one, who is above all and created all brings all other theories of creation in subjection to the word of God. And it places God in the rightful position in our minds. He is to be honored, respected praised and worshiped.
There is a need to renew our minds in regards to God’s love. John 3:16 / Romans 5:8
God is love. This is the love that gives of itself without having any expectation from the recipient. The love of God moved Him to send Jesus to the cross to redeem humanity. No, He doesn’t excuse sin; He extends His love to forgive sin because of Jesus. It is the love of God that moves Him to be merciful towards humanity when in reality; we all deserve His guilty judgment. But because God is love, His mercy and longsuffering is extended towards us. And because God is love, it motivates His actions towards us. Jeremiah 29:11
There is a need to renew our minds in regards to God being a father to the born again
John 1:13 / Galatians 4:6 / Ephesians 2:19 There is a difference in God being our creator and being our father. Being our creator is not our choice, He creating all things. And that included us. However, being born of the Spirit of God and receiving Him as our father is our choice by getting born again of His Spirit. This is the difference in any other religion on the planet. Being reborn causes His Spirit to again dwell in our spirits and changes our place and position with God. Not because of us, but by His grace.
Being reborn reconnects us to God as our father and repositions us in His household and kingdom. There are certain realities associated with this position that we need to renew our minds about. God has always wanted to interact with us as our father. As a father, He is committed to our success with the love, care and patience of a father.
There is a need to renew our minds in regards to the holiness of God. 1st Peter 1:15-16 / Hebrews 12:14
We don’t want to think that we can live any kind of way and believe that it’s acceptable with God, it is not. God is completely and absolute holy. Therefore, He expects us to live holy. Holiness is the act of living sinless in our ways. Although we have our part, we cannot do this in our power. God has given us His Spirit to empower us in living holy. All we have to do is grow and yield to the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 3:14-19 / Romans 6:6-13 / 2nd Corinthians 4:7
There is a need to renew our minds in regards to the righteousness of God. Psalm 145:17
Righteousness is the ability to stand upright before God without any consciousness of sin and condemnation. And yes, if you are thinking that you can't do that; your right, God is the only one who is completely righteous in all His acts and nature. Thankfully, God has provided a source of righteousness that’s extended to us through Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21
There is a need to renew our minds that God is a just. Deuteronomy 32:3-4 / Psalm 97:1-2
God is perfectly just in all of His acts, judgments and treatment towards humanity. Often people say "if God is a loving God why would He judge people and send them to hell". Well, He has sent the answer to mitigate His judgment to humanity through Jesus Christ. Through Christ we are righteous, atoned and made just. John 3:17 / John 16:8-10
And being a just God, He will judge all accordingly; no one will escape it. Renew your mind in the fact that God is a just God, in whom we all must give an account. Allow that mindset to inform your choices and behavior. Don't listen to the world, renew your mind in regards to Him being just, behave accordingly and trust Him.
There is a need to renew our minds in regards to how we view the world.
When I use the term world, I am speaking about its systems, concepts and operations that are being maintained on the planet. In its current state, the planet’s systems are not operating according to the initial plans and operations it was created for. This planet was created for the kingdom of God. And eventually, God will reestablish His kingdom as its government.
2 Peter 3:10–13 / Revelation 21:1–5 / Isaiah 65:17–19
There is such a need to renew our minds with the word of God
Renewing our minds with the word of God is the pathway that unveils His heart intent, perceptions and perfect will for our lives. It unveils the enemy’s deceptions and liberates us with truth. It gives us insight and perspective in regards to this world’s current condition and future. This informs our behavior and and hearts focus.
Renewing our minds brings all in subjection to the word of God. 1st Corinthians 2:2-16
Keep in mind, the only thing darkness needs to exist is the absence of light. This applies to our thinking as well. Renewing our minds with the truth unveils the perspectives of God and His possibilities for our lives and dispels deception, lies and schemes. This empowers us to maintain our faith and anchors our thinking in God’s word. This is the power of a renewed mind.
Click here for Part 2 - The Impact of a Renewed Mind
Keep in mind that hearing alone does not impact your life or bring God’s success; obedience and application Does. Apply these instruction and walk in them. Then you will experience God’s influence in your life. Joshua 1:8 / James 1:22