What is on your Mind?

How is your state of mind?

The world’s greatest area of undeveloped territory lies beneath people’s hats. Our mind is like a mental garden. What are the thoughts we cultivate?

The Christian mind is…
1. REASONABLE

Romans 12:1 …present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Reasonable is "logikos" - it is logical. Christianity is rational. It makes sense. The Bible tells of how we tell of the reason of the hope that is in us - the word reason is logos.

God calls people to use their minds. Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together… Paul often used to reason and persuade his hearers - Acts 17:2 And Paul… reasoned with them out of the scriptures.

We have a sure basis for our belief, as a wise man building on the rock; Matthew 7:24. A lot of people are building on sand. They deny the Word of God.

It makes sense to put your life into the hands of the one who knows best the way you should take and loves you with the highest love.

The Bible contrasts those whose minds are controlled or governed by the flesh… and those who are led by the Holy Spirit: (Romans 8:6) "to be carnally minded is death: but to be spiritually minded is life and peace... the carnal mind is enmity against God."

Paul talks of Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, Acts 20:19. Be willing submit to His will. …that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Apply your mind in godly thinking so you can develop spiritually. Hebrews 5:14 …who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Feed your mind the right things.

The best of all knowledge is to know God. 2 Timothy 1:12 …I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Know Him. Intelligently believe and keep on learning.

The Christian mind is also...
2. RADICAL

God can change your mind, radically so. We don 't fit in with the WORLD and its philosophy (humanism, materialism). When we become a Christian a radical change takes place - our life focus changes.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.

The mindset of this world is: "Eat, drink and be merry" (Ecclesiastes 8:15). God calls us to be sober-minded. if we should ever feel like our mind is troubled - we can know Christ is a refuge for us.

The Bible says that the so-called "wisdom of the world is foolishness with God". We can know true wisdom: Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

Let go of unbelief, and stand for God. …be ye transformed… It’s a mind shift. Literally - a metamorphosis. A transformation takes place.

Repentance is a transformation in thinking - literally metanoia - a change of thinking. We need a radical change before a holy God. God's Spirit brings salvation, refreshing, and strength.

Also, the mind of the believer has an ongoing process of:

3. RENEWING
…by the renewing of your mind… To renew means to “make new again”.

Are we teachable? Have we that renewed thinking? A clear conscience?

How can you discover what God wants for you? How can you prove or discern the will of God? To search out the will of God, search the Word of God. There's a washing of the Word. He can purify our thinking.

2 Corinthians 10:5 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;

Our mind can be captivated in a good way.

How are we developing our mind? 1 Corinthians 14:20 talks about how God wants us “...in understanding be men”.

Be willing to let God shape you and your thinking, Biblically so. Christ brings true comfort, peace, and safety into our lives. Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

10,000 thoughts go through the human mind in one day. 3.5m per year. It is a super-computer.

Phil. 4:8 …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.

Think on the things of God. Renew your mind. Know God’s will. Colossians 3:2 Set your affection (mind) on things above, not on things on the earth. Focus your mind on what is godly and good.

Our thinking is powerful. We can have a sound, spiritual mind. We can know a reasonable mind, trusting Christ. A radical mind, different from the thought-patterns of those whose minds are blinded, but rather patterned after our model, Christ, and we can know a renewing… a new way of thinking, and it keeps happening, day by day, and we can become a heavenly minded people. Our thought patterns can be heavenly ones.

Does your thinking glorify God? Let Christ control your thoughts.