Renewing Your Mind: Where to Begin? | alyssajhoward.com

Renewing Your Mind: Where to Begin?

We know that renewing your mind is important, and we’ve studied the benefits. But where do we begin exactly? If renewing your mind is a process, then what does that process entail? Fortunately, the Bible gives us quite a bit of insight into where to start.

 

Renewing Your Mind: Where to Begin? | alyssajhoward.com

 

*This post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

 

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. – Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)

 

Seven practical steps to begin renewing your mind:

 

  • Pray.

Pray without ceasing. This is most definitely the key to daily renewing your mind. God is on our side and desires for us to grow and mature in Him. Pray and ask God to help you as you endeavor to change your thinking.

 

  • Understand where worldly thinking originates.

The enemy hates it when we change our thinking, and he will do anything he can to keep us from doing so. He will plant seeds of doubt, temptations, worry, defeat, low self-worth… you name it and he will try it.

 

  • Be prepared to combat lies with the truth.

Do you know your Bible? The enemy certainly does. He knows the truth, and he hates hearing it. Since we know that worldly thinking comes from him, we can combat his lies with the truth of God’s Word. So make sure you know it!

 

  • Do what is necessary to guard and protect your mind.

This seems to be the step that trips us up the most, myself included. There are many ways to guard our minds against worldly thinking. One way is by combatting the enemy’s lies with the truth (as we already pointed out). Another way, however, is to make sure that what we put into our minds is worthy of Christ. When it comes to movies, music, and other forms of entertainment, are we putting things in our minds that should be there?

 

  • Take every thought captive and make them obedient to Christ.

Thoughts are going to enter our minds. There’s no doubt about that. But we do have the authority to take our thoughts captive. Allowing them to stay and take root is up to us.  (And trust me when I say that it’s much easier to remove a thought before it takes root rather than after!)

 

…We tear down clever arguments and every proud notion that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. We take every thought prisoner and make it obey the Messiah. – 2 Corinthians 10:5 (The Kingdom New Testament)

 

  • Make the conscious choice to think about the right things.

The Bible doesn’t just say to stop thinking like the world; rather it tells us to start thinking like Christ. Renewing your mind involves replacing worldly thoughts with godly ones. How much time do we devote to thinking about the things of God?

 

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. – Philippians 4:8

 

  • Repeat these steps daily (hourly if needed.)

All of these steps are meant to be repeated. It’s certainly a process – one that grows easier each and every day. We simply need to be diligent, keep at it, and allow the Holy Spirit to transform our thinking.

Trust me when I say that it will be worth it.

 

Click here for a full list of posts in this 31-day series!

New Bible Study: Renewed and Transformed | alyssajhoward.com

 

Renewing Your Mind: Where to Begin? | alyssajhoward.com

 

 

*Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.

**Photo by Ben White at ChristianPics.co

 

 


 

 

Sharing is caring!

Similar Posts