Devotion #4: What Are You Thinking?

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 

One of my favorite phrases is: think about what you are thinking about. I appreciate the simplicity and depth it entails. The more we evaluate what consumes us, the better we will be able to move away from worldly thoughts. We are to be in the world, but not of it. The first step in doing this is to critique our thought life. Are we consumed with money, work, sports, music, gaming, or a person? Who or what is controlling our minds? 

Paul talks about being transformed “by the renewal of your mind.” As believers, 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that we become new people, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Our spiritual self should affect our mental track, too. This can help us to avoid being too prideful, lacking confidence, and having low self-esteem. It starts by evaluating who we allow to come into our minds and pull up a chair. Who is speaking into our lives? It needs to be God through His Word, Christian music, and godly friends. 

This “renewal of your mind” can also help in the area of anxiety. We know we can have peace with God through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1), but there is also the peace of God. Vance Havner wrote, “Not everyone who has made peace with God has realized the peace of God.” Philippians 4:4-7 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 

Please notice some of the keywords leading up to “peace of God.” They are activities of rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks. These are intentional disciplines that should fill our minds and flow out of our mouths from our hearts. 

Studies out of Duke University and the University of California at Berkeley found that the part of the brain that affects stress is the same part that processes thankfulness and blessings. It cannot do both at the same time. This does not mean no one will ever need medication, but for a lot of our anxiety and depression, we can take action. By being thankful in praising God, we transform our minds into a better place. 

Take some time today to praise our Almighty Father. Write out some of the things you are thankful for. Start a praise journal. Encourage others and watch the world around you change as the world within you becomes renewed.