IS IT TIME FOR AN OVERHAUL OF YOUR MIND?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but
be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will
be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good,
pleasing and perfect will.”
(Romans 12:2)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever started to do something, and thought to yourself,
    “I wonder if this would be good for me?”
When we are younger, we probably don’t have mature thoughts
of this nature. So, one question we should consider is,
    “When do we start developing maturity?”
Of course we know it is different for each individual,
but hopefully it happens in the lives of everyone.

I can remember bad decisions for me and my friends usually
started with a comment like,
    “Hey guys, watch this!”

Impulsiveness can be one of the greatest detriments to wise
decisions. Quite often it is driven by sudden and uncontrolled
desires. A thought enters our mind and we respond without
considering the consequences. We should realize the importance
of all the decisions we make.

More than likely we will give serious thoughts to things like a career,
marriage, etc., but we often fail to think about the repercussions when
we make bad decisions on things we consider less important. We may
have a fast car and decide to ‘see what it will do’, and suddenly we are
in a ditch or worse.

We may decide to start drinking alcoholic beverages and we find
out quickly that our body defenses will try to expel them from our
body. Our mind may not decide what is good for our body, so our
body makes the decision for us.

So, here is another question,
    “What is good for me?”
The scriptures give us a three-part answer to this question.

First we should stop following the patterns of the world. Implied
is, the things of this world are not good for us. They cannot satisfy
our inner desires, and they can cause us to continue our search for
satisfaction.

Let’s assume that we feel something in the world actually did
satisfy our desires……..what then? In other words, once we
achieve what we thought we were searching for, how long
would it be until that ‘thing’ became less exciting, or even
boring, and we are driven to find something new? Something
else that will stir excitement in us once again.

To be honest, I believe we are happier whenever we have a
healthy goal that we continually strive to attain. Otherwise,
we will continue to follow our natural, worldly desires, and
suffer disappointments even if we are achieving short term goals.

Secondly, we are told that we need to renew our mind. This means
a transformation of our thoughts, desires, goals, attitudes, habits,
etc. It’s like taking our minds to a maintenance shop for an overhaul.
Some things are not working as they should and are in need of repair,
and other things are missing which are critical for a smooth running
mind.

Our minds are trying to operate using the wrong kind of fuel.
We are using low octane worldly thoughts instead of high octane
Godly thoughts. As a result our minds are not running at a high
efficiency and producing satisfying results.

Lastly, we are told to determine God’s will for our lives. Why?
Because what He wants for us is good, pleasing and perfect.
His will is also open-ended, which means we may spend an
entire lifetime striving to reach a goal He has created for us,
but find we out that it is unattainable until we step into eternity.

However, the good news is, we were pursuing what God wanted us
to do and it was beneficial for us (and probably others). It doesn’t
mean that our efforts will be unproductive and frustrating. When
we live in obedience to His will for us, we will experience a new kind
of peace, joy and happiness when we continually follow His plan.

Continuing to reach for a goal can keep us active and focused
on what is good, as we anticipate the results of our efforts. And,
God will often encourages us by giving us a glimpse of how the
things we are doing are having an impact on His earthly ministry.

Serving the Lord does not cause boredom, or leave us unsatisfied
and searching for something new and exciting. God has a plan for
the life of every Christian, and when we follow His plan, every
circumstance, and every turn of our destiny, is for our good.

ACTION:
Now that you know what is good for you, what is your response?
Are you willing to stop following the patterns of the world, have
your mind renewed, determine God’s good and perfect will for
you, and start following His plan for your life?

We all enjoy the approval of others, so we should naturally have
a desire for God’s approval as well. Believers will be judged on
their efforts to follow God’s will for their lives (it is a judgment
reserved for Christians that is different and separate from the
judgment of sinners).
    For we must all appear before the judgment seat
    of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is
    due us for the things done while in the body,
    whether good or bad.
    (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father I now realize that peace and happiness
can only be found through following Your will for my life.
I have tasted the things of the world and discovered they
do not satisfy and they leave me thirsty for more. Renew
my mind so that I will focus on You and Your will for my
life. Your Word assures me that You have a good and perfect
plan for me. It is a plan that will brighten my life, will keep me
striving toward a good goal, and give me a satisfaction that the
world cannot offer me. How often I want to run ahead of Your
plans, so Father teach me to trust You completely and realize
that in the midst of all the events of this day, You are working
out Your will for my life.”

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