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“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).
The human mind is a wonderful and fascinating gift from God. While the brain is the physical organ that houses and enables the mind to operate in the body, it is through a network called the central nervous system that the mind is able to make sense of the world.
God cares about your mind. He is very clear that our thoughts are both visible and important to Him. Your thought life can either be acceptable or unacceptable to God. In Hebrews 4:13, the Bible teaches that “all things are naked and open in the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Not only does God see your thoughts, He will hold you accountable for them.
The Bible has much to say much about the mind. The Word “renewing” is the Greek word for “metamorphoo” which is to be transformed or transfigured. The truth is that you are powerless to change anything for which you refuse to accept responsibility. Becoming aware of what and how you think is an important first step to developing a new mind that reflects the plans and purposes of God.
As the caterpillar changes into a butterfly so must you stop being conformed to this world and its evil influences and transform your mind into harboring God’s Word. A “renewed mind” is one that has done two things: It has “put off” any sin (hurt, doubt, fear, rebellion, self-centeredness, lust, bitterness) any corrupt thinking, or any barrier that would quench God’s Spirit and has “put on” the mind of Christ. Renewing your mind is not simply “changing” your thoughts, while actually putting off the old, and negative thoughts as well as putting on God’s thoughts.
Because, it takes a conscious effort on your part to stop thinking the negative, unbelieving
thoughts of the world (the habit of our old man) and put into your mind the exceeding great and precious promises that God has served to you with great grace and mercy. This new man that is spiritually minded appears when you take an active part in renewing your mind to the Word of God. The way you learn to live Christ’s life, is by the renewing of your minds - putting off your own negative and corrupt thinking and putting on God’s thoughts. If you are doing God’s word you are reaping the benefits of God’s word. If you are doing anything else than the Word you are against God and His Word and we will receive the consequences.
The reason mind renewal is so important, because God wants you to have His mind, His thoughts and viewpoint in every situation. So, if you can see from His perspective, then you’ll be able to soar above your circumstances, your problems, and your trials and not get buried under them.
First Example of Renewing Mind:
For A Computer Perspective
The Bible has a far more profound analysis of the problem. “That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind” – Ephesians 4:22-23. The spirit of your mind does not have the capability to manage data or information like sophisticated computer. The modern computer is a marvel of human progress. Yet in almost every way, the computer was conceived, designed, and produced as a replica of the human mind. Consider this: a computer has three basic elements - a screen, a CPU (central processing unit) and an operator (programmer). For the purpose of this illustration, consider these three components as metaphors for your own spirit, soul, and body. The screen is your natural or physical life. The operator is the spirit. The CPU (central processing unit) represents the human soul or mind. Before you knew Christ, you were using an old operating system. Because you were lost, you programmed all kinds of wrong things into the CPU - bad language, bad behavior, bad “short- cuts,” and had some really bad “web-surfing” habits as well. This filled your CPU with ungodly material.
Then, one day, you became born again. On that day the operator or programmer changed. A brand new righteous and spiritually alive operator was placed behind the same old computer and told to produce new images and results on the screen. Because the CPU had already been programmed and operated by the person that used to sit there, it still produces those bad images. When you try to “surf the web” of your mind, the old habits, bookmarks, and historical data of the former user keep popping up. The old programs are still running behind the scenes even though new applications or thoughts are installed. Viruses and spyware from the world continuously try to enter and corrupt your new applications.
Sometimes, the whole system crashes, and you will fall back into your old patterns of thinking, speaking, and behaving. God has given you a special “recovery system” that will always restart and restore your minds - prayer, confession of sin, and faith in God’s Word.
The problem is that your mind is of a fallen nature. It has a spirit which is bent because the mindset is hostile to the absolute supremacy of God. Your mind is bent (focus) on not seeing God as infinitely more worthy of praise than you are, or the things you achieve, desire or make or want. You must exchange your earthly way of thinking for Christ- centered thinking.
He says you must “set your minds.” In other words, your mind has what is called a “mindset.” Your mindset is more than just fleeting thoughts or ideas. A mindset is a deeply entrenched pattern of thinking that develops over time which result from repeatedly thinking about something in a particular way until that perspective becomes second nature to us. The mind has a “spirit.” The Bible clearly states that you must not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance. Which is an ignorance of God truth that will make you a slave too many passions and desires that would cause you to lose the power God has given you as an “overcomer in Jesus Christ.”
Your mental suppression of liberating truth is rooted in the hardness of your heart. Your hard heart will not submit to the sovereignty of Christ, and therefore your blind mind cannot see the supremacy of Christ either. The Holy Spirit works from the inside out, breaking the hard heart that blinds and corrupts your mind. “Man’s basic problem is preoccupation with self. He is innately beset with narcissism, a condition named after the Greek mythological character Narcissus, who spent his life admiring his reflection in a pool of water. In the final analysis, every sin results from preoccupation with self. We sin because we are totally selfish, totally devoted to ourselves, rather than to God and to others”. –John MacArthur