Kingdom Thinking
The renewed mind is something that we talk about a lot in Church culture today and Paul highly emphasized it in His writings to the church in Rome. We all know the scripture and have heard this topic discussed many times. But, do we truly know why it’s so important?
Changing the way we think can change our lives. Our thought life impacts the way we do anything and everything. If we can believe who God says we are then we can live in the fullness of His destiny and purpose for us.
What is the renewed mind?
“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” -Romans 12:2
Simply put, a renewed mind is a mind that thinks like God. When we’re renewing our minds in the Word and truth of God, we begin to see and think from His perspective. We no longer see things from a worldly standpoint, but rather a heavenly view.
Why is it important to renew our minds?
We all grow up being influenced and impacted by the ideas and lifestyles of the people around us. Trauma, wounding, lies, etc. impact the way we view God, ourselves, and others. Renewing our minds is a choice that we make to overcome these false narratives, tap into God’s perspective, and shift our realities.
Our thoughts influence our emotions (what we feel to be true) which, in turn, affect our behaviors and actions. The way we think directly influences how we live our lives. For example, if you think you’re a bad friend, then you’ll feel like a bad friend and act like a bad friend. These actions reinforce the idea that you’re a bad friend. Seems like an intense cycle, doesn’t it?
When we think of a specific thought or do the same actions over and over again, neural pathways are formed in our brains. These paths are the grooves or “road maps” in our minds. The density of these pathways increases as the behavior or thought is repeated.
As we begin to think differently, our brains begin to change shape and new neural pathways start to develop, making it easier to believe and follow the truth.
How do we build new neural pathways?
Our thoughts and habits can keep us in a box that hinders our growth and healing journey. We have to allow God to come in a “shake things up” in our minds if we want to see the way we think changed for the better.
We first have to yield to the Lord and His way of doing things. His truth is often the opposite of what we have believed to be true for years! Through surrender, we can let go of our control and let Him have His way in our belief systems.
Ask the Lord if there are any areas of your thoughts where a lie has been your truth. Repent for partnering with the lie and ask Him to replace it with His truth. Allow your thoughts to come into alignment with His words. Reading, meditating on, and declaring the Word of God over yourself will change your thought patterns. You can live in freedom and wholeness, one thought at a time.
Sozo breaks down the lies and barriers that would hinder us from knowing the truth about God and ourselves. If you’re ready to step further into freedom and truth, click here to get started.