Renewing Your Mind

This morning my devotion really struck a chord with me. In my journey to become content with where the Lord has me in my life, I have been learning to take my thoughts captive. Romans 12:2 is a verse that I memorized while I was in Haiti and have hidden in my heart. It is also a verse that I come back to often on my journey...many times daily, and honestly some times more than once a day. Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform 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." (emphasis added)

I am in the Birds on a Wire mom's group, and we are going through NPMi's HOPE curriculum. HOPE is about taking off our "flesh" (sinful nature) and replacing it with the Spirit of Christ.

I come back again and again to another verse that I memorized while I was in Haiti: Philippians 4:12 (emphasis added), "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." The process of taking off our flesh, of renewing our minds, must be learned. I am a sinful person by nature, but I can learn to take off my own flesh and replace it with that of Christ's. By taking my thoughts captive, renewing my mind to believe in my heart the promises of Christ and then living out those promises, I am able to fully live in the Presence of my Savior.



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I hope God will speak to your heart through this devotion.

February 2, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young



I am renewing your mind. When your thoughts flow freely, they tend to move toward problems. Your focus gets snagged on a given problem, clingling round and round it in attempts to gain mastery. Your energy is drained away from other matters through this negative focus. Worst of all, you lose sight of Me.

A renewed mind is Presence-focused. Train your mind to seek Me in every moment, every situation. Sometimes you can find Me in your surroundings: a lilting birdsong, a loved one's smile, golden sunlight. (Remember my new Habit #1 of 2011 - to count my blessings? Even the smallest of blessings are still straight from our Heavenly Father and He doesn't want us to miss them.) At other times, you must draw inward to find Me. I am always present in your spirit. Seek My Face, speak to Me, and I will light up your mind.

Romans 12:2; Psalm 105:4