Renewing the Mind

“Neuroplasticity – our brain has the ability to reorganize and change itself… God knows our neuroplasticity, He designed us with it…

Our mind isn’t set in stone, in Christ it can be transformed…

Think of His great sacrifice for us… How can we not offer Him ourselves as a sacrifice in return… This is a figurative sacrifice in response to Jesus’ literal sacrifice…

What does our sacrifice look like… Out of gratitude, the actions of our bodies should live out the desires of God… not the desires of our flesh…

Why is it so hard to live out? We need to unlearn somethings… Our brain spends its whole life learning things, then Jesus comes along…

Our bodies are controlled by the desires of our mind… if our mind is renewed by the Spirit and well, our bodies will be that living holy sacrifice, living out that spiritual worship to God…

But God calls us to be “transformed”… Renewing the mind – transforming our thoughts to that of Christ’s … this is counter intuitive thinking …

By having a transformed life and a renewed mind we begin to live out the beautiful will of God… The will of God is “good and acceptable and perfect” …

Satan conforms us, not to enlighten us, but to condemn us…
God transforms us, to restore us, to redeem us…

The five major defaults of our mind

1. Isolation in the face of conflict… Satan has a field day on us when we isolate ourselves…
2. Anxiety… Fear beings to control us… our decision making becomes driven by fear…
3. Depression…
4. Insomnia…
5. Escape…

“Such WERE some of you” past tense… this is “Neuroplasticity”… we don’t have to stay the same, our minds do not have to stay the same…

The world would define us by our struggles and sin, God would define us by our victories, and our inheritance as sons and daughters of God…

10 practical strategies for renewing the mind

1. Focus on the word, praise & worship and prayer – seek Jesus… it’s hard to be transformed by someone we’re not in communication with…

2. Celebrate God’s design – emotions are part of God’s design – Jesus wept – but don’t let them drive your life…

3. Embrace your limitations – don’t try to be someone else… part of renewing our mind is being content with the idea of being different…

4. Quickly redirect your thoughts – keep your mind stayed on God… don’t give the enemy time in your thoughts…

5. Don’t be an approval addict… part of renewing our mind is finding our approval in God, and His view of us, and not what other people think…

6. Find a healthy hobby, not an obsession… Sometimes we’re just plan bored… Hubert – “Gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get tomato’s in the end…”

7. Live what you preach outside of ministry – hypocrisy is a joy killer…

8. Identify the source of the issue… sometimes the issue isn’t the issue…

9. Discipline your mind…

10. Relax… embrace imperfections… not saying be okay with sin, but be okay with being human… sometimes we say dumb things, were socially awkward in moments, etc… We need to be able to receive a little mercy from ourselves…

This is the work God wants to do through and in you… Will you practice a little “Neuroplasticity” and allow God do His transforming work by being renewed in Him?”

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