“Cheer up, it’s going to be a beautiful sunny day.”
“It will just make the UV rays extreme,” replied his negative wife.
“Well, at least be happy about the nice bonus check I received yesterday.”
“Doesn’t matter! We’ll get an unexpected bill like we always do. No need to be happy only to be disappointed again.”
Ever known anyone who dwelt in the negative to the point they could not think of anything positive. A husband seeking help shared the above dialogue illustrating his wife’s attitude. After some advice, the following day he lovingly confronted the issue with her. He was surprised when he learned she was not even aware of her constant negative mindset. They agreed he would begin pointing it out when she expressed negative comments. Over the next few months, with his help and through the Holy Spirit she began retraining her mind to reject negative thoughts and learning how to think and say positive things.
Paul tells us . . . be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rom 12:2). Scripture is an essential element in this process, but renewing our thinking encompasses more than putting Bible verses in our mind as mere rote information. The verb transformed in the original language means a continual daily process. The grammar also indicates it is something done by the Holy Spirit working in us. Yet, the Bible also teaches we have a role in controlling our minds.
Paul instructed the people at Philippi, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Phil 4:8 NIV). The definition of think about means a deliberate volitional action we take. This word can also be translated calculate, consider, reckon, or reason.
The mind is such an integral part of our being it is easy to overlook its importance in serving Christ. A Pharisee asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” Jesus answered, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND (Mat 22:36, 37). Note the last part; love the Lord . . . with all your mind. This means all that is in our mind should be pleasing to God. Nothing in our thoughts should offend the Holy Spirit who dwells in us and knows our every thought. I will be the first to admit this takes time and effort on our part. We must literally reorient our thinking process. We cannot delete all the negative, unclean, and sinful information stored in our brain through the years. However, we can learn not to access that information. Many of us sit before a computer every day with the potential through the internet and the touch of a button to find any kind of evil we can imagine, but we choose not to access these sites. If we accidently get on an inappropriate site, we can simply close the window. The mind operates in a similar manner.
One of Satan’s tactics is placing thoughts in our mind that we do not want there. Through the Holy Spirit’s help, we can reject these thoughts and instead think of something positive. But remember the devil does not give up easily and we often must repeat this action multiple times during the day. Yet, scripture promises when we stand against him, he will flee. The more we practice this, the easier it becomes when he returns.
In addition to what is already stored in our memory, more important we must guard against what we put into our mind. What we listen to, what we watch, what we read, and with what people we associate are sources for the information entering our minds. David gives an insightful principle. I will set no worthless thing before my eyes (Psa 101:3). Various versions translate no worthless things as no vile things, vulgar things, wicked things, and evil things. The Message Bible provides further clarity. I refuse to take a second look at corrupting people and degrading things. I . . . stay clear of contamination. Eating nothing but junk food will evenly affect our health. Knowingly, filling our mind with junk, worthless things, vile and vulgar things, or wicked things falls short of loving the LORD with all our minds. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you if you are mentally feeding on junk.
Solomon wrote, For as he thinks within himself, so he is (Pro 23:7). The woman in the opening story has become a joyful and positive Christian and rarely speaks anything negative. It is no longer a deliberate effort, but positive thoughts have become part of her personality. Through her deliberate actions and the Holy Spirit’s renewing, she retrained her mind to think good things and now this has become who she is.
Sustaining Word for the Week: What’s on your mind today? Are you worshiping the Lord with all of your mind?