How To Transformed By Renewing Of Your Mind

How to Be Transformed by the Renewing of Our Mind - Rom. 12:1-3

Illustration:Dr. J. Elder Cumming contended that "in almost every case the beginning of new blessing is a new revelation of the character of God--more beautiful, more wonderful, more precious."

J.O. Sanders, Enjoying Intimacy with God, Moody, p. 14.

1. RESURRENDER - Renewal begins by offering up our whole body, soul, mind and spirit to the Lord. It takes a conscious effort to present oneself to the Lord by disciplinging ourselves for godliness. Paul urges us to be present our bodies as a living sacrifice. Every day we are required to re-surrender, re-submit and realign our mind, will and emotions with the purposes of God. Set aside at least fifteen minutes every morning to worship, pray and read the Bible to allow the Lord speak to you about how He is worthy of your re-surrendering yourself to Him afresh every day.

Illustration:For those who think the coalition troops of Operation Desert Storm must have set some kind of record with their 100-hour ground assault against Iraq, the "record book" of history says otherwise. The shortest war on record was fought between Britain and Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania) on August 27, 1896. The huge British fleet issued an ultimatum to the sultan of Zanzibar, then followed with 38 minutes of bombardment before the badly mismatched sultan surrendered!

Today in the Word, July 3, 1993.

2. REJOICE in the Lord always. (Neh. 8:10; Phil. 4:4) When we find our strength through the joy of the Lord He renews our desire to please Him in all respects. By delighting in the Lord He gives us the desires of our hearts. Regardless of our circumstances His joy is transcendent over all disappointments, difficulties and discouragements.

Illustration:This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one: the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap, and being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

George Bernard Shaw quoted in: Jon Johnston, Courage - You Can Stand Strong in the Face of Fear, SP Publications, 1990, p. 171.

3. REMEMBER the good things you have and are becoming in Christ. People who have forgotten the benefits of being in Christ are apt to slip back in to mediocrity and self-destructive tendencies.

Illustration:Sometimes we as Christians need to stop along life’s road and look back. Although it might have been winding and steep, we can see how God directed us by His faithfulness. Here’s how F.E. Marsh described what the Christian can see when he looks back:

The deliverances the Lord has wrought (Deut. 5:15).

The way He has led (Deut. 8:2)

The blessings He has bestowed (Deut. 32:7-12).

The victories He has won (Deut. ll:2-7).

The encouragements He has given (Josh. 23:14).

When we face difficulties, we sometimes forget God’s past faithfulness. We see only the detours and the dangerous path. But look back and you will also see the joy of victory, the challenge of the climb, and the presence of your traveling Companion who has promised never to leave you nor forsake you.

4. RECKON yourself as dead to old desires and be filled with the Spirit’s power, perspective and piloting. Too many people allow the old desires to be fed instead of feeding from the Spirit’s supernatural forces. We reckon when we take into account all of the resources available to us in Christ and learn how to appropriate them. Calculate all the benefits you have in Christ’s forgiveness, hope, faith and love. Compare these benefits with the empty promises offered by fleshly desires. Jim Elliot said it best, "He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

5. RECONSIDER all of the negative conditioning that has led you in the past and realize you are need to reprogram your thinking to what is excellent, good, honorable, right, true, and worthy of praise. Without an effort to reconsider how our faulty assumptions effect our decision making we will tend to operate under the same old destructive thought patterns.

6. REPLACE what is fleshly with what God’s word. Paul wrote, "Put away anger, jealousy, wrath, slander and clamor and put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another, forgiving each other just as God in Christ has forgiven you. (Eph. 4:22-32) Learn how to replace whatever is prompted by fleshly tendencies with Spirit controlled scriptural principles. Let God’s word dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with songs and hymns and spiritual songs. Singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do, do it all in the name and the authority of Jesus." (Col. 3:16,17)