Preparing For The New Year Ahead. Part #2 Renewing Your Mind For The New Year Romans 12:2 Series

Sermon 2: Renewing Your Mind for the New Year Romans 12:2

Stand with me now and hold up your Bible and repeat after me.

This is my Bible

I am what it says I am

I have what it says I have

I can do what it says I can do.

Today I will be taught more of the Word of God

I boldly confess:

My mind is alert,

My heart is receptive.

I will never be the same.

I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, ever-living seed of the Word of God.

I will never be the same—

I’ll never be the same,

In Jesus’ Name!

Amen.

The Battle in the Mind

Church, if the enemy can’t stop you physically, he will try to stop you mentally.

The greatest battles of your life are not fought in your body, your finances, or your circumstances—they are fought in your mind.

Every victory or defeat begins with a thought.

Open you Bible to Romans 12:2 and say, "Amen" when you are there.

That verse tells us:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Notice—it does not say renew your year, renew your circumstances, or renew your relationships.

It says renew your mind.

If your thinking doesn’t change, your life won’t change.

Picture your mind as a garden.

If you do nothing, weeds will grow automatically.

Weeds don’t need permission. They don’t need effort.

Negative thoughts, fear, shame, regret, and lies grow naturally if they are not confronted.

But if you intentionally plant seeds—God’s Word, faith-filled declarations, worship, and truth—you cultivate a garden that produces peace, clarity, and victory.

A new year does not automatically bring a new mind.

A renewed mind comes from intentional spiritual discipline.

Point 1: Identify and Take Every Thought Captive

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:5

“We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Not every thought you have is from you.

Not every thought you have is from God.

And just because a thought enters your mind does not mean it deserves to stay.

Some thoughts need to be arrested, interrogated, and removed.

Fear says, “You’ll fail again.”

Faith says, “I can do all things through Christ.”

Shame says, “You are your past.”

Truth says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”

James lived with anxiety for years. His mornings were filled with “what if” thoughts.

One day, he decided to stop letting thoughts run his life.

He began writing down every negative thought—and then wrote a scripture next to it.

Fear: “Something bad will happen today.”

Truth: “God has not given me a spirit of fear.”

Over time, fear lost its authority. His thinking changed—and his life followed.

Start a Thought Journal

Write down recurring negative thoughts

Replace each one with a scripture

Declare daily:

“I will think thoughts aligned with God’s Word.”

Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment to identify lies quickly

Point 2: Fill Your Mind With Godly Truth

Scripture: Philippians 4:8

“Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable—think on these things.”

Your mind cannot be empty—it will always be filled with something.

If you don’t choose what goes in, the world will choose for you.

Isaiah 26:3 says:

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on You.”

Peace is not the absence of problems—it is the presence of a focused mind.

Imagine your mind as a radio.

If it’s tuned to fear, negativity, and chaos—you’ll hear static.

But when tuned to God’s Word, worship, and truth—you receive clarity and peace.

Begin every day with scripture or worship

Memorize verses that speak peace and confidence

Evaluate what you watch, listen to, and talk about

Replace toxic inputs with God-centered content

You cannot expect a renewed mind while feeding on polluted sources.

Point 3: Align Your Thoughts With God’s Promises

Scripture: Colossians 3:2

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

What you focus on determines what you move toward.

When your thinking lines up with God’s promises, your decisions change, your attitude shifts, and your actions follow.

Maria constantly worried about money and the future.

Every morning, she declared:

“My God shall supply all my needs.”

She didn’t ignore responsibility—but she refused fear.

Clarity came. Wise steps followed. Provision showed up.

Speak God’s promises out loud

Visualize success according to Scripture—not fantasy

Trust that a renewed mind produces renewed results

Point 4: Replace Fear With Faith

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7

“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”

Fear is not from God.

It is a signal that something needs to be submitted to faith.

Peter walked on water while focused on Jesus.

When he looked at the storm, fear took over.