Introduction:
Perhaps, there have been times in your life when you felt desolate, alone, and that there was no one who cared. Perhaps you have gone through life like a hurricane, hurling insults and criticism, and tearing up everyone and everything within sight. You’ve hurt those who loved you, and walked on others and chewed them up like a garbage disposal. Now, here you are, all alone and in the wilderness of despair.
All has not been lost. As we enter a brand new year, a year filled with hope, promise, and insight, staring fresh is an option. You and I can view this year as a blank canvas. An artist methodically scrutinizes his subject, then dips his brush into paint and begins to fill the canvas with something that is fresh and innovative. Like the artist, you can fill your canvas of life with whatever you want to. In Christ you can be whatever you want to be, and you can pursue whatever course you desire to pursue. Get your notebook and pen out …and make a list. Write your past mistakes, the folks you have hurt, the ones you need to ask forgiveness, and the hurt and pain you have endured. Then list your goals and aspirations. I want you to remember: You have to be brutally honest. Nobody should read this notebook but you. It’s between you and God. As you write, pray, and study God’s Word, you should be able to experience a change of:
Thought, a different way of thinking, a mind change:
A new way of thinking is not an option, but a perquisites. In order to receive forgiveness, you must first have a change of mind. If you want to be forgiven, you must ask those who you have injured. If someone has hurt you; either verbally or physically, you should be willing to forgive them. This is the season, the year for a new and fresh start, a new beginning, if you don’t lose hope. As long as you have breath in your body, it is not too late for a fresh start. It begins with your mind, your heart, and your thoughts. You must WANT to begin anew. You must WANT a new beginning. You must want to change. It is your choice. Nobody can make the decision for you. Nobody can do it for you. You must want the Lord to transform you into a new person by transforming your thought pattern, the way you think.
Don Colbert, M.D. author of Deadly Emotions: Understand the Mind-Body-Spirit Connection That Can Heal or Destroy You, writes "I've worked with countless people who have discovered that once they made a sincere effort to tackle their dysfunctional thought patterns, they had fewer bouts of depression, anxiety, anger, grief, shame, jealousy, and all other toxic emotions.”
Your thoughts can not only hinder your Spiritual growth, and your blessings, but it can also affect your health; both mentally and physically.
The Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Romans and to you and me pens Romans 12:2: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
In his letter, Paul is admonishing believers to not be “conformed” to the world. What does he mean by this? The Greek word for conform is “Suschematizo.” This means: To conform your mind or pattern to another pattern. In other words, if you are in school or the workplace with unsaved folks who are drinking, doing drugs, gang activity, you should not become a conformist. Your Light should be shining so that others will have the desire to turn from evil to God.
The apostle is saying, :”…be not conformed to this world.” Don’t become a partaker of what the world is doing. Don’t give in to peer pressure.
How are we to abstain from being a conformist? How do you work or go to school with party goers, and drinkers and drug trafficking and not conform?
Do we run away and become a hermit? No! The apostle continues, “but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
The Greek word for “renew” is Anakainosis which means: “a renewal, renovation, complete change for the better.” I worked for a construction company for years, and I supervised a lot of renovations. The interior of a house, sometimes, was completely hulled out, and new materials; lumber, flooring, electricity, plumbing, were used. The house, though old, when completed was like new. This is what must happen to us. All our old way of thinking, our way of talking, of walking must undergo a complete renovation.
In order for your thinking, your mind to be renewed you must have the Holy Ghost. Romans 8:5 tells us that, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” (KJV) For a new way of thinking we must focus on Spiritual things. You should allow the Holy Ghost to lead you.
Paul says in Galatians 5:16-18: “(16) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (17 )For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (18) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” (KJV)
When you are led by the Holy Ghost, you will be anxious to hear and obey the Word of God. It won’t be something you are forced to do, or do because of habit, but joyfully and full of enthusiasm. Your love for Christ will be uppermost and continually in your mind. Your actions, your walk, and your way of thinking will be different. It will be so different that others will notice and crave to have what you have. They will want to be partakers of your lifestyle.
If you are walking in the Spirit, these qualities will be manifested within you. Others will notice the change in you. Your home life will change. Your school or work place will notice.
Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
In order for the fruit of the Spirit to mature within you, you must align your life with Christ. Allow His love to flow and overflow within you. Read and study His Word, and imitate Him. Become a follower of Christ.
God’s Word tells us what to think, how to think:
Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
What goes into your mind, into your thoughts is manifested in your words and actions. The Apostle tells us to train our minds with thoughts that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely; of good report, virtuous, and praise-worthy. Take an inventory of the things that you are filling your mind with. What music are you listening to? What television programs or movies are you watching? What books are you reading? What folks are you talking to? Allow the Holy Ghost to help you to focus on thoughts that are pure.
If you are carrying past hurts, and allowing these hurts to consume your thoughts, apply forgiveness over every hurt and bitter thought in your life. Only then will you be able to make a fresh start.
If you would like to start fresh, there is not a better time than now. If you have wrecked havoc on the lives of others, and inflicted pain and anguish, why not make the decision to begin anew today?
Illustration:
NEW CREATION
London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash around the interior.
As he showed a prospective buyer the property, Clegg took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage.
"Forget about the repairs," the buyer said. "When I buy this place, I'm going to build something completely different. I don't want the building; I want the site."
Compared with the renovation God has in mind, our efforts to improve our own lives are as trivial as sweeping a warehouse slated for the wrecking ball. When we become God's, the old life is over (2 Cor. 5:17). He makes all things new. All he wants is the site and the permission to build.
(Ian L. Wilson. )
