Guarding Your Mind: Having It Open but Not at Both Ends
Proverbs 4:23, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
Introduction:
Today, we are addressing a critical topic for Christians in a world flooded with competing ideas, philosophies, and beliefs: "Having an open mind doesn’t mean having it open at both ends." An open mind is essential for growth and learning, but not every idea should be allowed to influence or shape our lives. Just like a well-tended garden, we need to guard our minds, cultivating what is good while pulling out the weeds.
Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) reminds us: “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” The "heart" in ancient Hebrew often referred to the inner self, including thoughts, emotions, and decisions. To guard your heart, you must guard your mind.
Point 1: An Open Mind, Anchored in Truth
The idea of having an open mind is often seen as a virtue in today’s world. People say, "You need to be open to everything." But let me ask you—do we really want to be open to everything?
The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:8 (NLT): “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
Here, Paul is writing to the believers in Philippi, encouraging them to focus their minds on things that align with God’s character. In the Greek, the word for “fix” is ??????µa? (logizomai), which means to consider or meditate on. It implies intentional, deliberate thinking.
Paul knew that the mind is a battleground, and whatever we dwell on affects our lives. We must allow only what is true and worthy to dwell in our minds.
In today’s world, there is an endless stream of information, opinions, and worldviews. But as followers of Christ, we must evaluate everything against the standard of God’s Word. Having an open mind doesn’t mean embracing every philosophy or trend. It means being open to the truth while rejecting lies.
As John Stott wisely said, “We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency, and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behaviour.”
Think of your mind as a home with a door. You wouldn’t leave the front door wide open all day, allowing anyone and anything to come in. You’d open it selectively for what is good and safe. In the same way, we must guard what we allow into our minds.
Point 2: Taking Every Thought Captive
The next principle we must follow is from 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NLT): “We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.”
Paul is speaking about spiritual warfare, specifically about the mind. The Greek word for “capturing” thoughts is a??µa??t??? (aichmalotizo), which means to take as a prisoner of war. Paul is saying that we must actively capture rebellious thoughts and make them obedient to Christ.
The world will try to implant all kinds of rebellious thoughts in our minds—thoughts that say we don’t need God, that following our own desires is enough, or that truth is relative. But we must be vigilant. We are in a spiritual battle for our minds. Not every thought that comes into our head should be entertained.
When we take every thought captive, we are choosing to filter our thinking through the lens of Scripture. Does this thought align with God’s truth, or is it rebellious? Is it from God, or is it from the enemy?
Charles Spurgeon once said, “The mind can descend far lower than the body, for in it there are bottomless pits. The flesh can only bear a certain number of wounds and no more, but the soul can bleed in ten thousand ways, and die over and over again each hour.” It’s imperative to guard the mind, because the consequences of an undisciplined thought life can be devastating.
Point 3: Renewing the Mind for Transformation
The Bible makes it clear that one of the keys to spiritual growth is the renewal of our minds. Romans 12:2 (NLT) tells us, “Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Paul contrasts the world’s way of thinking with the transformed mind that comes from God. The Greek word for “transform” is µetaµ??f?? (metamorphoo), from which we get the word metamorphosis. It’s a complete change, much like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly.
This transformation happens by renewing our minds, replacing worldly thinking with biblical truth. The world says, "Follow your heart." God says, "Follow my Word." The world says, "Truth is subjective." God says, "My Word is truth."
To have an open mind that isn’t open at both ends, we must allow God to renew our thinking daily. This doesn’t happen passively—it’s an intentional process of feeding on God’s Word, meditating on it, and applying it to every area of life. Only then can we know God’s will for our lives and live in alignment with it.
Think of a computer that has been infected with a virus. If you don’t install the right anti-virus software, the computer will continue to malfunction. Renewing our minds with God’s Word is like installing spiritual “anti-virus software” that protects us from the lies of the world.
Psalm 119:105 (NLT) says, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” God’s Word is our compass in a world that is constantly shifting. It’s the truth that leads us safely through life.
Point 4: Be Discerning, Not Naive
An open mind is not the same as a naive mind. 1 John 4:1 (NLT) warns us: “Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.”
John is warning the early church to be discerning about the messages they hear. Not every spirit or teaching comes from God, and the Greek word for “test” is d???µ??? (dokimazo), which means to prove or examine. Christians are called to test what they hear against the Word of God.
Today, there are many voices competing for our attention. We live in a time where false teachings, philosophies, and ideologies are rampant. We must be discerning about what we allow into our minds and hearts. Just because something sounds spiritual or profound doesn’t mean it’s from God.
As A.W. Tozer said, “The unattended garden will soon be overrun with weeds; the heart that fails to cultivate truth and root out error will shortly be a theological wilderness.”
Think of a farmer who plants a crop. He doesn’t just plant the seeds and then walk away. He has to tend to the soil, pull out weeds, and ensure that nothing harmful takes root. In the same way, we must be vigilant in tending to our minds, ensuring that falsehood doesn’t take root and choke out the truth.
Conclusion:
In today’s culture, it’s tempting to embrace the idea of having an open mind about everything. But we must be discerning. Having an open mind doesn’t mean having it open at both ends. We need to guard our minds with the truth of God’s Word, take every thought captive, and allow God to renew our thinking so that we can live transformed lives.
Call to Action:
Today, I encourage you to ask yourself: “What am I allowing into my mind? Am I discerning? Am I guarding my thoughts?”
Let us commit to fixing our minds on things that are true, honourable, and pure. Let’s take rebellious thoughts captive and be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
Invitation to Faith:
If you have never placed your faith in Jesus, today is the day to make that decision. Jesus is the light that dispels the darkness in our hearts and minds. He is the truth that sets us free. Will you trust Him today as your Lord and Saviour?
