In Romans 12:1-2, we read, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, (which is) your spiritual service. And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Ephesians 4:22-24 also teaches the necessity of renewing the mind: “that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit, and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.”

Unless we change our minds, i.e., change the way we think, changes in our lives will be superficial. Changing the surface things we do seems simple enough, but changing our lives to be like Christ’s life requires changing our minds. Herein lies the difficulty. How do I change the way I think? God has provided tools that are "... mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds,” and they can effectively bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) To change our minds, we must be willing to actively pursue the things that will transform our thinking and thereby transform us personally.

1. Meditate on God and His word. Consider the many admonitions from the Psalmist.

   • "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers: but his delight is in the law of Jehovah, and on His law doth he meditate day and night.” (1:1-2).
   • “The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul: the testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring forever: the ordinances of Jehovah are true, (and) righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the droppings of the honeycomb.” (19:7-10)
   • “I delight to do Thy will, O my God; yea, Thy law is within my heart.” (40:8)
   • “Give ear, O My people, to My law: incline your ears to the words of My mouth." (78:1)

   I encourage you to read Psalm 119 in its entirety, but consider the following excerpts:

   • “Thy word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Jehovah: teach me Thy statutes.” (Psalm 119:11-12)
   • “I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways. I will delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” (Psalm 119:14-16)
   • “Princes also sat and talked against me; (but) Thy servant did meditate on Thy statutes. Thy testimonies also are my delight (and) my counselors. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken Thou me according to Thy word.” (Psalm 119:23-25)
   • “I have seen an end of all perfection, (but) Thy commandment is exceeding broad. Oh how love I Thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, because I have kept Thy precepts.” (Psalm 119:96-100)
   • “How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! (Yea, sweeter) than honey to my mouth! Through Thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:103-105)

   We cannot meditate on those things we do not know. Spend time reading God's word. It will change the way you think.

2. Communicate with God through prayer. When one of His disciples said to Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1), that disciple uttered the human heart’s deepest, most universal desire—personal communication with the One who transcends time, space, and matter. Prayer is not a futile act. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” (James 4:8) If God were not willing and able to hear our prayers to Him, He would not draw nigh to us. We are assured that God cares for man and that He hears and answers prayer.

   • “For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears unto their supplication.” (1 Peter 3:12; cf. Psalm 34:15)
   • “...Casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

   Communication with God changes the way we think. That is why we are to “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

3. Involve your mind in worship by regularly assembling with brethren. In Hebrews 10:24-25, we read the command to “not forsake the assembling of the saints together.” This instruction is too plain to miss without help.

   • Forsake (egkataleipo) = “to leave behind in some place,...to desert” (Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994)

   It was the “custom” of some to “forsake” this blessing and not “consider one another to provoke unto love and good works.“ Assembling is one way that we show consideration for the spiritual well being of one another. In essence, our willful absence indicates lack of concern for the spiritual well being of others and that we are not particularly concerned with our own individual edification. If a man’s heart is not right before God, he must repent and change his heart. Obviously, there is value in our assembling together. It will change the way you and others think. Who can deny it?

4. Set your mind on things above. “If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.” (Colossians 3:1,2) Our thoughts should be occupied with the things of Christ:

   • Where He now dwells.
   • Where our final home will be.
   • Where our great interests are.

   Since we are raised from the death associated with sin, and are made to live anew, the great object of our contemplation should be the heavenly world. This certainly contrasts with earthly things--wealth, honor, and pleasure. Our affections should not be fixed on houses and lands or low and debasing enjoyments. Love heavenly things; study them; let them totally engross your heart. You are responsible for directing your mind's attention to certain things. The apostle Paul directed, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, 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.” (Philippians 4:8)

5. Learn what you must put off and what you must put on. “Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry...“ “... but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth: lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings." (Colossians 3:5, 8-9)

   “And have put on the new man that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of Him that created him.” (Co!ossians 3:10)

   “Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any, even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye: and above all these things (put on) love, which is the bond of perfectness.” (Co!ossians 3:12-14)

Indeed, we become what we think. We can, by denying the input of unholy things and by filling our minds with positive things, change our thinking and therefore our behavior. Let us remember, in performing the ongoing and often difficult tasks of transformation and renewing our minds, that we are not alone. Paul reminded the Philippians, “being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1:6)

“So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13)

Isaiah challenged God’s people, “Come now, and let us reason together.” (1:18) He called upon them to think the way God wanted them to think. Only by implementing the tools God gave them could they carry out this command. God has promised to bless the efforts of those who are determined to do the same. The result is a changed mind in a changed person.

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Eat and drink he says to you, but his heart is not with you.” (Proverbs 23:7) “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” (Matthew 15:18,19) What does your heart say about you?