Renewing Our Minds: Winning the Battle Within

Tyson Brewster <tysonrefugelc@gmail.com>

Renewing Our Minds: Winning the Battle Within

Romans 12:1-2 presents a transformative call to action for every believer:

"Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God."

At the heart of this passage is the understanding that our minds are the battlefield where spiritual victories and defeats occur. The choices we make about what to think, believe, and dwell on ultimately shape our lives and spiritual health. Let’s see what this means for us.

The Battle of the Mind

The apostle Paul warns against being "conformed to this age." The world’s values, ideologies, and priorities can subtly creep into our minds if we’re not vigilant. Revelation 3:15-16 paints a sobering picture of the lukewarm believer: neither hot nor cold, but influenced by the environment around them. They’ve allowed the world’s "temperature" to shape their faith rather than standing firm in the unchanging truth of God’s Word. This idea of being lukewarm is the idea of the water changing from hot or cold to become just the same temperature as the air around it. The idea is that we become just like the world around us unless we insulate ourselves or add a heat source or energy to the equation. This tells us that in order to not become lukewarm like the world there us effort involved on our part.

CS Lewis wisely compared our minds to a garden. What we plant in this garden determines what grows. If we sow God’s Word, encouragement, faith, and hope, our minds will flourish with spiritual fruit. But if we allow seeds of doubt, anxiety, and worldly influences to take root, weeds will choke out what God intends to grow. Our thoughts are the seeds that shape our actions, and our actions define who we become.

Renewing Our Minds

To win the battle for our minds, we must commit to the process of renewal. Here’s how:

1. Plant Good Seeds

• God’s Word: Saturate your mind with Scripture. Memorize it, meditate on it, and allow it to guide your decisions.

• Encouragement: Speak words of life over yourself and others. Remind yourself of God’s promises.

• Faith and Hope: Feed your spirit with truths about God’s goodness and His plans for your future.

2. Weed Out the Bad

• Doubt and Anxiety: Don’t let these take root. Bring every fear and worry to God in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7).

• Negative Self-Talk: Replace thoughts of failure and inadequacy with God’s affirmations about who you are in Christ.

• Worldly Influences: Be intentional about what you consume—whether it’s media, conversations, or activities. Ensure they align with God’s truth.

3. Tend the Garden Daily

• Prayer: Communicate with God regularly. Pour out your heart to Him and listen for His guidance.

• Community: Surround yourself with fellow believers who will help nurture your faith and hold you accountable.

• Discernment: Ask God for wisdom to recognize and uproot unhealthy thoughts before they grow.

Victory in the Battle

Renewing our minds is not a one-time event but a lifelong journey. It requires discipline, intentionality, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Persistence will lead to transformation—a shift from worldly conformity to alignment with God’s perfect will.

In this battle for the mind, we are not left to fight alone. God has equipped us with His Word, His Spirit, and His promises. Let’s commit to planting good seeds, pulling weeds, and nurturing the garden of our minds so that we can live lives that are holy, pleasing, and a true act of worship to our Creator.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things." (Philippians 4:8)

Refuge Family Devotional

In a group (at the table) is where we will really see the Discovery Bible Study method shine because we will get multiple perspectives. Who better to do this with than your family. Do not be intimidated because this study relies on input from everyone not just you as the leader.

Instructions:

What if family dinner was a time where you and your family connected with Jesus and one another on a deeper level? The hope of this guide is to help you make the most of your dinner conversations by pursuing three targets: encouraging conversation, prayer, and listening to God speak through his word. As your family shares the highs and lows of the day, keep an encouraging tone in mind, protecting the dinner table as a safe place for hard conversations. Take everything to God in prayer, thanking him and trusting him with what is shared. Lastly, as you open the word together, invite God to speak and keep a spirit of discovery before everyone. This is not a time where you need to feel pressured to teach or correct, but rather a time to discover what God has to say to each person at the table.

Invite everyone to participate:

What is something you are thankful for this week?

What is a challenge you are facing this week?

Pray, thanking God and trusting him with what has been shared, and ask him to speak as you read his Word.

Week of 2/18 - John 19:17-30 (it is finished)

Week of 2/25 - John 20:1-18 (I have seen)

Week of 3/3 - John 20:19-29 (Reach out your hand)

Week of 3/10 - John 21:1-14 (Let’s have a meal)

Week of 3/17 - John 21:15-23 (Do you love Me?)

What did God reveal to you through his Word?

• What does this passage say about God, Jesus or His plan?

• What does this passage tell us about ourselves?

Who is someone you would like to share this truth with?

Pray together as a family for the names mentioned and look for opportunities to share God's love.

Refuge Thanksgiving 2021 Meal Delivery

Refuge Church is a family of faith sent to proclaim hope in Jesus Christ through relationships.

To sign up click here - https://refugeph.breezechms.com/form/81e1c9

Thanksgiving Day is a day that our Church Family comes together to provide for our community. This ministry started over 15 years ago and has become a family tradition to many! We share hope while delivering anywhere between 300-600 meals to families in need, to some that may not have any family, and to many shut-ins that we may be the only face they may see that day. If you would like to be apart in any way here is how you can help.

Donation of food- below is a list of specific items that are needed for cooking. We are specific with items so that we don’t have 5 different kinds of Mac n cheese or stuffing etc. There will be a table set up in the back of the sanctuary to bring food. Please have all food brought no later than Wednesday 11/17. See below for specific food types that need to be purchased.

Cooking Food- we will supply the items and it will be ready for you to take home Sunday 11/21. We ask that you prepare the food and have it back to the church on Thanksgiving morning by 10:30am.

Delivering Food- If you are delivering food we ask that you be at the church by 10:45. We will meet in the sanctuary for instructions and handing out addresses. Please bring laundry baskets or boxes of some sort in order to carry meals, desserts, and utensils. 1 home may have 10 meals which with desserts will be 20 boxes. 

If you have any questions regarding this ministry please reach out to Shelly Brewster at 865.660.5582

To sign up click here - https://refugeph.breezechms.com/form/81e1c9

How to Pray Scripture

One of the best ways to pray is to pray scripture. Below is a section of scripture and what a prayer would look like using that scripture. Below that are some additional scriptures that would be used to pray but they do not have examples for you to use. Try these scriptures on your own and develop a prayer that would use the passage at hand and begin to learn how to do this on your own.

Praying Scripture

Psalm 119:9-16 - How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. [10] With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! [11] I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. [12] Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes! [13] With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. [14] In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. [15] I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. [16] I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

• Lord help me to guard my life and keep my way pure according to Your word.

• Help me to seek you with my whole heart and let me not wander from Your commandments.

• Help me to store Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.

• Blessed are you Lord, teach me your statutes.

• I will declare all your rules from your mouth.

• Lead me to delight in your testimony.

• Lord help me to meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways.

• Father I delight in your statutes, help me not to forget Your word.

Psalm 119:18 - Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

• Lord, open my eyes that I may see the wondrous things in your law.

Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

• Lord let Your word be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

In Jesus Name - Amen

Examples of Other Scriptures

Psalm 119:28 - My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!

Psalm 119:112 - I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.

Psalm 119:114 - You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.

Luke 9:18-20 - Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” [19] And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” [20] Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

Luke 9:23-26 - And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. [24] For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. [25] For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? [26] For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Luke 9:35 - And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

Luke 9:46-48 - An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. [47] But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side [48] and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

Luke 9:57-58 - As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” [58] And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Luke 10:2-3 - And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. [3] Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.

Luke 10:36-37 - Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” [37] He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Luke 10:38-42 - Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. [39] And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. [40] But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” [41] But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, [42] but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Abide in Me (Day 7) - Joy

In John 15 Jesus uses the picture of a vine and branch to describe what it means to be in a relationship with Him. Christianity is about a personal relationship not about doing a checklist of things and not being a bad person. In John 15 Jesus is stressing the importance of this relationship using this picture we see in nature everyday.

For the past 6 days we have seen the benefits and the purpose of having an abiding relationship in Jesus. This relationship is about having a constant connection through praying without ceasing and memorizing, reading and obeying God’s word. The ultimate purpose for us is to bear much fruit with our lives. There is one more benefit that I do not want us to miss. Let’s read John 15:1-11 one last time.

JOHN 15:1-11 ESV - “I AM THE TRUE VINE, AND MY FATHER IS THE VINEDRESSER. [2] EVERY BRANCH IN ME THAT DOES NOT BEAR FRUIT HE TAKES AWAY, AND EVERY BRANCH THAT DOES BEAR FRUIT HE PRUNES, THAT IT MAY BEAR MORE FRUIT. [3] ALREADY YOU ARE CLEAN BECAUSE OF THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU. [4] ABIDE IN ME, AND I IN YOU. AS THE BRANCH CANNOT BEAR FRUIT BY ITSELF, UNLESS IT ABIDES IN THE VINE, NEITHER CAN YOU, UNLESS YOU ABIDE IN ME. [5] I AM THE VINE; YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. WHOEVER ABIDES IN ME AND I IN HIM, HE IT IS THAT BEARS MUCH FRUIT, FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING. [6] IF ANYONE DOES NOT ABIDE IN ME HE IS THROWN AWAY LIKE A BRANCH AND WITHERS; AND THE BRANCHES ARE GATHERED, THROWN INTO THE FIRE, AND BURNED. [7] IF YOU ABIDE IN ME, AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, ASK WHATEVER YOU WISH, AND IT WILL BE DONE FOR YOU. [8] BY THIS MY FATHER IS GLORIFIED, THAT YOU BEAR MUCH FRUIT AND SO PROVE TO BE MY DISCIPLES. [9] AS THE FATHER HAS LOVED ME, SO HAVE I LOVED YOU. ABIDE IN MY LOVE. [10] IF YOU KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS, YOU WILL ABIDE IN MY LOVE, JUST AS I HAVE KEPT MY FATHER'S COMMANDMENTS AND ABIDE IN HIS LOVE. [11] THESE THINGS I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU, THAT MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU, AND THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL.

Abiding in Jesus and being obedient leads to joy. These things I have spoken to you, that my JOY may be in you, and that your JOY may be full. When we live an abiding life in Jesus we get His joy in us and it will be full. God created us to be in a relationship. At creation God told Adam that it was not good for man to be alone. We are created for relationships and our greatest joy will be found in an abiding relationship with Jesus.

Pray today that God will help you experience that fullness of JOY as we are in relationship with HIm. Joy is happiness despite our circumstances. Joy is knowing that no matter what God loves us and that we will be in a relationship with Him for eternity.

Pray today that God will use your life to help others find their ultimate JOY in Jesus Christ. Pray that people will see your JOY and want what you have and that only comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ.

I hope you have enjoyed these devotionals and I hope they have helped you to desire to have a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father by abiding in Jesus Christ.