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)
