The Power of the Renewed Mind
ICS Daily Devotions
Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
We are three part beings comprising spirit, soul, and body. If we want to experience the abundant life God intends for us, our minds must be renewed to understand this truth: our spirit is born again and completely new, yet our souls need to be retrained and transformed so that our thoughts align with the Word of God.
We renew our minds with these truths:
i) We are a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
ii) We have the nature of God in us. (2 Peter 1:3-4)
iii) We have self-control, which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-24)
iv) We have identified ourselves with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. (Galatians 2:20)
v) We have crucified the fleshly desires and passions. (Galatians 5:24)
vi) We are no longer slaves to sin. (Romans 6:22)
vii) We can live in the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus; thus, we are free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)
viii) We can walk in the Spirit and not succumb to the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16, Romans 8:1-2)
When we received Christ, our spirit man was made alive, and the Holy Spirit now lives in us. However, the soul, or the work of the flesh, might still hinder the Spirit from reigning in us because God respects our decisions, and the soul holds the power of decision-making. Therefore, even though the Holy Spirit will prompt us to do what is right, He will not force us. Nevertheless, once our minds are renewed, we can choose to respond differently from the past and take responsibility for reining in the flesh.
The Word of God also helps us discern what flows from our spirit—our inner man—and what arises from the soul—our thought life. When the mind is unrenewed, our thoughts can easily be shaped by the patterns of this world and drift into carnality. However, when we understand the works of the flesh, we will be able to recognise and subdue them, and intentionally choose to walk in the Spirit instead.
Our spirit is made new and carries the very nature of God, but our physical body does not change when we receive Christ. Because of this, the soul—our mind, will, and emotions—often struggles to submit to the Lordship of Christ. Without proper teaching, many believers do not even realise the bondages that once controlled their lives can be overcome. This is why we must continually renew our minds with the Word of God—learning who we are in Christ, what we have in Christ, and what we are empowered to do in Christ.
Reflection: Are you renewing your mind daily with the Word of God, or have you allowed worldly thinking to shape your decisions? Which old thought patterns or fleshly habits do you need to surrender to the Holy Spirit?
Sermon Series: As a Man Thinks in His Heart So is He
