Renewing the Mind

As we come back to our “Thinking by Faith”

3- message series

Week 1 established that biblical positive thinking is not pretending circumstances are good; it is choosing to interpret life through the truth of God.

Week 2 dealt with how fear can distort what we see.

And tonight as we look at week 3, this study becomes more intensely practical.

Week 3

What do I actually do when an unhealthy, fearful, discouraging, or faithless thought enters my mind?

We will look at two texts this evening that will guide us in our study.

Romans 12:1-2 builds our foundation.

2 Cor. 10:3-5 introduces us to the method.

Big Idea: We cannot always control which thoughts enter our minds, but through the truth of God's Word and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can determine which thoughts are allowed to remain.

Opening idea: How Did I Learn That?

Let me ask you something completely different tonight. How many of you know your Social Security number without looking it up?

Hands go up.

“How many of you know your spouse's phone number?”

That may get interesting!

“How many of you could finish this sentence: ‘Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…’?”

Then:

“Now here's my question: How did all of that get in there?”

Nobody sat down one evening and said, “Tonight I'm going to permanently install Amazing Grace in my brain.”

Repetition put it there.

You heard it. You said it. You sang it. You used it. And eventually it became so deeply embedded that you don't have to consciously retrieve it anymore.

Could the same thing happen with the wrong thoughts?

A person thinks:

“I'm not good enough.”

Then thinks it again.

“This is never going to get better.”

Again.

“I can't trust anybody.”

Again.

“Something bad is bound to happen.”

Again.

And eventually, a thought becomes a pattern, a pattern becomes a way of thinking, and a way of thinking begins shaping the way we live.

Question:

What are some things you can do almost automatically today simply because you've done them thousands of times?

They'll probably give you: driving, tying shoes, typing, cooking, operating machinery, playing an instrument, backing a trailer, etc.

That's called training. And tonight I want us to discover something important:

The Bible has much to say about what happens inside our minds. God doesn't merely want to change what we do. He wants to transform how we think.

I. RECOGNIZE — My Mind Is a Spiritual Battleground

Congregational Reading: 2 Corinthians 10:3–5

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 “3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”

Specifically, let’s focus in on verse 3:

2 Corinthians 10:3 “3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.”

Paul describes a battle taking place that cannot be won merely with human resources.

Notice the language:

warfare — weapons — strongholds — arguments — thoughts — obedience

The battlefield Paul describes includes the mind.

What Is a Stronghold?

A stronghold was a fortified position—something difficult to penetrate or overthrow.

Spiritually, we can allow patterns of thinking to become deeply entrenched:

"Nothing is ever going to change."

"God has forgotten me."

"I cannot handle this."

"Everybody is against me."

"I'm always going to be this way."

"If the worst happens, my life is over."

The thought may have started as a visitor.

But we gave it a room.

Eventually it started rearranging the furniture.

Discussion Question

What kinds of thoughts tend to become "strongholds" in people's minds today?

Possible responses: fear, resentment, insecurity, comparison, bitterness, guilt, pessimism, jealousy, anger, hopelessness.

Important Distinction

Not every negative thought is sinful.

Sometimes reality really is painful.

Jesus wept.

Paul despaired even of life (2 Corinthians 1:8).

2 Corinthians 1:8 “8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.”

David repeatedly asked, "How long, O LORD?"

Biblical faith does not require us to deny reality.

Faith looks reality squarely in the face—and then remembers that reality also includes God.

II. TEST — Is This Thought Actually True?

2 Corinthians 10:5

"...bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."

Here is where the message becomes practical.

When a thought begins dominating my mind, I need to interrogate it rather than automatically believe it.

Ask:

1. Is this thought true?

2. Is this something I know—or something I fear?

3. Does this thought agree with Scripture?

4. Am I assuming motives I cannot possibly know?

5. Does this thought make God smaller than my circumstances?

Interactive Exercise

Give the congregation this thought:

"I don't know how this situation is going to work out."

Ask: Is that statement true?

Yes! Sometimes we genuinely don't know.

Now add: "I don't know how this situation is going to work out, therefore everything is going to fall apart."

Ask: What changed?

We moved from fact to assumption.

That is one of the mind's favorite tricks.

A Helpful Sentence

Faith does not require me to know what happens next. Faith requires me to know Who will be there when it happens.

Congregational Reading: Proverbs 3:5–6

Proverbs 3:5–6 “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

Discuss:

What does "lean not on your own understanding" look like when your mind is racing?

III. REPLACE — Renew the Mind with God's Truth

Congregational Reading: Romans 12:1–2

Paul says:

"...be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."

Notice that transformation involves renewal.

We sometimes concentrate exclusively on removing bad thoughts.

Scripture emphasizes replacing the old way of thinking with a new one.

Illustration: Pulling Weeds

If you pull weeds from a flower bed but plant nothing in their place, something will eventually grow there again.

The Christian life isn't simply: "Stop thinking that."

It is: "Replace that thought with truth."

That is why Scripture is indispensable to renewing the mind.

Congregational Reading: Philippians 4:8

Ask everyone to listen for Paul's filters:

true

noble

just

pure

lovely

of good report

virtuous

praiseworthy

Interactive Exercise: Replace the Thought

Give the congregation the first statement and ask them to supply biblical truth to replace it.

Thought: "I'm alone."

Truth: Hebrews 13:5 — "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Thought: "I cannot handle what tomorrow may bring."

Truth: Matthew 6:34 — "Do not worry about tomorrow..."

Thought: "Everything is out of control."

Truth: Psalm 46:1 — "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Thought: "I don't know what to do."

Truth: James 1:5 — Ask God for wisdom.

Thought: "This situation is hopeless."

Truth: Romans 8:28 — God is still working even when I cannot see what He is doing.

Key Principle

You don't defeat a lie merely by telling yourself to stop thinking it. You defeat a lie by replacing it with truth.

IV. RELEASE — Give God What You Cannot Control

There is another problem.

Sometimes I have:

recognized the thought,

tested the thought,

replaced it with Scripture...

...and twenty minutes later I pick it right back up!

Congregational Reading: 1 Peter 5:7

"casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

The word picture is powerful.

Casting means transferring the weight.

Prayer is not merely telling God what we're worried about.

Prayer is deliberately transferring the burden from my hands into His.

Object Lesson

Bring a reasonably heavy bag or backpack.

Ask someone to hold it while you talk.

After a minute ask:

"Would you like me to take that?"

Take it from them.

Then say:

Suppose they handed it to me—and immediately grabbed it back.

That is sometimes exactly what we do with God.

"Lord, I'm giving this to You."

Five minutes later:

"I think I'll carry that again."

Discussion Question

Why do you think we have such difficulty leaving things with God after we've prayed about them?

That could produce excellent Sunday-night discussion.

V. REST — Trust God with What Remains Unknown

There will always be unanswered questions.

Faith doesn't eliminate uncertainty.

Faith gives uncertainty somewhere to rest.

Congregational Reading: Isaiah 26:3–4

"You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You."

Notice the relationship:

Mind stayed on God → Trust in God → Peace from God

The goal isn't ultimately to think more positively.

The goal is to think more faithfully.

There is a tremendous difference.

Positive thinking says:

"Everything is going to work out exactly the way I want."

Faith says:

"Whatever happens, God will remain faithful."

Positive thinking says:

"Nothing bad is going to happen."

Faith says:

"Even if something painful happens, God will meet me there."

Positive thinking says:

"I can handle this."

Faith says:

"God will give me what I need when I need it."

A Simple Tool for the Week

When your mind begins running away from you, remember five words:

1. RECOGNIZE

What am I thinking?

2. TEST

Is it true? Is it biblical? Is it fact or fear?

3. REPLACE

What does God's Word say?

4. RELEASE

What am I carrying that belongs in God's hands?

5. REST

Can I trust God with what I still don't know?

Closing Illustration: The Thought at the Door

Picture every thought as someone knocking at the front door of your house.

You cannot always control who knocks.

But you do control who you invite inside.

Some thoughts need to be welcomed:

"God is faithful."

"His grace is sufficient."

"He will never leave me."

"I can trust Him."

Other thoughts need to be confronted at the door:

"God has forgotten you."

"There is no hope."

"You will never make it."

"The worst is certainly going to happen."

You don't have to invite every thought in, pour it a cup of coffee, and let it spend the night.

Paul says:

"Bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."

And perhaps that is our challenge this week:

Don't believe everything you think.

Recognize it.

Test it.

Replace it.

Release it.

And then...

Rest in the Lord.

Final Discussion Question

Which of these five is hardest for you—recognize, test, replace, release, or rest? Why?

Allow the congregation to answer before closing in prayer.

Closing Prayer Emphasis

Lord, renew our minds. Teach us to recognize thoughts that do not belong, test them by Your truth, replace lies with Your Word, release what we cannot control, and rest in Your faithfulness.