How God's Word Produces Change in My Life

Controlling the Mind

The mind is the gateway to the spirit. I am in control of what happens in my mind – of what I allow to enter my mind. As a born-again human being, I consist of three parts – spirit, soul, and body.

I Thes

1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV 1900

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

My mind - which is part of my soul - is the gateway to my spirit! When I approach God’s Word:

I can be in a frame of mind that will block the Holy Spirit from being able to speak to me through His Word, or

I can be in a frame of mind where the Holy Spirit can speak freely!

The key is that I am the one who is in control!

Psalm 40:8 KJV 1900

I delight to do thy will, O my God: Yea, thy law is within my heart.

Other translations:

Christian Standard Bible: I delight to do your will, my God, and your instruction is deep within me.

Easy to Read Version: My God, I am happy to do whatever you want. I never stop thinking about your teachings

· ERV[2]: My God, I am happy to do whatever you want. I never stop thinking about your teachings

International Standard Version: I delight to do your will, my God. Your Law is part of my inner being

· ISV[3]: I delight to do your will, my God. Your Law is part of my inner being

· NET[4]: I want to do what pleases you, my God. Your law dominates my thoughts.

New English Translation: I want to do what pleases you, my God. Your law dominates my thoughts.

The Voice: I am pleased to live how You want, my God. Your law is etched into my heart and my soul.

·VOICE[5]: I am pleased to live how You want, my God. Your law is etched into my heart and my soul.

As noted, man consists of three parts – Spirit, Soul, and Body.

The heart – not the blood pump, but the central part of a man - is a part of the spirit.

1. The heart – not the blood pump, but the central part of a man - is a part of the spirit.

2. The mind (will, emotions, conscience & personality) is a part of the soul of person.

[1] Christian Standard Bible

The mind (will, emotions, conscience & personality) is a part of the soul of person.

Sometimes when the bible speaks of the “heart,” it is referring to the mind. When we were born again, we were born “of God!” We were birthed by the Spirit of God and at that time we received the life of God inside us (in our spirit).

[2] Easy to Read Version

The life of God is IN me!

The problem we sometimes face is . . .

[3] International Standard Version

how do I get the life of God out of me –

so that the life of God within me produces fruit in my life?

[4] New English Translation

In , the Psalmist was saying that the law of God was within his mind!

[5] The Voice

Sometimes we use the expression: “I think I am losing my mind!” When you get right down to it, there is some truth to that statement, when it comes to the things of God! We really do need to lose our natural way of thinking when it comes to spiritual things! You can’t mix God’s thinking with natural thinking – it is like oil and water – they don’t mix!