Did your mom ever threaten to wash your mouth out with soap? Well, she should have started with scrubbing your brain before scrubbing your mouth, because what comes out of your mouth reveals what is already settled in your heart and mind. (Matt. 12:34)
A renewed life stems from a renewed mind.
Paul tells us that we are not to be “conformed to the world”, transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2) But how do we renew our minds in the midst of our hurried days, laundry piles and to-do lists?
As we read God’s words and engage our daily lives with His truth, our minds get cleansed of what is not true and strengthened with what is true. Transformed living is the result of transformed thinking.
Living a renewed life is not about just having the “right answer” but it’s about consistent “right thinking”.
It’s about letting the living and active word of God change us from the inside out as it transforms thought patterns that revolve around lies (about ourselves, about God, about our lives) with true thoughts (about ourselves, about God, about our lives).
True thinking based in God’s eternal word leads to lasting life-change.
3 Easy Ways to Scrub Your Brain:
1. Read it. Less is more when time is short. Just one or two verses will do, but stay with them. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to see the miracles of God’s word, and sit with those verses for a moment, giving Him room to speak to truth to your heart through those words. “Open my eyes that I may see the wonderful things in Your law.” Ps. 119:18
2. Write it. Something triggers in our minds when we not only read something, but also put it in writing. I have a journal I keep with my Bible where I write and reflect on scriptures. Write it and let your mind sit with it for a moment. Write anything that comes to your heart and mind you respond to truth.
3. Take it. Take the verse with you on an index card so you can re-read and re-think and re-mind yourself of truth all day. Put it in car dashboard, or tape it on your bathroom mirror. I’ve been decorating my cars, bathrooms, and kitchens with index cards for years, and while it may not be the latest designer trend, it fixes my mind and fills my heart all throughout the day with truth. And it works!
Allowing God’s truth to scrub my mind has transformed my life. Let’s do this together!
I’d love to hear ideas YOU have on how to renew your mind in the midst of real life living!