Romans 8:12 tells us, Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. In other words, as believers, we were never designed to live according to the flesh. We were not made to live by our senses or from an unrenewed mind.
In the New Testament, the word flesh does not just mean the physical body. It refers to the body and its senses, all shaped and influenced by the soul. Your soul, made up of your mind, emotions, and will, works like a control center. Whatever dominates your mind will eventually influence your emotions, shape your will, and show up in your actions.
Why Your Mind Matters So Much
This is why your mind is so important. Your true character is expressed not from your spirit, but from your soul. Your personality, your behavior, and your habits are shaped largely by your mind. And here is the important truth. Even after someone is born again, an unrenewed mind can still lead that person down the wrong path.
This is why God tells us to renew our minds. As a child of God, you must take ownership of your thought life. Do not let your mind run wild. Do not accept thoughts that degrade you, contradict your identity in Christ, or line up with fear, negativity, or the flesh. Instead, choose to think from your spirit. Choose the Word.
Resist Wrong Thoughts. Then Retrain Your Mind.
When wrong thoughts come, do not stay silent. Speak the Word of God and command those thoughts to go in the name of Jesus. They may come back. When they do, resist them again. The Bible promises, Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7). Victory comes by consistent resistance.
But resisting the enemy is only part of it. You must also train your mind. Set your thoughts on the Word. Fill your heart with truth. Redirect your focus every time your mind drifts toward anything contrary to God's nature and your calling.
A Renewed Mind Is a Transformed Life
God has given you full authority and the ability to govern your mind. And as your mind is renewed, your life is transformed. That is the powerful truth of Romans 12:2. Your life changes as you take charge of it by lining up your mind with God's Word.
Take charge of your mind. Shape your thoughts with the Word. And watch your life rise to the purpose God has for you.
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