Renewed Mind Produces Peace
Devotional Reading: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8, NIV
As believers with new identity, our minds needs to be guarded. Your mind dictates your thoughts, your body, and your daily life. Do you know you can literally think yourself into paralyzing fear, a state of inertia, immobility, and a sense of hopelessness? Jesus spoke about peace a number of times. His reason for us to live in peace is magnified in John 16:33, when he said, “…be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.”
Mind and heart peace are akin to floating on the Dead Sea. You experience total relaxation with no effort, simply floating on a substance that you have no reason to be in! Jesus desires for us to be anxious for nothing, to live in perfect peace and confidence. We have been warned – troubles will come, there will be trials of many kinds, but we have to choose His peace; we have to choose the way we think!
Renewal of our minds is a long-term commitment and takes ongoing desire and determination. Your mind is powerful, and it’s had its own way for a long time. To reshape, reform, and renew your mind is going to take effort. It is true that as a man thinks in his heart so is he. You must be reflecting the owner of your new identity, who is Jesus Himself. This mirroring of your Redeemer is not an overnight makeover, but one that comes from wanting to live a higher life, not as people of the world know the high life, of glitter and glam, but one that truly reflects a glory that is not of this earth.
Prayer and Confession
I receive and walk in this measure of your life, Lord, not as the world knows the high life, but the higher life in Christ.
Further Reading– Romans 12:2
