Renewing Your Mind

Over the past few months, I have begun learning what it means to “Renew My Mind”. I have struggled with anxiety for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, I would worry about tests and schoolwork, or worry excessive amounts about the future. High school into college, I remember suffering from severe panic attacks or anxiety attacks. This overwhelming urge to control my life, and all situations that followed, crippled my day-to-day. Currently, I am in a season where there is a lot changing in my life. I don’t think I recognized how much the fear of the unknown was affecting my everyday life. It was only until I realized that I was believing lies from the enemy that I came to this realization. I knew I needed to begin the process of “Renewing My Mind”.

Renewing your mind is the process of acknowledging that your mind, in its carnal state, needs renewal. It means interpreting life through the lens of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit, rather than through the lens of your experience, pain, or opinions. When we give our lives to the Lord, we must make daily decisions to align our thinking with God’s. 

Romans 12:1-2

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

The first step to learning how to renew your mind is to realize that your mind is a battleground. We have an enemy that wants to steal, kill, and destroy our lives. He will try and distract us from God’s plan. Once we know that we have an enemy, we need to read and meditate on God’s Word. This will help you determine what are the lies and what is the truth found in His Word. God’s Word exposes lies that we have believed and provides us truth for those lies. Memorizing Scripture is one of the biggest lines of defense against the lies you have been believing. A way I have practically implemented this in my life is writing Scripture on sticky notes and placing them around my desk and my room. I have actively fought my own thoughts with God’s Word. I first need to identify the lie, and then find Scripture that defeats it. This has been a process; it does not change overnight. You must make the choice to believe what God’s Word says and set your mind on the things above. 

Philippians 4:8

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things.”

This verse has drastically changed my perspective and how I view my everyday life. Any time a negative or bad thought comes into my head, I quote this verse over and over. Currently, I have over 13 verses on my desk and I quote them multiple times a day. Quoting verses has impacted my life more than I can explain. This practical step has also convicted me of things that I needed to cut out of my life. Media plays a big role in what thoughts go through our minds. I had to stop watching certain shows and listening to certain music because it wasn’t helping my mental health. My brain wanted peace and joy, not by fear of the unknowns or what I couldn’t control. I needed rest, and I knew the Lord was the only one who could provide that. 

Romans 15:13

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Philippians 4:6-7

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus.”

I began to shift my thoughts from negative and bad thoughts to a heart of gratitude. The Lord has been so good to me in providing me with family, friends, a boyfriend, a job, ect. I needed to stop focusing on what I didn’t have or what wasn’t going right. Obviously, things in this life aren’t going to be perfect and there will be hard seasons. How I react to those hard seasons determines how I trust God and His perfect plan for my life. Everyday I must remind myself of God’s Word and flood my mind with it daily. I want to be so close to the Lord that when hardships happen, or negative thoughts come into my mind, I know how to renew my mind with God’s Word.

I hope that this encourags you to rely on God’s Word to combat negative thoughts. It is a process, and it will gradually change over time if you implement this into your daily life. Having a heart of gratitude will change how you view your day-to-day life. 

Prayer Points:

• Lord, help me to recognize lies from the enemy and combat those lies with the truth of Your Word.

• God, I ask that You give me a heart of gratitude.

• Lord, allow me to meditate on Your Word daily.

• God, help me to have patience and rest in the unknown of life. 

Suggested Prayer –

Father God,

I thank You for who You are. Thank You for loving me despite believing the lies for so long. Help me to defeat the enemy daily with the truth of Your Word. Please give me a heart of gratitude in any situation. God, I ask that You help me to dwell and meditate on Your Word. I pray that the truth will soak into every aspect of my life. Please help me to relinquish control to You. Allow me to rest in knowing You know the future and the plans You have for my life. Thank You for giving us practical tools in order to defeat the enemy and have victory over our minds.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Your Friend,

Stephanie Madore