Colossians 3:1-2 NKJV (1) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. (2) Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Mindset: a mental attitude or inclination, a fixed state of mind
What you believe about Jesus determines your eternal outcome, but your behavior determines the quality of life you experience now as a believer in the earth.
Your behavior is shaped by your decisions and decisions are shaped by our thought patterns.
The Process of Renewing the Mind
Romans 12:2 TPT (2) Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.
The transformation of our lives is contingent upon the renewing of our minds.
How do you renew your mind?
It is a process of taking out and putting in. (Housecleaning and refurnishing)
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV (3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Four Levels of Mental Activity:
- Thoughts
- Imaginations
- High things that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God
- Strongholds
There is no place in the Bible that says that Satan is able to place thoughts in our minds. That premise implies that he is omniscient.
There is only One who knows the thoughts and intents of the human heart and that is the Lord.
1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV (7) …For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Satan is a fallen angel and is not all powerful, everywhere at once and does not know what you are thinking.
There is no such thing as a blank mind. Your mind is in operation all the time.
Our thoughts are a process of moving through the circumstances of our everyday life.
Thoughts are introduced to you by the observation, association, teachings, and the circumstances of life.
You determine the thoughts that you take or reject.
- The first level of mental activity is the selection of thoughts.
Matthew 6:25 KJV (25) Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Matthew 6:31 KJV (31) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
The word “saying” in the Greek is “lego” meaning you are laying it out and systematically communicating your thoughts and relating them to you. You are connecting it to you.
You take a thought by attaching words to it and saying it out of your mouth.
2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
The thoughts that come to you that do not correspond with the standards of God’s Word, you do not put words to them, and you don’t take them.
The thoughts are in line with God’s Word or the dream He has placed in your heart, you take those by putting Words to them.
- The second level of mental activity is imagination.
Imagination – the process of mental imagery.
Mentally imaging your circumstance and the thoughts you have taken building an image of what your life can be as it relates to that thought pattern.
This is the level where behavior comes into play as you begin to visualize your life in one way or another.
Genesis 11:6 AMPC (6) And the Lord said, Behold, they are one people and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do, and now nothing they have imagined they can do will be impossible for them.
- The process of visual imagery is what leads to behavior.
- The process of repetitive or consistent behavior will only take place if there has been repetitive or consistent visual imagery.
- Patterns of behavior that can be defined as habitual start this way.
- The third level of mental activity are high things that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God.
- The third level of mental activity is called a stronghold.
We are created by God with the ability to create habit patterns to make us more efficient so that eventually you can do things without having to consciously think about them.
Example – when we were young we had to remind ourselves or someone else remind us to go and brush our teeth in the morning.
Habit – behavior that does not rely on a recurring mental process and becomes a stronghold. It literally can become an enemy fortification if Satan becomes involved.
Habit (Dictionary) – an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary.
How do you begin the process of renewing your mind and changing your thinking?
Ephesians 4:23-24 AMPC (23) And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], (24) And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.
Someone might ask, “Well, what am I supposed to think about?”
Philippians 4:8 AMP (8) For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].
We must then begin the building process of selecting thoughts and then spending time building imaginations around thoughts from the Word of God.
To put the right things in your mind you must simply reverse the process:
- Establish in your heart where you find the things to place in your mind: the Word of God.
The Word is the standard of measurement.
Joshua 1:8 NKJV (8) This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
- Keep the Word of God before you and in your mouth.
- Build a mental image of your life being lived within the parameters of God’s Word and changing your behavior.
- Stay consistent with the process of renewing your mind – day and night.
- You can build a new habit pattern in 21 days based on behavioral studies that have established that. If you stay with this process you can change in less than a month!
At the maximum, you can build a new habit after doing something 30-40 times.
Luke 21:18-19 TPT (18) But don’t worry. My grace will never desert you or depart from your life. (19) And by standing firm with patient endurance you will find your souls’ deliverance.”