We Need to Change Our Thinking
“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” (Romans 8:5)
Read Romans 8:5-13
We Need to Change Our Thinking
Do you remember the classic children’s book, The Little Engine That Could? The little engine is asked to pull a heavy load over a high mountain. The locomotive succeeds by repeatedly telling itself, “I think I can. I think I can.” In this case, a positive attitude and determination are up to the challenge.
The life of faith is different, however. We face challenges every day, trying to think positively and respond with determination. Often, however, our best efforts aren’t enough. Especially in dealing with habitual sin patterns.
In our minds we say, “I think I can. I think I can,” but then we conclude, “I can’t!” That angry outburst, that lustful look at another woman, that bending of the truth, that broken promise, that feeling of envy toward a coworker or neighbor – we said we’d never do that again. But we did it again.
There’s some consolation in the words of the apostle Paul in Romans 7:15, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Even Paul struggled with what he termed in Romans 8, “the sinful nature.” But if our heartfelt desire is to honor the Lord and live for Him, it does no good to try justify or rationalize our wrong thoughts and actions.
As many people have observed, “Living the Christian life isn’t difficult…it’s impossible.” The only one to successfully live the Christian life was Jesus.” Does that mean we should give up in frustration and resignation? Not at all. Instead, we need to change our thinking – and learn to act according to what the Scriptures teach.
The verse above and ones that follow give us the key to becoming the men God desires for us to be: “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace…” (Romans 8:5-6).
I can remember years ago trying my hardest to overcome various weaknesses. I would fervently pray for God’s help, but time after time I failed. Feeling defeated, on the brink of despair, I even wondered if my faith was real. I had read about the sinful nature – what other translations call “the flesh” – and agonized over how to overcome its impulses.
“Where is this ‘flesh’?” I wondered, thinking that if I could just locate it, I’d rip it out and my struggles would be over. Then, through a series of encounters with godly teachers I learned that ultimately the ‘flesh’ is inside my head – my mind. Years and years of wrong thinking and behavior had established a foothold.
In the early days of computers there was a saying, “Garbage in, garbage out.” In other words, faulty programming would result in faulty performance. The human mind is more advanced and complex than the most sophisticated computer, but the principle is the same. Whatever we put into our minds results in the output of our lives.
The Bible often speaks about our minds, but nowhere more directly than Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
We’re bombarded by worldly messages that point us away from the Lord. Many programs on TV belong in the proverbial trash can. Watching the news for a few minutes is enough to put our minds into a tailspin of negativity. The internet affords countless opportunities to take our minds to places where God never wants them to go. Our society teaches, “It’s all about me.” Even some motivational speakers assure us, “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.”
Living for Christ, however, is very different from what our world tells us. Jesus taught, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). It’s not about us – it’s about Him. But knowing this isn’t the same as living it out.
This is where “renewing of your mind” comes in. Through Christ we’ve received new life, but we still need to control what we put into our minds. If we don’t change what we feed our minds, we’ll continue following the same unproductive, even destructive thought patterns.
Instead, we need to do as Paul exhorted: “Finally, brothers, 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).
“Walking in newness of life,” as Romans 6:4 terms it, isn’t easy. Experiencing a “mind controlled by the Spirit” isn’t an instantaneous, once and for all time event. It’s a daily commitment, determination – through the power of the Spirit of Christ – to focus on the things of God and not the things of the world that seem so enticing.
This series on the book of Romans has the potential to be truly life-transforming if we’re willing to not only hear but also apply its truths. By praying over them, meditating on them, even memorizing them and making them part of our minds’ ‘programming,’ they can set us on the course to becoming the godly husbands, fathers, workers, and witnesses for Jesus we have always wanted to be.
When we struggle and stumble, crying out, “I can’t!”, our loving Lord is there to respond, “I know. But I can – through you, if you’ll let Me.”