by Pamela Mertz
What are you thinking about right now? Are you aware of your thoughts? Do you know how thoughts are formed and how our mind and brain are two separate things?
Renewing of our minds is mentioned by Paul in Romans 12:1-2. We are transformed by this renewing. How are we to practically apply this Biblical command to our lives?
As we come out of a year that we could not have imagined, crafted, or described only 10 months ago, what have your thoughts been about? As you pause to become aware of your thinking, take a moment to ask yourself a question about where these thoughts come from? In the fast approaching New Year, how do you want to mange your thinking?
Our thoughts are a place where we can choose to “think on these things” as in Phil 4:8 or we can “give the devil an opportunity”, in Eph 4:27. Paul is clearly teaching us to be aware of our minds – of choosing how to think. This is so critical to us being able to live the “abundant life” that Jesus came to give us! These commands are not limiting for us, but just the opposite. We are to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, as the Lord knows that is where the battle takes place. Many of you may have read Joyce Meyers book The Battlefield of the Mind. Marilee Adams has a great book out there called “Change Your Questions, Change Your Life” as we all think in questions. Interesting to learn this as a coach, right?
We have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16) and we also have free will to let our thoughts wander all over and take in whatever we choose to let in. This is where we are called to be aware, alert, and to be renewed in the spirit of our mind (Eph 4:23)
So this renewal, this transformation that happens when we renew our minds all sounds amazing and we want that. But the rub is in “how”. How do we do that? It comes with awareness of a few levels. First, we are to become aware of our thoughts. Sometimes they just run like a ticker tape and if we are to take them captive, we first need to be aware of them! Ask yourself, “What am I thinking right now?” Next, ask yourself “Where did that thought come from?” And the next question is “Does this thought line up with the mind of Christ that I now have?” If not, discard the thought, taking it captive and do not dwell on it any longer. If it does line up with Scripture, and what Jesus would say to you, then ask Him to reveal more to you. This is learning to live by the Spirit, walk by the Spirit and to be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
To learn more about how to manage your thought life, sign up for the CCNI event I am going to present on January 28th, 2021 at 2pm EST. Start the New Year out with some reminders on how to take your thoughts into captivity and to choose to think on things that bring you life! I hope to see you there!
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://christiancoaches.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Pamela-Mertz.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Pamela Mertz, CPLC, ACC is the President and Founder of BluePrint Life Coaching, LLC. She brings over 35 years of experience as a business owner and strategist in the high-tech electronics industry and earned her coach certification during her transition into the coaching field. She is trained by PCCI and Dartmouth Institute Microsystems Academy as a certified Quality Improvement Coach for healthcare and is also a certified Strengths Finders Coach. Pamela can be reached at pamela@blueprintlife.net.
