Mindset or Mindless?

Gird up the loins of your mind... 1 Peter 1:13

The Word is replete in its warnings that we must protect our minds. We are told to be “transformed by the renewing of our minds, “Romans 12:2.” Philippians 4 offers us boundaries and boarders for our thinking. There are Old Testament passages that warn us, we “may think our ways are right, but The Lord weighs the heart,” Proverbs 21:2.

The verse in Peter describes it as an intentional act against forces that battle against our minds. Our mind is a playground fomenting evil or good. It all depends on how we choose to handle our mind, through obedience, or neglect. This is war! How do we battle back?

it isn’t out of our power to win. The tools and power are available. Unfortunately, we tend to be lazy. We might be unaware of the seriousness of the battle. And some of us think only some people are meant to prepare for the battle, Pastors, Elders, Teachers, etc. But these verses don’t single out particular people, but instruct, ALL BELIEVERS!

Many Christians have chosen to see this life permanent and this world as our home. They, therefore, live like they will be here forever. Conversely all of us should be living as if this isn’t home and this life has eternal consequences.

It takes work to “gird our mind,” “renew our minds, “think on honorable things.” This happens only as we purpose to study God‘s Word; meditate on it day and night and memorize it. These three are major parts of our battle gear. This gear must be mindfully and purposefully appropriated.

It takes setting aside temporary pleasures of this world. It takes putting the work in. Who are those in Matthew 7 to whom Jesus will say, “I never knew you?” Many are those who say they were his. It’s clear who they are as you read Matthew 5-7, those who try to wear religion but don’t bow to relationship. Relationship militates obedience out of love.

We must ask, “is Jesus only a ticket to heaven?” If that’s the case living for him would seem irrelevant. But is that why Jesus came? Nowhere in Scripture is He only a ticket to heaven. He died to make disciples, followers, and to offer fellowship between The Father and his disciples. This only comes through intentionally renewing our mind. The result is, we become more like Jesus.

This is how you know the results are genuine, we think more in-line with His Word. This is the conclusion we want, our minds to be biblically change, our heart’s to be renewed and our lives used to make a difference in the world around us.

Mindset is essential. A godly mind happens by “girding the loins of our mind, being sober.” Meditation, memorizing and studying is key. Being a mindless Christian is to become confirmed to this world. The latter is a losing proposition. You’d have to consider are you one in Matthew 7 who Jesus would not know. Obedience will be the distinguisher of those two.