By Rick Sibert                                                                                                                                    February 2009  

Renew Your Mind

....I want my mind to be like my Lord’s. I want to think on the things He thinks on.

I want to act like He acts.....

Being involved in athletics for my entire life, and most importantly coaching for the last several years, I think I have discovered what separates the really good from the great. The great from the champion.

No matter the level of sport, you will always have physical abilities that are very similar between athletes, so what divides the would-be-pretenders from the super achievers?

It’s the mind.

Who is able to dedicate themselves completely? Focus more intently? Block out all distractions? Handle the pressure?

As I sit down to write this, I just finished watching the Australian Open Mens Final between two amazing athletes, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. The match went almost 4-1/2 hours, and for four of those hours it was the most intense shot making and incredible tennis I have ever watched. Then in the 5th set, Federer just went away. Rafa won it easily and consequently won the trophy. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The great Roger Federer folded under the pressure of the moment. When the chips were down, I believe his mind just couldn’t take it, which in the end was all it took for the slight separation needed to crown one the victor. It can happen to the best of us, I guess.

Do you know the Bible speaks about the mind over 600 times?

Depending on when you became born again, you might have a lot of time spent in the world - a lot of time to soak up the things of the world, which then get trapped in the recesses of our minds and affect our ability to live our lives for Christ.

Incredibly, the National Institute of Mental Health states that over 26% of adults suffer from some form of diagnosable mental disorder! In 2004 there were 32,349 suicides in the Unites States, of which 90% were directly related to some form of mental illness. Major Depressive Disorder is the leading cause of disability for those aged 15-44.

The Scriptures talk about us having a "sound mind." (1 Tim 1:7). Do you believe the state of your mind can change? Your beliefs? Your habits? Do you know the things that you think on and dwell on will set the course for your life?

 Having come to Jesus relatively late in life (mid twenties) I still occasionally struggle with thought patterns and attitudes that I think I should have mastered by now. While wrestling in prayer recently, Jesus set the following verse into my head:

Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus....(Ph 2:5)

Right then and there I told the Lord, "I give you my mind!" A simple prayer, and I’m sure I’ve prayed similar types of prayers over the years. But I believe God is a God of directness, and He asks us to be direct with Him. So I prayed a specific prayer. I want my mind to be like my Lord’s. I want to think on the things He thinks on. I want to act like He acts. And because the prayer was sincere and not double-minded (Jas 1:5-8), I’m believing that it will be answered and it is done.

How about you? Do you find yourself repeating the same patterns in life? Do you look back and regret that you haven’t been able to find your way out of a particular habit? Do you dwell on things that you’d rather not dwell on? The apostle Paul, to the brethren in Rome, wrote the following:

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. (Ro 12:2)

The Greek word Paul uses, "transformed" is from the word we derive "metamorphosis." It is an outward representation of the inward change.

By way of personal example of this metamorphosis, let me share with you my history as a writer. I have always loved writing and the written word (one of my favorite courses in high school was "Latin Roots and Nouns!"). In my early twenties I decided to start writing in earnest, sure that I would write that next great American novel! (I have about six or seven unfinished manuscripts and even a screenplay or two.) Then I was miraculously saved by Jesus, and He impressed upon me that He wanted me to write for Him, and Him alone, which I have been doing ever since.

About a year ago, I ran across those old manuscripts in a file cabinet and reminisced about those days and how creative a process it was and how much I enjoyed it. I sat down with some ideas from an old notebook of mine and then ....nothing. I couldn’t engage my mind. The creative juices were dried up. Then the Lord reminded me that the talent He gave me (indeed His "good and acceptable and perfect will" for me) was for Him. I was transformed, my mind renewed. I was to write for Him.

We serve a loving and faithful God, amen!? He desires that we are whole and healthy. He desires that we live in peace and are productive members of this dying world so that we can reach it for Him. We can’t do that if our minds are in turmoil.

If you are struggling today, won’t you pray that the Lord takes your mind? Pray that He transforms it. Pray that He owns it - all that comes into it and all that comes out of it. Then believe He’ll do it. And then be focused and set your mind to win!

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Editor’s Note:  Eternal Perspective is a monthly feature of Calvary Chapel Columbus and the commentary of Pastor Rick Sibert, focusing on living a Godly life in the midst of an ungodly world.