"Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." Romans 12:2 (NLT)
WHY I MUST MANAGE MY MIND?
- BECAUSE MY THOUGHTS CONTROL MY LIFE
"Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts." Proverbs 4:23 (TEV)
- BECAUSE MY MIND IS THE BATTLEGROUND FOR SIN
"I love to do God's will so far as my new nature is concerned; but there's something else deep within me that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin within me. In my mind I want to be God's servant, but instead I find myself still enslaved to sin." Romans 7:22-23 (LB)
- BECAUSE IT'S THE KEY TO PEACE AND HAPPINESS
"If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace." Romans 8:6 (NLT)
3 DAILY CHOICES I MUST MAKE TO MANAGE MY MIND
1. I MUST FEED MY MIND WITH TRUTH
"People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every WORD OF GOD." Matthew 4:4 (NLT)
WHEN SHOULD I FEED MY MIND WITH GOD'S TRUTH?
ALL THE TIME!
"I rise early . . . to cry out for help and to put my hope in your words." Psalm 119:147 (NLT)
"Lord, how I love your Word. I think about it all day long." Psalm 119:97
"Even in the darkest of night, your teachings fill my mind." Ps.16:7(CEV)
"Even when wicked people hide to ambush and kill me, I quietly keep mymind on your decrees." Psalm 119:95 (NLT)
2. I MUST FREE MY MIND FROM DESTUCTIVE THOUGHTS
3 Enemies battle against the truth & my best intentions:
- THE 1ST ENEMY OF MY MIND: MY OLD NATURE
"I see in my body a principle at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells inside me." Romans 7:23 (NAB)
"Those who are dominated by their old sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit." Romans 8:5 (NLT)
- THE 2ND ENEMY OF MY MIND: SATAN
Paul: "(I've forgiven that man) so that Satan won't outsmart us. For we're very familiar with his evil schemes!" 2 Corinthians 2:11
- THE 3RD ENEMY OF MY MIND: THE WORLD'S VALUES
"All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of this world." 1 John 2:16 (KJV)
How to Fight:
"Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. [Our weapons] have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish any argument and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we TAKE CAPTIVE every thought to make it OBEDIENT to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
A "STRONGHOLD": IS A LIE THAT I BELIEVE
"I have made up my mind to obey your laws forever, no matter what." Psalm 119:112 (CEV)
3. I MUST FOCUS MY MIND ON THE RIGHT THINGS
- THINK ABOUT JESUS
"Keep your mind on Jesus Christ . . ." 2 Timothy 2:8 (CEV)
"Think about Jesus' example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying." Hebrews 12:3 (NCV)
- THINK ABOUT OTHERS
"Don't just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing." Philippians 2:4 (LB)
"Let us think about each other and help each other to show love and do good deeds." Hebrews 10:24 (NCV)
- THINK ABOUT ETERNITY
"Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth." Colossians 3:2 (NLT)
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)
Action Plan: At the end of each day this week, answer these questions or points:
- What verse did you read in the morning to feed your mind?
- What did you ask God to help you with today? What did you ask God to help others with today?
- Did you recognize any sin in your life today? If nothing jumps out, ask God to point out anything that was unpleasing to him. (Psalm 139:23-24)
- Ask for forgiveness for each sin and, by faith, accept God's forgiveness (1 John 1:9)
- What verse will you read at night to feed your mind before going to sleep?
Doable Discipleship: This week's episode of Doable Discipleship continues an interview with Pastor Ken Baugh on how our emotional health influences our relationship with God. New episodes release every Tuesday. To watch or listen, click here
Talk It Over: Have you ever discussed the weekend message in your small group? Talk It Over provides weekly small group discussion questions as a way to bring the weekend message into your small group. To view this week's Talk It Over, click here.
