Concept:
One of the greatest challenges that confront believers
is that at the new birth our minds don't automatically
change. Our minds will not immediately starting
thinking God thoughts on its own. When we receive
Christ, our spirit becomes a new creation
(II Corinthians 5:17) but my soul and body stay the
same. I have to put on the new man. I need to crucify
the flesh. I need to set my mind on things above and
not on the things of the earth. I need to meditate
the Word of God day and night and then follow what it
says. Then the Lord can release His power to change my
life and then I will begin to live in a victorious
manner. 

A scripture that used to give me problems was Isaiah
55:8. This scripture states that God's thought and my
thoughts are going in two different directions. The
reason I had trouble with that is because Philippians
2:16 states that I have the mind of Christ. How could
I have the mind of Christ and still not have the kind
of thoughts that Christ had. Is this a contradiction,
of course, the answer is no. Scripture is telling us
that I have the potential to think like Christ but it
will not take place without some work on my part. I
must determine to set my mind on God's Word. I must
bring every thought into captivity and measure it
against the Word of God. If the thought is not feeding
my spirit, then the thought must be cast down and
replaced with a thought that will feed my spirit. Does
this sound like a full time job? It most certainly is. 

Romans 12:1,2 is the scripture that summarizes the
concept we are talking about. The Word says that if
my thinking doesn't change I will never experience
the perfect will of God. Wow! That should stimulate
us to begin to co-operate with the Spirit of God and
get the transformation of my mind under way.

The process of renewing is a picture of our will and
the will of the Father working together. Also, the
process allows the Word and the Spirit to change us
by their power. It is the Father's will that I change.
I will to begin to keep my mind centered on the things
of the Lord. This process then allows the power of the
Word to be released and the Spirit puts the power
where I need it and I am transformed. Salvation works
out of the spirit man to the natural man by the work
of the Holy Spirit. This work is called
sanctification. People will then begin to see that I
have been in the presence of Jesus and I act like I
have been hanging around with the Jesus and deserve
to be called a Christian. 

The bottom line is this; I am responsible for what I
allow to stay in my mind. Are my thoughts on things
that are noble, right, pure, lovely, praiseworthy, or
excellent? If not, those thoughts need to switch to
the Word; which are all of the things I just
mentioned. Every thought must be evaluated against
God's Word. My thoughts are either bringing life or
death. They are either feeding my flesh or my spirit.
We need to starve our flesh and feed our spirit.
Romans 8 says it the best, to be carnally minded is
death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Let's choose life and peace. 
 

Definitions:
Meditation: To ponder, imagine, mutter, ruminate,
speak, and study.

Mutter: To speak words, to express thoughts.

Ponder: To consider with deliberation, carefully
weighing out of a situation.

Ruminate: To chew cud, to chew again what has already
been chewed slightly: to bring to mind and consider
again what was thought about earlier. 

Sanctification: To set apart, dedicate, consecrate,
separate, sanctify, make holy. A manifestation of
life produced by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Transformed: Change, transfigure, modify, to fashion,
transfigured by a supernatural change.

Renewed: The word suggests a renovation, restoration,
a change of heart and life, and a complete change
for the better.

How to Meditate:
1. Mutter God's Word aloud, speak under your breath
2. Ponder on it over and over
3. Imagine it taking place in your life
4. Talk to yourself
5. Worship the Lord for the Lord for the manifestation
taking place in your life
6. Pray the word over yourself
7. Study what you are meditating
8. Sing the scripture
9. Realize the integrity of God's Word
 

Scriptures:
1. Matthew 17:2

2. II Corinthians 3:18

3. II Corinthians 4:16

4. Colossians 3:10

5. Hebrews 6:6

6. Ephesians 4:23

7. Titus 3:5

8. Romans 12:1,2

9. Genesis 24:63

10. Deuteronomy 5:29

11. II Chronicles 11:16,17

12. Joshua 1:8

13. Psalms 1:2

14. Psalms 19:14

15. Psalms 63:6

16. Psalms 77:12-15

17. Psalms 119:15

18. Psalms 119:23

19. Psalms 119:32

20. Psalms 119:148

21. Psalms 143:5,6

22. Isaiah 26:3,4

23. Isaiah 33:6

24. Jeremiah 9:23,24

25. Daniel 2:22,29

26. Matthew 22:37

27. Luke 8:15

28. I Timothy 4:15

29. Ezekiel 38:10

30. Mark 14:72

31. Luke 8:35

32. Luke 12:29,30

33. Acts 17:11

34. Romans 1:28

35. Romans 8:5-7

36. Romans 8:27

37. I Corinthians 2:16

38. I Corinthians 7:31

39. Philippians 2:5

40. Philippians 4:2

41. II Timothy 1:7

42. II Timothy 2:4

43. Hebrews 8:10

44. I Peter 4:1

45. I John 2:15

46. Proverbs 23:7

47. Genesia 8:21

48. I Samuel 2:1

49. Nehemiah 2:12

50. Nehemiah 9:7,8

51. Psalms 16:9

52. Psalms 51:10

53. Psalms 57:7

54. Ecclesiastes1: 13 

55. Ecclesiastes 1:17

56. Jeremiah 17:10

57. Jeremiah 23:24

58. I Chronicles 28:9

59. I Samuel 9:19

60. I Samuel 16:7

61. Job 7:17,18

62. Psalms 51:10

63. Ezekiel 36:26,27


Summary:
Our Christian walk is about learning to
co-operate with the Spirit of God. God
doesn't control us, but the He, by His
Spirit wants to help us. He went to the
cross but I must accept the finished work
of the cross. He provided sanctification
for me but I must learn how to apply it
to my life. Philippians 2:12, tells me to
work out my salvation with fear and
trembling. This verse is not talking about
going to heaven but it does mean I must
work as a team for my soul to receive the
deliverance and transformation that the
Lord has provided for me. That is why
learning to renew my mind is so important.
Meditating the Word allows the Word to
become revelation knowledge. Revelation
knowledge will bring an explosion to my
soul and my attitudes and action will
change. We start to change as we align
ourselves with what the Spirit is doing
in our lives. Allow the power of the Word
to quicken and make alive your flesh.
Others will see Christ in us as we focus
on the perfect law of liberty and are
changed by the Holy Spirit. It is the
will of God for you to be sanctified by
His Word and His Spirit.


Action:
Write on a card, a scripture that addresses
what the Holy Spirit is showing you needs to
change. Begin to meditate the scripture and
ask the Lord to bring revelation to you. Read
the scripture over and over again. You will
see your attitude and behavior will begin to
change and God will show you how to gain a
complete victory.