Have you ever changed your mind? People do it all the time. I was going to do this, but decided to do that. I was going to go here, but decided to go there. I was going to wear this, but decided to wear that. We change our minds on a daily basis.
Even Jude tells us he originally planned to write on the theme of salvation, but decided (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) to deal with the subject of contending for the faith (Jude 3). I was going to write an article today on the subject of prayer, but changed my mind.
I believe it’s agreed that we change our minds on multiple occasions and on multiple subjects. But what I really want to know is if you have ever changed your mind. Have you changed the way you think? Have you experienced a changed mind?
In Philippians 4:8 Paul talks about our thinking. He does so because the way we think effects the way we live. The proverb writer said it, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).
Having just told us to worry about nothing but pray about everything (v6), and how God’s peace will protect our minds (v7), Paul follows it up with this, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (v8).
Among other things, that verse says God has given us the gift of choice. We have the God-given ability to choose not only what we are going to think about, but how we are going to think. We can choose to think about what is true, as opposed to what is false. We can think about what is right, as opposed to what is incorrect. We can dwell on what is pure, as opposed to what is impure. We have the ability to look on the bright side rather than the dark side.
To the believers in Rome Paul gave this command, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). While I do not have the power to transform myself, I do have the ability to change my mind. I have the ability to obey the command of Philippians 4:8 and “think about such things.” In this way the command of Romans 12:2 is obeyed, for a changed mind results in a transformed life.
It’s been said that there is nothing more powerful than a changed mind. Obey the command of Philippians 4:8. Change your mind, and God will change you.
Pastor Todd Weston
