To Control Your Conduct, Control Your Thoughts – Part Five
Romans 7: 22 – 25
The brain is sophisticated and complex. Here is an elemental insight. Negative thoughts produce certain chemicals in the brain. Positive thoughts produce other chemicals. In turn these chemicals tend to attract thoughts that produce them. Therefore, if you have been thinking negatively you have a negative chemical flow. This causes more negative thoughts. If you have been thinking positively you have a positive chemical flow and will tend to continue to think positively. You have a preset mindset.
The matter of doing the right and not doing the wrong comes down to mind over matter as noted in Romans 7: 25, “So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, and with the flesh the law of sin.”
It is a matter of mind over matter and the mind only prevails if it is under the control of Jesus Christ. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
Is this a time when our Lord would have you reset your mindset? It takes conscious practice. Start with these. Resolve:
Without stopping to appreciate what you have you tend to devalue it. All of us have things for which to be grateful.
Our text says “I delight in the law of God” (Romans 7: 22). Learn to get pleasure from God’s way of seeing things.
The text also says, “I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7: 25).
If you consider every activity a positive adventure it takes on new meaning and inspires others.
Pre-program your mind on the Word of God. This can enable the development of a Biblical worldview.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
Many need a renewed mind. The good news is you can have you and the Lord working together. You can be confident the Lord will do His part in the renovation. There awaits, therefore only your will.
Getting the right chemicals to start flowing takes a will to do it. The Lord will not superimpose on your will, BUT He will impose on your will His will. Your response determines if the floodgates of renewal will open wide and allow His incoming influences.
As hard as it is to change on the outside, it seems infinitely harder to change on the inside. If there is anything we know about human nature, it is that people change slowly, if they change at all. Think about the struggles of your own life. What would you change about yourself on the inside if you could? Make a list of changes in your life you would like to make. What spiritual resources do you desire to make changes you know need to be made? Ask the Lord for His help by aiding your will in achieving them.
Take time in making the list and then review as to what you must do as your part to develop the new spiritual you.