If you could read a transcript of your thoughts over the last 24-hours, what would it reveal? Even though your thoughts are mostly private, those thoughts rarely stay locked away in your mind. What we think about influences how we behave. My pastor often reminds us that..
“You say what you say,
and you do what you do,
because you think what you think.
And you think what you think
because you believe what you believe
about God, his Word, and yourself.”
Our thoughts influence how we engage with the world around us. The Bible calls us not to be conformed to the world, but to be transformed by the renewal of our minds (Rom. 12:1-2). Our default is to conform—to say, do, think, and believe what the worldly systems around us do. But to live differently, to be truly counter-cultural, our minds must be renewed in God’s Word.
We need daily, sometimes minute-by-minute, renewal by soaking our minds in the truths of God’s Word.
How are we to renew our minds? Here are 20 verses to begin your study. Consider printing this list and memorizing some of these passages to help you in the daily battle to renew your mind.
20 Bible Verses About Renewing Your Mind
- Joshua 1:8-9 (ESV)
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. - Psalm 51:10 (ESV)
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. - Psalm 119:11 (ESV)
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. - Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. - Romans 6:4 (ESV)
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. - Romans 8:5-6 (ESV)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. - Romans 12:2 (ESV)
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. - 2 Corinthians 4:16 (ESV)
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. - 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (ESV)
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. - Ephesians 4:17 (ESV)
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. - Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV)
to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. - Philippians 2:5 (ESV)
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. - Colossians 3:2 (ESV)
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. - Colossians 3:9-10 (ESV)
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. - Colossians 3:16 (ESV)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. - Titus 1:15 (ESV)
To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. - Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. - James 1:21 (ESV)
Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which can save your souls. - 1 Peter 1:13 (ESV)
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Renew Your Mind in the Word
A.W. Tozer famously said, ‘What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” It’s the most important thing because it’s ground zero for everything else in life. And the only way our minds can think rightly about God, His Word, and ourselves, is for them to be daily renewed.
So, open the pages of your Bible and ask for the Spirit’s help to know, understand, and walk in them (Col. 1:9-10). This is how you will be delivered from conformity to the world, and transformed by the renewal of your minds.
God help us be renewed!
Cara
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