How do we renew our minds?

Renewing our minds is an active thing.

God desires to partner with His children to further His Kingdom on earth, so it makes sense that renewing our minds means we have to do something. And the things He asks us to do are to bring us comfort and peace, and Him, the glory He deserves.

So, what are the things we should do to actively renew our minds?

• Pray: Prayer will never stop being powerful. It's an opportunity to seek God's love, guidance, and comfort as well as keep an ongoing conversation with the Creator of the universe. We can first start this process of mind renewal by asking God to show us where our thinking doesn't line up with His will for us. He gladly forgives those who own up to the error of their ways and are willing to change their behavior (1 John 1:9). Repentance is a blessing that we shouldn't take for granted and always be willing to exercise to keep our eyes on Christ.

• Read Scripture: When we read Scripture, we know what is true. This is pivotal in then being able to compare what we think and believe against what God says. We'll then be able to practice replacing the truth of God's Word against the lies we've always believed, allowing His living and active Word to replace any lie we've clung to.

• Worship: God is good. He is love. He is worthy of our time and attention, and through worship, we show Him how we feel about Him. This also becomes a time of connection and great peace, which then shows us how much greater it is to be His child than to run the rat race of this world.

• Fellowship: God didn't create man to be alone. He created us for community. And it's in community with fellow believers that we can be held accountable for what's going on in our heads and hearts. God often speaks through those closest to us, so it's important to have a couple of wise and trustworthy friends who know God's Word and follow Jesus's teachings to ensure we're staying on the path He's laid for us.

• Discern: Solomon, Israel's third king, had all the wealth in the world, and could have asked God for anything and God would have granted it. But instead of more wealth, women, or wine, Solomon asked for something much, much better: wisdom. As we covered in "The Pattern of the This World" section, sometimes even those closest to us can be used by Satan to throw us off God's path. So, it's important to pray for discernment and use it when weighing what's of God and what isn't. As we walk through life, we'll start to realize that what God allows for others may not be something He intends for us, and therefore, discernment can be our best ally in making sure we're living as God intended.

Next, I'll share with you how God changed my life once I made renewing my mind an everyday practice.