UNPACK This...Renewing Our MindsSample

Thinking Differently

When the sports calendar was flipped upside-down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was hard to wrap my mind around how different my sports viewing habits were going to be.

The perspective I had on when and how sporting events take place had been altered drastically. For example, the NBA Playoffs involved all teams playing in the same location months later than they usually would compete.

As sports fans, we wouldn’t have chosen for the sports world to experience such an upheaval, but we had to look through a new lens.

When it comes to how we think about even more important things in life, there are many thoughts we used to believe about ourselves, others, the world, and God before becoming a follower of Jesus.

But when we decide to follow Jesus, we must go through a complete renewal of our mind, replacing our way of thinking with the truth of God’s Word. We must allow God’s transformative power to help us see through a new lens.

Paul writes about our need for renewal in Romans 12:2: “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.”

When we begin to think differently, we’ll start to act, feel, and respond in a renewed way.

God wants us to let go of the lies and sinful mindsets we’ve carried for so long and embrace the new life He’s designed that is rooted in truth.

Today, as we pursue a renewed mind, let’s allow Jesus’ prayer in John 17:17-19 to be an encouragement:

“Sanctify them in the truth [set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]; Your Word is truth. Just as You commissioned and sent Me into the world, I also have commissioned and sent them (believers) into the world. For their sake, I sanctify Myself [to do Your will], so that they also may be sanctified [set apart, dedicated, made holy] in [Your] truth."

I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please reveal to me the old mindsets and lies that need to be replaced with Your truth. I pray You’ll renew my mind and help me view life and circumstances through a Biblical lens. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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