FilterSample

DETOXING

Okay, we’ve talked a lot about filtering and guarding our eyes, hearts, minds, and souls from the barrage of content we face every day, but what can we do about the stuff that’s already in there? I mean, if you drink unfiltered water from a stream and find yourself back at camp sicker than ever, there has to be something you can do to start getting better, right? Well, with the water analogy, it’s pretty much just time and fluids that will get you better, but for our hearts and minds, there are some proactive things we can do to flush out the old parasites and clean things up a bit.

I’d like to recommend a two-part approach to this process that comes straight from the two verses you’re about to read in Romans 12. The first is to surrender your mind, heart, and soul to God. When it says to “offer yourselves as a living sacrifice,” that’s what it’s talking about. Essentially, you say, “God, I’m all yours. Whatever you want with my life, whatever you want me to do, say, think, watch - I’m in.” That is the first and most crucial step. Because if we just start filtering everything and trying really, really hard, it’s like running on a treadmill, a lot of work gets done, but no real progress is made. That’s because we have to approach purifying ourselves through the lens of grace. We can’t do it on our own; it is only Jesus’ work on the cross that makes us clean.

But, simply going to God and surrendering isn’t going to clean up our minds right away. There are years of old habits, bad memories, and polluting content rattling around between our ears, and we’re going to have to flush those out. That’s where the second part comes in, and it’s based on verse 2. We have to renew our minds. As we begin to live a different way and seek transformation, we actively have to put new, better stuff in our minds. What does that mean? Well, you’re already doing one of the key steps as we speak - like, right now. Reading God’s Word every day is a huge key to flushing all the old junk out of our minds. It also gives us greater insight into what God is really like and what he really says, which helps us have a better filter for knowing what content we should or shouldn’t let into our lives. That’s what the last part of verse 2 is hinting at when it says “then we’ll know what God’s will is.”

So, today, let me challenge you to do a “power-washing” of your mind. Yes, you’re about to read a bit of the Bible, but don’t let that be all you do today. Find yourself a good worship album and run that through your earbuds. After the assigned reading, maybe just pick another spot in the Bible and read for a bit. Find a good Christian book (ask for recommendations from your Student Pastor) and start reading. Yes, you can do an audiobook if you hate reading. Start filling your head with as much God-content as you can, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly that renewing of the mind starts to happen.