If you’ve ever moved to a new residence, what’s one of the first things on your to-do list? My guess is to paint some of the walls. This is an age-old trick to tidying up the appearance of worn-down houses to make them feel new again.
My husband and I have moved several times since we married, so we’ve used this tactic in our new-to-us homes across the country. But I’ve learned that throwing paint on the wall is only part of the process. Steps must be taken to prep the walls before any paint is applied, such as: getting rid of any glitches, filling in holes, or pulling out old staples and nails. This prep time is vital to the final appearance.
Time to renovate?
Just as the walls inside our homes need refreshing, the same is true for our mindset. Does yours need to be revamped before starting the coming year?
Romans 12:2 reminds us of this necessary cleansing process: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Just as living spaces get layered with unwanted muck, our minds amass all types of garbage on a given day! The levels of gunk add up before we know it. Look at this list of mind-ridden messiness:
- Anger
- Bitterness
- Jealousy
- Unforgiveness
- Rage
- Idleness
- Cynicism
- Temper
- Disrespect
- Hatred
- Distrust
- Suspicion
A big part of our mental well-being is becoming purposeful about renewing our mindset.”
Comparing our thoughts to prepping walls, we must discard the old, unappealing qualities before the new, fresh coating can shine through. Think of it as refurbishing our bodies from the inside out.
MIND RENEWAL TIPS
The Bible often encourages Christians—those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord—to leave the corruptness of our culture behind in order to accept (or put on) the renewed mindset of Christ. Ephesians 4:25-32 explains several tips for accomplishing this, such as:
Speaking truth
If you’ve ever tried to keep up with even one lie, you know how difficult it becomes. One untruth leads to another. Before long, it’s mentally exhausting to try to remember all the lies and cover-ups of truth you’ve shared with others. By speaking the truth instead of lies, our minds become free of that burden and are open to Godly thoughts that are much healthier for us and our relationships.
Letting go of anger
Those who are filled with anger are like pots of hot liquid, ready to boil over at any second. All it takes is one lousy look from someone, one dire circumstance in the day, one word that doesn’t set right by a family member or coworker, and game over! When our minds are filled with anger, we feel the singeing flames inside us, ready to explode at any moment.
Letting go of this fiery torch opens our minds to new possibilities. We no longer see everyone and every situation as a threat. God can now cool us down from within while giving us renewed peace.
Staying busy
I’ve had my share of days when I didn’t have a steady job in place. Those became long stints of time when it became easy for my mind to drift toward negativity about myself and others.
But in Ephesians 4:28, we read this encouragement to “do something useful with our own hands, so that we may have something to share with those in need.” Working hard and serving others always produces happiness and fulfillment for everyone involved. It’s a great way of renewing our mindset in considering the good of others.
Bailing the bitterness baggage!
Carrying a backpack of resentment feels heavier the longer it’s worn. You may have heard the saying, “Bitterness (and unforgiveness) is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die from it.” Holding on to hostile feelings toward someone will only eat you up from the inside while the other person has likely moved on and is living free of concern.
Releasing tight fists of anger will allow those dark images to fade from your recurring thoughts. In doing so, I’ve seen a person’s countenance transform to peace and happiness because of all that God has for them to look forward to in the days ahead.
Being kind!
If you’ve ever lived or worked in an environment where those around you are unfriendly, then you know how disheartening it can become each day. Over time, that feeling of discontentment and unkindness overshadows your thoughts and can bring you down immensely. There’s no place for a mean-spirited person to spin their web of maliciousness at work, school, church, or home.
Instead, we’re taught to be kind and compassionate toward others (Ephesians 4:32). Everyone deals with burdens in their lives, whether they share them verbally or not. The best we can do is to show consideration for what people around us are going through and offer kindness as much as possible.
None of the suggestions above are that difficult, but they do require focused intentionality on our part. The great news is that when we ask God to help us in this process, He is faithful to strip down the parts of our thinking that need to be changed and bring about renewal in the best ways possible.