Christians are expected to live on a higher moral plane than the ungodly citizens of the world. The life style expected of us by God is "holy living". That would mean living by a different set of standards than what is typical of the world. It involves learning to think differently, in a way that protects us and our relationship with God. Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)
God’s call for Christians to be “set apart” to live a holy life is a call to a strenuous life. Christianity is not a lifestyle that appeals to wimps, cowards and the unmotivated. Holy living is an obstacle course that must be met with vigorous work... you must be on constant alert, guarding your mind and heart... prepared and hardened for the journey. In fulfilling this holy calling we are required by God to put forth an all inclusive spiritual, mental and even physical effort.
Holy living comes from transformation... of one’s mind and heart. It comes from a daily living focus on the things of God. You must develop an attitude that serves as a filter for your thinking and the choices you make. How can a person constructively change their thought patterns to reflect and exhibit the standards of holy living?
Your thinking on every level about everything determines the quality of your relationship with God. His Word tells us that we can change our habits and be released from our negative reactions to life’s circumstances. You do not have to be impatient, depressed, angry, or entertain imaginations that are harmful. However, you must first recognize your need for changing your attitude. Proverbs 4:23 states, "'Watch over your heart with all diligence for from it flows the springs of life!"
In Psalm 119:9, a young person asks the question, "How can I keep my ways pure?" and God's answer is, "By living according to God's Word!" What does that mean? It means to allow God's Word to change our way of thinking, to allow it to affect our conduct. It means to put into practice in your life the principles which are found in God's Word. Romans 12:1-2 says... "Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God - holy, and pleasing to God - which is your spiritual worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." You must learn to use the principles and commands found in God’s Word to develop a set of mental conditioners by which you filter everything you think and desire.
The 6th chapter of Romans describes the provision which God has made available to us, which enables us to develop mental filters that lead us to holy living. We are taught that "We are delivered from sin." Romans 6:6 says... "Our old self is crucified with Him, so that the body of sin [sin that separates us from God] might be rendered powerless. Verse 14 declares, "Sin shall not be your master!" Verse 18 resonates further... "You have been set free from sin." While Romans 6 describes deliverance from the hopelessness of sin without Christ, there is more. God has also given us a provision that makes it possible to overcome and resist the power of sin.
Romans chapter 7 presents a picture of our struggle with sin. In verse 19 the Apostle Paul admits openly... "What I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing!" He continues on in verse 21 saying... "When I want to do good, evil is right there with me." How does he feel? He tells us in verse 22... "For in my inner being I delight in God's law." but then says in verse 23... "But I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members." Verse 24 carries on... "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" Verse 25 answers the question by exclaiming, "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
So the vital question is, "How do you get the power described in Romans chapter 6 into your life? The first part is accomplished by following God’s plan of salvation." The last verse of Chapter 7 provides the practical answer for sustaining holy living. After picturing the human struggle with sin, verse 26 concludes by saying... "So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law...” You and your mind, your thinking and your attitudes, can free you from the sinful pursuits and habits.
Romans 8 repeats over and over the phrase, "Setting the mind..." Romans 8: 5-7 says this..."Those who are according to the flesh [that is, they are living according to the flesh] is because they set their minds on the things of the flesh. However, those who are according to the Spirit [they are living according to the Spirit] is because they have set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Because the mind that is set on the flesh, brings death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace." Why? Because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God."
Even more to the point Paul writes in Philippians 4:8... "Fix your thoughts on what is true, good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely. Dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about."
The whole concept presented is "Set your mind... Fix your thoughts on good things" This is a command which requires an intentional act of our "will." God's command is, "Set your mind on these things." Our thought pattern is so ingrained within us that it seems impossible for us to change. Satan knows how to get us to "set our minds" his way and, before we realize it, our wrong [old] thought pattern is off and running.
It sure would be nice if God would alert us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the very moment a negative thought pattern begins to form in our mind. Then all we would have to do is stop, and "set our thoughts on things of God." However, it doesn’t work that way. We’re not robots and God is not a puppeteer. God will not interfere with what He has told us to do. Even though God makes available all the power and resources we need to carry out His commands and live a holy life, we are responsible to make the choices that define the way we live. We are responsible for how we set our minds.
Let me illustrate. When rain comes cascading down a mountainside, the water, cuts into the mountainside, creating crevices. Each time it rains the water transforms these crevices into ever deeper ravines, cutting away the mountainside.These crevices and ravines will over time grow to be great chasms in the mountainside and fertile soils will be washed away.
Our thought patterns are much the same. All the experience of our life, every thing that we have ever done, or even thought about, is programmed into our brain. As we live, our thoughts begin to run along a certain pattern and they become stronger and deeper, until they are so ingrained into the very cells of our brain that our thoughts become a part of who we are. We "react" in a certain way to situations and circumstances. Our thought patterns repeat over and over until a habit is formed. Without even thinking, we react automatically, in a certain manner to whatever happens to us.
Can you stop rain from cascading down a mountainside and cutting deep and dangerous crevices? Environmental engineers in order to preserve mountainsides and farmland, build dams to stop the rain from flowing uncontrolled down a mountainside.
Our minds, our thought life, our attitudes, require a similar form of control. We must build a dam in our mind. God has told us that we are to say "no" to certain thoughts, to stop their flow in our mind. However, building a dam is not enough. To save the mountainside and farm lands in a valley, there must also be a "water control strategy" in order to re-direct the flow of the water.
In our minds... we must cultivate a new way of thinking. Just suppressing our thoughts is not enough. We must re-direct our thought life. We must work diligently to eradicate our old ways of thinking. Radical change is required.
To illustrate this, consider what Ephesians 4:28 says... “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.” For a thief to stop stealing isn’t enough, he must replace the negative thinking that justifies stealing with positive wholesome thoughts.
Negative and sinful thoughts are dealt with by an “act of our will.” We must choose to stop
negative thought patterns that product bad habits and practices. However, in order for our thought patterns to be complete, we must, also, choose to replace our negative thoughts with constructive thoughts, thereby creating new and wholesome habits. You must practice a good thing until it rewires your brain, wherein the good thing becomes as ingrained as the “old” sinful habit.
Two things must happen:
1. We must build a dam in our mind, refusing to allow any wrong thoughts to remain in our mind.
2. We must redirect the flow of our thought pattern by developing a new way of thinking that produces new habits.
The first is temporary, the second is permanent. This, of course, takes God's power within our lives, however , it also takes an act of our will. God never takes away our "free will." We must choose to fulfill God's commands.
Christians must exercise self-control... be of sober / serious mind. Self control means to think soberly without being influenced by harmful and distracting things, things of the world; and it’s often used in connection with watchfulness, being constantly on guard against forming thinking that can spoil your quest for holy living.
1 Peter 5:8-9 says... Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings..
There are many things that can intoxicate our minds and render us useless in serving God. Such things as pride, self-will, arrogance, greed, revenge, hate and lust are all forms of ungodly thinking. We must constantly be on guard against the things of the world that will weaken our resolve to be faithful, take our minds off the goal, convincing us that there is some better or easier way to enjoy life.
We must choose to live holy lives. Colossians 3:2 commands us to, "Set our minds on things above." God commands us to do it. He will give us all the help we need, but we must deeply desire to focus our lives around Him.
With God's help, WE can get rid of our bad thinking, bad attitudes and sinful desires. God will transform us, but we must set our minds desire firmly in that direction. Redirecting our thoughts into a healthy, positive way of thinking is essential if we are to be in a right relationship with God.
