Day 22 -- The Mind Helps Or Hinders

Each week in the 31-day devotional has had a theme. Week 1 centered on the importance translating what we hear from God into action. Week 2 picked up a theme introduced in week 1 - three ways to position ourselves so we are likely to hear what God is saying. Week 3 centered on the language of conviction. Week 4 will center on the role of the mind as we listen to God's voice.

The mind can be our best friend or our worst enemy. The carnal mind fights against the things of the Spirit, but the renewed mind can help us translate the voice of God into appropriate action. How do we get our mind to work in its proper place so it will properly receive the words God is speaking?

Start with God's goal in speaking to us: He wants us to respond to His voice just as He wants to respond to our voices with answers to prayer.

Only as we act on what God speaks to us can we see His words bring transformation to us and to the people we influence. This means our goal is to become people who are Spirit-led, sensitive to the many ways He can speak to us.

Renewing the mind is a process that includes many things. For one, we must become more like Jesus. As God replaces our selfish motives with His love we will be better able to translate God's words into appropriate action.

Also, a renewed mind is a mind shaped by perfect love which casts out fear. It casts out the fear of making a fool of ourself, or of making a mistake. It casts out fear of being unnoticed or unappreciated; we receive so much love from God Himself that it doesn't trouble us if He doesn't put us in the limelight.

Additionally, a renewed mind knows that we can fail, but God never fails. A renewed mind will test whether it's really hearing from God - but it doesn't obsess with the process of testing. It looks for a way to respond quickly to God's voice, knowing that even an imperfect response is an act of love.

Likewise, a renewed mind knows that God's timing often is not like ours. Sometimes He will tell us something it will take years to grow into. If so, the renewed mind will wait patiently. The theme of waiting recurs often in scripture; the renewed mind is not impatient.

Romans 12:1-2 calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Ask God to lead you into this transformation, so your mind will take its proper place whenever you hear from Him.