If we don't renew our minds, sadness, sorrow, worry, anxiety, and anger will invade our thoughts.
I'm on chemotherapy for the third time, hoping it will restore my hearing to what it was before. After more than four years of treatment for brain tumors due to NF2, I lose more of my hearing and balance with each episode. When I had my hearing tested a few months ago, I was shocked to see how much loss I’d had in one year. If I lose that same amount in the future, I will be deaf—a fact that discourages me.
Time and again, I need reminding that renewing my mind is something I should do continuously. If I don't, I’ll start to believe the Devil's lies. Lies that tell me God doesn't love me or I wouldn't be going through this situation … that I’m alone in my struggles … that I should accept my situation because it's not going to get better.
The more I dwell on the negative—on how helpless I am or how bad the world is—the more negative I become. Before I know it, I've lost the peace and joy that is my spiritual birthright.
It's up to us to not listen to those lies and to keep our focus on how good God is, how much He loves us, and how He has a good plan for us no matter what our circumstances are. But how do I renew my mind?
By reading and studying God's Word. Of course, there are other things such as going to church, praying, being thankful, and praising God. But reading, studying, and believing God's Word are surely the best ways.
Renewing our mind will also keep us in a good place spiritually, but it does more than that. As we renew our minds, we will know God's will for us.
Time spent in God’s Word is never wasted. Make it a daily practice to renew your mind.
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Lillian lives in a small town in Ohio with her husband. She writes the types of books she loves to read—fast-paced suspense and mystery, with a touch or two of romance that demonstrates God’s love for all of us. She was a school speech pathologist for thirty years but retired after being diagnosed with bilateral brain tumors due to Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2), a rare genetic disease. Whether as an educator, a writer, or a speech pathologist, she believes in the power of words—especially God’s Word—to transform lives. To learn more about Lillian and her books, visit: www.lillian-duncan.com.