Need Help Renewing Your Mind?

I can do easy things through Him who doesn't need to give me strength because I can do them on my own.

Wait a minute . . . did I quote that right?

No. Let me try again.

I can do fun things though Him who doesn’t need to give me strength because I actually like to do them.

No. That’s not it either.

Wait a minute . . . I have it:

I can do . . . all . . . things through Him who gives me strength.

In a follow-your-passion, life-should-be-easy world, I keep forgetting I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.

Instead, I think that if it’s not easy, I can’t do it.

And if it’s not fun, I shouldn’t do it.

So I tend to avoid things that aren’t in the fun and easy category.

Just like some people avoid things that aren’t productive. And others avoid things that make them uncomfortable.

I have one thing working in my favor, though: Renewing my mind is fun and easy for me. I actually like doing it.

So even though I think writing is hard and boring, I’m willing to sit and renew my mind so God can change my attitude towards writing.

And even though I think eating with control is hard and boring, I’m willing to sit and renew my mind so God can change my attitude about eating.

But what if you’re a person who thinks that renewing your mind is hard and boring?

That’s a problem.

Because if you think renewing your mind is hard and boring—or unproductive and uncomfortable—you won't do it.

The thought will pop into your head, I should really renew my mind, but it will be immediately followed by another thought:

No, that’s too much work.

Or that doesn’t sound very fun.

Or I really should get that project done first. I’ll renew my mind later.

Those thoughts will keep you from renewing your mind, just like my thoughts left to their own devices keep me from writing.

So what’s the solution?

I think the solution is to renew your mind about the renewing of your mind.

Look at it this way. When I see writing from God’s perspective, I actually want to write, even though it’s not fun and easy.

Likewise, if you see the renewing of the mind from God’s perspective, you’ll actually want to renew your mind even if it’s not fun and easy.

If you want help on how to see the renewing of the mind from a biblical perspective, check out this post: How to Make Yourself Truth Journal. The post is on truth journaling but it could also apply to Scripture prayers or quiet times.

I’ve also spent the last year working on another tool that's easier for some people to use than truth journaling. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get that out, but it could be soon if I decide to put it into an e-book or self-publish.

Since I find all parts of the writing/publishing process to be hard and non-fun, I would really appreciate your prayers on figuring out what to do next with this new tool.

I hope you have a good week renewing your mind.

And if you’re tempted to think, Maybe I should clean the house, instead, tell yourself, No, it would be more productive to clean my mind.

(I know, lame ending. Why can’t I resist lame endings?)