Starting Fresh On a Strong Foundation- Change What You’re Thinking

In our last post, I encouraged you to get out of your comfort zone, say yes to what God has been speaking to you, and to make a determination to stretch your faith in expectation regarding the year ahead. To truly walk in the fullness of what He has for you this year, however, we will need to:

1. Change what we’re thinking
2. Change what we’re saying
3. Change what we’re doing

The first thing we must do is change our thinking. In Part One of this series, we looked at the story of Peter walking on the water found in Matthew 14:22-33. Peter was willing to think differently than the other disciples and he experienced a miracle. His name and his story are forever recorded because he was willing to change his thinking, and you can too. Paul exhorts us:

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Paul is writing to born-again, Spirit-filled believers when he says “be not conformed to this world.” That means there is the possibility that you can be conformed to this world. How are we conformed to this world? Through what we think about all the time.

Paul writes “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed.” The word “transformed,” comes from the Greek word metamorpho, which is the English equivalent to the word metamorphosis. This word implies a radical change; a radical transformation.

You must understand that the only part of your makeup that was changed when you became a Christian was your spirit. Your body was not changed at the new birth. Your soul was not changed at the new birth. Your soul is your mind, your will, and your emotions. That’s why Paul said you have to do something with your soul. James tells us how:

James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Only God’s Word has the power to radically change your soul so that you can “know and experience what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God.” But that will never happen until your soul becomes transformed with the implanted Word of God. Your unrenewed soul will try to talk you out of obeying God. Your feelings and past experiences and emotions will keep you from stepping out of your comfort zone and you will never move beyond your current position in life.

People have problems in their life because their thinking patterns have not changed after the new birth and after the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They think the same way they always have. What you think will affect what you believe, what you believe will impact what you say and what you do, and those two things will determine what you have in life and what you will become in life. It all starts with your thinking. That’s why Paul said the first thing you need to do after you become a believer is to be radically transformed in your soul—and you can be.

This brings us to the second principle. We have to change what we say. Renewing our minds involves not only changing what we think but also changing what we say. I’ll speak more about that in my next post.

The following recording is a Word from the Lord that came forth through tongues and interpretation at the end of the service where this message was originally shared. We trust you will be blessed as you both hear and receive…