Renewal of Mind and Transformation
Strong's Greek: 3563. νοῦς (nous) -- Mind, understanding, intellect
Strong’s Greek 3563 (νοῦς, nous) designates the seat of thought, perception, judgment, purpose, and moral reasoning. It embraces both rational intelligence and the spiritual faculty by which …[1]
If our mind is stayed on ourselves, we tend to focus on our problems; and also on the problems of people in our lives, or on anything else like our situations around and our globe as well. When we can not experience perfect peace, emotionally turbulent, and cognitively confused, we will be the recipient of spiritual attacks in our confusion. The enemy of our souls, Satan loves to get our minds set on anything except the LORD. Can we believe this?
The Christian life is not an unthinking life of just doing, or experiencing life the way one wants. It has a lot to do with thinking, and this is where we set our mind essentially in our walk before our Lord our God. Here we need wisdom from above, and basic understanding of neuroscience to understand ourselves to live it.
A “walk” in the Bible is often a metaphor for practical every day living with Christ. Christian life is a journey, and we are to make consistent forward progress. The biblical norm for all believers is that they should try to walk in the Spirit:
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in
the Spirit;
The Spirit gave us life in the new birth. That
which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit;
As Christians carefully steward their mind, “the brain is more active, growing more branches in integrating and linking thoughts, which translates as increased intelligence and wisdom and that wonderful feeling of peace. God also throws in some additional benefits such as increased immune and cardiovascular health”[2]
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and
the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge;
Prov. 15: 15.
To walk in the Spirit means that we yield to God’s control, we follow His lead, and we allow Him to exert His influence over us. To walk in the Spirit is the opposite of resisting Him or grieving, or opposing or fighting against His Spirit and His people.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye
are sealed unto the day of redemption;
Ephe. 4: 30.
“Whatever you think about the most will grow, so the more [you reinforce] a particular thought, the stronger it grows. You can’t just apply a thought once and think change has happened. It takes repeated work…” It’s not easy; it is hard work, but it can be done through our thoughts and choices.”[3]
Strategic feeding of our minds with God’s word help us to grow in Him. Bible is rich with His words to encourage us to develop our minds in His riches, the riches of His glory. For this we have to grow and be strong enough to destroy the forces of darkness, and any speculations that rises against the knowledge of God. God is more than able to help and develop us.
Strong's Greek: 4561. σάρξ
(sarx) -- Flesh - Bible Hub
In short, flesh generally relates to unaided human effort, i.e.
decisions (actions) that originate from self or are empowered by self. This is
carnal ("of the flesh ") and proceeds out of the …[4]
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Cori. 10: 3-5.
“As the spittle that comes out of a man’s mouth
slayeth serpents, so doth that which proceedeth out of the mouths of God’s
faithful ministers quell and kill evil imaginations, carnal reasonings, which are the legion of domestic devils, that
hold near intelligence with the old serpent.” (John Trapp)
“For nothing is more opposed to the spiritual wisdom of God than the wisdom of the flesh, and nothing more opposed to His grace than man’s natural ability.” (Calvin)
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind
is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee;
Isa. 26: 3.
Research
shows that living peaceably reduces the stress hormones, the cortisol and
increases emotional regulation.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live
peaceably with all men;
Rom. 12: 18.
[1]https://www.bing.com/search?pglt=299&q=Greek+word+for+mind&cvid=030a36f6466
[2]
Neurocycle Institute https://neurocycleinstitute.com › about-us
Dr. Caroline Leaf – Neurocycle Institute (Switch on Your Brain,
p. 48).
[3]
Neurocycle Institute https://neurocycleinstitute.com
› about-us
Dr. Caroline Leaf – Neurocycle Institute (Switch on Your Brain, p. 128).
[4]https://www.bing.com/search?pglt=299&q=flesh+in+Greek+word&cvid=ecd7487a57ec
