Last week, I took my computer into the Apple store because it was freezing up on certain commands. The Apple genius who was helping me performed a few diagnostic tests and then told me we were going to have to ship off my computer to fix the hard drive. A sad day!
I finally got my Mac back yesterday, and when I turned it on, I realized they had cleared the whole system. Thankfully, I had everything backed up on a hard drive.
Our minds are similar to the hard drive in our computers. We’re programmed from birth with lots of different messages. Some of those messages are true; some are false. Some are positive, and some are negative. As a result of those messages we develop a mindset—patterns of thinking. The apostle Paul wrote that we must no longer conform to our old mindset, but instead we are to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:2b). In other words, our hard drives need to be rewired!
How do you rewire your mind? Certainly the Holy Spirit is the one who transforms us, but we need to cooperate with Him. One of the best methods I know to cooperate with the Holy Spirit is by memorizing Scripture. I know, it seems old-fashioned. Why memorize Scripture when you can pull it up on your smart phone?
3 Reasons to Renew Your Mind With God’s Word
- To become at home with God’s way of thinking: God’s way of thinking is so foreign to our human minds that often we look at a situation completely differently than He does. Paul wrote that we are to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col. 3:16a). As we memorize Scripture, God’s ideas take up residency in our hearts, and we become more at home with His thoughts. The Holy Spirit uses the words we’ve memorized to change our thought patterns.
- To allow the peace of Christ to rule in your heart (Col. 3:15): We’re a stressed-out culture, aren’t we? I mean, there’s always something else to make us anxious or worried. How in the world are we supposed to let Christ’s peace govern our hearts? Memorizing can help. First of all, on a purely practical level, memorizing gives your mind another object of obsession. Rather than obsessing over what you’re worried about, focus on memorizing Scripture. The shift in thinking will give your mind a break from whatever you’re worried about. Second, the Holy Spirit will bring those verses to your memory the next time you feel worried, and gradually, peace will begin to develop.
- To have a quick weapon against the enemy: In Ephesians 6:17, Paul writes that we are to take up the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” in our warfare against Satan. The next time Satan starts with his blah, blah, blah in your thinking, use the verses you’ve memorized to shut him up. Here’s the thing: If you’re going to use those verses, you have to have them memorized!
Friend, I know it’s vacation time, but why not try memorizing even one or two verses this summer? Begin to rehearse them daily and watch how gradually your thinking will change.
I’d love to hear from you! What Scripture have you memorized that has been helpful in reshaping your mind? Leave a comment! {eoa}
Becky Harling, an author, certified speaker, leadership coach and trainer with the John Maxwell Team, is an energetic and motivational international speaker inspiring audiences to overcome their greatest life challenges and reach their full God-given potential. Her most recent book is How to Listen So People Will Talk. Her husband, Steve Harling, is the president of Reach Beyond, a nonprofit organization seeking to be the voice and hands of Jesus around the world. Connect with Becky at beckyharling.com, Facebook or Twitter.
This article originally appeared at beckyharling.com.
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