Changing the Way We Think

“But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:57 NLT

I am desperate to help others. I see so many racing toward destruction, rejecting God in favor of sin. You can’t have both you know. They are mutually exclusive. Fortunately Jesus has solved the sin problem but we must appropriate the gift.. the victory! We must have a change of mind (i.e. “repent”).

I read in a book entitled, “Is That Really You God” by Loren Cunningham, about a practice where you prayerfully ask God for chapter and verse in the Bible to guide you. Immediately I tried this and prayed, “Lord, what verse would you have me read?” The answer came within moments: “Romans 12:1-2 but specifically verse two. Pay attention!”

So I opened my bible and read:

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 NLT

God will transform me into a new person by changing the way I think.

To change your thinking is what the Bible translates as “repent”. Jesus said it again and again:

“From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of (change your thinking about) your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”” – Matthew 4:17 NLT

“And you will perish, too, unless you repent of (change your thinking about) your sins and turn to God… No, and I tell you again that unless you repent (change your thinking), you will perish, too.” – Luke 13:3,5 NLT

If you don’t change the way you think about sin, Christ, the cross, the Gospel, the true nature of God, your true identity, you will suffer… unless you overcome (through simple childlike trust). This suffering will extend into the afterlife and will get a great deal worse. Jesus loves you enough to warn you because that’s what love does. Love warns the kayaker of the deadly waterfall and rocks ahead.

Jesus wants to spare you from all suffering and wake you up to a whole new way of being. A new way to be human. Happy ALL the time! Full of joy unspeakable and full of glory!

Interested?

Me too.

I just so happens that I was introduced to Graham Cooke recently and one of his teachings centers on this very thought… changing the way we think. I was listening to it for the first time tonight and thought I’d share it with you:

Leave me a comment and let me know how this teaching has moved your life.