This is the time of year when people make all kinds of resolutions, promises, and goals just to watch those gym memberships go to waste when February gets here. Resolutions are good. A desire to do something good is great. But it takes more than a desire. Remember that Peter made a bold declaration to not deny our Lord Jesus Christ, yet he still did. He had a desire and a bold declaration, yet he still did not follow through. He didn’t have the power.
If you want lasting change in your life, you need more than just a desire and a confession. You need the help of the Lord. You need to do what the Bible says to do. If you will take these four points and apply them to your life, you’re going to see lasting change, not just another failed resolution.
1.) Renew your mind with the Word of God (Romans 12:2). If you’re going to see lasting change in your life, you need to meditate on the Word to see what God says about you and your situation. As you do this, your mind will be transformed, and you will begin to think more like God.
Renewing your mind isn’t just about meditating on the Word. You need to develop the habit of reading the Bible daily, even memorizing scripture. Renewing your mind doesn’t just change your mind. It changes your attitude and actions. It changes your outlook and perspective. The decisions that you make will change as well. Your renewed mind will change those old desires, and it will change your life.
2.) Replace negative thoughts with Bible truths. This is an ongoing, daily process. You must identify your negative thoughts and replace them with what God says. This is putting your renewed mind to work. So many times, we allow our thoughts to run wild. No. We are to take every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Don’t just allow those unscriptural thoughts to bounce back and forth in your mind. Challenge them. Put them down. Bring them into captivity.
3.) Write down what scriptures you want to renew your mind with. This practical step will help you to renew your mind and walk out what you believe. Habakkuk 2:2 tells us to “…Write the vision, and make it plain…” Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” These are the scriptures to confess and meditate over. Pray these verses out, and they will cause a change in your life.
4.) Don’t give up. Yes, it takes time. Yes, it may seem like it isn’t working. Do not grow weary in well doing. You will see your faith come to sight.
Have you seen a pattern here? It’s not our actions that we start with. It’s our spirit and our thought life that cause the change in our actions. All permanent change starts in the spirit. If you don’t give up, you’re going to see the change you desire.
Is this all you need to do? Of course not. But these are some of the key actions that many people leave out when they’re trying to change things. If you don’t renew your mind, you’re guaranteed not to get any farther than you are. Don’t give up. God is with us.
