New Mind

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2 ESV)

I grew up in a very non-religious environment. My stepfather was a professional gambler, and, as a single parent, he raised my brother David and me according to his lifestyle. I adopted it, including a vocabulary filled with swear words that came naturally to me. In fact, I never even noticed that I was using bad words. But then I received Christ, and that changed my thinking. I still had a swearing habit, but now, each time I said a bad word, I immediately noticed it and worked to weed it out. Over time, my mind was renewed to conform to the will of God and to what was good and acceptable.

“To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Eph. 4:23 ESV)

Therefore

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” (2 Cor. 10:5 ESV)

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (Phil. 2:5)