Make Up Your Mind

When our daughter was in junior high school, "she made up her mind" to improve her grades and attitude and she did (with gentle reminders from her parents).  In fact she did so well so quickly that we wanted to do something special for her, you know, to encourage her efforts.  My husband got the bright idea to take her to the mall so she could buy whatever she wanted!!!!  "Um, Sir???? we have four other children in this house, do you think that might cause a little rift?"  He was confident that it wouldn't and then swore me to secrecy.  When we got up the following Saturday morning, he told her he was taking her on a date.  She secretly asked me where they were going but I wouldn't snitch.

When they returned later that day my husband told me that when they got to the mall and he told her she could get whatever she wanted she stood frozen to the floor, ostensibly overwhelmed at his generosity, puzzled by the possibilities but completely confused because she couldn't "make up her mind" what to buy first.  Needless to say she ultimately overcame this temporary state and pressed her way passed the confusion. Don't tell my husband I told you this, but I can totally identify with my daughter because he has done this very thing to me on many occasions and I too have been overwhelmed.  I have been known to secretly text or call someone from my circle pleading for help with my decision making.  I got a trick for him now though, I keep a wishlist :) 

 
Have you ever been in a situation where you couldn't "make up your mind": where to go, if you should
go, what to cook, if you should take the job, go back to school, beat your kid into next week or be merciful?  Of course you have, and I am positive you will have many more "I can't 'make up my mind'" moments.


Today, I want to challenge you to "make up your mind".
Not to decide when, what or how to do something, but to re-shape your thinking.  How?  I am so glad you asked.

A:  Change, Renew, Transform (CRT) the way you think

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. (Romans 12:1-3 NKJV)

The word conformed means:

To act in accord with the prevailing standards, attitudes, practices, etc., of society or a group.  

God forbid that we act and react (conform) like unbelievers, people void of a relationship with God who do any and everything to be accepted or because they can.  Some of us act like brainless,  half-baked, witless, fools who make some of the most asinine, nonsensical, inept, kooky, simple-minded decisions only to beat ourselves up, mentally, about it afterwards.  Do you want to know why?  Because we are conforming.  Giving into "peer pressure" because we are genuinely afraid to stand up or stand out.  In all honesty we just want to be liked, loved and accepted but when we aren't, it makes us uncomfortable, so we get out of character.  We confuse the people who are watching our "fakeness" which is why so many unbelievers "hate on" the "church".  What is most devastating about those who live a double, half-in-half-out lifestyle is that we bring shame upon the Name of Jesus.

In order to transform your mind it must be renewed, not once but daily.

Transform: to change in condition, nature, or character; convert.

Trying to get rid of or erasing former thoughts and behaviors is not enough, they must be replaced with something positive.  How?  Listening to the Word (CD, YouTube, etc.) more than you listen to talk shows; reading positive information (the Bible for sure, personal development books, stories about people who have overcome similar situations); try more Good News (Gospel) music instead of secular music; change your conversation -- learn a new word everyday and find a way to use it when you communicate, decrease your cussing by assessing a penalty when you slip, think before you speak.  I can pretty much guarantee you that it will be awkward at first and you will probably blow it so much that you'll want to quit, but that's when you know something is changing because you are aware of it. Embrace the fear, roll your sleeves up, dig your heels in, and get in the press.  Don't stop.   Your obedience and consistency are key to improvement, which will come out of nowhere surprising those around you, including you.

None of this is possible without making a decision to live on purpose for God completely which includes denying yourself certain pleasures -- no more excuses -- step up and being responsible for your personal relationship with God.  Living on the edge is no longer acceptable because I just took the excuse of "not knowing" away from you.  Sorry it had to be done.  You want more, you can do more and God expects more which is why we're having this conversation -- Nothing Just Happens.

The bottom line is to get rid of the stinking thinking.  It ain't worked in all this time, what makes you think it will now?

B.  A Mind Like Christ?  Are you kidding me?  No I am not.  Let's look closer at His life.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 2:3-5 NKJV)

Christ's motives were NOT SELFISH, neither were they ambitious or conceited.

• He was a humble man who took crap from "haters" that was completely unreasonable but very necessary because of the process.  He took it for you and me.
• He didn't get pleasure in tearing people down, in fact he didn't do it at all.  If somebody got their feelings hurt it was because He told the truth and when He did His delivery wasn't nasty.
• He didn't just look out for himself, he helped people all the time.  He would go without before allowing others to.  He genuinely cared for people.  
• He kept balance in his life.  When he was tired, he went away to get rest, refilled and replenished so he could come back and do it all over again.

Lastly, we are instructed to have a Christ-like mind.  The text above is not suggesting that we become Christ, because that's impossible.  Instead we should always ask the question, "What would Christ do in this situation"? I guarantee you that question will help you to be accountable to yourself especially when there is no one around to see you.

This is not diminish Christ in all of his glory, but you must know that He lived a victorious life not just because He was the Son of God.  He lived a victorious life to show us how it's done, through self-discipline, obedience and the power of the Holy Ghost, plain and simple.  We have the capacity to live exactly as Christ did while He was here on earth.

C.  We have to be willing to die.  What, die?  Is this a cult?  I'm trying to live, I ain't trying to die.  Hold on, hold on.  I'm not talking about a physical death.  John 10:10 says: The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.  (NKJV).  We must die to self, the old nature, the former way of thinking, talking, walking, acting, all of it.  I hear you, how in the world is that possible?

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NKJV)   AND

Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (Romans 6:6 NKJV)

It is possible through and by Christ's redemptive work (paying the price) for our sins, even the secret ones tucked away that you have hidden so well you can't find them including the ones you have forgotten. Christ freed us from sin when he died for us thousands of years ago and today we can "make up our mind" to live for Him, on purpose, which frees us from the bondage of sin.  Sin equals slavery. It will force us to do things we don't want to do, then beat us down, whip us like we stole something and then force us back to the grind of life.  Living miserably yet hoping silently for escape to The Other Side, and you can if you really want to.  Not only can you escape the slavery of sin, you can become the Harriet Tubman of your world and lead others out to The Other Side of sin to this incredible life with God, enjoying all the benefits of being a healed, whole child of God, living on purpose.

Make Up Your Mind to Lose and Loose Your Mind :)


In His Humble Excellence

Tan