Renew your mind? (PT2 What's "renew"?) (8/15/2011)

Romans 12
(1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Secondly, what’s “renew”?

Renew-defined by Merriam-Webster
TRANSITIVE VERB
(1) To make like new: restore to freshness, vigor, or perfection
(2) To make new spiritually: Regenerate
(3)
a: To restore to existence: Revive
b: To make extensive changes in: Rebuild
(4) To do again: Repeat
(5) To begin again: Resume
(6) Replace, Replenish
(7)
a: to grant or obtain an extension of or on
…
INTRANSITIVE VERB
(1) To become new or as new
(2) To begin again: Resume
(3) To make a renewal

There are varying ways to describe the term renew. As listed above, renew means to make new, to restore, to replace, and to begin again. There are many times in life when mentally (and emotionally) we have to do just that! Especially since life always changes, in expected and surprising ways…

Renew your mind? (PT1 What’s “your mind”?) (8/9/2011)

Romans 12
(1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Firstly, what’s “your mind”?

Mind-defined by Merriam-Webster
(1) Recollection, memory
(2)
a: The element or complex of elements in an individual that feels, perceives, thinks, wills, and especially reasons
b: The conscious mental events and capabilities in an organism
c: The organized conscious and unconscious adaptive mental activity of an organism
(3) Intention, desire
(4) The normal or health condition of the mental faculties
(5) Opinion, view
(6) Disposition, mood
…
(10) Attention

As defined, your mind is a combination of memories, feelings, desires, reasoning, intent, perspectives, and opinions. These elements influence your actions in a number of ways, either positively or negatively. Therefore, if you want change your actions, you have to address/change your mind first.

Proverbs 23
(7) For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…