Retraining our minds

Every believer has the divine privilege to be ‘reprogrammed’ to have the mind of Christ so that we “might understand the things freely given us by God”. This is part of the work at the Holy Spirit does in our lives since “no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” Imagine having God’s thoughts and knowing God’s heart intimately. Yet this is possible, when we seek to love God with all our hearts because Jesus will make our Heavenly Father’s plans known to His friends. At the same time, we need to beware of the other types of programming our minds have been subjected to all our lives that are not from God, and decide what we will follow.

(See Chinese versions: 简体中文 > 训练我们的心思意念 | 繁體中文 > 訓練我們的心思意念)

1 Corinthians 2:11-12,15-16 ESV  For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

John 15:15 ESV  No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Our subconscious programming by this world

It’s not in our fallen human nature to train our minds to focus on God, because we have spent years or perhaps decades thinking about ourselves; what we will eat, what we will wear, where we will go and what we will do. Once we ask God to be Lord of our lives, we need not focus on such thoughts but simply need to seek His Kingdom and righteousness first. All this requires disciplined training and re-programming of our minds for holy righteousness based on God’s Word.

Matthew 6:31-33 ESV  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable … for training in righteousness,

Practical steps in training our minds

We can think of our brains as sophisticated “mental factories.” The output will depend on the input as well as the processing methods. It is impossible for our brains to focus on thoughts that are true, honourable, just, pure, lovely and excellent, if we only shovel junk in and do not upgrade our processing methods. Higher quality products come from hyper-hygienic, superior factories, not filthy, messy places. Thank God that our brains can be re-programmed with some training.

Philippians 4:8 ESV  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

1. Guard against ungodly influences

First, we need to put a tall fence around our “mental factories” and conduct security checks on things that get past the entry points into our minds. This means we need to place a filter for the books, movies, music, television shows, radio, internet sites, videos and people that we allow ourselves to be influenced by.

Remember that most demonic influences are so subtle that we are not immediately aware of them. It is therefore wise not to play music from any random radio station or leave the television on for the whole day. Our subconscious minds continue to absorb influences from around us even if we are not consciously thinking of them.

An influence that may be harder for most people to control is social media, because we have no control over the advertisements, newsfeeds and things our friends associate themselves with. For example, if we are determined to give up looking at pornography, we must also be determined to change the controls over what we see, even if it means “unfriending” or removing some Facebook friends. If we don’t, we may still end up seeing some porn-related feeds from friends of our friends. Satan will use such an opportunity to entice us, “No one will know, just click the button. It’s okay to have some fun once in a while. It’s no big deal.” If our minds are vulnerable at any point of time, we may fall into temptation and go back into viewing pornography, deepening our struggles with the spirits of fornication and lust.

Our choices are often ruled more by our subconscious mind than our conscious. Cognitive scientist Mark Changizi of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has said that “Repeated visual exposure to an object can rapidly increase an observer’s preference for it. These preferences are enhanced when visual exposure occurs without conscious recognition by the observer.”

We must take every one of our thoughts, both conscious and subconscious, captive and make it obedient to Jesus Christ. We are responsible for the influences on our thoughts and how we think.

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

2. Be well trained in the Word of God with the help of the Holy Spirit

Every believer has been given an amour from God that we need to put on and use in order to “stand against the schemes of the devil”. The one offensive and defensive weapon of the armour is our sword, which is the Word of God. We can learn to use it most effectively when we are tutored by the Holy Spirit. After all, He is the One who inspired the writings in the Bible. 

Ephesians 6:11,17-18 ESV  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil… and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 

To become well versed in our sword skills, we need to mediate on God’s Word on a daily basis so it is planted deeply in our hearts and can bear good fruit. Secondly, we also need to tune our hearts to listen to the Holy Spirit for His counsel. He will bring to our remembrance God’s Word at the precise time that we need it, especially when we are in crisis. For instance, when we are tempted to view pornography, the Holy Spirit might bring up what Joseph said in response to Potiphar’s wife when she tried to seduce him, “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” This is how He convicts us and shows us what is sin and what is righteousness. God is faithful to guide us whenever we cry out to Him for help.

Genesis 39:9 ESV  He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”

John 14:26 ESV  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

John 16:7-9 ESV  Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;

3. Practise self-control over our thoughts

God calls us to practise self-control because He knows that this will help us develop good character and bring greater success across all aspects of life.

To illustrate, consider a lady who has fought with her sister all her life. One day, she notices a pattern of sibling rivalry and animosity that runs through both parents’ family lines. She decides to confess her own hatred towards her sister and forgives her parents for their favouritism towards her sibling. During prayer, she commands the spirit of bitterness to leave her and breaks the generational curse of sibling rivalry in Jesus’ name. Her circumstances however, don’t change and she has to make a choice. The next time her parents take her sister’s side, her first reflex reaction is likely to be anger and resentment. She may get thoughts such as, “Here they go again; always siding with my sister and putting me down. They will never change. I am so sick of this. I really hate them!”

At this point, she can either give in those old subconscious thoughts and fall into feelings of anger and bitterness, re-opening the door to sin and spiritual oppression, or choose to respond with grace and forgiveness, thereby ending the curse of sibling rivalry. In other words, she can decide to consciously think, “No, with Christ all things are possible. I may never be able to change them, but God can. I will celebrate who God has made me to be, and not allow their spoken words to land on my spirit, in Jesus’ name. God, help me to love my parents like Christ does, just as You have commanded me to love my neighbours, and even my enemies. I have decided to close the door to sibling rivalry and hatred, and I will not re-open that door to Satan. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”

Only when this lady is able to practise some control over her thoughts and reactions, will her relationship with her family improve as well as all her other relationships with colleagues, friends, relatives, and fellow believers.

4. Don’t give in to lies and fleshly emotions

Satan will use circumstances to plant ungodly ideas in our minds, so that we are tempted to respond sinfully. Here are some common examples and the alternative responses that honour God.

Testimony: Praying to God with the truth from the subconscious mind

“I always thought I was okay to live without a father. There are many single-parent families in the world and I am just one of them. But somehow, there were some unhealthy patterns or thoughts that kept running in my mind. I was never a confident person, I felt inadequate. I was so eager to have anyone pay attention to me.

I studied in a Christian school, both primary and secondary. Thus, I prayed as a habit since little as I always listened to my teachers. I don’t really know how to pray, so I just pretended that I was talking to someone who cared about me. I didn’t know about repentance until I signed up for inner healing and deliverance prayer many years later.

During the prayer, one of the prayer counsellors asked me to talk directly to God. At first, I was not sure what she meant but then I realised she meant that I should really just talk to God, not only ask Him for things like the way I used to. Then I started to tell God things that I never thought would come out from my mouth. As I prayed, thoughts popped up in my mind like God was talking back to me in my spirit.

During that prayer, the Holy Spirit asked me to forgive myself and all the people who have hurt me before. I said I did. But when I spoke to God, I cried so hard. I didn’t understand why. Then I started to ask Him; Why did I have to suffer so much as a child? Why me? I realised that I hadn’t put down my bitterness. I asked God to help me.

After that prayer, I was so exhausted because I cried so hard but I also felt relieved and peaceful. I have never had this kind of conversation with my Heavenly Father. It was so amazing!

I felt His love in me. He called me His daughter, and said that He saw my tears, He knew my pain, but all these have gone. He will give me a new life, He will give me the best to compensate my painful experiences. I trust He has His plan.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

There are things that we can’t explain. Only God has the answers. But I do believe nothing can escape from God. Everything is under His control. God has got me covered in His love.”

May this sharing be a blessing to you as you seek to love God with all your heart and let Him renew your mind.