Did you know that some of the most intense battles ever waged is right in your head? Yup…every day, we battle and engage in conflict…a constant struggle to make decisions, a struggle to make good choices, to do right or wrong; it all starts in your mind…Our conflicts and trounces start all there, expand there and are controlled there.
But I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. Romans 7:23; Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8.
These are two Biblical verses stressing the importance of a sound mind. Ever wonder what kind of person you will turn out to be? Your mind helps to determine who you become. It is the thrust that propels your personhood. We are often told that we are the product of our environment, and it is true to some degree. Our environment may dictate our vernacular, musical preference, and even our sense of fashion, etc. But, it is our mind, our conscience that is the builder of our personhood which is the very heart of our being. Do not accept the notion that someone’s environment will make them do evil or do good. Your environment may expose you to the good, the bad and the ugly. But it is your heart and mind that makes the decisions and points to who you really are.
To get a better understanding that it is not your environment that creates the type of person you become, let’s take a look at the story of Adam and Eve. Now, here is the perfect couple, living in the perfect place, and enjoying the joy of full commune with God. Being in that perfect environment and state of being did not prevent Satan from convincing them to do what was evil in the eyes of the Lord. There was only one command that God asked of them (at least the only one recorded in the Bible), which was not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; Genesis 2:16
Now that sounded so simple. For goodness sake, they were living in the Garden of Eden, the source of all life and endless supply of what is good…it was all organic!
The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. Genesis 2:9
Even with all this tremendous source of blessings, they still allowed Satan to talk them into eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. That one tree,among the many that were all around and about them, held them spellbound. They reasoned with the devil, and then among themselves, and become persons that God did not intend for them to become. Their decision, which was first concocted in their minds, to eat of the forbidden tree caused their true selves to die. Their thinking had now changed who they really were. Their purity of mind, their innocence, was now gone, and they were now full versed in the knowledge of good and evil. The decision to eat of the tree was made in their mind; then it was put into action, a bad decision made in the most wonderful neighborhood that ever existed.
God created us as freewill beings, but most compelling of all, He created us in His image. One of the attributes we know of God is that He is Love; another, He is good. So, if we are made in His image, then love and goodness are a natural part of our DNA. The part of our creation that we struggle with is the freewill aspect. A free will is a blessing that God gave to us. But because of our sin nature, it is our biggest liability, and oftentimes, we lose control of it. The Apostle Paul knew the importance of a man having control of his thoughts. He fully understood the concept of freewill because it is his personhood therefore it is the heart of his being.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8
Paul knew of the waging wars and the battleground in our minds. Our mind is where the enemy tries to plant a seed and take hold…control the mind, control the person. Throughout the Epistles, Paul consistently talks about the condition of the mind by using direct references, and in some cases, he actually uses the word “mind” to make his point.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:1,2). Since we are now in Christ, we must set our mind on heavenly things, as this is where Christ is, at the right hand of the Father.
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24). If you have the desire to change and a will to change, you will experience a newness of self because in Christ, we are a new person.
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (Romans 8:5) God is Spirit, and we must worship Him in spirit and truth; we cannot do so if our minds are set on earthly things.
Let me impart to you a couple little facts: Your mind will never get old. It is preserved and seasoned with wisdom which does not diminish. It is your body that fails! Most times, we forget that it is due to the aging of our physical bodies that causes our minds will fall behind our thinking. This is why us old folks at times get in to trouble trying to do something we have no business doing. Speaking of aging, I have news for you. That beautiful body you exhibited during the days of your youth, most likely will one day be no more. Yes, it most definitely will happen. At a certain point in time, your hair will go gray, you will get ‘done lap’ disease (belly done lap over your belt), and your hair will migrate south…instead of growing north on top of your head, the force of gravity will cause it to grow out of your ears and nose! In other word, you will get to a state where you are just not that attractive anymore.
Now, there is good news for those who are now in the “ugly” stage of their life. Take heart because I have great news for you too. The most beautiful part of your being is not on the outside, waiting to be ravished by time and season. Your beauty starts with what’s happening in your mind. Your utmost beauty will only become a reality if you nourish and develop that part of you that received the very character of God…your mind. In Philippians 4:8, the Apostle Paul gives us some sage instructions on how to find this beauty. If you do this, when others are in your presence, they will say this of you, “What a beautiful mind!” But it gets better; your Heavenly Father who sees the heart, and sees you through the cleansing Blood of Christ is also saying, “What a beautiful mind!” I am not making this up, seriously! The book of Jeremiah says so: (“I, the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” Jeremiah 17:10)
The condition of man’s mind is discussed numerous times in the Scriptures. I have referenced but only a few. These passages express just how important it is to have a mind that is not of this world, but one that has its roots in heavenly things. So, let all who come in contact with you see the beauty of your mind, because it is Christ who dwells in us and shines through us for the world to see. In all situations, set your minds to things above. Though poverty maybe upon you, and your health is failing, let not your heart and mind be troubled. When your loved ones disappoint and abuse you, set you mind on above your circumstance. When things of this life fail you, again and again and again, and you feel like you have no hope, let you mind dwell on things outside of this world, and focus on your Heavenly Father who knew you before you were even born, and who is faithful to sustain you to the end of eternity. In other words, in all things, rise above your physical boundaries, and be a beautiful mind in the presence of other because you are a living, breathing vessel of the Holy Spirit; and where the Holy Spirit dwells, there lies true beauty.
J R Tracey
The Branch Life 
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