My mind has been on my mind. The mind is potent, all encompassing and controlling. It is more than brain power that runs us, it is the being power that is us. It steers us in the direction we go and gives us life. The mind is our identity. If there was a dichotomy of self, mind and body would be the two parts. Here’s the thought: What’s on your mind?
Depression is a real thing that controls many people. If not for a life time, depression can take control of people in certain times. Of course people blame chemical imbalances and maybe rightly so. First, I appeal to experience. There are dark times in life. Certain times of day can trigger that for me. Certain topics in life can cause me to spiral. I’m not sure if it’s depression, but its my downer times nonetheless. In these moments we enter into our default mode. Scripture calls it the “old self” or the “sinful” side of you, along with many other titles.
Most times the Christian focuses on the sin, this default mode. It burns a hole in your mind as you think of how to get rid of this sin and how to “flee from sin,” as scripture so pungently suggests. We focus on the sin so as to get rid of the sin that has enslaved us. We are its slaves. Our thoughts are constantly on this sin. But, her inlies the problem: Our mind is controlled by the sin.
Of course the answer is not to ignore sin and say it is gone when in fact it is not. That is not faith, it is lying. This takes the power of Jesus and his work on the cross as weak and futile instead of the power it holds. He gives us freedom from sin.
From experience to Scripture, here are two passages:
1) Romans 12:2- We are urged to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (v.2). God is the redeemer. He has created us to be holy and blameless and wants to make that a reality. The reality is brokenness but in “redemptiality” we are renewed. God desires that we not focus on our sin but be renewed by his transformational power. Don’t let sin control your mind. Be transformed by the one who can renew it. By His Spirit that God gives us we are transformed. We need renewal everyday. Its a constant revolution, as G.K. Chesterton puts it.
2)Hebrews 12:2- To annihilate sin from our life is our mandate but we must be careful the method of disposal we use. Instead of focusing on the sin, we need to run our race, “keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith” (2). This may seem minor, but it has major implications. There have been countless moments where I have repeated this verse over and over and over and over. Whenever I have felt overwhelmed and taken by my old self and my comfort sins, this has been my verse to help me overcome and find victory in Jesus. Today, I have forgotten this verse.
As I ponder my mind, I need saturation. I need a saturation in the Lord. The lie of the enemy tells us to dwell on our sin to find a way to get rid of it. What a sneaky, evil guy. My saturation needs to be transformed from my sin to my Lord. May He, the one who holds the power to remove my sin, remove it. My job is to fix my eyes on Jesus; He is my perfection and the reason I can live.
For His Kingdom 