TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE BY THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND
Diana Ordonez
Today's Scripture: "...throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God-truly righteous and holy." Ephesians 4:22-24, NLT
Theme: You must add new, godly thoughts to begin removal of the old, negative thoughts.
THE HABIT OF SELF-SABOTAGE
As a life coach, when my clients struggle in their careers or personal lives—feeling stuck, burnt out, lacking confidence, or clarity—it often comes down to their mindset. In the same way, many of our struggles with sin are rooted in patterns we’ve repeated over and over. We humans are habitual beings, and our brains are divinely designed to prioritize survival. In seeking “safety,” our brains gravitate to what is familiar and comfortable even if it is destructive rather than safe. Our self-sabotaging habits and self-defeating thoughts become ingrained patterns, even when they repeatedly cause us pain. When we begin to see this, some may use this awareness to shame themselves, feeling defeated for “staying stuck.” But shaming ourselves only reinforces the behaviors that keep us stuck - “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death,” (2 Corinthians 7:10, ESV). Thankfully, God’s grace allows every moment to be an opportunity to change our lives and start new.
THE PINK ELEPHANT PARADOX
The "pink elephant paradox" in psychology shows that trying to suppress a thought—like “don’t think about a pink elephant”—often makes it more prominent. The more we try to avoid a thought, the more our brain seeks it out. This explains why attempts to “stop thinking negatively” or “stop that sin” often backfire, reinforcing the very patterns we’re trying to eliminate.
REPLACE, DON’T JUST REMOVE
Simply “stopping” an old habit or thought isn’t effective because it leaves a gap in our behavior that our brain wants to fill. Without a positive replacement, we often fall back on our old ways. To truly overcome negative thought patterns, we must replace them with something better. As Christians, we’re called to focus on “whatever is true, honorable, just, and lovely” (Philippians 4:8). When we fill our minds with these positive truths, God’s Word becomes the substitute for our old, destructive thoughts.
SHIFTING FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW
Today’s Scripture encourages us to “throw off” our old selves and “let the Spirit renew” our minds. Instead of fixating on what we want to avoid, we can actively choose to focus on God’s truth, hope, and virtues. When we focus on faith, gratitude, and compassion for others, we create space for God’s presence to transform us. By choosing a new, healthy behavior, we allow it to replace our old patterns, preventing our minds from going back on autopilot.
LETTING GOD’S GRACE GUIDE US
Renewing our minds requires intentionality. We must trust God’s grace to guide us as we shift from old sinful habits to new godly ways of thinking and living. This is not an easy journey, but with God’s help, we can release our past thoughts and make room for a life that aligns with His purpose.
Make It Personal: Are there sinful thoughts or habits you struggle to let go of? Consider replacing these lies with God’s truths. What Scriptures remind you of His promises? When negative thoughts come in, pause, pray, and refocus on what is true, lovely, and honorable.
Pray: Dear Lord, help me release the thoughts and lies that keep me from living out Your purpose. Renew my mind with Your truth, and replace my old ways with new patterns rooted in Your love and grace. Thank You for calling me to be more like You each day. Amen.
Read: Romans 12:1-2
Weekly Memory Verse: “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:4, ESV