With All Your Mind

With All Your Mind

We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

1 Corinthians 2:12

IN WORD Your mind has been highly trained. Maybe you didn’t know that, but it’s true. From the day you were born, you have been taught how to live. Your family, your culture, and your own exploration have given you plenty of ideas about who you are, how your world works, and what your God is like. The problem is that you’ve grown up with a finite mind in a corrupt world.

According to the Bible, we all begin with a darkened understanding. Despite the best intentions of our families and friends, our culture, and our own senses, we have distorted perspectives. Our understanding is only as good as the influences that have shaped it. And, in most cases, that’s not good enough. What’s the solution? Paul says to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). That means that once we’ve embraced God’s truth in Christ, we’re to embrace His truth about everything. We are to reject our old perspectives and live by the Spirit of truth.

Living the gospel, of course, is not simply a matter of the intellect. If it were, brilliant people would have it made, and the mentally handicapped would be far from God’s blessing. But we know that isn’t the case. We know that when God talks about obtaining wisdom from Him, it’s about perspective and wise living. It’s about knowing what to do with the circumstances, the gifts, and the relationships He has given us.

IN DEED Do you know what to do with God’s resources? Do you know how to spend your life? Knowing such things requires a lot of time in His presence, His Word, and the community He has established. The only way to retrain a mind is by immersion. Old thought patterns are simply too deep; they can’t be redirected without considerable trauma. Let the Spirit of God, the Word of God, and the people of God immerse you in His grace. Let your mind love Him in every way.

To possess a Spirit-indwelt mind is the Christian’s privilege under grace.

—A. W. TOZER