In my last post, which you can read here, I made a case for the crucial need for every Christian to practice Spiritual disciplines for the purpose of godliness. This is not legalism, nor is it based on willpower. Instead, it is a desire prompted and sustained by the Holy Spirit to be holy.
If you seek to practice spiritual disciplines, a good place to start is to establish practices aimed at guarding your mind from all evil. Everything begins in the mind, which is why this is an obvious starting point. At least two aspects make this clear. One, God communicates to us through the mind. His message aims for our understanding, something achieved by the use of the mind. God created us to be intelligent so that we can comprehend. Second, we are not only able to understand things but we are also capable to evaluate them. And for better or for worse, we make decisions based on those evaluations.
The problem
Sin corrupts the evaluation process. Like a highly addictive drug, sin always seeks more sin, more filth, and more corruption, so thus significantly altering the mind’s ability to make good decisions. To make good decisions we need a renewed mind.
The Bible continuously points this out. We are called to understand what God has revealed in Scripture. In addition, we are expected to make the right choices based on our understanding of his word. Of course, apart from God, we are not able to do either. Unless we are transformed, we remain blind to the truth and thus are unable to make the choices that would please God. However, if we are born again then we have the capacity to do both. This ability is part God’s work through the HS and part our use of what God puts at our disposal. In Rom 12:2 we read:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
We need a new mind, one that will lead to the right thoughts, the right desires, the right priorities, and the right conduct. The goal for possessing such a mind is so that we can discern God’s will for our lives. The renewing is the work of God, yet it calls for an active pursuit on our part. As people indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we are not only able but also expected to seek having a renewed and pure mind, something that we do by the way of discipline.
Fostering a godly mindset has two main parts. One is to stay away from what is harmful. The other is to deliberately seek that which benefits the mind. Like an athlete who avoids certain foods as part of his quest to get in excellent physical shape, the Christian better stay away from whatever pollutes the mind. Instead, one needs to sustain a healthy mental diet. What exactly does this mean in practice? It means to carefully guard the gateways through which information enters your mind.
What you think
Watch out not to give into the devil’s whispers about how you are not appreciated enough or how others have it easier than you because it will poison your thinking. Instead, “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” (Phi 4:8).
What you watch
Television and movies are using all sorts of taboos of our culture, such as adultery, promiscuity, homosexuality, incest, violence, and sadism in order to attract an audience. This is sometimes obvious while other times it is very subtle. There are exceptions to this, but for the most part this is the content that is presented to you. So, you do well to be careful what you watch, and even how much you. watch. Focus on quality.
What you listen
Radio stations can serve a good purpose and podcasts can be very interesting. But they can also influence you in a negative way. Information can be good. Music can be amazing. The problem is that, increasingly, filth of all sorts, division, and violence are propagated through these channels. In addition, you should use extreme caution in conversations. Be ready to subtract yourself when the discussion takes a bad turn and people begin to gossip, criticize, or plot despicable things. Therefore, be selective in what enters your ears. Listening to Christian music, sermons, and godly conversations are among the means that promote the renewing of the mind.
What you read
Books and the internet allow you to expand your knowledge in a way that has not been possible before. Availability of these resources are more abundant than ever, which is why they are also used by the devil as means of polluting the mind. Especially with the internet, you should know that, unfortunately, useful content floats in a sea of filth and misinformation. So, be wise in what you read. Your best resource is the Bible. Read it and study it with regularity. In addition, Christian books should also stimulate your mind to think well.
If you do not exercise discipline in what enters your mind, your thinking inevitably will be polluted and thus poorly equipped to make the type of decisions that God expects from you. Like a drunk, you will stumble from one mistake into to another. Do not let this be you. Commit to implement practices and habits that allow you, like a professional athlete, to stay away from what is harmful for your mind and instead to pursue those things which facilitate the renewing of your mind so that you can do the good and perfect will of God.