This is Real – We Can’t Go Round Self - Denial

As I thought on my closing statement for my last blog, “Wrong decision making parameters can ruin a life so bad that even the devil will be grateful,” I realized that I often talk about wrong decision making parameters and my need to change some such wrong parameters so I can make the right decisions. The truth is, many bad decisions we make are not made accidentally; they are the product of faulty decision making parameters. One can tell one’s self over and over again that they make too many bad decisions and need to stop and have a strong desire to stop; yet still make all the bad decisions because the factors their decisions are based on remain unchanged. You can think through everything carefully and even accept to bear the burden or consequences that follow the decisions and yet make the same old wrong decisions. The only reason you don’t know that you have made the same decision is because the scenario and/or circumstances are different so one is not immediately able to identify the fact that it is the same decision presenting itself in a different circumstance. After giving long consideration to this reality, I decided that it may be foolish to assume that one has changed one’s decision making parameter just because they sincerely desire to and believe they have. The desire to change one’s decisions making parameters must be followed up with deliberate effort for the change to happen. For believers, we have to deliberately allow our minds to be impacted by the word of God so we can make God kind of decisions. It takes a “mind makeover” to genuinely make the change that is required to make appropriate or correct decisions. This makeover has to be based on the word of God. This doesn’t just happen; it takes some deliberateness for scripture to renew our minds.

 

Ephesians 4: 21 – 24 “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 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.”

 

The mind of man is very actively involved in where one ends up. We can’t ignore our minds or just let it evolve or even assume that it is evolving correctly because one is praying, reading their bible as well as not neglecting the fellowship of believers. It takes a deliberateness which starts with exposing one’s mind to the word of God. I guess this must be one of the reasons God encourages us to study His word ourselves. All our thinking and decisions happen in our minds and whatever controls our thinking makes our decisions, notwithstanding how much we profess Christ. We can profess Christ all we like and even become ministers in church yet make decisions that even unbelievers will not make and that not because we did not desire to make the right ones but unfortunately, our minds are programmed such that we can’t make any other decisions but the wrong ones and we would not even see why or that it is wrong. So that though our desire is something else, we are headed in another direction. The truth is, man will always head in the direction of his mind so it is very important that our minds have the right information and consequently, right perspective; because our decisions are the blocks upon which our lives are built. I have seen people weep because they never intended the consequences that they are faced with and sincerely desire never to do the same thing again but they do, sometimes causing others pain without intending to, because their minds are programmed to think of themselves and what is best for them only so that though inflicting pain wasn’t their intention, it happens in the course of self-preservation. They meant it when they apologized with tears but it happened again, will happen and keep happening over and over again until they deliberately work on their minds which is the engine room of what the bible famously refers to as “flesh” which must be denied for our minds to be renewed. I believe renewing one’s mind is a part of “picking up the cross”. If we must function as believers then our minds have to be renewed. Picking up our cross daily is choosing to live for Christ daily, which is in truth tough and costly. This cross, though not physical, is just as heavy and tough to pick up. It is honestly still a “rugged cross.”

 

Luke 9: 23 “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”

 

Until we choose to do what should be done despite the way we feel we cannot please God. Jesus had to choose to go to the cross despite that He did not want. He hated is so much He cried out to God to make it pass but heaven did not; He was left with the choice and He chose right. To ignore the way one feels and do the will of God often seems foolish yet that is what God requires of us. One cannot be totally in touch with feelings, be controlled by them and yet do the will of God but that is what many of us aim to do. As believers “we feel it, then put it aside that His will may be accomplished.” Indeed when believers feel the need to “do or say it because that is how we feel” then chaos and evil works should be expected to manifest except and until someone chooses to do what ought to be done despite the way they feel and that is always a sacrifice. If we don’t start denying ourselves in the seemingly small things, we can’t be controlled enough to do so in bigger things. What is small or big would differ from person to person because the things that one person might give up easily may be the toughest thing for another to give up. No matter how tough or easy we may think it is to give up anything, it is impossible to do so if our minds have not been sufficiently impacted by the word of God that affects that area of life. Furthermore, to take in God’s word requires one to eject their own way and be open to the new way that the word teaches. We can’t improve on our thinking; we eject it and take on new thoughts.