“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25-27 NKJV)
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 NLT)
“So get rid of all uncleanness and all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21 AMP)
If I desire any form of change in my life it needs to start with how I think. The Apostle Paul called this process “renewing my mind.” James called it “saving my soul” (soul is another word for mind). Changing the way I think will lead to changing the way I act.
When I take in the Word it has a washing effect on my mind. It will change the way I think and transform how I live. When I was born again I received a brand new spirit. This new spirit is the real “me.” I have been made completely new. I have been given the righteousness of God, and It is as if I had never sinned. While my spirit was 100% saved when I made Jesus the Lord of my life, my mind was not yet saved. That is why I need the Word of God to “save my soul.” My mind needs a daily bath (for me it is needed multiple times a day).
There are a number of ways to use the word change the way I think:
- Study: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)
- Memorize: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11 NKJV)
- Meditate: “I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.” (Psalm 119:15-16 NKJV)
- Hear: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17 NKJV)
As I have given time and effort to filling myself with the Word my mind has begun to think more and more like Jesus. I have truly been “brain washing” myself to think and act like my savior, in keeping with…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 26: “Let the Word do the washing (brainwashed by choice).”