Renewing your mind, the final frontier!

I've been talking for the last two days about renewing the mind, so today I'm going to discuss my favorite passage of the Bible, Psalm 51. You got it, we're talking about the whole passage today.

For space purposes, I'll break it down into sections so we can see the way David renewed his mind. Now remember, God had just used Nathan to "politely" remind David that his adultery with Bathsheba had not gone without notice. After getting an earful from Nathan, David instantly felt remorse. His mind now clouded with the events of the past, David needed a new outlook on life, so this is what he did.

Verses 1-2 When I see this passage, I can just see David's mind being tormented Even though he'd done something far worse than any of us will ever do, he knew that he had to get back in touch with God to clear his life up. The first step for us to renew our mind is to call on the Lord for the forgiveness of our sins. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin (v. 2)

Verses 3-9 David knew that when he truly faced God and confessed that he needed help, then the relief would come. In verse 8, David says, let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. In verses 1-2, we see where David compares his confession to a cleansing, a renewal if you will. In these verses, we see that from confession there comes joy again. The ugliness of the past (Let the bones you have crushed rejoice) is soon replaced when we lay all of our worries, thoughts and sins at the foot of the cross. To have your thoughts renewed, you need to pour your past out to the one and only Savior, Jesus Christ. His blood was shed to wash away your sins and renew your spirit, don't let this incredibly selfless act go in vain.

Verses 13-17 Now we have it. David's broken heart turned him into a new man that God would use for great and glorious things. Many times our thoughts and attitudes are not Godly because our thoughts are not on God first. Today's world is like and adult Disneyland. It's so easy to get distracted from God without even realizing it. Godly pleasures are soon replaced by the world's. It's like a line in the sand, you can't have one foot on God's side, and the other on the world's. it just gets too confusing. Our minds become torn. Yes, God should be first in your life, there's no doubt about it. So turn to God and remember that when you come to the great redeemer with a genuine heart, He'll renew your mind and Spirit, (v. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O god you will not despise). Come before Him now, and experience the power of renewal. It beats any modern anti-depressant we have...:)

Now the closing. Verses 18-19 David offers sacrifices. Part of becoming a new person in Jesus is sacrificing the things in our life that keep us from a closer relationship with God. It's like cleaning out a closet (packrats are exempt from this analogy), it's hard to let go of some of the things that clutter the closet, but when you see all that new space, it gives you a sense of fulfillment. The problem is, we often just fill it back up with useless stuff. Clean your soul closet today. Get rid of the junk that holds you back, but don't fill it back up. Out with the old, and in with the new.

David is one of my favorite heros of the Bible. Most people see him as this man of God who never did wrong, but that's not an accurate assessment. He made the same mistakes as we do (only worse), that often resulted in a mind and spirit that became very troubled. Does this sound familiar? I challenge you today to read Psalm 51 ten times and pray it for yourself. Feel the Spirit of God fill you as you beg to become a new person. Feel the joy of a Godly transformation. Be renewed in the name of Jesus. Praise His name, He died for us. He died for forgiveness, He died for renewal.

Loving all of you in joy,

Pastor Mike

Today's prayer and praise.

Please pray for Hilary who will be having Gallbladder surgery tomorrow.

Praise for Pastor Mike's Muslim friend becoming curious about Christians.