Every once in a while, a series of events will occur that causes me to question myself, feel like I’m standing on shifting sand, like I’m out of my element, have no idea where I belong or what I should be doing, and, if I let it get this far — like I’m not as good as, as smart as, as quick as, as _____ as everyone else. It is a slippery slope. “Going wobbly” can lead to “going dark” easily, apart from God.
For me, and I suspect for many others, it is a stronghold, built up from layers and layers of experiences and negative statements that well-meaning (but probably damaged themselves) people spoke over my life. As the negative statements are repeated and reinforced through actions, they become some of the filters through which we sift experiences, relationships, people, jobs, decisions, life. Garbage in; garbage out. (Now, think about the consequences of our imposition of our filters on our children. I digress; that’s really another post, probably.)
I found this from Nick Van Rensburg, Ph.D. (Click here for the full post. )
“Only those with the mind of Christ can spiritually discern what the Spirit has for them.
WHEN THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT THE RENEWING OF THE MIND, (ROMANS 12:2) IT IS TELLING YOU TO RENEW YOUR MIND AND TO CHANGE YOUR WAY OF THINKING FROM WHAT IT HAS BEEN TO THE MIND OF CHRIST… “LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS.” (PHILIPPIANS 2:5) THE MIND OF THE FLESH HAS BEEN CORRUPTED BY WORLD VIEWS OF THIS AGE, CULTURAL PRACTICES, UNSCRIPTURAL FAMILY VALUES AND THE DECEPTION OF THE DEVIL. WE NEED TO ‘BRAINWASH’ OUR MINDS WITH THE BLOOD OF JESUS AND THEN PUT ON THE ANOINTED MIND OF CHRIST SO THAT WE CAN DISCERN WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST AND WHAT THE SPIRIT IS LEADING US TO DO.”
Scripture says in Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
What is the mind of Christ? How do we put it on? How do we “be transformed?”
Well, here’s another question, What do you think Jesus’ “filters” were? He gave them to us.
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
1 Corinthians 16:14 TPT (The Passion Translation)
“Let love and kindness be the motivation behind all that you do.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
“3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.”
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I think that’s why people dropped everything and followed Him. His filters (how he input things), and consequently, His interactions with people (his output), were through love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulfness, gentleness, and self control. He embodied compassion and righteousness and that came out in how he spoke, acted and reacted.
Can I make Jesus’ filters my filters on my own? Not a snowball’s chance in Hades. I need Holy Ghost help for that.