From Mind to Heart
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:2
The above verse tells us to renew our minds. We do this by changing our thinking. However, we live out of our hearts and if our hearts don’t change then we don’t really change. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26) The Bible mentions our hearts about one-thousand times, and the above scripture tells us that God gives us a new one. The question is how do we take our renewed minds and allow it to change our hearts?
The heart referred to in the Bible is our spiritual heart; the place where our emotions and desires dwell. The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. (Genesis 6:5) According to this verse we can conclude that our heart is reflected by our thoughts.
What is our part in allowing God to change our hearts? In Ezekiel 36:24, we read that God puts a new Spirit in us. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, he sends the person of the Holy Spirit to live in us. Therefore God guides us through the Spirit to lives that change our hearts. If we guide ourselves, becoming our own god, do you think our hearts will change? Only by following the Spirit will our hearts change, and continue to change to be more like the heart of Jesus.
Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. (1 John 2:6) The Spirit will lead our lives to the life of Jesus; ministering to people, reflecting his love and compassion. When we live to point lost souls to Christ, our hearts begin to identify with Jesus’ heart and our desires change. A changed heart actively pursues lost souls; a heart filled with God’s love and compassion and always seeking to point people to Christ. This is a heart that has the emotions and desires of the Holy Spirit.
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Proverbs 139:23-24) The Lord will continue to renew our minds and purify our hearts to our last breath which means our lives continually become better. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10) The only way to have life to the full is to allow the Lord to change our hearts.
Today, guide your thoughts by the Spirit to renew your mind and follow the Spirit to change your heart. The more we know the language of God and the Bible, the more we can follow the Spirit. Keep the Word handy and speak God’s language instead of the world’s.
Let’s pray: Lord, create in me a pure heart; a heart that has the emotions and desires of Jesus. Help me to follow the Spirit and live the kind of life that Jesus lived; a life that cares about souls, reflecting a heart filled with your love and compassion. Continue to mold be to be Christ-like. In Jesus’ name, Amen.