By Carol Dickey
Ephesians 4:23 (AMP) states, “Be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude].” As we renew our mind, we will begin to understand and cooperate with God’s purposes for our life, rather then fighting against His purposes.
Renewing our mind is a two-part process: 1) taking off the old and 2) putting on the new!
What we believe determines how we behave.
When you and I believe the wrong thing, it works its way out in the form of wrong behavior. Right thinking paves the way to right behavior. In Colossians 3:9,10, the Bible tells us about laying aside our old ways and putting on the new.
In our society women are told in a thousand different ways that in order to be lovable they must be beautiful and that lasting relationships are because of physical appearance. While few women would admit buying into that line of thinking, fewer could deny having acted on it.
On the other hand, men are told that the key to their happiness is a newer model vehicle that requires less maintenance.
Repeated exposure to the lies of this world takes its toll. Over time, many lies get woven into the fabric of our thinking. We are not always aware that they are there. In fact, often we are unaware of the ideas that form the basis of our decisions and attitudes.
Our mental picture of God may be that of Santa Claus and if you are more nice than naughty, He will be generous to you in the end. Maybe you think of God as a tyrant and no matter what you do it will never be enough to quench His anger. Sure He loves me, because the Bible says He loves me, but He does not like me.
If you believe the world is flat, you are not going to stray far from the shore. If you believe happiness is found in the accumulation of possessions, you are not going to be very generous. If you believe that people cannot be trusted, you are not going to have many close friends. If you believe you cannot change, you will not. If you believe God accepts you on the basis of your performance, you either will perform yourself to death or give up all together. This is why you promise, commit and rededicate yourself over and over again without ever making any progress. Until we deal with our belief system, our behavior will never change!
Renewal is a daily ongoing process. It does not happen all at once. Transformation is not a one-time event; it is a way of life!
Character: Part Four
By Carol Dickey
Renewal is what transforms us. Paul did not say, “Be transformed by rededicating your life,” nor does he talk about making promises to God, feeling extra sorry or praying very long prayers. Only renewing your mind leads to a changed life. It is the process that produces godly character.
The best way to determine where renewal needs to take place in your life is to examine the way you respond to God’s laws and principles for living. Our natural tendency is to hear God’s principles and edit them to fit our lifestyle. We rationalize our actions instead of conforming to His standard. This is human nature.
The following responses indicate a need for renewal:
The process of developing character depends in part on our willingness to cooperate. God is trying to clothe us with His character, but if we do not understand what He is trying to accomplish (or why) we will likely make the process more difficult and time-consuming. Just as when a mother dresses a little baby who squirms and wiggles, we often squirm and wiggle, resisting what God is trying to do in our lives.
God is consistently working to shape our character. He wants us to have fully developed character (James 3:2). He loves us too much to give up or let up. He began this process at our birth and will continue it until we take our last breath.
God’s agenda for us is to form our character into the likeness of Christ. What is our agenda for ourselves? Is our priority the same as God’s? Do we invite Him into our decisions only when we desperately need help or just when it fits our lifestyle? Imagine the potential if we work with Him rather than working around Him!
Renewal is what transforms us. Paul did not say, “Be transformed by rededicating your life,” nor does he talk about making promises to God, feeling extra sorry or praying very long prayers. Only renewing your mind leads to a changed life. It is the process that produces godly character.
The best way to determine where renewal needs to take place in your life is to examine the way you respond to God’s laws and principles for living. Our natural tendency is to hear God’s principles and edit them to fit our lifestyle. We rationalize our actions instead of conforming to His standard. This is human nature.
The following responses indicate a need for renewal:
- “Surely I am not supposed to take the Bible literally.”
- “I know I shall put others first, but...”
- “I know he or she is not good for me, but...”
- “I know I should not watch that stuff, but...”
- “I know I do not have any business going there, but...”
- “I know I should forgive, but...”
- “I know I should be kind, but...”
The process of developing character depends in part on our willingness to cooperate. God is trying to clothe us with His character, but if we do not understand what He is trying to accomplish (or why) we will likely make the process more difficult and time-consuming. Just as when a mother dresses a little baby who squirms and wiggles, we often squirm and wiggle, resisting what God is trying to do in our lives.
God is consistently working to shape our character. He wants us to have fully developed character (James 3:2). He loves us too much to give up or let up. He began this process at our birth and will continue it until we take our last breath.
God’s agenda for us is to form our character into the likeness of Christ. What is our agenda for ourselves? Is our priority the same as God’s? Do we invite Him into our decisions only when we desperately need help or just when it fits our lifestyle? Imagine the potential if we work with Him rather than working around Him!
Character: Part Three
By Carol Dickey
The three elements that are always part of a healthy relationship are respect, trust and communication. Certainly, this is true of our relationship with God. We demonstrate respect when we acknowledge that God’s standard is THE standard by which we live.
After describing the person of character in detail in Psalm 15, David concludes that the one who does these things will never be moved (or shaken).
This is a benefit you do not experience immediately. It is one of those things that comes from weeks, months or even years of investing in your character. It is the result of adopting a lifestyle. Think of two trees in a storm. While the same storm sweeps over both trees with the same force, one tree may be destroyed while the other is left standing. Men and women of character are not always delivered from the storms of life, but they are delivered through them by God. Their roots go deep and their faith is strong.
Character comes from the Lord and also paves the way for closeness with Him. To know Him is to trust Him. To trust Him is to live with the confidence that He will not allow you to be shaken.
If someone spent a week carefully watching your lifestyle -- what you laugh at, where you go, what you allow into your mind -- what conclusion would he or she draw about your God? How would the picture he or she developed compare to the picture that we find in Scripture?
Our love for Christ will be reflected in what we tolerate in our life. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (NKJV). Remember how you felt when you became a Christian? Remember how you were willing to do whatever God asked? There was a high level of trust and certainty. You felt God could be trusted, so you stepped out in faith and looked to Him to intervene. God has not changed; He can still be trusted and He still has your best interests in mind.
Character requires a sensitive heart. To become a man or woman of character we must have a renewing of our minds: “And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude]” (Ephesians 4.23, AMP).
Romans 12:1,2 also states this: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (NKJV).
The three elements that are always part of a healthy relationship are respect, trust and communication. Certainly, this is true of our relationship with God. We demonstrate respect when we acknowledge that God’s standard is THE standard by which we live.
After describing the person of character in detail in Psalm 15, David concludes that the one who does these things will never be moved (or shaken).
This is a benefit you do not experience immediately. It is one of those things that comes from weeks, months or even years of investing in your character. It is the result of adopting a lifestyle. Think of two trees in a storm. While the same storm sweeps over both trees with the same force, one tree may be destroyed while the other is left standing. Men and women of character are not always delivered from the storms of life, but they are delivered through them by God. Their roots go deep and their faith is strong.
Character comes from the Lord and also paves the way for closeness with Him. To know Him is to trust Him. To trust Him is to live with the confidence that He will not allow you to be shaken.
If someone spent a week carefully watching your lifestyle -- what you laugh at, where you go, what you allow into your mind -- what conclusion would he or she draw about your God? How would the picture he or she developed compare to the picture that we find in Scripture?
Our love for Christ will be reflected in what we tolerate in our life. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (NKJV). Remember how you felt when you became a Christian? Remember how you were willing to do whatever God asked? There was a high level of trust and certainty. You felt God could be trusted, so you stepped out in faith and looked to Him to intervene. God has not changed; He can still be trusted and He still has your best interests in mind.
Character requires a sensitive heart. To become a man or woman of character we must have a renewing of our minds: “And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude]” (Ephesians 4.23, AMP).
Romans 12:1,2 also states this: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (NKJV).
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