Renewing of Our Minds

Yesterday, we reflected on Paul’s encouragement to the Romans (12:2): “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds…:

How do we do that?

Well, a few thoughts. Many years ago now, a good friend suggested I find a good counselor and get into therapy. It was a huge blessing! I has made a huge difference for me personally. Highly recommended.

Of course, I’m also a big proponent of prayer, meditation, and journaling. I believe it is very important to take a little bit of time each day to sit in God’s healing presence, to pay attention to all that is stirring inside, and to hand that back over to God in prayer.

Jack Kornfield talks about how the great Vietnamese zen master Thich Hat Han put it this way: He said, “In the heart and mind, there are all kinds of seeds. There are seeds of joy and love of connection, seeds of creativity, peace and well-being, seeds of caring, of strength. But there’s also a whole set of seeds of fear and anxiety of anger or rage, greed or grasping, and so forth. How you live depends on which seeds you water. If you water and tend those healthy seeds, those are what will grow in you. And those become who you are in your response to the world.”

But it doesn’t happen by accident. We all have our history, our sufferings, and our struggles. At the same time, we all have gifts, blessings, and capabilities.

Paul seems to be saying, that if we want to change the world for the better, which with God’s help, we can, it starts with these inner capacities.

He begins with the statement: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice…”(12:1)

Richard Foster once said, “The problem with a living sacrifice is that it always wants to get off the altar!”

May you and I stay on the altar. May we tend to our inner worlds. May we water the seeds of generosity, compassion and, hope. And may our whole lives, body, mind, and soul, be an offering of thanksgiving, gratitude for Christ’s love and generosity to us.

Let us pray: We give you our hearts, our minds, our hands, O God. Help us to love others as Jesus has loved us, to care for others as Jesus has cared for us, and to forgive others, as Jesus has forgiven us. We ask in his name. Amen.