
Pursuing a Transformed Mind
Main Point: Our mental health will be stronger when we allow God to transform our minds.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. —Romans 12:1-2
• I offer myself wholly to God
• I recognize that my way isn’t working as well as I’d like it to
• I trust that God’s way is the way to better mental/emotional health
• I allow God to transform and renew my way of thinking
“Most of life’s battles are won or lost in the mind.” —Craig Groeschel
God wants us to experience good mental health
• You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3)
• The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:6)
Letting our emotions lead can cause problems
• Our emotions are not always reliable indicators of truth
• It’s not always helpful to freely express all of our emotions
• It’s not usually helpful to squash our emotions
• Emotions do not necessarily define who we are
• We don’t have to let our emotions control us
Our unevaluated thoughts can also mislead us
• All/nothing
• Overgeneralizing
• Mental filtering
• Mindreading
• Fortune-telling
• Catastrophizing
• Personalizing
“Transformation won’t happen in your life until you renew your mind, until your thoughts begin to change.” —Rick Warren
• You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds. (Ephesians 4:22-23)
• Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. (2 Peter 3:1)
“Be the doorkeeper of your heart and do not let any thought come in without
questioning it. Question each thought individually: “Are you on our side or the
side of our foes?” And if it is one of ours, it will fill you with tranquility.” —Evagrius Ponticus/4th century Christian monk
Instead of simply accepting as true every thought or emotion we have…
• Face – Mark 9:24
• Filter – Philippians 4:8
• Focus – Colossians 3:1-2
• Fight – 2 Corinthians 10:5
Learn how to experience better mental health from the example of Jesus
• Pray often
• Take a walk; especially in nature
• Keep good boundaries
• Immerse yourself in scripture
• Be with people who love you Rest regularly
• Stay focused on your mission Express your emotions appropriately
• Don’t try to be everything for everyone
• Don’t let people tell you who you are – that’s God’s place
A couple of resources
• YouVersion Bible App – “Winning the War in Your Mind” (Craig Groeschel)
• Right Now Media – “Get Out of Your Head” (Jennie Allen)
Takeaway: So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. (1 Peter 1:13/NLT)
Discussion Questions
1. How much of the time do you wrestle with negative/unwanted thoughts or emotions?
2. How much control do you believe you have over your thoughts?
3. If you experience negative/unwanted thoughts, what do you think Jesus would say to you about those?
4. Which of Jesus’ “mental health practices” do you also practice? Which ones do you think you would benefit from working on?