Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Taking care of your soul”
Our Bible verse for today: “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Your thoughts impact the health of your soul”
Probably one of the most important steps we can take to improve the health of our soul is to change what we allow into our mind. The influences we allow into our mind determine what we think about, and what we think about determines what we say and what we do. The fastest way to bring about any kind of change in our lives is to refocus our minds. This is what Paul was writing about in Romans 12:2. When our mind is renewed and refashioned with new patterns of thinking, it transforms us.
To renew your mind you have to stop allowing negative influences in, you have to let go of old thought patterns, and you have to dispense of the old images of yourself that you have been living with and which have been holding you back. You fill your mind instead with wholesome Godly influences such as Paul writes about in Philippians 4:8. You also refuse to indulge in negative and destructive patterns of brooding. And you ask God to give you an image of the man or woman He wants you to be. It is a well-proven fact of human nature that our mind moves us in the direction of whatever we allow it to focus on. Hold an image in your mind of the man or woman you want to be, dwell on that, and the mind will naturally move you in that direction.
In his book “The Daniel Plan” Pastor Rick Warren recommends a book entitled “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life” by Dr. Daniel Amen. I have not personally read that book but it sounds interesting and helpful – Pastor Warren certainly seems to think it is. If thought patterns, negative influences, and destructive self-images are holding you back from becoming the man or woman you would like to be, then you might want to check out Dr. Amen’s book.
Soul-care brings change at the deepest level of our being. That then affects every other part of who we are. Changing your thinking by the renewing of your mind might turn out to be the most transformative thing you have ever done.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 