The Renewing of the Mind

I recently finished a class that had me thinking a lot about the brain, the way we think, and how our bad thinking can be changed. We read a book for my class that deals with secular research on how new and different thinking can "remap" the brain and create new ways of processing information.

Two passages of Scripture come to mind about this issue of the way we think. Romans 12:2 calls on Christians to "not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Paul is writing that we need to set aside thinking the same way the world does and to let our minds be changed in the way we think.

Philippians 4:8-9 tells us, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice." God calls us to think about things that contain the qualities listed above.

When these verses are seen in light of the new research on the brain, it tells us that Scripture memorization and meditating on Scripture are crucial to renewing our minds. Thinking on Scripture will not only transform our mind, but it will change the way our brain functions. This is critical to overcoming the bad information and messed up thinking that we acquire throughout our lives.

I would encourage you to spend time memorizing passages of Scripture. As you memorize, you need to meditate on what the passages mean. Unlike other meditation, the meditation God calls us to is not to empty our minds, but to fill our minds with God and his word. The time invested in learning and thinking about God's word will completely change the way we view our world.