SPF 182: Why We Need Strong Minds (& How to Cultivate Them)

April 23, 2021

Having a strong mind is important. But what is a strong mind, and how does a Christian maintain one? Today I will share a few ways to be faithful with our thinking.

Having a strong mind is important. But what is a strong mind, and how does a Christian maintain one? Today I will share a few ways to be faithful with our thinking. (And maybe I mention the enneagram in this one.) Show Notes: Sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode182 Support $5 a Month: patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful

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How to Have Strong Minds

Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Ephesians 4:20-24

20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!—21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

1 Peter 1:14

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, be holy as I am holy.

To conform means to conform one’s self, including mind and character to another’s pattern; to fashion oneself according to. Our minds will be conformed to something. As Christians we are to conform to Christ.

Watch Out

We need strong minds because of our flesh. we are tempted to wander
We need strong minds because the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
We need strong minds because we live in a time of gas lighting. Gas lighting is basically when someone is trying to pass a lie as a truth.
The world wants to deceive you and conform your mind and pattern of thinking and to their worldview, which is godless, full of idolatry, injustice, and unbelief.

How do we get strong minds and keep them as Christians?

Engage our mind in our rejoicing.
Engage our minds with the truth and engage others with the truth. If we our minds conformed to Christ, we cannot guess at who Christ is. Christian have the mind of Christ, meaning we have His understanding now – we don’t know all the ways of God, but we do know the way to righteousness, and holy living.
Strong minds are reasonable. Philippians 4 says we are to be reasonable which means thinking about what is right, fitting, equitable, gentle and fair. If we are to be reasonable in mind, we must be secure in the Lord because it’s not about having the right argument to win, but to have the right argument to see people go from darkness to light.
Strong minds are guarded. Philippians 4 tells us that the peace of God guards our hearts and minds. We also guard our minds by being diligent by what we let into them.
1. Watch out what goes into the minds with social media, the news, and even popular ideologies and “tools” like the enneagram.
Prayer helps develop strong minds – Pray and ask the Lord for help. Pray and ask the Lord to guard your mind. He is our ever present help and wants our minds to be conformed to His Son, he wants us to love us with our minds. He wants us to be self controlled in our thoughts. So we can be prayerful to a God who wants these things for us and can do these things for us.