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Welcome to the second section of Rhythms of Grace, where we will explore the necessity of putting on new mindsets in order to make progress in our pursuit of rest.
In the INTRODUCTION TO RHYTHMS OF GRACE: A JOURNEY INTO REST AND PEACE we saw that Jesus Christ was a perfect example of a man at rest, and that He has opened up the way for us to enter into the same rest that He enjoyed. In the FOUNDATIONS section, we discovered that through Jesus we can have a personal encounter with God, and be filled with His ability; we learned that we find our true identity in relation to Him; and that we can rest in His wonderful provision. (If you haven’t visited the Foundations Section yet, please take time to visit it now—it contains some essential truths to have in place—before you move on to this portion of the website.) |
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But there’s more…
WE’RE ON A JOURNEY The stories in the Old Testament give graphic pictures of spiritual realities. When the Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt, (you can read the account here: Exodus 1-14), the imagery portrays the spiritual truth of our passage from death to life. But just as the land on the other side of the Red Sea wasn’t Israel’s final destination—there was a promised land waiting for them (a land of rest)—neither is it intended that we set up camp just yet! We too are on a journey… |
KINGDOM MINDED
Israel’s ‘promised land’ was originally meant to be a theocracy, a place where God would rule over His people; where they would live according to His principles and precepts, and enjoy lives of joy, fruitfulness and prosperity. And the stories also vividly show how sin stopped the nation coming into the fullness of that blessing—and underlined the need for a Saviour, to deliver man from sin, and the world from the powers of darkness.
Jesus was totally ‘kingdom-minded’, teaching at length about the Kingdom of Heaven, the realm where God rules and where His ways and principles are worked out. In Heaven there is no sin, no sickness, no oppression, no suffering; no darkness at all; it’s the sphere where the ways of God preside. When Jesus came to earth, He brought His Kingdom with him. ‘Repent!’ He cried, ‘For the Kingdom of God is at hand!’
Jesus was totally ‘kingdom-minded’, teaching at length about the Kingdom of Heaven, the realm where God rules and where His ways and principles are worked out. In Heaven there is no sin, no sickness, no oppression, no suffering; no darkness at all; it’s the sphere where the ways of God preside. When Jesus came to earth, He brought His Kingdom with him. ‘Repent!’ He cried, ‘For the Kingdom of God is at hand!’
CHANGE YOUR WAY OF THINKING
Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing,
because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
[John 5:19]
I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.
[John 8:28]
These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
[John 14:24]
because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
[John 5:19]
I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.
[John 8:28]
These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
[John 14:24]
The secret of Jesus’ life of rest was that His life was in perfect alignment with His heavenly Father.
We all long to see the wonderful stuff of the Kingdom invade our circumstances. To see God’s peace settle on our families or workplaces; to see His healing touch bring restoration to physical, mental and emotional health; and see relationships repaired, long-standing issues resolved, and insecurities dealt with. We want the rest we know these transformations will bring.
We all long to see the wonderful stuff of the Kingdom invade our circumstances. To see God’s peace settle on our families or workplaces; to see His healing touch bring restoration to physical, mental and emotional health; and see relationships repaired, long-standing issues resolved, and insecurities dealt with. We want the rest we know these transformations will bring.
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In order for the Kingdom of God come to our personal situations, Jesus was very clear that we have to be ‘born again’; otherwise it’s impossible (see John 3: 1-21) . We have to have a spiritual rebirth to be able to see spiritual truth. But having had that experience we also need to change our world-view.
All of us have patterns of thinking, formed over a life-time, which give the lens through which we view the world and our circumstances. If we are going to walk with God, we have to change that lens to mirror the one He uses; we need to align our way of thinking with the way He thinks; we have to become kingdom-minded. |
The core meaning of the Greek word for ‘repentance’ is to change the way you think (coupled with contrition and submission to the Lord). In effect, Jesus was saying, ‘Change your way of thinking so that the Kingdom, the realm of God, can invade your life!’
Faulty thinking always has consequences, whether it’s from ignorance or incorrect beliefs. If I don’t know that an electric switch will produce light, I’ll live my life in the dark; if I have wrong beliefs about myself and my situation, I will never fulfil my God-given potential; If I have wrong ideas about God and His nature, then I will never receive all that He has for me.
Faulty thinking weighs me down, renders me immobile, and steals my faith—and destiny.
When Jesus was asked what God wants us to do, He didn’t reel off a list of worthy activities, but said, rather startlingly, that the real work was to believe in Him (John 6:28-29). And this is ‘work’, because faith is not an emotion, but a choice which needs developing through application and persistence. It starts with our thought processes, and it takes effort to re-programme our habitual thinking patterns to be places where healthy beliefs can thrive.
So to see the Kingdom come, I need to develop new mindsets…
Faulty thinking always has consequences, whether it’s from ignorance or incorrect beliefs. If I don’t know that an electric switch will produce light, I’ll live my life in the dark; if I have wrong beliefs about myself and my situation, I will never fulfil my God-given potential; If I have wrong ideas about God and His nature, then I will never receive all that He has for me.
Faulty thinking weighs me down, renders me immobile, and steals my faith—and destiny.
When Jesus was asked what God wants us to do, He didn’t reel off a list of worthy activities, but said, rather startlingly, that the real work was to believe in Him (John 6:28-29). And this is ‘work’, because faith is not an emotion, but a choice which needs developing through application and persistence. It starts with our thought processes, and it takes effort to re-programme our habitual thinking patterns to be places where healthy beliefs can thrive.
So to see the Kingdom come, I need to develop new mindsets…
KINGDOM MINDSETS
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Faulty thinking weighs me down, renders me immobile, and steals my faith—and destiny. www.rhythmsofgraceuk.org/new-mindsets Click to Tweet A mindset is a habitual way of thinking, a specific way we look at the world. A diseased mindset fastens me into unhealthy patterns of reaction or behaviour, and stops me fulfilling my unique purpose and destiny.
Perhaps some of these diseased thought patterns trouble you?
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All these unhealthy thinking patterns (and there are many more like them) have the effect of producing stress and stealing our rest. There is also increasing evidence in the medical world that diseased thinking can be responsible for some physical illnesses.
In addition, our behaviour is strongly linked to what we think.
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
[Proverbs 23:7 NKJV]
[Proverbs 23:7 NKJV]
And Jesus taught:
For out of the heart come evil thoughts –
murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
[Matthew 15: 19]
murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
[Matthew 15: 19]
In the world of psychiatry, CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) has become a popular treatment for people with mental or emotional health issues in recent years. Over a period, unhelpful thought patterns are identified and retrained, in order to affect the way clients behave.
However, the Bible got there a long time ago…
However, the Bible got there a long time ago…
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 12:2]
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
[Romans 12:2]
These are strong words. If you want personal transformation and changes in your circumstances, you must change your way of thinking. If you want to act differently, you must think differently. If you want to be free from spiritual strongholds of anxiety, fear, guilt, stress, anger—or anything else—you must renew your mind.
THE POWER OF THE IMAGINATION
One of our God-given mental faculties is the power of imagination. When we speak, or hear someone else’s words, we immediately form a picture in our mind’s eye of the thing mentioned.
The imagination is an essential tool in creating anything; an artist or designer has to have an image in their mind to be able to start the design process. It may be discarded, refined or remodelled, but a creation of any sort must have a mental image attached to it.
As our imaginations are created by God we also need to bring them into alignment with Him and His word. The good news is we can use our imaginations to work with God in creating new mindsets, rather than in opposition.
The imagination is an essential tool in creating anything; an artist or designer has to have an image in their mind to be able to start the design process. It may be discarded, refined or remodelled, but a creation of any sort must have a mental image attached to it.
As our imaginations are created by God we also need to bring them into alignment with Him and His word. The good news is we can use our imaginations to work with God in creating new mindsets, rather than in opposition.
HOW DO WE RENEW OUR MINDS?Take it to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you your unhealthy thinking patterns. Then take them to the Cross. Jesus took our mental pain and suffering on Himself when He was crucified. Remember He was beaten around the head, and suffered the trauma of a vicious crown of thorns? His blood cleanses all the wounds caused by our diseased thinking.
Watch what you feed on. According to experts, our minds are assaulted by more than 50,000 thoughts each day—and a large percentage of these are negative.
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Many come from external stimuli: friends, relatives and work colleagues, news reports, TV programmes, magazines, social media, advertising, music lyrics, to name just a few. Although we can’t live in a sanitised bubble away from negative influences, we can monitor what we are feeding on, what ideas are being sold as ‘truth’; and we can limit our intake.
Think on good things every day. Take time out regularly to recalibrate—especially if you have been keeping company with negative people, or are being affected by the current news. Re-position your mind with good wholesome thoughts: watch a film, read a book, spend time with your children or in the garden—whatever works for you.
Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.
[Philippians 4:8]
whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
[Philippians 4:8]
Take every negative thought captive. This one won’t happen overnight! When you recognise unhealthy thoughts, lasso them at once and bring them to the cross, then—and this is important—replace them with good thoughts. Use your sanctified imagination to visualise the truth being worked out in your life.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,
and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
[2 Corinthians 10: 4,5]
and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
[2 Corinthians 10: 4,5]
Feed on God’s Word. To replace bad thoughts, we have to have good alternatives—we need to fill our minds and hearts with the Word of God. We can…
- read and study the Bible
- listen to audio versions of it
- listen to Bible-based teachings
- read Christian literature
- spend time with people of faith
- frequent Christian websites (such as this one!) which are full of the Word
- subscribe to Christian blogs or newsletters
Meditate on the Bible. Meditation in the modern world often refers to the types of meditation practised by eastern religions, which involve emptying the mind and entering a state of extreme awareness and inner calm.
However, Christianity has a long tradition of its own, which is not about consciousness and emptying the mind, but about fixing the attention of the heart on the Lord, and reflecting deeply on His Word. These reflections cause His living Word to become deeply rooted in the heart—and in the thinking. Fixing an over-active mind on the Lord also has a really beneficial calming effect.
However, Christianity has a long tradition of its own, which is not about consciousness and emptying the mind, but about fixing the attention of the heart on the Lord, and reflecting deeply on His Word. These reflections cause His living Word to become deeply rooted in the heart—and in the thinking. Fixing an over-active mind on the Lord also has a really beneficial calming effect.
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
[Isaiah 26:3 NKJV]
And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed.
[Joshua 1:8 MSG]
[Isaiah 26:3 NKJV]
And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed.
[Joshua 1:8 MSG]
The 'Reflections' pages, listed below, give some starting points for meditation. These are in bite-sized portions, perfect for busy lives…
Watch what you say. Click on the picture-link below to discover why what we say is so important:
THE POWER OF THE SPOKEN WORD
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Finally, give thanks. One form of negative thinking is shown in the habit of grumbling or complaining. Check out this page to find out more:
CHOOSING GRATITUDE
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*RHYTHMS OF GRACE
HEAR & RESPOND to the voice of God
Get very quiet inside. Invite the Holy Spirit to come close. Ask Him to show you what He wants you to focus on, in order to get your thinking in alignment with His. Then ask Him to give you both the desire and the ability to make the changes.
Get very quiet inside. Invite the Holy Spirit to come close. Ask Him to show you what He wants you to focus on, in order to get your thinking in alignment with His. Then ask Him to give you both the desire and the ability to make the changes.
…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil His good purpose
[Philippians 2:13]
[Philippians 2:13]
Prayer for change
Lord I bring you all my diseased thoughts, particularly the ones relating to…….
I confess I have believed them to be truth, and they have shaped my life and behaviour.
Forgive me for these thoughts, and cleanse my mind with the precious blood of Jesus .
Lord Jesus, thank you for dying for me. Thank you for being wounded so I can be set free.
Holy Spirit please come and help me in my thinking. Help me to replace old thought patterns.
Fill me with your power so I can be excellent in my mind. Amen.
*For more information on how the term ‘rhythms of grace’ is used on this website, please see the INTRODUCTION TO RHYTHMS OF GRACE: A JOURNEY INTO REST AND PEACE.
Lord I bring you all my diseased thoughts, particularly the ones relating to…….
I confess I have believed them to be truth, and they have shaped my life and behaviour.
Forgive me for these thoughts, and cleanse my mind with the precious blood of Jesus .
Lord Jesus, thank you for dying for me. Thank you for being wounded so I can be set free.
Holy Spirit please come and help me in my thinking. Help me to replace old thought patterns.
Fill me with your power so I can be excellent in my mind. Amen.
*For more information on how the term ‘rhythms of grace’ is used on this website, please see the INTRODUCTION TO RHYTHMS OF GRACE: A JOURNEY INTO REST AND PEACE.
RESOURCES
A series of devotional pages which give a bite-sized portion of truth to chew on:
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” [A.W. Tozer]
It is essential we think rightly about God; about who He is, His ways and principles.
Read the classic KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY by AW TOZER.
It can be purchased from Amazon**, by clicking on the link, or from the bookseller of your choice.
It is essential we think rightly about God; about who He is, His ways and principles.
Read the classic KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY by AW TOZER.
It can be purchased from Amazon**, by clicking on the link, or from the bookseller of your choice.
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Please see the note on resources, below:
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[Photo credits: Kevin Turcios (girl thinking); Devin Avery (camera lens); Brooke Cagle (man with book);
Alora Griffiths (girl in sunflower field); Shane Rounce (two men talking) @ Unsplash, with thanks]
Alora Griffiths (girl in sunflower field); Shane Rounce (two men talking) @ Unsplash, with thanks]