Thinking Differently
You know those days when you just feel tired down to the core? You know, when you cannot think straight because you are so weary? Whether it be from the day to day transactions of work and life, or the constant ups and downs of relationships with family, friends, and strangers it is so easy to grow fatigued and it is even easier to feel, speak, live, and think differently because of how drained we can become.
Recently, I have had a nasty bug passing through my body. I was down for the count with an awful cough, terrible sinus pressure, and feeling extra exhausted no matter how much I rested. During this week and a half of dealing with sickness, I found myself trying to identify with how I was feeling. People would ask me, “How are you feeling?” and I would correlate that with, “How are you doing?” or better yet, “What are you doing? Are you able to do what you’re supposed to be doing?” I kept thinking in this manner in which I was sick rather than having sickness in my body. I kept labeling myself as tired rather than feeling taxed from illness.
How often do we do this in life? If it’s not sickness, it’s work. If it’s not work, it’s relationships. If it’s not relationships, it’s finances. The list goes on and on, and yet we constantly try to find identity in the things that either make others feel pity towards us or the things that are doing nothing but making us feel more and more overworked. It’s absolutely exhausting thinking about how burned out we all must feel when we are regularly looking for identity in temporary things, experiences, and relationships.
I’m blown away by how often the New Testament authors called the early Church to repent or to renew the way that they thought about things. Often, we think of repentance as saying, “I’m sorry” and then continuing to live life, but simply put, this is not what repentance is at all. Repentance is a lifestyle change, a shifting of paradigms, a way of thinking better, greater, and more clearly, and ultimately, it is changing our hearts and minds to align with the Lord’s heart and mind.
- Romans 12:2 - Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
- Philippians 4:8 - Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable—if anything is excellent and praiseworthy—think about such things.
- 2 Timothy 1:7 - For God did not give us a Spirit of timidity, but One of power, love, and sound mind.
- Ephesians 4:22-32 - Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; be made new in the attitude of your minds, and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
- 2 Corinthians 10:5 - We demolish arguments and every pretensions that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
- Colossians 3:1-2 - Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
This list could go on and on, but you are catching the point right? The Church is challenged time and time again to put on a new mindset, a greater way of thinking, a higher, more beautiful and creative paradigm that is from the Lord.
But why? Why is the Church called to think differently? Why does the Church need to repent and put off the old self, placing on a new mind that takes thoughts captive and releases the truth about who God is and who we are? Why?
Because when we set our minds on things above—on things that are lovely, noble, pure, and holy—when we renew our mindset to think with power, love, and self-discipline, when we think with and like the Lord, we are empowered to live, speak, and do from rest and from a source that is not and never will be depleted.
Isaiah 40:28-31 gives us a deeper understanding of this reality. We realize that our LORD is the Everlasting God. The Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even young ones grow tired and weary, but the those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Here’s what I am getting at. I believe there are some today who believe that Jesus is Lord in their heart, but their minds are set on another paradigm. I believe that the Church today thinks from an earthly perspective on many topics and issues, and it is only leading to more fatigue and exhaustion. I believe that there are many who are identifying themselves in ways that are making them grow tired and weary. The good news? Christ Jesus has made a way for us to renew the way we think, the way we believe, the way we speak about God, others, and ourselves, and ultimately, the way that we live.
Beloved, my challenge is one that I am walking through as well. I find myself longing to be identified in ways that brings attention from people, that makes me look like a golden boy, that brings praise and adoration. But to be honest, sometimes I do this by living according to what can get me these things on this earth. I set my mind on things below, not above, and I settle for a lesser mindset than what I have been created to think with. It’s not easy to take a step back and realize that I am tired simply because I am identifying myself according to things, experiences, and relationships that are temporal. BUT, when I do take that step back, I am better able to repent—to change my heart and mind—and to call myself into alignment with who God is, who God says I am, and what is lovely, pure, holy, and right. I can’t tell you how to do this for yourself, but I can tell you that asking the One who never grows weary is the best starting position.
Is it any wonder that the New Testament writers were so persistent in asking the Church to think differently? I’ll tell you what, I’m tired of thinking with a tired mindset, and I bet you are too. But thanks be to God, who in His loving kindness and gracious beauty has given us a Spirit not of timidity, but of power, love, and of self-discipline and sound mind. Here’s to thinking according to and with that Spirit who in-dwells all who believe, with both heart and mind. Here’s to living and loving in a manner that we are rooted in the source of the Everlasting God, who does not grow weary and empowers us to run and walk without growing faint. Here’s to a new mindset, a new paradigm, and a lifestyle of promise in the great and glorious thoughts of our God. Amen.
