Purity of Mind

I have been dwelling on the following verses lately, but in particular the desire for a consistently pure mind.

Romans 6:13:

“Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.  For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”

Romans 12:1:

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer 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.”

1 Corinthians 3:16:

“Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.”

2 Corinthians 10:5:

“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.”

I have been noticing in my thoughts lately that I give the Enemy territory–over my body, my temple (His Spirit dwells within us!), and every part of it, each time I dwell on any thought other than those in Philippians 4:8.  I can offer my body as a living sacrifice when I first and foremost, focus my thoughts on HIM.  Once I focus my thoughts  on Him, (and sometimes I just pray, God focus my thoughts on you because I cannot even focus on any one thing right now, my mind is spinning so fast…and a lot of times the only thing that can focus my thoughts is prayer…or a song), the rest of my body follows suit.  My mind relaxes, by body relaxes, and HE is in control of my mind, enabling my mind and body to keep from sinning against Him.  He will transform us by the renewing of our minds.  Praise God that when HE is in control, it is GOOD because HE IS GOOD!  Taking each thought captive to Christ means that my thoughts should align with the Scriptures below.  We are no longer slaves to the Enemy when Christ is in us!  Sin shall not be our master!  Praise Be To the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost!

Phillipians 4:6-7:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Phillipians 4:8:

“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…and the God of peace will be with you.

Do you desire peace?  If you pray that your thoughts are filled with the above things, and then do your part to focus on them, God will enable you and free you from the sin that so easily entangles our whole bodies through the vessal that is our heart and our thoughts.  Ask God to change your heart and your thoughts and watch as He TRANSFORMS and RENEWS your mind and makes it PURE.

He is faithful to make it happen!  And He will make us faithful too!