Being grateful takes work. Developing a life of gratitude is not easy. Why? Because you can’t always wait until something to be grateful for shows up in your life. If you are only grateful when something good interrupts the normalcy of your day you will stay driven by negativity. A thankful mind has to be developed and intentionally built. Traditionally, the phrase, “Mind your business” means to stay in your lane, focus on what concerns you.
Today, I am challenging you to ‘put off’ your OLD self and embrace your NEW self. Every morning, you take your mind to the closet of life and decide how you are going to dress it. Are you going to put on the old, stinky clothes from your past or are you going put on those new, costly clothes that were designed for your true self. It’s up to you? Your mind IS your business. W work your mind, your mind will work for you.
Romans 12:2 says, “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.”
We can either be ‘conformed’ or ‘transformed’. Conformity comes when we go with the flow of our surroundings. We simply surrender to the broken course of our world. We expect negative. We see negative through a sinful filter. We desire carnal things that have no future.
Or we can make our business the renewing of our mind which leads to transformation.
Listen to the encouragement of the Apostle Paul, “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.” (Ephesians 4)
Today, I am challenging you to ‘put off’ your OLD self and embrace your NEW self. Every morning, you take your mind to the closet of life and decide how you are going to dress it. Are you going to put on the old, stinky clothes from your past or are you going put on those new, costly clothes that were designed for your true self? It’s up to you. Your mind IS your business. When you work your mind, your mind will work for you.
Finally, what do you have to do to renew your mind?
First, reset your mind. Put off the old thoughts and patterns. Forgive yourself. Forgive others. Take captive every thought that is meant to derail you. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
Next, set your mind. Intentional expose your mind to the truth. Read the Word. Listen to the Word. Memorize the Word. Meditate on the Word. Tell your mind what is allowed to think on. Remember, you are in charge. Focus on God’s position over your enemies. Look for His grace in every situation. And listen to His Spirit as He guides.
Lastly, settle your mind. God is going to work EVERYTHING out for your good (if you love Him and are called according to His purpose). Don’t be afraid. Don’t worry. Don’t be moved by what it looks like on the surface. Settle your mind to trust and wait on God.
Isaiah 26: 3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
Now it’s time to get to work. Mind…..your business!
