Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a “refresh” button for our minds? A way to reset and clear the brain clutter?
Our thinking often gets so tangled up in negativity. Bad news, bad behavior, bad advice. The voices of gloom and despair swirl around in our thoughts until our brains start to look like one of those rope untangling video games. Impossibly snarled—with no space to detangle—and we get the uneasy feeling that the clock is ticking. It seems like the whole world is suffering from Tangled Brain—hopelessness is blowing in the wind, and we inhale it with every breath.
Could it be that the First Century Church suffered from the same mental confusion? Even in the world back then, without the media, cell phones, internet, or AI to blur the lines between fact and fabrication? Could that be why Paul instructed the Romans: “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind …” (12:2 KJV)
When we renew our minds, we’re not just thinking new, improved thoughts; we are breaking the mold of our mind and rewiring the brain’s Default Mode Network (DMN). The DMN is the brain’s mechanism that is active during daydreaming, mind-wandering, and talking to oneself. It’s been described as our brain’s mental screensaver. Without a refresh, it loops repeating patterns of fear, shame, and old stories; old lies we’ve told ourselves from false imaginations and presumed “facts” not having any basis in actual truth.
However, when we focus and meditate on TRUTH—as in Scripture—our brain reshapes itself. The more we do it, the more deeply new paths are carved out along which our thoughts learn to flow. It is not a matter of forcing our minds to adopt some sort of false positive tunnel vision—it is setting our minds free of the entanglement of learned negativity and false information. Free to focus on clean, clear, fresh, liberating, wholesome, life-giving truth. THE Truth.
What is “THE Truth?” THE Truth is composed of WHAT truly IS. Facts—not formed by our imagination, our own assumptions, or what we’ve trained our minds to think—but reality. The real TRUTH I’m speaking of begins outside of ourselves; it is not formed by what “we think.” It flows, not from within ourselves, but from the true and only SOURCE of LIFE—the “I AM”—which does not change nor is modified by situations or circumstances. Jesus said, “I AM the way, the truth, and the life.” ALL TRUTH flows through Jesus. He IS the ONLY way, the ONLY source of truth and life. Jesus IS GOD. God’s WORD is God’s voice. Gods WORD is TRUTH.
So, how can we refresh our minds? It is apparent that the first step to obtaining a renewed mind is to be spiritually born again. The Apostle Peter said that when we are born again, we are born “by the Word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23) In other words, as a born-again believer, our spiritual father is TRUTH. That is why it is natural for the believer to love the TRUTH—and also why the unbeliever (not born again) does not.
Further, “the word of the LORD endureth forever” (v.25) and the eternal LIFE that is in the WORD is transferred to us in the new birth. Life and love for THE Truth is automatically inherited when we are born again. “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:7 KJV)
Renewing the mind is not just a spiritual exercise—it is biological. It is said that it “strengthens the prefrontal cortex—the executive part of the brain that helps us choose wisely, respond calmly, and live with intention.”*
But there’s more. When we fill our minds with goodness, light, and love, it will overflow and spill out of our mouths. Jesus said it: “For the mouth speaks what overflows from the heart.” (Matthew 12:34 CJB) Others can immediately identify if our minds and hearts have been renewed. We can’t help it—the evidence comes out of our mouth. Selah.
To meditate on God’s Word is to ingest pure LIFE. It is a REFRESH for our tangled minds. It flushes out and transforms our default mental network, enabling us to hear—and LOVE—His voice. It reprograms our mind to accept truth and to correct our inclinations. Therefore, in our bodies (our actions, attitudes, and words) we may prove to the world “what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)
What are some ways to renew our minds?
- By not just reading Scripture, but by reading it OUT LOUD. “So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 19:17 NKJV). “Faith builds as you hear yourself quoting, speaking, and saying the things God has said.” —“The Words of our Mouth,” oneanswer.org
- By not just reading, but memorizing Scripture. Committing the Word of God to memory is like painting God’s thoughts on the walls of our souls. Then, when we are drawn inward in a season of discouragement, we discover we are surrounded by the comfort of God’s Word—finding “grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 KJV). “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning (memorizing), that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4 NKJV)
- By declaring with confidence that God is who He says He is. When we give voice to our faith, we rout out doubt and unbelief before it can become a groove in our brain. Say it to yourself: “Have you not heard? The everlasting God … gives power to the weak (feeble-minded) and to those who have no might He increases strength.” (Isaiah 40:28-29 NKJV)
- By purposefully redirecting our thoughts when old patterns of negativity show up. Instead of wasting energy by dreading obligations, we might try anticipating them as opportunities. For example, instead of thinking: “I HAVE to go to work,” say: “I GET to be gainfully employed!” We have the power to nip negativity in the bud—if we will use it. Solomon wisely said: “A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing.” (Proverbs 17:22 AMP)
- By practicing the presence of God and maintaining continual connection to Him—through prayer, trusting, and aligning yourself to Him and His ways. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2 KJV)
As much as we’d like it to, our minds cannot always REFRESH in a moment. Rerouting our thought patterns and learning to focus on what “true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtue, and praise” takes time. Transformation isn’t instant. However, every time we CHOOSE to “THINK on these things”—to SPEAK and MEDITATE on them—we are actually, in fact, rewiring our brain, renewing our strength, and refreshing our life. “Let THIS mind be in YOU!”
*(Credit once again goes to Jo Hargreaves as @thefaithfilledtherapist for her insight and professional perspective on this topic. Follow her on Instagram for more interesting information about faith and the study of neuroscience.)
