Crucial Reasons for Renewing My Mind Daily

I came across this quote recently.  I thought it was a great reminder of the importance of renewing my mind daily.

I have been struggling with one of my kiddos. She has been having some behavior issues. She is so incredibly smart, and also very strong-willed. Which I know are strengths the Lord has given her.

However, teaching and training these kinds of personalities, especially when they are eight years old, can be very challenging. I’m struggling to know how to effectively teach her the importance of maintaining the right attitude while also being respectful of her dad and me.

This has been going on for months now.

Crucial Reasons For Renewing My Mind Daily

However, in the midst of all this, the Lord has been impressing upon me the significance of renewing my mind. I share these thoughts with you because I think there are a couple of principles within what I’m learning that may encourage you too.

My Thoughts Can Give Me a Distorted Perception of Reality

The Lord has been leading me to consider how my thoughts can give me a distorted perception of reality. Our thoughts are powerful! In fact, Dr. Caroline Leaf (quoted above) discusses in her book “Switch on Your Brain”, how our mind actually controls the physical and chemical makeup of our brain. This makes sense since scripture says that we are “…transformed by the renewing of our minds” Romans 12:2.

So I had to ask myself… if I’m approaching each day and each encounter with my daughter with this subtle thought that she has a bad attitude, is that thought itself causing me to have an incorrect perception of reality? Is that thought causing me to perceive a bad attitude that may not actually be there? Has my vision and judgment been blurred by an assumption that may very well be false?

My Thoughts Affect My Relationships

My thoughts affect my relationships because my thoughts determine my actions and behavior. I must be diligent each and every day to consider the ideas I allow into the doorway of my mind. I don’t want to place any unnecessary strain on the bond I have with my daughter because I’m failing to perceive correctly.

So, my encouragement to you today is to consider those quiet thoughts lingering in the corners of your mind.  Could there be any assumptions or beliefs that are not true? How are those thoughts shaping your ideas of the people you love and care about? Then, pay attention to how you are responding.

So what do I need to change?

What the Lord has told me is that I need to start slowing down my responses. I need to take a moment before I correct or discipline to objectively evaluate her behavior. Then consider if the problem really is her attitude, or if it’s my incorrect perception.

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