Ephesians 4:23-24, “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.”
The Holy Spirit empowers and transforms those who are Christians, exalts Christ, provides knowledge and application of the Scriptures, guides us into truth, helps us grow in holiness, and enables believers to live out their faith. We read in John 14:26, Amplified Bible: “But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, intercessor – Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf]. He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.”
Do you sometimes have problems with your thoughts and attitudes when challenged, or something goes wrong? I do. It can be as simple as my printer or computer not working or something that went wrong in my job that was out of my control. It is a continual process of not giving in to one’s feelings and emotions when under stress. Instead, we all need to head in a new direction and use the new way of thinking that the Holy Spirit will give us instead.
The prophet Isaiah recorded the LORD saying in Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT: “My thoughts are completely different from yours,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” So often we have our preconceived cookie cutter solutions. But since God is sovereign, we need to strive to fit into His plan and purposes and pray for discernment in the right reactions and words we speak for every challenging unpleasant encounter that we face. He is faithful and good. As we talk things over with God, we need to ask Him what His thoughts are about the predicament, and what He sees and knows that we can’t see, and that His will be done instead.
At the end of the day, Christ is all that matters because He lives in us (Col. 3:11). He knows and will work in ways we did not expect or imagine. He always knows best. So today, instead of stewing and fretting when encountering problems, “Instead, let the Spirit renew (my) thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.” Ephe. 4:23-24. How will that look now?
Listen to NEEDTOBREATHE – “I’ve Got A Story (feat. Tori Kelly)”