Romans 12:2
New International Version
2 Do not conform 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.
How do we renew our minds so that we may be able to know the will of God? In 1 Corinthians 2:10-12, we see how important it is for us to receive the Holy Spirit but also to listen to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit living in us knows the will of God. With this, the Spirit helps us come to the truth and to get an understanding.
1 Corinthians 2:10-12
New International Version
10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.
The Holy Spirit helps us in this transformation by teaching us and reminding us of God's Holy and perfect will.
John 14:26
New International Version
26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
This truth counters the lies of Satan and the world. We are told to focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy. We put these over the opposite of the negative. And this begins to replace the old self with the new self.
Philippians 4:8
New International Version
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.
In the renewing of our mind, not only are you spiritually influenced, but also physically transformed as the brain forms new connections and pathways that ultimately can rewire our brains. This is called Neuroplasticity. There are many ways this helps us renew our minds as well.
"A few of the methods that have been shown to enhance or boost neuroplasticity include:
Joel 2:12
New International Version
Rend Your Heart
12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
During the state of fasting, you improve in cognitive function and this can promote neuron growth that helps your taste, smell, hearing, seeing,
touch, and movement.
Cognitive functioning refers to multiple mental abilities, including learning, thinking, reasoning, remembering, problem-solving, decision making, and attention. (2)
Examples:
551 times in the NIV, love is mentioned.
The parable of the sower is mentioned in Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:4-15.
3 Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to him with timbrel and harp.
Dancing is a way one can worship God but it also helps your brain to learn new tasks and with memorization.
Exodus 20:11 God rested on the 7th day and God called it Holy. Setting a precedent that the Sabbath day was made for man, not that man was made for the Sabbath. To break the Sabbath was once a death penalty in the Mosaic law. Jesus came to explain that the day of rest was to help mankind, not further burden them.
Psalm 149:3 NIV
3 Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to him with timbrel and harp.
In a recent writing, I did on the Aesthetics of music related to worship. I was amazed to see the positive effects on the brain related to the musician or simply listening to positive music that includes the warmer musical notes in a harmony.
Joshua 1:8
New International Version
8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Meditate on God's truth day and night. You will begin to change from an infant Christian into a mature Christian. The more you change, the more you will want to react and follow God's commands.
The difference will be like...
Matthew 26:73-74
New International Version
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed.
VERSES
Acts 5:27-29
New International Version
27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!
Sources:
(1) https://positivepsychology.com/neuroplasticity/#examples-neuroplasticity
(2) https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/cognitive-functioning
New International Version
2 Do not conform 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.
How do we renew our minds so that we may be able to know the will of God? In 1 Corinthians 2:10-12, we see how important it is for us to receive the Holy Spirit but also to listen to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit living in us knows the will of God. With this, the Spirit helps us come to the truth and to get an understanding.
1 Corinthians 2:10-12
New International Version
10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.
The Holy Spirit helps us in this transformation by teaching us and reminding us of God's Holy and perfect will.
John 14:26
New International Version
26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
This truth counters the lies of Satan and the world. We are told to focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy. We put these over the opposite of the negative. And this begins to replace the old self with the new self.
Philippians 4:8
New International Version
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.
In the renewing of our mind, not only are you spiritually influenced, but also physically transformed as the brain forms new connections and pathways that ultimately can rewire our brains. This is called Neuroplasticity. There are many ways this helps us renew our minds as well.
"A few of the methods that have been shown to enhance or boost neuroplasticity include:
- Intermittent fasting (as noted earlier): increases synaptic adaptation, promotes neuron growth, improve overall cognitive function, and decreases the risk of neurodegenerative disease; (periods of fasting followed by periods of normal food intake); (1)
Joel 2:12
New International Version
Rend Your Heart
12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
During the state of fasting, you improve in cognitive function and this can promote neuron growth that helps your taste, smell, hearing, seeing,
touch, and movement.
Cognitive functioning refers to multiple mental abilities, including learning, thinking, reasoning, remembering, problem-solving, decision making, and attention. (2)
- Using mnemonic devices: memory training can enhance connectivity in the prefrontal parietal network and prevent some age-related memory loss; (1)
Examples:
551 times in the NIV, love is mentioned.
The parable of the sower is mentioned in Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:4-15.
- Dancing: reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s and increases neural connectivity; (1)
3 Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to him with timbrel and harp.
Dancing is a way one can worship God but it also helps your brain to learn new tasks and with memorization.
- Sleeping: encourages learning retention through the growth of the dendritic spines that act as connections between neurons and help transfer information across cells (Nguyen, 2016).(1)
- Relaxation techniques to keep stress at bay (1)
Exodus 20:11 God rested on the 7th day and God called it Holy. Setting a precedent that the Sabbath day was made for man, not that man was made for the Sabbath. To break the Sabbath was once a death penalty in the Mosaic law. Jesus came to explain that the day of rest was to help mankind, not further burden them.
- Learning an instrument or listening to music (1)
Psalm 149:3 NIV
3 Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to him with timbrel and harp.
In a recent writing, I did on the Aesthetics of music related to worship. I was amazed to see the positive effects on the brain related to the musician or simply listening to positive music that includes the warmer musical notes in a harmony.
- Mindfulness meditation (Irving, 2016). (1)
“With meditation, your brain is effectively being rewired: As your feelings and thoughts morph toward a more pleasant outlook your brain is also transforming, making this way of thought more of a default… The more your brain changes from meditation, the more you react to everyday life with that same sense of calm, compassion, and awareness.”(1)
Joshua 1:8
New International Version
8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Meditate on God's truth day and night. You will begin to change from an infant Christian into a mature Christian. The more you change, the more you will want to react and follow God's commands.
The difference will be like...
Matthew 26:73-74
New International Version
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed.
VERSES
Acts 5:27-29
New International Version
27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!
Sources:
(1) https://positivepsychology.com/neuroplasticity/#examples-neuroplasticity
(2) https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/cognitive-functioning
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