A while ago, the importance of Repentance was written because I believe the LORD wants us to know why repentance is important.

To recap, repentance means to think differently, receive divine forgiveness from GOD, and turn with contrition from sin to GOD. It is saying that when you repent, you are no longer thinking of wrong but you are now turning to GOD to live right, especially right standing with HIM.

For example, if you were and maybe involved in fornication, which is sex before marriage, then you need to repent. Why? The WORD says that a man would leave His father and mother and unite with his wife and they will be one flesh (Genesis 2:24), which is the purpose of marriage. The Bible even mentions that the bride and bridegroom, as well as we, the church, are the bride of Christ ( Ephesians 5:22-23).  Anything outside of this is sexual immortality, or plainly said, sin. 

To repent is a day-to-day act unless you do not sin (which is another post in itself). We should not ignore repentance,because this is where GOD changes, transforms and molds us. When we think differently, according to GOD’s will, plan, and purpose, we are being conformed to the likeness of Christ. This is also where we are crucifying the flesh and are in step with the Holy Spirit. 

The LORD GOD has called us to be holy as He is holy. Jesus Christ came on earth to bring us out of the captivity of sin, similar to Moses to was called to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. Jesus Christ told us several things we should not, found Matthew 5, 6, as well as the rest of the new testaments, just as Moses gave the 10 commandments to the Israelites. 

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So, therefore, in this post, I wanted to talk about the renewing of the mind. Romans 12:2, one of my favorite verses, says in the NIV: 

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. 

The definition of renewing the mind in Greek is anakainósis ( found in the bible hub). This means renewal and change of heart and life, making fresh, new developments. 

So when we repent, we are being renewed, thinking differently and living from a change of heart, pursuing GOD and not pursuing our fleshly desires. 

We are all being conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29), but to continue to do so, we need to repent of our sins and have a renewed mind by reading/meditating on the WORD with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

I wanted to mention 2 other bile verses that correspond with renewing the mind because our thoughts/minds should geared toward in a way that says, “GOD I trust you.”

In Isaiah 30:15 in the NIV, it says: 

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength but you would have none of it.

This is telling us that having the renewal of the mind, in terms of salvation is by repentance and resting in the LORD. Jesus Christ is the only way to GOD. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. For you to be saved from the wrath of GOD and not go to hell, you need to forsake your wickedness, your sins, and repent with a humble heart, and come to GOD. 

The WORD says that we shall overcome this life by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). Through Christ Jesus, we have victory, salvation, and everything that we inherit through HIM because we are now children of GOD.

So to rest spiritually is to rest in GOD. It is to rest in the LORD Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). It is to know that because we are now children of GOD through Christ Jesus, we now rest in the power of Jesus Christ, the power of GOD to change us, perfect us, so that we are like Jesus Christ. And that is through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The second of the verse: in quietness and trust is your strength…

After one has realized that their salvation is only through Christ Jesus, and they rest in Him, now here comes the part where when you rest, you are also beginning to trust in Him. You are beginning to trust in His working power for you, the power that changes you. 

This is also where GOD works in our weakness (2nd Corinthians 12:1-10).

Furthermore, because you are in GOD, you are now trusting Him to help you through situations you go through. We still live in this world, but when we have the LORD on our side, whom we serve, we will never be shaken nor be put to shame. 

All we need is to be still, which is acknowledging that GOD is our defender and our fortress as we trust in Him. 

There are a lot of us Christians who have stopped trusting GOD because things got difficult, leaning on our own strength to get through the battle, but we were not told to lean on our strength. 

Or there is something we desire but we go to the world to get it, when our Father in Heaven knows what is best for us and will give what we desire but also according to His will. I have an example of this in this post, where I talked about David and Bathsheba. 

The WORD says trust in the LORD and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path (Proverbs 3:5-6, this is actually the second verse I was going to mention.). 

I have had some struggles with this, as Jacob struggled with GOD. But I know that GOD knows truly what is best for me. He has never left me nor forsaken me. And I believe He has not left you either, because you are still on this journey abiding and trusting in His unfailing love. Though it may be difficult, may the peace of GOD lead you to rest in Him, and may He give you hope that is full of joy and peace as you trust in Him (Romans 15:13). 

So to recap…

To repent is to turn your heart to GOD, to forsake and put to death sin, and fully lean on the LORD as He transforms you. To renew your mind is to abide in His truth as He helps you see things from His perspective rather than yours, while you trust in HIM.

May He strengthen you and I on this journey as we trust in HIM.