A Toxic Cleansing for Your Brain

The “Who Am I?” Series – Part 5

Over the past decade, an increased awareness of holistic health and a return to wholesome foods and natural ingredients has spawned an entire health movement. More individuals than ever rely on fasting and colon cleansing regimes to rid their bodies of toxins and deadly poisons that can make them ill, or even begin the process of cancer cell reproduction.

Keeping your body toxin free and working properly is certainly important. But let’s not stop there. Many times our minds become stuck in cycles of defeat. This can stem from a lack of peace due to damaged emotions, deep seated bitterness and unforgiveness. Bottom line, our polluted minds are affecting every part of our lives.

The Word tell us how important it is to keep our minds toxin free. But how accomplish this? How do we perform a cleanse on our brain and experience long lasting freedom from mind pollution? As with every other dilemma, the Word has the answer.

Step I – Renew Your Mind:

Did you know that your mind can be renewed? All the negativity, fear, and bitterness can be replaced with positive thoughts. All you have to do is put them in there. Renewing your mind is a continuous, present tense action of walking in the Word of God.

• And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
• With regard to your former way of life, put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds Ephesians 4:22-23.

Watchman Nee realized the dilemma of our stinking thinking when he said, “How many of God’s children, although saved and possessing a new life still carry around their old head. Nothing of their former theories, thought processes, or prejudices have been altered; only a Christian casing has been added.”

If you hold on to the same thought patterns, nothing will ever change in your life. Make the choice to renew your mind. Fill yourself with the Word of God on a daily basis. The Word will cleanse you, strengthen you, and change you from the inside out.

Step II – Take Every Thought Captive

Renewing your mind by constantly filling yourself with the Word of God is the first step. Step two is to take every thought captive.

Living the Christian life involves a war that wages in your thought life. An individual doesn’t become truly changed or conformed into the image of Christ by adjusting their behavior. The thoughts are what must be changed. “As a man thinks, so is he.”

So, how do you change your thinking? I’m glad you asked. The Word tells us this:

• Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. II Corinthians 10:5

I like to explain it this way. (Once you get a hold of this, you will be released from any ounce of condemnation from some to the strange thoughts that enter your mind.)

Ready for the good news? Every thought is NOT your thought. That’s right. If you are a born again believer sitting at your desk at work and suddenly a lustful thought enters your mind for no apparent reason, it’s not your thought. The thought was presented to you and if you accept it and say to yourself, “Hey, yea I’ll think about that for a while,” then it becomes your thought. You took ownership of it when you decided to go ahead with the lust filled movie in your mind. That’s why the Word tells us to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Your mind should never be allowed to run rampant like an out of control toddler on a sugar rush. As believers it is our responsibility to watch over our thoughts and immediately kick the thoughts out that are ungodly. That can be done by simply saying to ourselves, “No, I choose not to think about lust and sin. You said in Your Word that I have the mind of Christ. Thank you Jesus for protecting my mind from impure thoughts.”

At first it will seem difficult and tedious to regulate your mind, especially if you’ve always let your mind run wild. After a while it will become easier until you really don’t have to try anymore.

Your mind is the pathway the enemy uses to get access to your life. Put a filter on your thought life. Start with this verse from Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”