Daily Devotional

A Ministry of the Kerwin Baptist Church

December 29, 2018

by Pastor Hawtree

I AM PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE:

TO RENEW MY MIND (part 2)

II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day

Everything in verse seven transpires in the mind. When we have confidence in God’s ability, it frees us from fleshly fear, and produces miraculous might. Notice what else confidence in God produces:

AFFECTIONATE ATTITUDE
The word “love” in verse seven is the word “agape” love, which means affection or benevolence. Our flesh is not equipped to feel love for individuals that persecute or imprison us. but Paul did. Paul had that kind of spirit as he wrote this letter from prison. God had given Paul the spirit of love. God is able to do that, but we are not. The closer to God we become, the more we become like God. Paul, while under persecution, is encouraging Timothy to stir up the gifts that God had given him, but what often stops us is not circumstances but people. We don’t have to love what people do, but we need to have a loving spirit towards people. Our flesh might not always love them, but we should always have a loving spirit towards them. The flesh may not be able to feel that way, but our spirit should. That is why we must walk in the spirit, not walk in the flesh.
• John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

TRANSFORMED THINKING
God can give us a “SOUND” mind. This means a disciplined, self- controlled mind.
• Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…….,3. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith

Notice what is required to renew our minds:
• 1) It takes Grace
• 2) It takes humility
• 3) It takes discipline
• 4) it takes faith