RE-NEWED MIND

   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ~Romans 12:2 KJV.  

   Don't become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants-what is good, pleasing, and perfect. ~Rom. 12:2 GWT. 
    Renewed minds. What does that look like? Take a look at Joel chp. 2:2-11 with this thought,  It is a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and overcast skies (worldly thinking). A large and mighty army will spread over the mountains (kingdoms) like the dawn. Nothing like this has ever happened. Nothing like this will ever happen again. In front of this army a fire burns (pure thoughts). Behind it flames are blazing. In front of it the land is like the garden of Eden (life). Behind it the land is like a barren desert (death). Nothing escapes it (captive thoughts)! The soldiers look like horses. They run like war horses. As they leap on mountaintops (kingdoms), they sound like rattling chariots, like crackling fire burning up straw, and like a mighty army prepared for battle (mental and spiritual). People are terrified in their presence. Every face turns pale. They run like warriors. They climb walls like soldiers. They march straight ahead. They do not leave their places. They do not crowd one another. They keep in their own lines. Even when they break through the defenses, they do not break their ranks. They rush into the city. They run along the wall (above the laws of the natural). They climb into houses. They enter through windows like thieves (taking thoughts captive). The earth quakes in their presence, and the sky shakes. The sun and the moon turn dark, and the stars no longer shine. The LORD shouts out orders to his army (knowing His will). His forces are very large. The troops that carry out his commands are mighty. The day of the LORD is extremely terrifying. Who can endure it? These are my words added, but I feel like He lead me here when I asked, "what does that look like?" My favorite line is The troops that carry out his commands are mighty.
     DAY 20. Half way through this fast. It's crazy to think it's been almost three weeks with no food, and it is equally crazy to think that I have a day less than three weeks to go. God is so good! He is able, oh yeah! He so blesses me, daily. He feeds me with His words all day long. But my biggest battle is not with eating food anymore, it's in the mind. One of the greatest battle fields lays between the ears.
     "The real tests are not the situations that challenge our strengths, but the ones that expose our weaknesses. Most of the warfare we deal with in the Christian life is really internal. As we realign our wrong thinking and transform our old behavior patterns, it is amazing how we find that the devil and the world pose less and less of a threat to the flow of the life of God through us."(Strengthen yourself in the Lord, by Bill Johnson).
      We take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ. We are ready to punish every act of disobedience when you have become completely obedient. ~2 Corinthians 10:5  Wow, there's authority released to us when we take our thoughts captive. Bill Johnson says,"I can't afford to have a thought in my head about me, that He doesn't have in His." For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ~Jeremiah 29:11. It's amazing to me that He is thinking about me! Not just along time ago, but right now. Taking every thought captive, to me, says that there's thoughts in my head that are illegal, with assignments or intruders stealing. I can chose to agree with, and empower, them... or take them captive and give them a "no-fly zone". Every worldly thought leads to other lovers, and He is jealous over me and my thoughts. Feeding fears or faith: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ~ philippians 4:8. Don't let worry rob you of your joy! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? ~Luke 12:26.
      God, renew my mind again and again...so I can align with Your good and perfect will for my life. Burn up everything that is not from You. Bring clarity. Come and have Your way with me. Make in me a clean heart and pure hands. Increase dreams and visions. Open up Your great resources to me. Blow me away! Release Your promises in me! Thank You for Your great love! Amen!