God’s Renewing of my Mind–2020 and Beyond
🌸 Including Day 1 of a Week Long Devotion on Renewing of the Mind 🌸
by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
I can trace the moment my relationship with Jesus truly began to change. My restoration, my rededication—it began in 2015, but it wasn’t instant. It was a slow, steady climb out of years of tragedy and heartbreak. The climb was real, but something radical shifted in 2020.
That was the year the fire of the Holy Spirit ignited something deep inside me. I was tired—so tired of living defeated, of being anxious, pessimistic, distracted. My mind was racing with wild thoughts, and I knew it was affecting every part of me.
One day, I knelt before the Lord and prayed Psalm 51—not just a prayer for forgiveness, but a desperate plea for transformation:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
I gave God permission to cleanse my mind, to overhaul the way I was thinking, and that’s exactly what He needed.
💿 I realized the music I was listening to—both mine and the music my students loved—was feeding strongholds in my mind. So, in 2020, I made the radical decision to give up secular music completely. It wasn’t about being legalistic—it was about my thought life. I replaced it with worship, with songs that declared the truth of who God is.
Then, a miracle happened.
For the first time in my life, my mind became quiet. Not only could I be silent with my mouth, but I could also be still in my thoughts. That silence created space for the Holy Spirit to teach me, to reshape me, and to show me who I was meant to be.
🌿 Reflection
The truth is, an unrenewed mind as a follower of Jesus is dangerous. It leads to double-mindedness. We become unstable, caught between the world’s noise and God’s truth. James 1:8 warns, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
The enemy loves to keep us distracted and divided, but when we surrender our thoughts to Jesus—when we let Him prune our minds and remove the junk—He makes room for His peace, His wisdom, and His victory.
đź“– Scripture Study
- Psalm 51:10-12 – Renewal of the heart and mind
- Romans 12:2 – Transformation by the renewal of the mind
- 2 Corinthians 10:5 – Capturing every thought in obedience to Christ
- Isaiah 26:3 – Perfect peace for those whose minds are stayed on Him
- Philippians 4:8 – Think on whatever is true, honorable, and pure
- James 1:8 – The danger of double-mindedness
🌸 Challenge
- Today, invite the Holy Spirit to audit your mind.
- Ask yourself: What thoughts are taking up space that should belong to Him?
- Replace those thoughts with His truth. Speak His Word over your life.
- Let go of the noise, and listen for His voice.
đź’› Final Encouragement
If you’re tired of the battle in your mind, know this: Victory is possible. When you surrender your mind to Jesus, He doesn’t just quiet the chaos—He fills it with truth, with light, with hope.
This is the beginning of a life renewed in Him, but I will let you know that an renewed mind will be still, yet it must be backfilled with HIM!! How does this happen? You must get the WORD into your mind, your heart, so that it springs up in your conversations and your prayers.
The issues of the heart must shift to the plans, purposes, and the very WORD of God. Therefore, I want to begin a devotion series this week, concerning renewing of the mind. Spend time with the scripture study aforementioned, but also, let’s dig into scripture about the mind this very day!
đź“– Scripture Study for the Week
- Ephesians 4:22-23 – Put off the old self, be renewed in the spirit of your mind
- Romans 12:2 – Be transformed by the renewing of your mind
- Psalm 51:10-12 – Create in me a clean heart, O God
- Colossians 3:10 – Put on the new self, renewed in knowledge
- Philippians 4:8 – Whatever is true, noble, right… think on these things
- 2 Timothy 1:7 – God has not given us a spirit of fear
🌿 Day 1: Devotion Study – Ephesians 4:22-23
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to 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 (NIV)
🔍 Reflection
This passage reminds us of the ongoing choice to shed the old self—our past ways of thinking and acting that keep us trapped in defeat and sin. The “old self” isn’t just bad habits or negative thinking—it’s the false identity that the enemy wants us to believe is unchangeable.
However, Paul’s words are clear: you’re not stuck.
You’re invited to be renewed in the spirit of your mind—to embrace a new way of thinking, seeing, and living. This doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a daily surrender. It’s choosing to take captive thoughts, to let the Holy Spirit reframe your perceptions, and to put on the new self that reflects Jesus.
đź’ˇ Action Step
- Today, write down one area where you feel “stuck” in old patterns.
- Surrender that area to Jesus in prayer.
- Speak out loud: “I put off the old self and put on the new self. Holy Spirit, renew the spirit of my mind.”
🙏 Prayer
Lord, I confess that I have been clinging to old ways of thinking and living, but I believe that through Your Spirit, I can be made new. Today, I surrender my mind to You. I ask You to renew my thoughts, fill me with Your truth, and help me walk as the new creation You’ve called me to be. In Jesus’ name, amen.
đź“– Note about Prayer Time
🌿 Prayer time means relational time. Without intentional daily prayer, there is no intimacy with God. Prayer isn’t just a list of requests; it’s an ongoing conversation, a deepening relationship with the One who knows you best. When we set aside time to pray, we’re stepping into His presence, drawing near to His heart, and listening for His voice.
#PrayerTime #IntentionalPrayer #RelationshipWithGod #DailyPrayer #SpiritualGrowth #FaithJourney #IntimacyWithGod #HeartToHeartWithJesus #QuietTime #FaithOverFear #AbideInHim #WalkingWithJesus
The Aging English Major 