The Renewing Work of the Holy Spirit in Heart and Mind

Through his word Christ removes the heart and mind’s old routines of thought, feeling, action, imagination, conceptualization, beliefs, inference, and puts in their place something else; his thoughts, his attitudes, his beliefs, his ways of seeing and interpreting things, his words. He washes out our minds, and in the place of confession and falsehood—or hatred, suspicion and fear, to speak of emotions—he brings clarity, truth, love, confidence and hopefulness. So where there was fear, there is hope; where there was suspicion, there's confidence; where there was hate, there is love; and all are based on a new understanding of God conveyed into us by his word. Vessels of wrath become vessels of patience and kindness. Where there was covetousness and lust, there is generosity and courteous consideration. Where there was manipulation and possessiveness, there is trust towards God and encouragement of others toward liberty and individuality. We now have a character to which listening for God's voice is natural. –Dallas Willard

Part of Jesus’ redemptive work in our lives is “cleansing (us) by the washing with water through the word” (Eph. 5:26). The key for you and me is to be found often in that cleansing, refreshing, and renewing flood! How often we hear and heed the Word of our God affects our sanctification—our being set apart and renewed in Christ, heart and mind. Come and see. Open His Word often and allow it to open you to greater inner healing and hope.