Renewing the Mind

 

Recovery is a journey of transformation. It changes not just our habits and behaviors, but our attitudes and beliefs. Above all, recovery transforms our minds. Recovery rewires the way we think.

This mental transformation is a central theme in the New Testament as well. When we come into relationship with Christ, he begins to change us from the inside out. Paul wrote about this in Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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."

God is calling us to leave behind the ways of this world, our sins and addictions, and the old patterns of thinking and believing, and have our minds made new. This process begins with surrender. We cannot change if we continue to operate in pride and self-will, believing that we do not need to change. In humility, we ask God to come into our lives and remake us and give us a new heart and mind.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 gives us a good insight into the spiritual battle that is central to this process of renewing our minds, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

I initially came into the battle with pornography thinking it was a battle exclusively in the flesh, that is, in my body. It was simply a bad behavior that I needed to stop. As I read books, went through therapy and the Twelve Steps, I discovered that the problem was primarily in my heart and mind, not my body. It was flawed thinking processes that were keeping me in bondage. Satan had built a stronghold of lies in my soul, and I could not overthrow it with any physical weapons. I needed spiritual weapons.

One of the key spiritual weapons is this idea of "casting down imaginations". These imaginations and high things Paul writes about are arguments, opinions, thoughts, and ideas that Satan will use to lure us into sin and keep us trapped there. The chaplain here has a catch phrase, "The devil is a liar!"  This is certainly true; in the Bible he is called the father of lies. Deceit is his greatest weapon.

From an early age, Satan snared me in a web of lies that entangled me in addiction. In recovery, I have learned to uncover these thoughts, arguments and lies that formed the root of the addiction when I was young and tear them out. As these lies resurface and come into my mind from day to day, I practice casting them down.

Early on, even as a teenager, one of the practical ways I began to cast down these thoughts was by memorizing Scripture. The logic is very simple. I can't think about two things at once. At least, I can't focus and concentrate on more than one thing at a time. There is an acronym that comes from the early days of computer programming: GIGO - Garbage In, Garbage Out, or Good In, Good Out. If you program a computer with junk code, then it is not going to work, but if you program it with good code, then it will operate as desired. Our minds are not too different, if we want to escape wicked thoughts and walk in the Spirit, then memorizing and meditating on Scripture is a great way to do that. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."(Psalm 119:11)

So, I began a daily discipline of memorizing Scripture. In Paul's letter to the Ephesians the word of God is compared to a sword that we can use in our battle with Satan. I wanted to fill my armory with verses that I could draw and brandish quickly, at any moment, to help me turn my mind away from lust and Satan's lies. 2 Corinthians 10:5 was one I memorized and tried to keep in the front of mind, so I could quote it at a moment's notice. Philippians 4:8 was another verse I kept ready, "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 a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."  (The acronym THJPL - pronounced "thuh-jipple" - which stands for true, honest, just, pure, lovely, has been a useful tool in memorizing this verse). Last, I memorized my life's verse: 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, which I will let you look up on your own. I kept these three in my pocket, so to speak, ready to go at a moment's notice. When an unclean thought popped into my head, I captured it, cast it down, then quoted these verses to replace them. These verses were my ammunition. I wanted to have verses loaded, cocked and ready to fire any time the enemy attacked.

Now I was ready to engage the battle in my mind and confront Satan and his lies. Lust would seize me, and pornographic thoughts would assault, but I had weapons now. I would quote those verses and find some reprieve. Then the thoughts would come back. I would quote them again, and again the thoughts would return. I would have to quote them again and again, over and over and over. There were times the light would break through, and my mind would clear, but there were other times the clouds of lust surged and no matter how many times I quoted, the unclean thoughts overcame me, and I would fall into my passions.

These verses were like bullets, but they were not silver bullets. This was just the beginning of understanding the battle I was engaged in. There are many who have been able to overcome lust, fantasy, and porn simply by using Scripture and prayer to fight off the thoughts and urges. 2 Corinthians 10:5 references "strongholds", the image is that of a castle keep or a well-fortified fortress. The idea that Satan and sin can seize control of us and hold us back in our walk with God, building a stronghold in our hearts and minds. Strongholds are usually associated with addictions and troublesome, habitual sins, they can also describe anger, resentment, and depression that gain control of our lives. For some, that stronghold is not too formidable, and they are able to overcome it minimal effort. For me, it has seemed my stronghold of porn addiction was a mighty fortress indeed, and it has taken a great deal of concentrated effort to overcome.

Memorizing and quoting Scripture was a good place to start transforming my heart and mind, but there was more that needed to be done. I needed more tools, more weapons, more help, and assistance in my battle.