Day 25 Prayers for Renewal of Mind

Pray for a renewed mind and positive thinking.

Romans 12:2

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will."

To overcome sin and grow in our relationship with Christ our minds must be renewed. We are born with a sin nature that fully dictates our thoughts and action. Galations 5:22- 23 says "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Have you ever met a toddler with the fruits of the spirit? Love maybe, joy some times, kindness occasionally but for the most part their behavior and attitude is rooted in self-centeredness. Parents, teachers, and caregivers will teach them as best they can some of these qualities but to have them fully take root in our soul they must be planted there by the Holy Spirit.

When we surrender our life to Christ and seek Him, He begins the process of renewing our mind. Instead of allowing us to remain in our own self-centered perspective, He begins to allow us to see things more and more from His perspective. He takes the lies the enemy has whispered into our ears our whole life and replaces them with His truth. He gives us the desire to do what is right instead of the desire to give into our sin nature.

The time our loved ones have spent in addiction, has changed their brain chemistry and their thought patterns. While the enemy is always deceptive, he is especially effective at it when he has the help of chemical substances working in the brain. Recovery requires a deep cleaning of the brain and their thoughts and feelings. Each box tucked away in the attic of their brain must be unpacked, evaluated, and the trash eliminated. Once the past has been set straight they must begin to reset their active thoughts and beliefs to align with reality and with who God has created them to be. It’s an extensive process and it take times and LOTS of hard work on their part to get through it. Be patient with them and pray diligently for them while they are going through this. The enemy does not like it at all and will do everything he can to trip them up and get them to give up.

Our role is to be their biggest cheerleaders during this time. Don’t be afraid to have difficult conversations with them about the past if they need to. It can be painful but seek to listen and understand. Take some time to think, pray, and talk to a sponsor or accountability partner before responding especially if it brings up anger or defensiveness. Healing these wounds will allow you both to move forward in freedom from the past. One of the reasons I encourage loved ones to work through the 12-steps alongside the addict is that our relationships are made that much stronger when we have both worked through the renewal of our minds and can come back together healthier that we have ever been. There’s no greater joy than relating to someone you love in a healthy, functional way that you never have before. You won’t believe the difference.

May God bless you on this journey!

Precious Heavenly Father,

We come before You, lifting up our addicted loved ones, asking for the renewal of their minds. Lord, we pray that You would transform their thoughts, helping them to break free from negative and destructive thinking. Renew their minds with Your truth, so that they may focus on what is pure, lovely, and admirable.

Lord, replace any lies of worthlessness, shame, or hopelessness with Your Word, which declares them to be loved, forgiven, and made new in Christ. Help them to fix their minds on You, giving them the strength to resist the pull of addiction. Surround them with Your peace, and let their minds be governed by Your Spirit, which brings life and healing.

We trust in Your power to renew and restore their thoughts, guiding them toward recovery and freedom.

In Jesus’ mighty name,Amen.

Ephesians 4:22-24

"To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Colossians 3:10

"And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator."

Philippians 4:8

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

1 Peter 1:13

"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming."

Psalm 51:10

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."