I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2

Have you ever found yourself humming or singing a song that is in your mind but you are not sure where it came from? So often, I will walk out of a grocery store or a place of business with a familiar tune playing in my head. The same thing happens when we watch television. Images from movies and television shows tend to repeatedly play over and over in our minds.

The power of sound and visual imagery can dominate us and yet, we are in many ways somewhat immune to its influence. Is there anything wrong with humming a tune or thinking about a scene from a movie? The world will tell us emphatically that the answer is “no.” The entire marketing industry would be in serious trouble without our repeated thoughts of commercial products that lead us to desire and purchase them. Let’s face it; our minds are well trained in the ways of the world.

As Christians, we need to be aware of the worldly influences that infiltrate our minds. Thoughts tend to build upon each other and can lead us into ungodly habits and patterns. The devil will tell us that whatever is in our minds is just for us, no one will get hurt, and no one will ever know. But, in time, out thoughts will begin to change our behaviors and ultimately, some of those hidden things in our minds will be revealed in our exposed lives.

We must guard against these influences from the start. We must be on the offense at all times. The apostle Paul tells us that we are not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Our minds must be renewed daily, moment by moment, and this training begins by keeping certain things out. Make a conscious choice to avoid watching certain programs or movies. Turn off the noise in the car and replace it with music of praise and worship. We need to put things in our minds that glorify our Lord, for He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world.

Is it a sacrifice? Yes. We must present our bodies and minds to be a sacrifice unto God. The best part is that our sacrifice is greatly rewarded in the blessings that come from having a sound mind filled with peace and joy. Start renewing your mind today. Ask the Lord to help you and pray for His power to overcome the enticing activities of the world. Retrain your mind and your life will change.

This article is used by permission of Daily Disciples.

Daily Disciples Ministries, Inc., founded by Tonilee Adamson and Bobbye Brooks, embraces a vision to reach the world for Christ by teaching others how to be His daily disciples. Their mission is to evangelize the lost and to re-awaken the saved to live lives empowered by the Word of God and His Holy Spirit, and to teach and to train those who desire to grow, to serve and to have all that God has for them…encouraging everyone to be a daily disciple of Jesus Christ. From Bible studies to daily devotionals to daily radio programs to a comprehensive discipleship program, Bobbye & Tonilee have a passion to help others apply the Word of God to their lives every day.