The August 2011 Living Free website article of the month focuses on allowing God to help us with our thoughts. Every action begins with a thought. What are you doing to renew your mind so your thoughts will lead to right actions?

The Challenge of Renewing Your Mind

• How can a person renew their mind?
• What help can I expect from God in changing the way I think?
• What can I do to get rid of inappropriate thoughts in my mind?
• What role do your emotions have in determining what you think about?

Trevor became a Christian two months ago. He regularly attends church, making new friends-but he is still struggling with anger.

"I can't stop my outbursts. I get really irritated at the way people treat me," he states. "Every day I pray to God, but every day people still make me angry." He also confided that he is constantly struggling with lustful thoughts.

Harry, 67 years old, has been a Christian all his adult life. He grew up with a father who verbally abused him. "I can still hear my father saying-you'll never amount to anything! You're good for nothing!" And the damage still hangs on even though Harry is now a grandfather and loves God.

The struggles may not be identical, but many Christians are caught up in major battles in their mind. The promise of 2 Corinthians 5:17 sounds great, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (NIV) But where reality hits the road-we fall short- especially in our thought life.

The old way of thinking has not gone away. Many still struggle with temptations in their mind, bitterness, depression, fear, hopelessness, frustrations, problems, and putting it bluntly-evil thoughts.

To be a successful Christian means to follow Jesus, to obey His teachings, to love others, to grow spiritually. But this battle still rages in the mind.

God's solution to this battle is not simply to pray more. Prayer is important-but we need to do more than pray. Romans 12:2 goes to the heart of the problem and offers God's solution-"Do not conform any longer 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." (NIV)

The promise is powerful-if I renew my mind, God has some awesome benefits and rewards.