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Renewing
the Mind
Carol’s stomach
knotted as she wrote another monthly check to her mother-in-law.
Her hand moved to print out the numbers--$300.00; however, her emotions
objected to every stroke of the pen. Once again she asked herself,
“Why do we have to bail Tad’s mother out of her financial mess?”
The question stabbed at her already tense stomach. “Mom spent herself
into bankruptcy with her eyes open and now expects us to help without
even acknowledging any remorse or thankfulness.”
Together Carol and Tad had decided to help his mother get back on
her feet. With her mind, Carol knew that providing for her mother-in-law
was the right thing to do, but the resentment continued to eat at
her soul.
As long as Carol allowed this resentment to
drive her emotions, she continued to wallow in frustration; but
one day she recognized hope. What if she made a choice to renew
her mind as it says in the Bible, “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.” (Romans 12:2—NIV)
What if Carol were to consciously choose to renew the message and
therefore the response to the act of writing the monthly check?
Is it possible that the same act that currently triggers anger and
resentment could be changed to trigger attitudes of thankfulness,
forgiveness and praise to God? Carol determined to find the answer
to this question.
As she sat down to pay the monthly bills she began by thanking the
Lord for providing the necessary funds for her family and also for
her mother-in-law. When she got to the point of writing the check
for her mother-in-law, Carol reminded herself of the debt of gratitude
she owed to God for the salvation He had freely given her. Jesus
Christ paid her debt of sin, a spiritual bankruptcy that she in
her own flesh was helpless to pay. She thanked the Lord for the
demonstration of His love in that while she was still a sinner,
Christ died for her (Romans 5:8).
Christ’s forgiveness filled Carol’s heart so that in response, she
found herself able to forgive her mother-in-law for her relatively
insignificant offence. Carol began to see how God offered her the
opportunity to tangibly show His grace to her unbelieving mother-in-law.
She began to send each check with a prayer for salvation.
The mere act of writing the check began to trigger all sorts of
unexpected emotions: thankfulness for God’s forgiveness, joy in
her salvation, forgiveness for her mother-in-law, praise for God’s
lavish grace, and compassion for the lost. Carol found she could
give the money as unto the Lord as she found His good, pleasing
and perfect will—just as He promised in His Word.
Cyndie Hamley
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