Renew your mind...

"And be not conformed to this world:  but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, and acceptable and perfect will of God."  Romans 12:2

I love this verse.  I love this verse because of the hope that it contains.  A hope that my mind can be renewed, and when it is, I will be able to discern God's perfect will.  I have said before, as I grew in to a young teen-ager, the idea of knowing 'God's Will' for my life was of great concern to me (at least in the quiet moments I had alone, I will not pretend or say that this concern was on my mind 24/7 as a 13 year old...that would be a lie!) 

Any way, my concern was that I would not be in God's will somehow.  I have learned much about this process, and how to know for certain that I am operating within the boundaries of what God would purpose for me...for I believe that the prophet Micah wrote it down well when he wrote in chapter 6, verse 8 "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of
you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."  These sound pretty simple. 

Romans 12:2 talks about 'renewing your mind,' though, how is that possible?  I have always been taught, and practiced the fact that much of it involves 'lifting up' your thought processes...think higher of the situation at hand than you might normally, in order to have a better attitude about it.  OR, use heavy doses of scripture, to counter any questionable thoughts that you might harbor.  OR, rely on a divine healing prayer, and God will bless. 

Right here I just want to say that since I was younger, I have wondered about the damage done to your brain during substance abuse.  When I was younger, I always heard it said that alcohol kills brain cells, we know this to be true, without doubt.  However, not being in the medical field, I was always concerned about that loss, I had understood that 'what was lost was lost'...

And, SO!  My point!  Today, during our class, I was fascinated to see brain scans of brains that were healthy, had been on drugs or had abused alcohol for years.  We saw brain scans of brains that were addicted to pornography, and addicted to caffeine.  Through the use of medication in some instances, and abstinence in others, and over time, health was somewhat restored!  I was overjoyed to be able to see the evidence, scientifically, that the mind (brain) can, indeed, be physically healed, and pictures can be made of that process (through a nuclear medicine procedure)!   Bottom line:  we can renew our minds each day.  God can renew our minds instantaneously, if He wants...and, we can also be offered modern medical treatments, including abstaining from use, in order to restore brain health...there is, of course, 'more to it' than what I am briefly sharing here....this is NOT a medical journal...and I am not a doctor!  I just wanted to share the fact that the God we serve...the creator of the universe and of our brains....well, His word has been proven over and over again, but today, I saw it evidenced in science...and it was fun!