Scripture tells us that God can and will help us renew our minds through Scripture. Tracie Miles shares some key principles to help us understand the process of renewing our minds.

First, our heart has to be in the right place.

“If we don’t want to change, then we’re not going to change. The first step to embracing a new life of optimism is recognizing that there are things we want to change.”

We all have a tendency at times to see the glass half empty instead of seeing it half full. Likewise, Tracie says we all have the ability to change.

“We all have the opportunity to change and turn our lives around if we so choose.”

However change requires intentional effort. If we continue to think the same thoughts day in and day out, we will continue to live the same way day after day.

“It’s kind of like the definition of insanity, if you keep doing the same thing over and over, you can’t expect to have a different outcome.”

When we allow God into our minds and invite Him into our hearts and minds to help us change the way we think, our actions will follow suit.

The first thing we can do is ask God to help us be aware of our negative thoughts.

The seconds thing deals with how we handle negative thoughts when God helps us recognize them.

“Then reject that thought completely, tell yourself, I’m not going to think that way today.”

Then, Tracie says it’s crucial to replace our negative thought we want to oust, with something more positive and more true in God’s opinion.

“As we do that day after day, that’s how we begin to build those new pathways that change the way we think. If I compare where I was this time last year to where I am today, only God could change me in the way He has.”


Tracie Miles lives in Charlotte, NC and is a wife to her husband Michael of 25 years, and a mother to three children, ages 21, 18, and 15. Tracie is a member of the Proverbs 31 Speaker and Writer teams and enjoys speaking at women’s events around the country, as well as writing devotions for the Proverbs 31 Encouragement for Today daily devotions, which reach 700,000 women a day with God’s Word.

Key Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Featured Songs: Impossible – Building 429; Press On – Mandisa; Press On – Building 429

Principles for renewing your mind