“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” -Romans 12:2
Best-selling author Patsy Clairmont provides us with witty, humorous and wise concepts from her book You Are More Than You Know. She shares helpful advice on the importance of filtering through our thought lives by the renewal of our minds.
Patsy explains a helpful tactic she uses to renew her mind and track her thinking patterns.
“I kind of pin-point where my brain is…sometimes I know by my action I’m in trouble, sometimes I know by my words I’m in trouble, but when I can catch it at the thought level that’s the best place – to nip it in the bud so to speak.
We need to take responsibility for our thoughts, especially if they lead into actions that affect our loved ones. Patsy encourages all to apologize when necessary, as difficult as it may be at times.
“Sometimes I will over react with my husband and then afterwards I will think, ‘Oh my goodness, that was totally drama Mrs. Clairmont, you need to go take responsibility for that!’ I have to go in and say, ‘I was wrong. I shouldn’t have spoken that way I’m so sorry, I hope you’ll forgive me.’
Saying ‘I’m sorry’ isn’t always an easy thing to do, but there is great reward in doing the right thing.
“Those are very hard words for me! I get flu like symptoms when I have to say, ‘I was wrong’ and ‘I’m sorry.’ So I have to really work on myself because my pride is bigger than it needs to be but the only way you break down pride is through facing what it is you’ve done that has been inappropriate or unkind. Once I’ve spoken the words, even though they may come out in a shaky whisper, once I’ve done that I feel better about myself. It clears the air between my husband and I; allowing us to have a far more healthy relationship.”
We need to take all of our thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ.
“I think it’s finding the thoughts inside of you and refusing to think on them. Then you have to take a step farther; you have to not only refuse the thought, but you have to replace it with things like in Philippians 4:8, that are good and true, and pure, and just, and lovely and of good report -to think on those things.”
Patsy reminds us that we have to deliberately refuse our negative thoughts and replace them on a regular basis.
“Even when I deliberately think on the good, after a few minutes that old thought tries to sneak back in to see if I’m available and I have to refuse it again. Refusing and replacing, refusing and replacing, it is a pattern that helps me to not give in to thoughts that only produces discord.”
