In the walk of faith, one of the most significant points of confusion for many believers is the persistence of old habits and thoughts after they have given their lives to Christ. Some people assume that because we are “new creatures,” our minds should automatically be purged of every negative inclination. But as My Man of God, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc, DSc, DD, has profoundly taught, there is a vital distinction between the recreation of the spirit and the renewal of the mind.
If you do not understand this distinction, you will live a life of frustration, constantly doubting your salvation because of the dirty thoughts or old tempers that still surface in your mental space. To move from a life of struggle to a life of victory, you must understand the blueprint for spiritual transformation: First the spirit, and then the mind.
The Reality of the New Birth: A Recreated Spirit
As My Man of God, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc, DSc, DD, explains, when you were born again, it was not your body that was born again, and it was not your mind that was born again; it was your spirit. Your spirit is the part of you that was made brand new, created in righteousness and true holiness.
However, many Christians fall into a Mental Trap. They feel a supernatural shift in their spirit the moment they are saved, but three weeks later, they find themselves thinking the same wrong thoughts or feeling the same old urges they used to have. Because they do not understand that the mind remained the same, they allow the devil to convince them that they are not truly Christians. And then they give up on going to church and give up on God because they are waiting for a mental change that has not been worked for.
The Man of God, Pastor Chris makes it clear: Your spirit is perfect, but your mind is still the old you until you take the responsibility to change it.
The Mandate: Renewing the Mind – Romans 12:2
Because the mind is not automatically born again, the Bible gives us a specific instruction on how to handle it. Romans 12:2 says:
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2
This is the bridge between your recreated spirit and your physical experience. The transformation does not happen by trying harder; it happens by renewing the mind. The word “renew” implies a restoration, taking the old, worldly thought patterns and replacing them with the Word of God. Without this renewal, you will have a born-again spirit trapped in an unbelieving and unrenewed mind, leading to a life of spiritual stagnation.
With all the noise, negativity, and distraction, today’s call to guard our thoughts is very obvious and idealistic, and the Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 4:8 are not just a poetic encouragement; they are a battle cry for mental and spiritual renewal. He writes:
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. – Philippians 4:8
This verse is not a passive suggestion; it is a deliberate command to train our minds to dwell on what reflects the heart of God. Your thoughts shape your character, your actions, and ultimately, your destiny; what you entertain in your inner world eventually spills and reflects on the outer one.
So to have a beautiful life, we must start with a beautiful mind, not by worldly online and the ungodly trending standards, but by a soul that is aligned with truth, purity, and divine goodness. And so in today’s article I want us to talk about what it means to cultivate such a mind: Not just to avoid toxic thinking, but to intentionally plant thoughts that are lovely, noble, and life-giving.
The Tools for Transformation: Joshua 1:8 and James 1:25
How do we actually perform this renewal? Again, My Man of God, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc, DSc, DD, always points us back to the power of meditation and the Word.
Where Joshua 1:8 provides the master key:
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Joshua 1:8
Meditation is more than just reading; it is muttering, pondering, and letting the Word soak into your consciousness until it replaces the old data in your brain. This is how you take authority over those old dirty and unrighteous thoughts.
Plus, James 1:25 tells us that we must be “doers” and not just “hearers”:
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
James 1:25
The Word is a Perfect Law of Liberty. When you look into it consistently, it frees your mind from the old Irish saying, “First the man takes the drink, then the drink takes the man.” The mind can be an addict to old habits, but the Word of God is the only force capable of breaking that addiction and establishing a new mental and divine authority.
The Necessity of Study: 2 Timothy 2:15
You can not renew your mind with what you do not know, and this is why My Man of God, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc, DSc, DD, is such a dedicated life coach to me and so many million others, he pushes us to be students of the Word as 2 Timothy 2:15 commands:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
Renewing the mind is a “work.” It is the diligent effort of a “workman” who refuses to be ashamed by old thought patterns. If you do not study, you will have no “ammunition” to fight the arguments that the devil raises in your mind.
When those old thoughts say, “Go and fight him,” “Take that and keep it for yourself, there is more than enough, nobody will notice a couple missing” or “You are not a true Christian,” your renewed mind must be able to answer with the Word of God. You do not argue with feelings; you override them with the Truth of God’s Word, Romans 3:4.
Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”
Romans 3:4 NIV
Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, “You will be proved right in what you say, and you will win your case in court.”
Romans 3:4 NLT
By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”
Romans 3:4 ESV
Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”
Romans 3:4 BSB
Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.”
Romans 3:4 NKJV
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Conclusion
The Man of God, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc, DSc, DD, in that sermon,humorously mentions the difference between being just a “Christian” and being a “Christian Christian,” someone who is serious and consistent. The difference between the two is the state of the mind.
One person is born again but still thinks like the world, leading to a life of confusion and surrender. The other is born again and has taken the time to renew their mind, leading to “good success” and “prosperity” in every area of life.
Do not be discouraged if old thoughts still come back to your mind; it is not a sign that you are not saved; it is a sign that your mind needs more of the Word. Follow the instructions of God’s Word: Study the scriptures! Meditate day and night and refuse to conform to the patterns of this world.
Your spirit is recreated. Now, give your mind the same attention! Walk in wisdom! Be filled with the Spirit! And let the Word of God transform you into the masterpiece He created you to be!
