For any instrument to be played, it has to be tuned correctly. When a musical instrument is tuned, it can be played and provides beautiful music. But when it is not tuned correctly, the sounds can be awful and disharmonious. When this happens, it is very hard to listen to music and enjoy it.
Ephesians 2:2 holds a mighty truth for us: “…in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience…” Just like an instrument that is tuned in the right way, so this world is tuned to Satan in the wrong way. It is tuned to his influence, his deceptions, his moods and destructive habits and creations! Notice that it says that we all once walked according to the paths of this world. We all have receptors that are still there; they still are tuned to the god of this world.
In Romans 6:6-23, we should note that the “old person” should be buried in that watery grave that was our baptism—in essence, washing away the old person tuned to Satan and his ways which lead to death, and instead being tuned to Christ, the Son of God, and God the Father. This though is not just a one-time event.
Our task is to continually tune ourselves to God so that we are in alignment with what is good and proper. This is a constant requirement, and there are so MANY things to distract us, to make us slip off the path and lose our way. And that changes from person to person. Those qualities that make us up individually are what makes us unique and special in God’s eyes. But it can also be the character traits that Satan uses to trip us up and cause us to retune to his ways.
So how do we make progress in this regard? How do we make not just slight progress but rather great progress?
Romans 12:2 tells us: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” The mind defines and manifests who we really are. Our behavior will follow what we think, what we allow to sit and fester! If we are constantly renewing our mind in Christ, we will indeed start to change. 2 Corinthians 10:5 states that we must be “.. bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” We are ALL guilty of not doing this at times. But imagine if we were able to do this with more and more strength and accuracy.
We all have so many thoughts throughout the day. What if instead of harboring self-deprecating thoughts or thoughts of anger, we took those moments and transferred them to God instead and asked Him to help us to think, react or feel differently? When we experience difficult challenges, we can react to them and think ourselves into despair every time. Or we can look forward to the next opportunity and ask what have we learned from this failure. Is our first thought, I’ll never do anything right? We don’t have to get trapped by these types of disabling thoughts. We are capable of getting out of our shame, despair, hopelessness, and anger—by taking control of our thoughts and by re-tuning ourselves back to God.
This means, choosing to focus our thoughts on the right things. We are to think about those things that are true, noble, right, just, pure, lovely, admirable or of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy (compare Philippians 4:8). When we think in this way, God promises to give us His pease. What a contrast that is to the thought pattern of millions of people today who are all tuned to Satan’s ways. It takes personal discipline and commitment to be different.
While it is possible, it is not easy to retrain our thoughts or to respond in new Christ-like ways. But when we realize and embrace the fact that God empowers us to focus our mind on the right things, it will become easier. As we continue to develop new frames of reference, based on what is true, noble, right, just, pure, lovely, admirable or of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy, we will keep ourselves in tune with God, and we will be able to overcome anything that is standing in our way!
