Grass In My Garden
Like a big ol’ bear crawling from its den in Spring, I emerged from my home and into the first day warm enough to work in my garden.
First thing I did was visit our hoop house to see the carrots, kale, and Swiss chard that I had covered with straw last October, were all alive and thriving! But there was something else growing with them…grass.
Did you know straw is technically grass? I didn’t. Apparently, the straw still contained seeds. I now have grass growing in my beds.
As I removed the straw and blades of grass, I was reminded the same thing can happen in our relationships with others. There is one specific element when introduced into any relationship, will take root and damage it. That element is mental sin.
There are three types of sin - mental, verbal, and overt. The reason mental sins are so damaging is because they are the foundation of the other two. Mental sins, if left unchecked like my garden beds, will lead to verbal sins (yelling, name calling, gossip) and those in turn lead to overt sins (physical action).
This is why scripture focuses on transforming our mind…to eliminate mental sins, for without them, there will be no verbal or overt sins. Just like the grass that if not removed from my garden will take over, so will verbal and overt sins take over if our mental sins are not overcome.
So, what are mental sins? Those are sins of anger, bitterness, envy, jealousy, vindictiveness, implacability, judging/criticizing. That’s a big order to deal with, especially when you consider how easily they can be activated in relationships with those we are close to, those we love.
Romans 12:2 says to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. This renewing is what overcomes those mental sins and can only be achieved through the consistent application of God’s principles to our life. Notice I didn’t say study God’s Word. Studying God’s Word is the first step but means nothing if we don’t apply what we learned to our life.
And speaking of steps - this is the ONLY way to a renewed mind. You can pray all you want for God to remove jealousy, but without the transforming power of God’s Word filling your soul, and applying those principles, the Holy Spirit has nothing to work with to heal your mind.
If you pray for God to remove a mental sin, He will continually redirect you to His Word for in it is the power that transforms. As we positively fill our soul with God’s principles, only then does the Holy Spirit give us the power to overcome it.
There is no short cut.
Mental sin is toxic to our relationships with both people and God. But God’s Word transforms. We need only apply it.
Next week I’ll share the deeper issues found in mental sins and how surrender plays into transforming our minds. Until then, be brave and pray for God to reveal any mental sins you may have that need to be removed before they take root!
Cheers to a renewed mind!
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is ~ his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
