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Revelation Within On the Go!
Revelation Within equips people with life-giving, grace-infused mind renewal tools to deepen their intimacy with Jesus so that counterfeit comforts (like overeating) lose their allure, and the joy and hope of Jesus fills their lives, satisfying their souls.
In our podcast we talk about mind renewal, tips and tricks for getting and staying free from counterfeit comforts like overeating (over-scrolling, over-drinking, over-anythinging...)
We began as Thin Within in 1975, a pioneer in intuitive, mindful eating back when diets were in their hey day! Thin Within has taught people how to tune in to their body's natural signals of hunger and satisfaction, remaining present with their meals and delighting in tastes and textures--and the Lord!
In the 1980s, Thin Within became a Christian ministry, showing people that the emptiness that they have felt and often filled with food that their bodies don't require, was really placed in there to be filled full with God through Jesus. He wants to set us free from all strongholds!
We rebranded our ministry and our podcast in 2023 to Revelation Within.
Join us!
Visit us in our RevWithin.Team community as well! (https://revwithin.team)
Find our listing of classes at https://www.revelationwithin.org
Revelation Within On the Go!
The Life-Giving Truth About Mind Renewal
Mind renewal was never meant to be complicated, exhausting, or just another spiritual checklist. Yet many believers have turned this life-giving practice into legalism, self-help, or an overwhelming to-do list, missing its true power. Instead of striving to earn God's favor through mental exercises, we are invited into something far greater—alignment with God's perspective, bringing peace rather than pressure.
True mind renewal refreshes the soul rather than depleting it. It’s about thinking God’s thoughts after Him, allowing His Word and Spirit to transform us. When we stop striving and simply receive the mind of Christ, we experience a gift, not a burden—a daily invitation into God’s presence that brings joy, contentment, and lasting change. Join us for this wonderfully freeing episode!
Learn more about our Revelation Within Community: https://www.revelationwithin.org
Hi and welcome to our podcast Revelation Within On the Go. I'm Heidi Bilesma-Epperson, one of your hosts and the owner and lead coach of the RevelationWithinorg ministry.
Speaker 2:And I'm Christina Motley, your other host, also a Revelation Within coach and Heidi's partner in all things Revelation Within. We're so happy to invite you to join us for this episode of Revelation Within On the Go.
Speaker 1:Today's episode is all about clearing the air on something that I think is tripping a lot of people up. Yes, mind renewal.
Speaker 2:Yes. What is the renewing of the?
Speaker 1:mind. What is it? We're going to talk about what it isn't and what it is, because, let's face it, we have all turned life giving things into burdens before, without even realizing it, and perhaps that is happening with our mind renewal. I know I have done this before, I must confess, especially as we began to develop more and more and more and more tools. I wanted to do them all every day and then it was like, okay, I'm going to start the morning off and I'm going to have this amazing mind renewal session with the Lord and I'm just going to be good to go the rest of the day. Oh, no, it's not working. I need to have another amazing mind renewal session in the middle of the day. That's just as long doing the other half of the tools that I haven't used yet. And no, okay, it's almost like we have this tendency to turn mind renewal into check boxes. Yes, like our Bible reading plans, like our praying, our you know our acts, prayer, you know adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication, mind renewal is on there too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's not freedom. And I see that that's not what Jesus has invited me into.
Speaker 2:Right. Well and I feel like we have a lot of people say this to us too I think I'm making this too complicated. You know, it's like I've made this kind of complicated, like it's rocket science or something, and I've got to, like, put it together and lay it all out and have it all ready. And no, you know what? No, not at all. Mind renewal is something that we can easily, beautifully, kind of organically, weave into our day every single day. It's not rocket science at all.
Speaker 1:It's just as simple as just thinking God's thoughts about things. I can just say what are your thoughts about that?
Speaker 2:What are your thoughts?
Speaker 1:about this moment. What could I do in this moment to think like you, jesus, anyway, we're getting ahead of ourselves. So let's start off with what my renewal is not Okay, because sometimes you know, when we're stuck or burnt out, it's not necessarily that we failed, it's that we've misunderstood the assignment.
Speaker 2:Okay, so let's start with a really strong one. Mind renewal is not about legalism, amen to that.
Speaker 1:It's not a rule.
Speaker 2:It's not a law, it's not something you're obligated to follow to stay in God's favor. No way, that's absolutely not what mind renewal is.
Speaker 1:No, and it's not earning your way to peace with God. It's not like I'm going to show God just how sincere I am by all these mind renewal practices. No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Speaker 2:Also, mind renewal is not about spiritual perfectionism, trying to be perfect in your spiritual practices somehow. That's not what it's about at all. If mind renewal feels like a checkbox to keep God happy with you, if that's how it's feeling for you right now, then you've missed the heart of it, because God already delights in you. No matter what you do, no matter what you don't do, god delights over you. He's singing over you.
Speaker 2:And the singing is loud. The Bible says I mean the way he sees you is a done deal. Your identity in Christ is done. It's not going to change, right.
Speaker 1:So that's not what this is about at all, which is another thing that mind renewal is not and this is different than anything that the world has to offer. It is not flesh fueled behavior change or modification or whatever you want to call it. It isn't, it's not just positive thinking.
Speaker 1:We can't positive think our way into the kind of change God does, because remember Romans 12, two tells us that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. So you can't just generate that kind of transformation. It's got to be done by God and it's in response to the renewing of the mind that he calls us to do.
Speaker 2:Right. Mind renewal is also not sin management or behavior control. You know I'm going to come up with this plan and I'm going to manage my sins somehow. I'm going to control my behavior. Notice I'm saying I, I, I, I. That's not about God's amazing transformation in us. This isn't about behavior control. It's not Right.
Speaker 1:All right. Another thing that it is not, and this feeds that flesh fueled thing. It's not pushing yourself harder to get it right. It's like okay, I just need to get out a thicker journal with a more favorite pen. I got to get more books to help me. Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, yes.
Speaker 2:That is so true. Or I should talk to this really, really spiritual person. And then you know, or maybe if I climb this mountain and sit at the top and I mean there's, we do that, don't we? We come up with all these things that are going to fix it. So trying to renew your mind in your own strength will wear you out.
Speaker 1:It will, it will.
Speaker 2:It will. It'll wear you out, it'll exhaust you and drain you. This isn't a self-help project. It's a spirit-powered transformation.
Speaker 1:As in Holy Spirit-powered transformation. Holy Spirit Exactly.
Speaker 2:And I just Heidi, and I both, heidi, I know that you love this we love, love, love to hear the stories that people come to us and tell us about that transformation, about how mind renewal is transforming you know how God is doing that work. We love to hear the stories, and it's not the same for everybody, I mean.
Speaker 1:I love it. Yes, me too. All right. So another thing that mind renewal is not oh, it's. Please, please, please, don't let it be this for you, it's not just another to do on your list. It's not another item on your already busy spiritual checklist going to church, going to this meeting, going to that Bible study, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. It is not another item on your to-do list, it is not.
Speaker 2:Mind renewal is also not a ritual to prove your commitment. Wow, it's not. It's not a ritual. It has nothing to do with that. It is something very beautiful and life-giving. It's about relationship.
Speaker 1:Yes, and it's also not a punishment, like I blew it, so now I better renew my mind. Yeah, yes, you can renew your mind about your failure, but it's not a punishment. God is going to redeem the mess up. So, and we have an episode about look and learn. You'll want to catch that one, it's not a punishment or consequence for failing, whether it was in the past 10 years ago or in the past five minutes ago. When it becomes one more thing you should do and you're shitting on yourself all the time to be a good Christian, then you've lost the life-giving aspect to it.
Speaker 1:Jesus never said come to me all who are weary, and I'll give you a longer list, that's hilarious, really.
Speaker 2:Okay Also, number four mind renewal is not life depleting. It's not something that leaves you feeling worse than when you started. It's actually the opposite. When I renew my mind, I feel refreshed, I feel equipped, I feel ready for the next thing in my day. I feel rested, my heart is turned toward the Lord, my eyes are fixed on him, the burdens are off of my shoulders.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, it feels so good and I always think to myself why didn't I do that sooner in my day? Exactly Right, it's life giving. It will give you life and refreshment Right.
Speaker 1:There is nothing about mind renewal that is life depleting. It's not heavy, it's not shame based, it's not fueled by comparison. It is all about finding rest and refreshment in the Lord.
Speaker 2:And it's not an intellectual exercise with no heart connection. It's not Now. I have to say that sometimes, when people first start renewing their mind, they might say you know what? I don't really believe this about myself yet, or I don't really know about this yet, I haven't experienced this, and that's okay. You just say the words that are true. We're looking at big T truth, that means God's truth, his perspective, it's in his word or it lines up with his word, and so it's not about a feeling, it's not about well, I'm not feeling connected with God. Sometimes he's very quiet, but he's always there, and so it's not an intellectual exercise with no heart connection. It actually brings our knowledge of God and our thoughts of God. It brings them from our head to our hearts.
Speaker 1:Amen, exactly, exactly. If your mind renewal practice makes you feel more condemned than comforted, it's time to let that version of mind renewal go.
Speaker 2:That's not, that's not mind renewal right. No feeling that way.
Speaker 1:And the fifth thing that we're just going to highlight today that mind renewal is not is comes as a surprise to many people, but it's not. More Bible study, more prayer time, more journal time, more going to church and all of that. It's really not, and sometimes it's not even the Bible study we're doing right now. Sometimes that's not even mind renewal. And why is that, though? Why is Bible study not the same as mind renewal, necessarily?
Speaker 2:Yeah, Well, a lot of times, as we just, you know, we've been talking about, sometimes those kinds of things become like intellectual exercises, right Like ritual in the blank. It's like, okay, oh, I haven't had my quiet time today, well, you know, I'll squeeze it in later. It's like it becomes something I haven't had my quiet time today, well, I'll squeeze it in later. It's like it becomes something you check off on your list. It's not about relationship. It's like I'm doing my thing over here, I'm filling in these blanks and I'm not really interacting at a level with the Lord that's going to make any difference in my life at all.
Speaker 2:Now, that's not true all the time. Bible study is wonderful, and we've had, you know, and I have done this too where I'll use a study, or I'll use a devotion and I'll write a truth list from it, or I'll invite God in to show me what are you saying to me in this, or maybe it's a song that he's speaking to me through, and I know this happens to you all the time, heidi, and so it can be, but oftentimes we get frustrated because it's like I did 45 days in a row of devotions and Bible study in the morning for an hour, and I'm feeling the same as I was before. Oh well, that's not true.
Speaker 1:That's a really good indication that it wasn't mine, or no.
Speaker 2:Think of it as, yeah, a relationship that's really what it's about is a relationship with the Lord.
Speaker 1:It's inviting God to show me what his thoughts are about. Yes, and when I hear what his thoughts are about things, I allow him to see that I'm willing to think his thoughts instead of mine. Yes, I don't know. To me that maybe simplifies it too much, but I think it's good for me. All right. So let's talk about what mind renewal is. We've cleared the junk off the table. Let's talk about what mind renewal really is, the kind that breathes life into your spirit, and soul and draws you close to the God of this universe.
Speaker 1:I just love imagining that.
Speaker 2:And it's true, it is, it's true, and this is so amazing and wonderful and Heidi and I have been doing it now for years and loving it, oh, loving it so much. Okay, the first one what is mind renewal? It's life-giving. It invites you into God's rest. Not striving, striving, striving. No, it brings you into resting in him.
Speaker 1:That's amazing, yes, and it fills you up instead of draining you.
Speaker 2:I love that it fills you up it does, and then real mind renewal that we're talking about here produces peace and freedom. So when I'm asking God what are your thoughts about my daughter and this situation we're in, or what are your thoughts about food and eating, what are your thoughts about anything that's going on in my life, or any person, any person, anything God's response to me is actually what brings me true peace and freedom. I'm thinking his thoughts about those things.
Speaker 1:whatever is weighing on me in my life, or whatever I'm celebrating, so we know that Romans 12 says be transformed by the renewing of your mind. We have to recognize that transformation doesn't happen by forcing it to happen.
Speaker 1:It happens simply by being with Jesus and letting him change the way we think. I'm just going to say, lord, what are your thoughts? I want to know your thoughts, I want to think your thoughts. I want to use the mind of Christ. So the second thing that mind renewal does and is is it builds intimacy with God. It's a place to encounter his love, not just read about it. I'm not just reading about it anymore. I used to read about 10 different devotionals every morning. I was trying to generate feelings that I wanted to have and okay, well, maybe this one will do it. Okay, maybe this one, wow, wow, I had an addiction going. I think All right. So it's a beautiful thing when we can actually step into his love and stay there and not just read about it from all these different authors' perspectives.
Speaker 2:Yes Also, mind renewal is a rhythm of relationship. It's not performance.
Speaker 1:Hallelujah.
Speaker 2:So I love thinking about that. I love using the word rhythm because it makes me think of music and the notes and the harmonies and the way the voices go together. Think about the best relationship or one of the best that you've ever had. Maybe it's a best friend. Think about how, in that relationship, there was a rhythm of communication. It wasn't all you, it wasn't all the other person, and so having a conversation with the Lord all day long, little bits of talking with him, sharing with him, and then listening. What are your thoughts?
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, what are your thoughts?
Speaker 2:Yes, and that is where this intimacy is developed. More and more we trust him because we see that his responses are for us, they're good, they're life-giving and his wisdom is loving and full of compassion and really, the more we go to him, the more we want to go to him, because it changes our day, it changes the way we think, it changes our responses to other people, it changes our decisions. It's like, oh, I want more of that, I want more it feels so good, yes, it does.
Speaker 1:One of the things I love about Mind Renewal and the intimacy it builds with God is I have a safe space guaranteed where I can hear his voice and I can receive his truth. There is nothing there that isn't safe and loving and true. Ah, I love that. It's in those quiet, sometimes raw moments, really raw, crying out to him or journaling, honestly, even replacing lies with truth, and he meets us deeply in that.
Speaker 2:Yes, he's there.
Speaker 1:He wants to be a part of that. Oh my goodness, I think it thrills his heart and causes him to smile. I think he loves that.
Speaker 2:I think he does too. I think he really does. Okay, mind renewal number three. It enables you to experience the best God has for you. Yes, oh, I love this. You know what Life is hard, life is messy, life is difficult, but as we spend time during the day renewing our minds, we're really experiencing God's best, even in the midst of difficult life, even the midst of monotonous life, whatever it is that's challenging you. By renewing our mind, we're actually aligning our thoughts with God's reality, not the enemy's reality, not the world's reality, not your sister-in-law's reality. Aligning your thoughts with God's reality brings freedom and peace.
Speaker 1:Amen to that. I love that. Well, and here's the cool thing you know, god's word has taught for ages and ages I mean even in the Old Testament, lamentations 3, where Jeremiah renews his mind. The psalmist renews his mind in Psalm 42. Another thing about this is it rewires patterns of shame, fear and lies in our minds. Our brains are what they call neuroplastic, and that means we are not stuck thinking the same way, in the same old patterns, with shame and fear and lies ruling our lives. Instead, god's best becomes our reality as we think his thoughts. We're going to begin to see our lives conform more and more to his thoughts and rewire our brains. It's such a cool fact.
Speaker 2:It is, and it's so hopeful because it's like, yes, I can change and no, I'm not stuck, Because this is the truth. Mind renewal also then opens the door to joy. Contentment also then opens the door to joy, contentment, even clarity of thought. You know, when we are thinking God's thoughts about who he is, about what he does for people, about who we are because of him, I mean, wow, you know, that brings a lot of joy and contentment to a difficult situation that we're dealing with here right now. So I love that and it's so true. Philippians 4.8,. Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is lovely, excellent, praiseworthy, all of that good stuff.
Speaker 2:All of those things God says. Think about these things. Think about what is good, think about what is praiseworthy and true and noble. Think on what I'm thinking about and this is his wisdom for us, so that we can walk through life with joy and contentment.
Speaker 1:That's awesome. Another aspect of renewing our minds that is going to show you if it's the true thing is you'll be refreshed. It's not a burden but a reprieve from the chaos of the world. So mind renewal is refreshing.
Speaker 2:You know it feels like cool water on a thirsty soul. You know it feels like cool water on a thirsty soul. It does. It feels like it's not like self-care, it's soul care. Right, it's better than getting your nails done. That's right. It really is Not that there's anything wrong with that. But that's so quick and fleeting, like it doesn't, it doesn't last. But when we feed our souls with God's thoughts, with God's word, with his truth, it lasts and it feels so good it fills us, it refreshes us.
Speaker 1:Yes, when you have been having a time of mind renewal whether it's one minute, five minutes, an hour, whatever you will leave better than you came to that time. It's kind of like you know the feeling when you get up from prayer or scripture and and just breathe again. It's almost like you get this whole new perspective on life. That is what it's meant to be. It may not be that way every time, but often enough to know it is making a difference. I am being transformed. It is real.
Speaker 2:Hmm, wow, fantastic, I love it.
Speaker 1:The fifth aspect, to mind renewal, true renewing of our minds that transforms, because God jumps in with us is going to definitely be thinking God's thoughts after him, and we've mentioned that all the way through. Yes, we want to know the mind of Christ. First, corinthians 2, 16 says we have been given the mind of Christ. I want to think with that mind. That's what mind helps me to do. I practice thinking with the mind of Christ during my intentional mind renewal times so that when I am out there in the world doing whatever I have to do with my life whether it's a ministry based thing or something else, it's a secular thing I know the mind of Christ and I know how to think with the mind of Christ and invite them to help me think the mind of Christ in that situation.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So the two, the really the two ways that we hear from God is from his word. Opening up the Bible, you're reading his word, engaging with his word. Maybe it's even just one verse, it might be just a tiny bit, or it might be a whole passage, but God is speaking through his word, which is active and alive. And then, of course, the most mind-blowing way, at least I think, that God speaks to us is through his Holy Spirit, who lives within us, and it's not usually an audible voice, but it's God's thoughts coming into our minds, coming into our heart and soul. Basically, he is speaking to us all the time.
Speaker 1:So if you've been caught in a counterfeit version of mind renewal and I don't know if you have been or not, chances are you're like me, like Christina, we've all been there at some time. If you've pursued a practice of mind renewal, you might get caught in legalism, self-effort, shame. Well, we want you to hear this. You can lay all of that down. Mind renewal is not something you're going to master. It's a gift. It's a gift you receive. Yes, yes, it's a gift. It's a daily invitation to come back again and again, and maybe not just once a day. No, no, no, it's got to be more than that. But to come back to the truth of who God is and who he says you are, and the things that he has to say about what you're facing. Oh, it's such a gift and we hope that you will love doing it.
Speaker 2:We are so glad that you've been here today and we hope that you will join us for our next episode of Revelation Within On the.
Speaker 1:Go See you next time. Bye.
