Leavened in The Mind

Good Morning, Novelist Crew!

This week’s post comes from a personal and ongoing battle that we all face—the mind. But it goes beyond just our thoughts; it involves our environment and personal influences as well.

Recently, I found myself struggling with my emotions—angry, frustrated with life, and more on edge than usual. After one of these moments, I sat down and talked with God. I was led to Galatians 5:9: "A little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough."

The author of this passage, Paul, was addressing the church in Galatia, warning them against being led astray by those who sought to impose religious legalism. His message was clear: even a small problem can have a widespread effect.

Have you ever heard the saying, "One bad apple spoils the bunch"?

This is exactly what Paul was talking about, and we can apply this principle to every area of life!

A little bit of:

• Discouragement
• Anger
• Disobedience
• Pride
• Negative thinking

Spoils:

• Faith
• Forgiveness
• Intimacy with God
• God’s favor
• Self-esteem

Many of us—including myself—have allowed negative influences to leaven our minds, poisoning our faith. A little can lead to a lot.

I was also led to this powerful passage:

"Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God." —Romans 8:5-8

Many of us have minds that have been "leavened" with hostility toward God because we are trapped in a fleshly mindset. As this verse states, we must allow our minds to be governed by the Spirit in order to truly please God.

Let’s renew our minds with the help of the Holy Spirit. Rebuke negative thoughts and speak truth over our lives. Be comforted in the pain, for perseverance will produce patience endurance, spiritual maturity, and renewed mind. 

See y'all next week!