Reboot Your Brain

Our favorite duo knew the photograph was key to solving the murder investigation, but the pieces weren’t fitting together. 

“What are we missing in this photo?” They knew the victim had been killed and the photo stolen to protect the murderer’s identity. But the person in the photo wasn’t the killer as they first assumed. “Then why,” they asked, “is this photo so important?” 

It turned out it was not the subject of the photo that incriminated the killer. Instead, it was an incriminating location, which in turn, revealed the murderer. It wasn’t until they got a new perspective on the evidence that they were able to solve the case. They had to reboot their brains to change their mindset. 

That’s exactly what we need in order to identify the killer in our midst. We ask, “Why do I keep doing the things I don’t want to do? The things that bring me heartache and trouble, and ruin my relationships.” We’re trying to solve this mystery from the wrong perspective. We tend to focus on the behavior in the foreground of our lives, assuming it’s the guilty party for our misery. All the while the clue to the cause of death is the incriminating location—death begins in our mindset. 

Romans 8:5-6 explains, “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”

It’s not that we mean to bring death on ourselves; it’s the natural result of our sin nature. But when we give ourselves over to the leadership of God’s Spirit, He gives us a new mind—one filled with life and peace. 

The sinful nature sees the thorns; the Spirit reveals the flowers. The sinful nature complains about the steepness of the climb; the Spirit-filled mind rejoices in the view from the top. The sinful nature whines about discomfort, trials, pain, rejection; the mind controlled by the Spirit anticipates the eternal rewards of living in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.

I’ve been memorizing these verses because I need to internalize this concept and reboot my mind daily. If the choice is death on one side, and life and peace on the other, I’m going to choose Door Number Two—Life and Peace!

How do we do that? Here’s a tool that helps me tremendously. When I realize I’m focusing on problems and killing myself with negative, defeating thoughts, I use Philippians 4:8 as a template. These questions give me a new focus and reboot my mind according to God’s Holy Spirit:

What is the truth about God, me, or this situation?

What or who do I see that is noble (honorable, decent, worthy)?

What is right according to God’s Word?

What is pure (untainted, wholesome, clean) in this?

Who or what is speaking or acting in lovely or admirable ways?

What can I praise God for that is excellent or praiseworthy?

This solves the mystery. And if we consistently put this into practice, the God of peace will be with us, and fill us with life and peace.

#thinkpositive #murdermystery #getanewmind #lifeandpeace #rom8:5-6 #phil4:8