”You
were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self,
which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the
attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in
true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV)
I read about a plastic surgeon, Dr. Maxwell
Maltz, who ended his practice as a plastic surgeon and transferred his practice
to psychological counseling, because he sensed that nothing was gained by
simply changing a person’s exterior if the inner being was not being
transformed. The complex remained behind a beautified exterior.
Dr. Maltz
demonstrated in his scientific research that it is necessary to repeat new
thoughts within oneself for twenty one days if one expects there to be any
lasting changes in the image one has of oneself.
We often think
that the holiness God promises will be demonstrated suddenly in our lives; one
day worldly – the next day holy. But to be holy requires a process of a
lifetime. It requires battle to rid oneself of the old person and to clothe
oneself in the new. It is a conscious effort in changing ones way of thinking,
from thinking destructively and simply following one’s desires to thinking
God’s pure thoughts. And to do so we must, as Dr. Maltz demonstrated, repeat
the thoughts in order that they become a new and positive habit.
Prayer
Jesus, let this day be a day when I think
Your thoughts over and over again.
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