It is important to remember that when we are saved, our minds are not instantly transformed. We had thought patterns that were of the world. We may have consequences to our sins that still affect us. Since all things are worked by God for our good, what is His good in consequences? I want to give you an example from my own life.

February 1977 I received a phone call early in the morning. The contents of that conversation triggered angry thoughts that were buried from my past. I took off walking at 6:15 AM. I walked a long way. Knowing how I was back then, I was probably negatively dialoguing. The snow had been melting the day before and I was walking in mud. I got bogged down. When I came to the 6′ ravine I stopped and looked down, wondering how I was going to do it. That is all I remembered for 3 1/2 years. I suffered a severe brain injury that stopped me in my tracks.

Note: no one made me angry. That was my choice. I sinned against God and the one I was angry toward. Since nothing is in vain, the Lord used my consequences as a vehicle for His goodness to shine through. I could not work for 6 1/2 years. Most of that time I was bedridden. The Lord used that time to woo me. He brought me into an intimate communion with Him that has not been rivaled to this day. Our communion is my life-strength.

Though I accepted Jesus as my Savior in 1958, many heart-lies remained in place and hidden until 1993. When I learned that not all of my thoughts are of my own origin, that opened doors for tremendous inner healing. Our Heart Surgeon is always at work. I asked the Holy Spirit to reveal the hidden lies. Then as each lie surfaced, I confessed it as sin, renounced it, and then affirmed His truth to replace it. You see, His purpose in our trials is to conform us to His image. Hidden sin keeps us from exemplifying Him.

Let me use Paul as an example. His was the most radical conversion I know. He wrote Romans 6:1-2 that says, “…Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!…” He also wrote Romans 7:20 to help his readers understand an important truth. It says, “Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” The end of verse 25 says, “…So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” As long as we are in this body we will battle fleshly thoughts.

Paul wrote another key for us. Ephesians 4:23 says, “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” Our minds are the battleground between our flesh and our spirit. If we believe one of satan’s lies, it will control our life and rule our thoughts. Truth from God’s word, is like flood waters that uproot massive trees. The truth exposes the long established root-lies by lifting them, roots and all, out of darkness into His light. We then can see them for what they are, confess them as sin, and gain victory!