You may ask, how do I renew my mind? That is simple:

1. Associate With Smarter Brains

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17

I have always believed that the essence of association is to add to one another, to help sharpen each other’s minds and ultimately improve lives.

One of the secrets of great people is that they have thinking companions. When Daniel was confronted with an issue, he went to his house and discussed with his companions and they began to find solutions to the problem together. (Daniel 2:17-18).

Jesus enhanced His position in Luke 2:46-48, by sitting among doctors and lawyers, both hearing and asking them questions. He enhanced His mental performance and by the time He added what He got from them to what He already had, they were all amazed at His doctrine and is wisdom. He sat with teachers and entrine a teacher of teachers. Where you sit determines how you will rise.

What you say is a function of where you sit. I sit with wise men that is why I speak wisdom. You only need to hear a man speak for five minutes and you will know the kind of company he keeps. One of the traits of great people is that they do not speak as much, they listen more than they speak. Foolish people are the ones who talk too much. The Bible says that:

“A fool uttereth all his mind; but a wise man keepeth it till afterwards.” Proverbs 29:11

A wise man waits for a strategic moment to speak. So, learn like Christ did to be more of a listener than a talker. Have business or professional thinking companions. If you must employ staff, get people who will not only labour but also contribute mentally to what you are doing. Don’t manage unqualified staff just because you do not want to pay the salary for more qualified manpower. Give your business a touch of standard and make room for expansion.

When Solomon was to build the temple, in I Kings 7:13 he went and fetched Hiram, a specialist in that area. Every wise person always employs people who are smarter than him. I am a pastor, and whenever I have to deal with legal matters, I look for smart, current and reputable lawyers who can handle the job adequately and intelligently. When I need professional advice in areas outside my calling, I listen to people with brains and I take my paper to write as they speak.

Nobody has monopoly of knowledge. You are not an all-wise man, only God is all-wise.

The reason many people don’t want to associate with people smarter than them is the fear of being overshadowed, but such fear is unfounded. There is something you can pick from every body and at the end of the day you become wiser than them all. That is why the Bible says that “in the midst of counsellors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11: 14).

Henry Ford, the manufacturer of Ford motors had three fundamental problems. He was very poor, illiterate and ignorant, but he associated himself with great men like Thomas Edison. He did not have formal education, but he had three companions through whom he sharpened his mind and before he died he became one of the greatest names in the field of automobile production. His name is living till now.

Associate with people, who will show you better ways you can execute your proposals for maximum profit and results.

You also sharpen your mind with smarter brains by media i.e. by reading books and listening to audio and video teachings. When you read and acquire adequate and relevant information your mind is sharpened for better creativity. For instance, I stepped into miracle ministry through information. 

When I read the books of some great men who had been in it, I saw that I also could do it. My inner man was sharpened and awakened. I stepped into the realm that was beyond my natural abilities, through association. Remember, 

“He that walks with the wise shall be wise but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Proverbs 13:20

2. Development

The mind is a gift and every gift from God must be developed for it to produce maximally. Any gift you do not celebrate will soon disappear unless you develop it. Nothing increases without development. If I go about telling people that I am anointed to preach, without developing that gift, I will never make much impact as a preacher. Development is the life wire of any gift.

Even languages have to be developed through constant usage and practice otherwise they will be lost.

Solomon was gifted with the wisdom of God but he sas not a lazy man. He developed himself till he became the wisest man on the earth. He took time to study the ants, spiders and other animals just to learn lessons that can be used to improve human living. (Ecclesiastes 1:13, 17).

It is understanding that makes a man outstanding in life, but quality mental development determines your level of understanding. Paul, writing in Hebrews 5:11-13 said:

“…We have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your [spiritual] hearing and sluggish, even slothful [in achieving spiritual insight]. For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles of God’s Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food. For every one who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness, [that is, of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought and action,] for he is a mere infant not able to talk yet!” (Amplified)

Your mind has a part to play in the delivery of God’s blessings into your hand and if you don’t develop it, you may be deprived of many things that are rightfully yours in the covenant. In the wake of the evangelical move in our nation, the mind was suppressed so much that many new converts were known for behaving foolishly and as such some became frustrated and backslid from the faith.

We live in a fast changing and developing world and the only language our world understands today, is the language of the mind. As such, only people who have put their minds to productive use are respected in the society. Mental development is the surest way to both personal and social advancement, since it guarantees increased productivity….

This text is an extract from the book “RELEASING THE CREATIVE POWER OF THE MIND” written by David O. Oyedepo. 
We invite you to read the following article “Enhancing Your Steps To Mental Development“.

RENEWING YOUR MIND. RENEWING YOUR MIND. RENEWING YOUR MIND.

RENEWING YOUR MIND. RENEWING YOUR MIND.