Change is hard, but lasting change is harder! You know what I mean if you’ve ever dieted. We all have an internal battle where our minds and hearts are at odds (Romans 7:15–24). If we give in and allow our bodies to win, we’re in a worse state than we were before (2 Peter 2:20). We need to understand that lasting spiritual change is possible, if we’re willing to work for it. By way of illustration, this morning we’re going to look at The Elephant and The Rider

elephant and rider

  • The Rider – Your Mind
    • Rational, Deliberates, Analyzes, Looks Ahead
    • Views sin as sin and understands that it’s not permanent
  • The Elephant – Your Heart (Body)
    • Emotional, Instinctive, Feels Pain and Pleasure
    • Views the pleasure and comfort that can come in this life from sin

When your mind and body are at odds, you have trouble getting out of bed, and need an alarm clock; though you know you need to get up, you just don’t want to. You have great difficulty controlling the tongue – “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.” (James 3:2). For example, Paul dealt with a number of insubordinate people in the first century, and said about them, “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” (Titus 1:16) This morning we’re going to talk about how to make lasting change by directing our minds, motivating our hearts, and shaping the environment we live in.

DIRECT THE RIDER

FOCUS ON THE DESTINATION

  • Secular Example: Siri is notoriously bad at getting you to your destination.
  • Biblical Example: Focusing on heaven with hope will help us put off the old man and embrace the new. “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2)
  • Are you striving for an earthly or heavenly goal? Choose your road carefully, narrow or wide?
  • Seek the kingdom first. When heaven is in our mind, our choices will become much clearer.

CREATE ACTIONABLE GOALS

  • Secular Example: My todo list: “Walk 10,000 steps today” “Eat legumes today” “Quality time today”
  • Biblical Example: The 2nd point in Ken’s lesson on Nehemiah, Growth Must be Planned. “[Nehemiah surveyed the walls at night]” (Nehemiah 2:12–16)
  • Growth doesn’t just happen. Daily study, constant prayer, and faithful attendance don’t just happen.
  • When we don’t plan to grow, we plan to fail! Each step needs to be planned, else we’re soon lost.

[Only when our minds are clearly focused on the goal can we truly help steer our hearts to get us there.]

MOTIVATE THE ELEPHANT

FIND THE FEELING

  • Secular Example: When I met Sharilyn, it was not “Love at first careful analysis.” Emotion motivates!
  • Biblical Example: The 1st point in Ken’s lesson on Nehemiah, Nehemiah Cared! “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” (Nehemiah 1:4) “… I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before.” (Nehemiah 2:1)
  • Without feeling, change is temporary. Ephesian church left their first love (Revelation 2:4)
  • Touched with His grief. His death offers us huge motivation to love Him more because of His love.

BE CONTENT WITH GROWTH

  • Secular Example: The Subway commercials: “Can I get the a double chin, some love-handles, and a side of thunder thighs?”
  • Biblical Example: When we can find happiness in godly growth, our roaming heart will stay put. “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6)
  • Let’s call a life of sin what it is! Don’t wish to be the old man, he wasn’t that good anyway.
  • Being satisfied by righteousness. Avoid covetous thoughts of the old life of sin.

[When our minds are clear and our hearts are motivated, now we need to make sure the path is free of debris.]

SHAPE THE PATH

ALTER YOUR SURROUNDINGS

  • Secular Example: The Costco M&Ms bag next to my multivitamin!
  • Biblical Example: It’s better to stay away from the harlot’s house than to tempt yourself to walk by her door. “Remove your way far from her, And do not go near the door of her house,” (Proverbs 5:8) “Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids. For by means of a harlot A man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life. Can a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared?” (Proverbs 6:25–28)
  • Honestly identify friction. Identify your stumbling blocks and get rid of them (web, friends, tv).
  • Develop small helpful habits. Wake up early to study, commute and praying.

EXTERNAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS

  • Secular Example: The Nike+ running app that lets people cheer you on.
  • Biblical Example: We should be mindful of one another and involved in each other’s lives. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24–25)
  • Open up and be honest. Our job is to help, let us! Shutting others out will only lead to frustration.
  • Look for real opportunities to encourage. Worship, ladies study, weekly contact, social events, etc.

[When our minds and hearts work together and our path is clear, we can make progress toward our goal!]

Are you in control of your actions or do you feel out of control? Remember – Identify the goal clearly, Be emotionally connected to the journey, and rid your life of obstacles. Finally, remember that both your mind and your heart are critical to your service to God, as Paul said, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1–2)