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From Ruts to Renewal — Part Two: Reclaiming Consciousness and Fixing Our Sight on Jesus
- dktippit3
- Jul 4
- 3 min read
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”—Isaiah 26:3
In Part One of this series, we explored how spiritual disciplines shape our minds—how repeated, grace-filled practices form new mental paths, much like repeated steps wear a new trail in a field or carve a rut in the dirt.
But there’s something deeper than habit. Deeper than repetition. Something at the root of who you are and how you live.
It’s your consciousness—the seat of your awareness, attention, and perception.
And it is not neutral.
The Unseen Battlefield of the Soul
Your consciousness is the inner compass that directs your thoughts, emotions, imagination, and focus. It’s what you set your mind on. You can’t turn it off, and you can’t leave it empty.
Left to drift, consciousness becomes chaotic—what psychologists call psychic entropy: mental noise, anxiety, and disintegration. The Bible simply calls it the flesh—the part of us that resists God and defaults to fear, shame, pride, or lust.
This is why Scripture is obsessed with what you fix your mind on:
“Set your minds on things above…” (Colossians 3:2)
“Fix your eyes on Jesus…” (Hebrews 12:2)
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2)
You become what you behold.And you drift toward what you dwell on.
The Mind Is Moldable—That’s the Good News
God, in His wisdom, made the human brain plastic—able to be shaped, healed, and rerouted. This means that what you consistently pay attention to will form you.
Every time you surrender your focus to fear, you deepen a groove.Every time you choose bitterness, you reinforce the structure.But every time you bring your attention back to Christ—through prayer, Scripture, worship, silence—you begin to rewire your inner world.
The process is gradual, like clearing a path through tall grass. It doesn’t appear overnight. But every step matters. Every act of fixing your consciousness on Jesus strengthens a new way of being.
The Goal Is Not Just Discipline—It’s Christ-Consciousness
Spiritual habits are powerful, but they are not the end goal. They are a means of abiding. And abiding is more than checking a box or sitting quietly—it’s learning to live with your conscious awareness tethered to Jesus.
This is what Brother Lawrence called "the practice of the presence of God.” Not a mystical experience, but a mental and spiritual posture—a willingness to bring your attention back to Christ a hundred times a day.
And this is what Paul meant when he said, “Pray without ceasing.”He wasn’t talking about non-stop words—he was describing a way of being.
But Can We Do This Without the Spirit?
Not even for a moment.
Any attempt to renew your mind apart from the Spirit becomes willpower religion. At best, it produces self-righteousness. At worst, burnout and defeat.
“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” —Romans 8:6
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” —Galatians 5:25
You don’t reform your consciousness to earn God’s presence—you do it to receive it more fully. And the Spirit is the one who empowers every return, every re-centering, every re-fixation on Jesus.
The Invitation: Part Two of the Journey
In Part One, we talked about the paths we create.In Part Two, we remember who walks with us.
So here’s the next step:
Guard your consciousness. It is sacred territory.
Choose your focus. Every glance matters.
Form the habit of returning. Again and again.
Trust the Spirit. You’re not forming yourself alone.
And as Paul writes:
“Practice these things… and the God of peace will be with you.”—Philippians 4:9
He doesn’t just say peace will come—He says God Himself will be with you. Not only in your habits. But in your awareness. In your consciousness.
Right here. Right now. Always.
Missed Part One?👉 Read From Ruts to Renewal: Forming Spiritual Habits That Reshape the Mind
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