And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)

Your identification with Christ is the center of the power of the Gospel.
Mark Hankins

Mind renewal begins with understanding your identification with Christ. Some problems in your mind or soul can be so severe that they can only be dealt with at their roots by this part of the Gospel. You will never be normal and you will never fulfill the potential God has for your life unless those problems are dealt with.

Your identification with Christ is the center of the power of the Gospel. It will rise up inside you and will hit the root of mental, emotional, or behavioral issues. No matter what has happened to you — abuse, shame, what ever it is — you can say, “I am a new creature in Christ. Christ lives in me. I forget what I used to be.”

There is miracle-working power in Christ. The world may say you will never recover. But in Christ, you can be restored. It cannot happen from the outside, but it can happen on the inside!

Confession: I am being transformed from the inside out by the renewing of my mind! I was crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me!

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection. (1 Corinthians 9:27)

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and do not give the flesh a chance.
Mark Hankins

Your flesh still has certain desires that you have to deal with. Do not put yourself in situations where your flesh will be able to take advantage of you and drag you through lust. Paul said in Colossians 3:5 that you have to crucify the flesh and mortify the deeds of the body.

The devil will say to you, “If you are saved, you are a new creature. You can still hang around certain kinds of sin.” If there has been a problem and a weakness in your life, just don’t make any provision for that. You need to tell the devil, “No, I understand what my limits are, and it is best for me to stay far away from that temptation.”

Put on what is in you in Christ and don’t give the devil a chance. You might say, “I am in the world. I cannot help but come across certain things.” That is true, but you should not be looking for temptation, you should be doing your best to stay away from it. Acknowledge who you are in Christ then put to death the deeds of the body.

Confession: I am a new creature in Christ. Old lusts, thoughts, temptations, and habits are crucified. I keep under my body and bring it into subjection! (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 9:27)