Why is it still happening even though I am renewed?

'He rescued us from the domains of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His Beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins' (Col 1:13, 14)

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come" (2 Cor 5:17)

If all these verses are true, then how come I'm still struggling with the same thoughts & feelings I did before I was renewed? Have you had such thought or asked this question at any point of time after you've been renewed?
Now, there is an explanation & logic reason as to why we still think, feel, & too often act as we did before we were renewed & reborn again.

During those early & formative years of our lives, we don't have this close & intimate kind of relationship with God. Even though we may be following our family to church every Sunday, but we learned to live independent of God. This learned independence from God is a major characteristic of what Scriptures called flesh. When we were renewed & reborn again in Christ, nobody pushed the button in our memory bank. Everything that we learned before our renewal with Christ (will all the feelings that go with it) is still recorded in our memory. That's why Paul said, "Do not be conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by renewing your mind" (Ro 12:2). Even as believers we can still be conformed to this world by listening to the wrong programs, wrong songs, or reading the wrong material.

Strongholds of Self-Defense

In our natural state, we learned many ways to cope with life or defend ourselves which were not always mentally & emotionally healthy. Psychologists refer this to defense mechanisms, & they are certainly not congruent with Christianity. In my case, I would go into escapism, drowning myself in my work, just to repress or forget about my grief or problem.
other common mechanisms are:
1) denial (conscious or subconscious refusal to face the truth)
2) emotional insulation (withdrawing to avoid rejection)
3) regression (reverting to less threatening times)
4) displacement (taking out frustrations on others)
5) projection (blaming others)
6) fantasy (escaping from the real world)
7) rationalization (making excuses for poor behaviour)

These defense mechanisms are what Paul called strongholds (see 2 Cor 10:3-5)
Strongholds are fleshly thought patterns that were programmed into our mind when we learned to live life independently of God.
What was learned has to be unlearned. Can our mind be reprogrammed? This is what we call as repentance; a change of mind. We are transformed by renewing our minds. We can be transformed because we have the mind of Christ within us & because the Holy Spirit will lead us into truth. But the world systems we were raised in & our independent flesh patterns are not the only enemies of our sanctification. Even though we are new creation in Christ, we still battle the world, the flesh & the devil.

To accomplish his purpose, Satan's perpetual aim is infiltrate our thoughts with his thoughts & promote his lie in the face of God's truth. He knows that if he can control our thoughts, we can control our life. That's why Paul reminds us by saying, "And we are taking every thought captive to the obedient of Christ" (2 Cor 10:5).
Remember the story of David in 1 Chro 21:1? How Satan rose up against Israel & incited that David to take census of Israel? Okay, what's wrong with taking census? Shouldn't David already know the number of his battle troops? This reveals the true subtle nature of Satan. Satan knew that David had a whole heart for God & would not willingly defy the God. The strategy that Satan use is to get David to put his confidence on his own resources rather than God's resources. At that time, David knew that the battle belonged to God but suddenyl he had this 'thought' to take census despite the protests of Joab, who knew that it was sin. Tragically, 70,000 men of Israel fell as the result of David's sin.

Now, as what Paul said, we need to take captive of our thoughts in the obedience of Christ. Just how do we know whether those negative, lying & condemning are from the evil one or just our own flesh patterns? Hhmm..in one sense, it doesn't make any difference. However, flesh patterns don't just leave. As you shroud yourself with the Words of God & prayer, these negative thoughts will be slowly replaced or overcome because we are in the process of renewing our minds. Paul reminds us not to be anxious about anything. Rather, we are to turn to God in prayer, "and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehensio, will guard your hearts & your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:7) The next verse tells us to allow our minds to dwell on those things which are true, pure, lovely & light.

My friends,as we grow each day, renewing our personal relationship with Him, He may enlighten & tell you on some issues that needs to be resolved in order that the relationship with God will reach greater heights & intimacy.
If we are proud, He will opposed to us (Js 4:6)
If we are bitter & unforgiving (on ourselves or others, God will turn us to the torturers (Matt 18:34)
We can't expect blessings from God if we are living in open rebellion against God (1 Sam 15:23)
Therefore, these issues needs to be resolved first, since only God can bind up the brokenhearted & set the captive free.

As I end this sharing, please receive this gift of prayer to God who will strengthen us as we rely on Him;

Dear Heavenly Father
I know that You want me to know the truth, believe the truth, speak the truth & live in accordance with the truth.
Thank you that it is the truth that will set me free. In many ways I have been deceived by Satan, the father of lies, & I have deceived myself as well.
Dear Father, I pray in the name my Lord Jesus Christ, by virtue of His blood & ressurection, asking You to rebuke all of Satan's demons that are deceiving me.
I have trusted in Jesus alone to save me, & so I am Your forgiven child. Therefore, since You accept me as I am in Christ, I can be free to face my sin & not try to hide. I ask for the Holy Spirit to guide me into all truth. I ask You to "search me, O God & know my heart; try me & know my anxious thoughts; & see if there are any hurtful way in me, & lead me in the everlasting way"
I pray all this is Jesus' name, who is the Way, the Truth, & Life. Amen.

10 things you may not know about Lidz

1) I like to spend time with the senior citizens

2) I can be overly commited to my work...aka lots of OTs...

3) Yes, I do write poems, both English & Bahasa Melayu...if I knew how to write in Mandarin, I would've start writing poems in Mandarin too!

4) I felt so much alive & refreshed after intercessory sessions :)

5) I was sick for at least 2 months while in uni & doctors suspected that I may have blood cancer. However, I went to my first pilgrimage at Mt Singai, Bau & was healed there :)

6) I have hearing problem in my left ear. When I was 10 years old, my sister 'korek' my left ear until it bled while I was sleeping.

7) I love babies but I dread the thought of going through labour pains....

8) I love to dance!

9) I prefer home-cooked food compared to eating outside...save money but banyak keraja la...

10)I can massage & do reflexology :)

None Like You

Divine as You are
You took on human robe
Descend down from heaven
To be amidst Your people
In humility You came
Clothed with poverty
For love come redemption...O Loving Lord...

For love of Your children
You become sacrifice
E'en to Your last breath
You still proclaim Your love
E'en if a mother turns her child away
Your love endures forever....

# You can compare with Your love
You can compare with Your mercy
You can compare with Your grace
O Lord, there is none like You...