No matter who we are in life, no matter how far we have gone academically, this is true: everyone gets an education. The question is this: What kind? It could be in the finest schools money could by. It could be “on the streets.” It could be “in the school of hard knocks.” But everyone gets an education.

The key question here is: What kind of education are you getting?

The same applies to spiritual formation. Everyone gets spiritually formed in some way. The question here is: What kind of spiritual formation is happening? What are you choosing?

If we are haphazard in our walk with Christ, that is still spiritual formation. It is poor. It is anemic. Nevertheless, it is spiritual formation.

As we think about renewing the mind, let me pose some basic thoughts with which to work:

1. All behavior is based on a belief.

This is why the battle is always in the mind. The enemy wants to cause you to fall away from God, or stay away from God, so he has to infiltrate your belief system. That begins in the mind.

2. Behind every sin is a lie that I am believing.

It’s not about alcoholism or some other addiction. It is about some lie that is placed into my mind that I am buying into. If I don’t have the Spirit reveal that lie, or I don’t do anything about it once that lie is revealed, it doesn’t matter what addiction I break, that lie will manifest somewhere else.

For example, ever know anyone who gave up smoking and then they put on a lot of extra pounds? They gave up smoking and took up eating. It’s not just chemical. It’s not dealing with the underlying cause. If we don’t get to the lie behind our beliefs, the problems won’t quit. They’ll just manifest somewhere else.

Are there lies programmed into your thinking? Ask the Spirit to help reveal those lies.