CHIRP! The purpose of smoke alarms in our home is to let us know there is smoke hot enough, born from a fire, and that we need to get out! The alarms tell us to find safety, and that our lives are endangered. Their purpose is to save lives. So when a smoke alarm’s battery runs low, it lets us know that we need to change the battery with an annoying, inconsistent, “chirp!” That little chirp means, “If you don’t take care of this now, I’m just going to get more and more obnoxious. And if you fail to change my battery, I won’t be able to help you in case of an emergency.” In reference to our Thin Within journey of finding freedom from the control of food, there are situations (“fire”) that arise (like smoke rising), that sets off the “renewing-of-the-mind” alarm saying CHIRP!–YOU NEED TO RENEW YOUR MIND!
Last week, a smoke alarm in our house was chirping at me and letting me know its battery needed to be changed. The chirping sound is not something one can easily ignore. And the longer I put off changing the battery, the more often it chirped. I believe life has these same “chirps”, letting us know something needs to change or be recharged. From this chirping episode, the Lord showed me that there are “chirps” and alarms that go off in our life telling us that we need to change something. He showed me that there are things that tell me I need to stop and renew my mind.
Some of the “alarms” could be anything that trigger overeating or disorder in our eating. Maybe it’s after a stressful day and you just want to come home, grab the cookie jar, plop your feet up on your recliner, and shovel in the cookies. Maybe it’s finding out some upsetting news and you drive to the nearest fast-food drive-thru, knowing full-well that you are going to “super-size” and try to numb yourself with food. Maybe you put your jeans on and they are a little tighter than you remember and you feel tempted to try that new diet your friends were talking about. There are hundreds of things that can trigger our own personal out-of-order eating experience.
What kind of “smoke” sets off your alarm for needing to “recharge” or to renew your mind?
You aren’t hungry, but those brownies are screaming your name!! CHIRP!
You are at a “5”, but you really want another serving of salad from the buffet. CHIRP!
You ate an entire package of Oreos. CHIRP!
You want to eat your way through your emotions. CHIRP!
You weighed yourself and you gained. CHIRP!
You know what’s so cool about renewing our mind? Because, ultimately, it’s the LORD who does the work! Even recently, the Lord has been reminding me that I am transformed through HIS work, not me behaving better or making all of the perfect choices. It’s GOD! That revelation is oh so freeing!
Romans 12:2 says, “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.”
When you hear a CHIRP!, renew your mind! Grab your Bible, your truth cards, your journal, or get up and have a dance praise fest! Or use whatever tools or ways that work for you to put on God’s truth!
How about you? What’s setting off your “renewing-of-the-mind” alarm? Are you trying to overcome by your own strength and will-power? Christ said that we can do all things through His strength! Let’s strengthen our spiritual muscles by getting into His Word! Do you need to change your “battery” by renewing your mind?
What a great post! I have a chirping sound every hour on the hour..it is a battery operated cuckoo clock and now I will be reminded every hour that it chirps to keep my mind renewed!!!
Chris, sounds like that cuckoo clock is a great reminder to renew your mind! 🙂
That is a great example of the reminder, “renew our minds”, DAILY!
I have been struggling with my identity now that I am an “empty-nester”.
Last night was one of those restless, sleepless, nights. I really wanted to
attack the ice cream and drown my sorrows, but I didn’t. That is a victory!
Instead, I made a cup of herbal tea and asked God to walk me through.
Things are better, the ice cream is still in the freezer, and God is Good!
One small victory, this I claim, through JESUS!
Cynthia, I’m so glad you were encouraged by this post. 🙂 Yes, it’s a daily renewal, and sometimes moment-by-moment. I go through seasons of needing to renew my mind more often than others. With the “empty nest”, my friend was just telling me about a book she bought through Family Life that was about the empty nest and how to work through it as a mom. The book is called, Barbara and Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest by Barbara Rainey. My friend said it’s been really encouraging. I hope that is helpful to you. 🙂 And praise God for turning to God and not to food!
Great article Christina. I need real ways to remember to
renew my mind. So many times I eat mindlessly and regret it later. I definitely will be looking for solid reminders to renew my mind.
Tracy, take that regret and renew your mind. 🙂 The regret questions from the I Deserve a Donut book/app are great for this!