Take The Time (Part 1)

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.  (Romans 12:2 NIV)

It's actually not that difficult to understand HOW to clear your conscience.  It's simply a matter of aligning your Will to match God's will...and it takes some time.  It looks something like this in a typical day:

1. A "Box" (Thought) comes into your mind.
2. Your will identifies it as a good "box" or a bad "box.
3. You throw away a bad box, hold on to the good.

This simple process will keep your conscience clear.

As we discussed in earlier posts, sometime we don't know what to do with a "box" (thought), so we throw it into the "still thinking" pile.  We hold on to it, but only in a temporary, short-term, manner.  This means some "bad boxes" will bother us until we sort through the pile and clear them out.  It also means our consciences will bother us until we identify the good boxes and store them away and/or act upon them.  The best way to keep this pile to a minimum and keep your conscience clear is to spend some time each day dedicated to clearing out this pile and training Will to identify good and bad boxes better on the fly.

1. Put a time on your schedule each day to begin this habit of clearing your conscience.  (The amount of time is totally between you and God.  The benefit does not correlate to the amount of time you spend, but the amount of mental work that gets done.)
2. Start a list of good boxes and bad boxes as identified in Scripture.  Keep a notebook, note cards, or a computer list that you can easily add to and refer to each day as a part of your process.  I currently have two notebooks.  One with a green cover (go) for good boxes and one with a red cover (stop) for bad boxes.
3. Read Scripture and identify things God tells us to put on the "good box" and "bad box" list.  Write them on your appropriate lists.
4. Change Will - Read through each list.  Identify places where you have disagreed with God before.  Pray for wisdom and strength.  Then change "Will's mind" to match God's mind.
5. Clear the "Still Thinking" Pile -  Go through any "still thinking" pile thoughts (decisions you are trying to make, areas where you are struggling with what to believe or do) and compare them to your new list of good and bad boxes.  Throw away any bad.  Hold on to and/or act upon the good.

These last three steps, then, get repeated every day during your designated time for clearing your conscience.  In this way, you will begin "renewing your mind" and begin learning to "test and approve what God's will is" in your life.  It's worth the time.  Are you ready to take it?

Start today with the list from my previous blog post.  (Here's a link to it.) 
Pick a translation or translations that help you understand the terms the best.  
Begin your lists of good boxes and bad boxes.  
Pray through the changes to your Will and the things in your "still thinking" pile.  
Celebrate with God that you are experiencing His peace a little more today than you did yesterday. 

Congratulations! You have begun clearing your conscience.