Something Worth Insisting Upon

"I insist."

Insist is a strong word. It brooks no argument and leaves no ambiguity. It's not a suggestion or a nice idea.

When I insisted my children clean their rooms, for example, it wasn't an ask. It was an expectation. There was no wiggle room in the word insist.

So when I saw it in my Bible reading one morning, it made me sit up and take notice.

Hmm. If God is insisting on something, it must be important.

The passage itself was familiar, but I was reading from a different Bible translation. That's one of the reasons I occasionally switch versions. It helps me step outside what I think I already know and see Scripture with fresh eyes.

Curious about what was being insisted upon? I was too.

"And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd" (Ephesians 4:17, MSG).

Paul makes it plain that living for myself, losing touch with what is true, and getting swept up in confusion, selfish desires, and distorted thinking is not how I am called to live. But there is so much more here than a warning about what to avoid.

Paul isn't simply telling me not to drift through life, tossed back and forth by my emotions, my broken thinking, or other people's broken thinking that they try to hand me as truth. In fact, I love what he says a few verses later: "That's no life for you. You learned Christ!" (Ephesians 4:20, MSG).

Yes and amen. Thank You, Jesus, that You have so much more in store for us than that.

As I continued reading, Paul became even more direct: "Everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go ... Get rid of it!" Those words are strong, but it's what comes next that settled deep into my soul.

Like sweet honey, Paul reminds us that following Christ isn't simply about rejecting the world's way of living. It's about embracing an entirely new way of thinking.

"Take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you" (Ephesians 4:24, MSG).

The NIV puts it this way: "Be made new in the attitude of your minds" (Ephesians 4:23).

There it is.

The battle has always been fought in the mind.

It's as if Paul is looking straight at me and saying, "Girl, it's time to change. Let go of the guilt, the shame, the fear, and the need for control. Stop defining yourself by broken worldly systems. Stop chasing fulfillment in whatever feels good in the moment. Change your thinking."

And the beautiful thing is that this entire passage is wrapped in a call to unity. Before and after these verses, Paul is teaching believers how to live together—in harmony, honesty, and love.

Drop the masks. Speak the truth. Love one another enough to be real. Because, as Paul says, "When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself."

Now that's drop-the-mic wisdom.

After all, who am I really deceiving when I move through life distracted and ceaselessly busy? When I chase success, approval, comfort, adventure, or even ministry while ignoring what is happening inside my heart? When I tell everyone I'm fine when I know I'm struggling?

Myself.

What matters—what really matters, so much so that Paul insists upon it—is that I live a God-fashioned life. A life renewed from the inside out. A life walked hand in hand with Jesus.

As I reflect on the mental battles I've fought over the years, learning to replace well-worn trenches of lies with fresh paths of truth, I can't help but smile.

It has been worth it. The late nights. The hard conversations. The moments when racing, condemning thoughts collided with the Word of God and lost.

One by one, the lies were replaced with truth: I am loved. I matter. I am safe. I am enough. And perhaps most importantly, God has good things in store for me when I walk His way instead of my own.

It humbles me to see how much God has transformed my thinking and my sense of worth. Today, I carry a confidence that comes not from who I am, but from Whose I am.

That truth has changed everything.

As I finish my tea and write these final reflections, I leave my time with God strengthened. The battles ahead are not small ones. In fact, some of the roads God is asking me to walk right now feel especially challenging. Yet I know how my story ends.

Regardless of the specific battles I face, my ultimate victory is already secure in Jesus. So I do not fear.

I know that "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6). With the helmet of truth firmly in place, protecting my thoughts, and the sword of truth in hand, ready to swat down the enemy's lies, I begin my day with a smile.

And perhaps that's the beauty of Paul's insistence. The Greek word translated "insist" is marturomai, which carries the idea of testifying, imploring, and bearing witness. In other words, Paul isn't merely offering advice. He's standing as a witness and declaring, "Can I get a witness? God is calling you to break free!"

And that is something worth insisting upon.

FOR FURTHER THOUGHT

Paul's call to "be made new in the attitude of your minds" isn't a one-time event. It's a daily choice. We all have thought patterns, beliefs, and habits that compete with God's truth. Some are obvious. Others have become so familiar that we hardly notice them anymore.

Take a few moments this week to prayerfully reflect on these questions:

• What thought do I return to most often when I'm stressed, hurt, afraid, or discouraged?

• Is that thought rooted in God's truth or in my feelings, fears, past experiences, or the opinions of others?

• What lie might I be believing about myself, my circumstances, or God?

• What does Scripture say that is true instead?

Choose one area where God may be inviting you to renew your thinking. Write down the lie you want to release and the truth you want to embrace. Then spend the week intentionally replacing that old thought whenever it surfaces.

For example:

Lie: I'm not enough.

Truth: God's power is made perfect in weakness.

Lie: I have to control everything.

Truth: I can trust God with what I cannot see.

Lie: My mistakes define me.

Truth: I am forgiven, redeemed, and made new in Christ.

Remember, transformation rarely happens all at once. It happens one surrendered thought at a time. As you invite God to reshape your thinking, you'll discover that a renewed mind doesn't just change how you think—it changes how you live.

PRAYER

Lord, thank You for the incredible clarity only You can give. I am humbled by how intimately You care for me and how faithfully You show me how to live. Thank You for Your grace when I choose to ignore it.

I ask You, Papa, to show me any areas where my thinking has drifted from Your truth. Help me recognize the lies I have accepted and replace them with what You say is true. Renew my mind, strengthen my faith, and shape my life to reflect Your character. Teach me to walk hand in hand with You, trusting that the work You began in me is not yet finished. In Jesus' name, Amen.

ABOUT BARB LOWNSBURY

Barb is a speaker, author, and entrepreneur. She holds Bachelor's Degrees in International History and Education, as well as a Master’s Degree in Education. Barb has spoken at conferences and taught classes throughout the U.S. on topics including faith, relationships, leadership, and courage through trials. Her book, Using What’s Broken to Boldly Shine, is a powerful read on transformation through adversity. Her blog focuses on providing people with everyday encouragement and strength. Barb serves as the Executive Director and Editor for The Dented Fender Ministry and runs a successful real estate and development company. She and her husband currently reside in Lebanon, Ohio.

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