10. What changes take place as the maturing Christian ‘makes his mind over’?

¹⁰ This ‘making over of the mind’ has a profound effect on the personality of the maturing Christian. The worldly outlook, with its reasonings, its emphasis on material things and worldly pleasures, is progressively replaced with an interest in spiritual matters and in doing the will of Jehovah God. In place of the works of the flesh, the fruitage of God’s spirit​—love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness and self-control—​becomes more and more apparent. A new force or dominant spirit is at work within him.

but . . . you should be made new in the force actuating your mind, and should put on the new personality which was created according to God’s will in true righteousness and loyalty.”​—Eph. 4:22-24; Gal. 5:19-23.

11. What is the “force” actuating the mind of a mature Christian, and how does it cause him to react to situations calling for moral decisions?

¹¹ When the old personality is put away and a new force or dominant spirit is actuating the mind, the Christian has attained maturity. Formerly the force actuating his mind was the one that had resulted from the things taught and experienced in the world. These things fed into the mind developed in him certain patterns of thinking and heart motivation. Thus, when he heard a matter requiring a moral decision, this force within his mind directed him in a worldly direction. But, as a mature Christian, he has a new force or spirit impelling him to act. As a result of his regular, prayerful study of God’s Word of truth and the operation of God’s spirit, this actuating force inclines him in a righteous direction. Hence, when a matter is presented to him involving a moral decision, his mind is bent by this new “force” or dominant attitude toward a righteous, spiritual course.