Be Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind

“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 has been expressed many times how hard it is to be in the world and not of this world. It’s hard to make friends at a new school or job. It’s hard to show compassion when you’re faced with hatred. It’s hard to avoid environmental hazards. It’s hard living without financial security. It’s hard being the only one in the room who loves the Lord. It’s hard, but it’s not impossible. “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13 NIV). I am never alone, the Lord is with me. “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV). Amen. Let the hard times roll; I was made for this life. I am more than a conqueror; I am resilient.

As servants of the Lord Jesus Christ we must live like him, glorifying God through righteous living. “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Colossians 3:5-10 NIV). It feels so good to release the burdens of this world and focus on the blessings of our Creator. He already knows our needs. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:33-34 NIV). Amen. I cannot be worried about tomorrow. I ask that you me successful today, Lord God. Keep me near and dear to your heart.

Jesus Christ loved us so much that he sent God’s Holy Spirit to live within us. “For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:11-14 NIV). Brothers and sisters, we must not remain in bondage. We have been delivered from this world. Our minds are not idle or evil. We have the mind of Christ and the Spirit of God. With spiritual wisdom and understanding, we can obey God’s good, pleasing and perfect will.