Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Last week I talked about how suffering, going through trials, transforms our hearts and minds for God’s glory. I want to take that thought one step further. The word transform describes having a change from within. I ask myself the question: “How will my mind be transformed to understand what God’s will is in my life?” The answer is found in Romans 12:2. Here is how this verse is worded in the Message:
- “Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.”
For my mind to be revolutionized, and not get stuck in the mire and discombobulation of the world’s false philosophy and thinking, I need to read and memorize God’s Word, so it is hidden in my heart. Then the truth of scripture will be my mind and heart’s default setting. It will infiltrate more of my inner self to be regenerated spiritually, as David prayed in Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
What contains the supremacy of my thoughts typically? I would have to say, what is going on with family concerns, ministry needs, work appointments and expectations, groceries to buy, and other responsibilities. I have to ask myself, how many times throughout the day am I thinking about the verse or verses I read this morning rather than my to do lists? I get so busy with distractions that side track me. They are all important of course. But I need to recite and review in my mind what God showed me out of His Word that morning. It can be as simple as taping a verse on my bathroom mirror and reading it every time I walk past it, or having a card with a written verse in my purse to pull out and read quickly.
Only when the Holy Spirit renews, redirects, and reeducates our minds through reading God’s Word, will we be transformed from pride, covetousness, selfishness, and arrogance. It is a continual work in progress. I so often feel like Paul admitted in Romans 7:15: “For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”
“The enemy’s goal is to derail the train of your behavior off of the tracks of God’s truth.” Priscilla Shirer, “The Armor of God.”
Our mind controls our body. Self control usually often fails. But when we yield our mind, body, and will, to God in disciplined prayer each morning, then God gives the will power and the won’t power that is needed to live a victorious life.
Prayer activates our spiritual armor. I ask God to prepare my thinking for the day. I ask Him to do the transposing and reengineering of my thoughts to be in alignment with His in order to keep my attitudes and ambitions aligned with God’s truth, instead of the opinions of others or my own feelings.
As my pastor Todd said in a sermon on the “Sufficiency of Scripture” this past Sunday: “Scripture gives us instruction to not be stupid. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 and Psalm 119:24; 105.”
As Paul said in Romans 8:6b NIV: “But the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”
May our minds be transformed and renewed, growing in the knowledge of God and having a godly mind control. May we dwell more on the things that are above rather than those of this earth.
Questions:
Write down everything that has upset you today. How many of the items will matter one or two months from now?
Which of your ongoing frustrations might be connected to not being obedient to a truth from God’s Word?
Have you yielded your mind, body, and will, to God today?
My prayer for today: “God, I give to You my plans for today. Work them out as You see best. I already know there will be things that are going to upset me. Help me not to overreact and to maintain proper self-control. I do not want to embarrass You. I pray the words of Psalm 25:1-2a: “To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame.” I place my day before You as an offering. I embrace that you only want what is best for me. Transform my mind to be in alignment with Yours, and prepare my thinking for today. Thank you for your goodness, grace, and mercy, which I so do not deserve. Amen.”
Listen to Casting Crowns song ,with lyrics: “What If I Gave Everything.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP27ySgbYLU
I never heard that song before and I have all their CDs. Thank you for sharing that. I love your blogs, they all speak to me.
Thank you so much Michelle. I am humbly grateful!