A very good morning to you my precious family in Christ
Romans 12 verse 2 says “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.”
Do you ever feel like you spend all of your energy fighting? Do you feel like the enemy is working overtime to make you doubt, to give up? I’m sure he is, but fortunately for us, God has given us direction on how to handle this battle and WIN.
Our minds can become so cluttered with negative thoughts. Worry, anxiety, fear… These thoughts can also lead to feelings of rejection, unworthiness, hopelessness and the list goes on. This is because when the thoughts are allowed to come into the mind, they quickly travel to the heart. These thoughts and feelings are certainly not of God, so why do we choose to entertain them?
Often we don’t even realize what’s happening. That’s how crafty the enemy can be. In 1 Peter 5 verse 8 Peter warns, “be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
When the enemy tries to enter, we must meet him at the door…do not let him take another step. We must focus our eyes on Jesus and keep our minds filled to the brim with God’s word, so there is no room for Satan’s lies.
2 Corinthians 10 verse 5 reminds us “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Paul’s call for transformation is a call to experience an extreme makeover in who we are, our desires, priorities and commitments. As believers we must dare to break free of the herd and instead follow the Good Shepherd to a more abundant life.
The key to this process is the renewing of your mind. The way I think needs to change. Rather than being focused on the physical, but temporary, world around me, I need to set my thoughts and heart on things above, where our Lord Jesus is. I need to prepare my mind for action, and serve God with all my mind.
Instead be 'transformed by the renewing of your minds'. Transformed' in the Greek is METAMORPHOMAI which means the changing of one's outer form from that which they have to another outward form which comes as a result of an inner change.
We must arm ourselves. Arm yourself with scripture. Each morning during your Quiet time, choose a scripture and memorize it…meditate on it throughout your day. Each time the devil comes at you with a negative thought, recite the chosen scripture in your mind. That’s how you take thoughts captive; you fill your thoughts with the word of God and let it renew your mind, calm your spirit, and bring your joy and contentment to light.
Listen to rich sermons on the “the glory of Christ.” Read your Bible from cover to cover always in search of the revelation of the glory of Christ. Read and think on the Bible-saturated, Christ-exalting writings of great, spiritual men and women. And form the habit of meditating on the perfections of our Lord Jesus Christ. And in it all pray, pray, pray that the Holy Spirit will renew your mind, that you may desire and approve the will of God, so that all of life will become worship to the glory of Christ.
As followers of our Lord Jesus, we are taught that everything is exactly the opposite of what we once thought. Our renewed spirit is totally different and agrees with the ways of Heaven, but our flesh is not yet renewed, therefore it has embedded within it old habits that run according to the “elementary principles of the world.” In order for our old flesh to fall into line with our new spirit, and the Holy Spirit within us, our minds must be transformed by renewal.
Only then will God’s ways, higher than our own as Isaiah 55 verse 9 reminds us, truly begin to look as lovely as they are. The mind is renewed by intention and feeding it the truth.
Conformity is easy, and requires little effort; which may be why we are so inclined to follow that path. Transformation is difficult and requires much effort; and a constant guard against falling back into a life of conformity. Choose to see the world through God’s eyes, and you will find yourself being changed by it. And the best thing is that as transformation occurs, you will discover that God’s will for you really is the best.
PRAYER
Father God, help us to take captive all thoughts that are not from You, Lord, and help us to hunger for Your knowledge and wisdom…to fill our minds with Your Word and Your love. Our hearts belong only to You Lord Jesus, so I ask that You will change my heart. Thank You for Your direction and guidance to enable us to live a better life through the Lord Jesus Christ. In Jesus name. Amen
Much love from Maurice and Margaret
