VERSE:
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…
— Romans 12:2
THOUGHT:
The things that this world has to offer are fleeting and vain in light of eternity. If you spend your life pursuing what this world has to offer, you will look back from eternity and realize that your life was wasted and you lived the life of a fool.
That’s why God’s word tells us to “not conform any longer to the pattern of this world”. But how are we to NOT conform to the world that we live in? We’re surrounded by it and tempted by it every moment of every day. In order to not follow the pattern of the world, we need to be transformed. But how do we do that? Can we transform ourselves?
God doesn’t simply give us the commands to “not conform to the world” and to “be transformed”, and then leave us to ourselves to figure out how… he also gives us instructions on how we can fulfill these commands – by renewing our minds. It makes sense because humans follow a chain of command: our actions follow our emotions and affections, and our emotions are controlled by our thoughts. Therefore if you want to change your actions, your emotions have to be transformed. The way to transform your emotions and affections is by changing your thoughts (or renewing your mind). If you are going to be successful in breaking conformity with the world, you are going to have to fill your mind with God’s thoughts. When your mind is filled with God’s thoughts, you will share God’s heart, and the natural overflow is to apply what God says.
APPLICATION:
Renew your mind daily with the word of God. Redirect your thoughts into conformity with God’s thoughts, and allow His word to transform your emotions and affections, which in turn will transform your actions towards the pattern of God’s kingdom rather than the patter of this world.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for giving me your word. I treasure your word and trust that as I renew my mind with it you will transform my emotions, affections and actions to the pattern of your kingdom. I pray that I would NOT conform to the pattern of this world, but that I would be transformed by the renewing of my mind. In Jesus’ Name I pray, AMEN!