Return to the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus.
Many a times we struggle with knowing what God’s will is for your life. Is it God’s will for me to take up this job? Is it God’s will that I marry this person? Is it God’s will that I start this business? And there are plenty of other situations where you are trying to find out God’s will for you. But God’s word says that if we can be transformed by renewing our minds, we would KNOW the good and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. What does it mean to be transformed by the renewing of your mind? How do we go about doing it? Friends, I encourage you to read through the book of Romans up until chapter 11. In short, this is what the book of Romans teaches.
Soon after the first eleven chapters of Romans teaches us all of the above, chapter 12 starts off with “Therefore”. In other words, seeing all that God did on our behalf, therefore….live like this. And the very first instruction is for us to renew our minds. So how do we do renew our minds exactly? By default, through tradition, culture and worldliness; our minds have been conditioned to think that God is pure, holy, just, perfect and someone to be feared and worshipped. This is of course true. But we have also been conditioned to think that we are mere men, sinful, imperfect and unworthy to approach a holy God. We even hear it often said “no body is perfect.” This is true too, but NOT for us who believe in Jesus Christ. With this mind-set, we try to work out our faith in God which is a perfect recipe for failure. The fact is that Jesus' finished work on the cross has changed everything for us who believe. We are NEW creations in Christ. Everything this world has taught us and everything our minds have been conditioned to think and believe as natural is a sharp contrast from what God’s word says about us.
What you believe and allow your thoughts to dwell on, will determine your actions. You consistent actions will then form into a habit and your habits will determine who you become as a person. Change what you believe and it will change your actions and therefore your habits and you will end up as someone living that abundant life Jesus promised to give you. “He said I have come that you might have life and life more abundantly”. John 10:10 So renewing your mind is to rewire your thinking by repeatedly telling yourself what the word of God says about you. Tell yourselves:
We know that we are spirit, soul and body. The spirit needs to be continually fed….so that it affects the mind….which affects the body. Before being born again in Christ, our spirits were dead due to sin. Our mind got its information from the physical senses. There was no room for faith in the unseen. Hence when situations and circumstances got challenging, the mind is stressed and this shows on our bodies through sicknesses, looking old prematurely, aches, pains and diseases. Whatever the state of your mind, it is made manifest in your bodies. Likewise, now that your Spirit is made alive and you feed on God’s word and good teachings, your mind is renewed and this will show on your body as well. Faith begins to operate…you are much calmer in the midst of a storm. You begin to walk in divine health and Godly confidence. Your face will begin to glow and health will manifest. When you begin to confess the same thing Gods word says about you, you begin to renew (re-wire) your mind and when you do this, you will always KNOW the good and perfect will of God in all situations. Learn to speak out God’s word. Only say what God says about you in the word. 2 Cor 10:4-5 – For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. How do you know the thoughts that are exalting itself against the knowledge of God? Anything that steals your peace, steals your joy, steals your assurance and confidence or makes you feel condemned and guilty, these are thoughts exalting itself against the knowledge of God. It is time to tell yourself who you are once again. This obviously does not mean we can go about doing whatever we like to fulfill our sensual pleasures and then say I am a child of God. Pay attention to the Holy Spirit within you who convicts you of wrongful deeds. There are many other verses in the word of God which reiterates what I just said about who we are in Christ. Colossians 1:13 says “we have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.” John 8:31-32 – If you continue in my word, you are really my disciples. And you will know the truth, and THE TRUTH will set you free. 2 Cor 3:18 - But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Cor 5: 14-17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. He IS already a new creation. It doesn’t say “he will become”… This study was about being transformed by the renewing of our minds…
Other places where the word “transformed” is used: (Original greek – metamorphoo which is where we get metamorphosis from). Like a caterpillar changing into a butterfly. Matt 17:2 – The same word is used to illustrate Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain 1 Cor 15:51 – 54 – Here talking about our rapture and our bodies being transformed, Paul says “We will not all die, but we will all be transformed” Gal 6:15 – It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. So friends, if you wish for your life to be transformed, if you wish to experience that abundant life, and if you wish to experience the joy of walking with the Lord every day and being able to hear His voice and being led by the Holy Spirit, then RENEW your minds. Change the way you think. Start thinking of yourselves as the way God thinks about you. God bless you.
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AuthorI was radically transformed by the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ back in 1997 in a most unusual way and unusual place. Read my testimony here. Over the years of my walk with God, I have come to realize a few basic truths that have altered my life. CategoriesArchives
August 2021
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