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.
Renewing My Mind
I have a daily struggle against the flesh, but I’m in good company. So did Paul. For one thing, I don’t do the good that I want to do; instead, I sometimes do the evil that I don’t want to do (Romans 7:19). That’s because no good thing really dwells in me (Romans 7:18), and none of us really seek after God and are righteous in ourselves (Romans 3:10-11). I needed to have the mind of Christ dwell in me richly (Colossians 3:16) and choose the good. I needed not only a new mind, the mind of Christ, but a heart transplant because my heart was desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). I needed a new heart and not one of stone but of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26), which means a heart that is soft and pliable where change can take place. How about you? What area of your life do you want to change the most? What will you do about it?
Be More Childlike
To be more childlike doesn’t mean to be more childish. When I was a child, I had to learn to put away childish things and reason like an adult (1 Corinthians 13:11). What Jesus meant was that unless I turned and became like a child, I would never be able to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3). I did change and humble myself, but that change could only come by God’s Spirit. Without God’s Spirit, I had the desire to do what was right but not the ability to carry it out (Romans 7:18). We all must humble ourselves, as children often do (Matthew 18:4), because whoever doesn’t receive the kingdom of God like a child is never going to enter it (Luke 18:17).
My Own Change
I determined not too long ago to have this be my rule: no Bible, no breakfast. So now I read some from the Old Testament and some from the New Testament every morning before I eat anything. I also started to consistently pray every morning before I did anything else. I know that this will change me because prayer changes me–God and the Bible have power, not me. Without this daily bread and this daily communication with the Father, my day would be a disaster; I can almost guarantee that. What area of your life would you like to change the most? What will you do about it? I asked myself these same questions. Your answers might be different from mine, but change I must. It’s a daily process.
A Closing Prayer
Father in heaven, thank You for sending me Your Spirit or I could never change. Please help me to focus on You and Your Word so that I can change, because of myself I can do nothing, and nothing is not a little something. I need Your help by Your Spirit, by Your Word, and by speaking with You every day, and in Jesus’ glorious name I pray.
Amen
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