“Do not conform any longer 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.” Romans 12:2
I used to sit in church and pray that God would just “zap” me and make me the person I really wanted to be. But after thirty plus years of following God, I’m learning He doesn’t work that way – for most of us.
For years I’ve struggled with certain things, personality flaws so to speak. I’ve blamed it on my Italian New York upbringing, my parents divorce, the critical people in my life, etc. While that may be part of who I am, it’s not the whole me and I don’t have to continue to be the person of my youth.
I’m learning that just because I read a parenting book or go through a 12 week Bible study, doesn’t mean at the end I will be miraculously transformed. I can’t begin to tell you how many books I’ve read on the same subject and I still struggle with the same things.
But the Bible gives a glimpse of how change begins.
…be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Renewing. I guess I could break out all the concordances and go back to the original Hebrew or Greek to find out the origin of this word, but to me it means continual. I need to feed my mind truth continually so my heart will be bathed in the love of Jesus Christ. Reading a book on parenting isn’t going to change me. But when I continue to read books, meditate on scripture and pay attention in church, then my mind will be renewed on a continual basis. Then I will be able to stand against the enemy as he throws his fiery darts my way.
I’ve been struggling with negative thoughts lately, and the only way to combat the ugliness is to fill my mind with God’s thoughts. It’s not easy, but the alternative will never bring about desired change.
Do I still wish God would just “zap” me and end all my struggles? Sure. But I don’t pray for it as much as I did before. I don’t except to be miraculous transformed, instead I pray for God to show me the next step in my transformation.
Lord, you know my heart and my mind which many times work against each other. Help me to run to Your word first, instead of listening to thoughts or people that might not have my best interest in mind. Search my heart and soul, and may they be pleasing in your sight!
Amen.
instead I continue to renew my mind and one day “when He appears, we (I) shall be like Him, for we (I) shall see Him as He is. (1 John 3:2)
