Renewal II
If you haven’t read my last post, Renewal, I encourage you to read it before you read Renewal II. Simply click on the word Renewal above to get to it.
When we last left off, I gave a challenge to spend 7 days with Romans 12:1-2.
This passage of scripture tells us that we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. In my experience, the most common next question is “How?”.
Hopefully after spending a week with the scripture, you’ve developed your own how-to. Or perhaps you still feel lost with where to start. If it’s the latter, keep reading as we unpack verse two, which I believe helps shed some light on a how-to.
Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” KJV
What does it mean to not be conformed to this world?
Webster’s dictionary says that conform means to bring into harmony or accord with; be similar or identical; obedient or compliant. And the Bible concordance says that being conformed is to fashion one’s self (mind or character) to another’s pattern.
Essentially, to not be conformed to the world is to not allow this world (culture) to shape our minds, character, or behaviors. To not follow the lead of and align ourselves with the way the world operates. We must be different.
The Lead Pastor (Shannon) at the church I attend said it this way, “Paul tells us to abandon the chase (the desire, the lure of the world) for pleasure, possessions, and status – to stop living like everyone else.”
Have you ever seen The Chosen®? The logo for the show is a bunch of fish swimming one direction with a few swimming in a different direction.
BE THE FEW!
This world begs us to seek power, fortune, notoriety, titles, prestige, etc. But God asks us to seek Him.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33
Now, don’t get it twisted – this scripture isn’t insinuating that He will add power, fortune, notoriety, titles, prestige to us. In Matthew 6, Jesus is encouraging His disciples to not be worried about what they will wear, eat, and where they will sleep – which are the “these things” in 6:33. He knows what we need to live this life, and He will provide those things if we seek Him, His kingdom, His righteousness – first.
As we study further into Romans 12:2, we see that the Word says, instead of conforming to this world we should be transformed by the renewing of our mind.
Is it just me, or have you ever read this verse and thought that being transformed by the renewing of your mind is some miraculous, major, one-time event that you come away from completely different? I guess it’s because I’ve heard people say things like, “When I came to know Jesus, I became a completely different person”. But I’ve failed to realize that it was likely a journey for them. Transforming doesn’t actually happen overnight or all at once. In fact, I’ve learned through Pastor Shannon that transformation is the process of being formed into the image of Christ over time.
For instance, when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior at age 7, did it mean I had arrived, had it all figured out? Quite the opposite. It was the beginning of a lifelong journey that I’ve been on. One that has had hills, valleys, mountaintops, good times, not so good times, and everything in between. In fact, the longer I’ve been on the journey the more I’ve realized that being transformed by the renewing of my mind is a DAILY necessity.
Yes, I said daily! Why?
Because the battle is in the mind! And it needs to be won every day!
Pastor Shannon said to renew your mind “by getting your mind back into rhythm with God”. So when I renew my mind, it transforms me a little more each day, in several ways. How do I get my mind back into rhythm with God? Here is a list of a few very specific components to mind renewal I use, and I believe apply to us all.
- Spending time with God!
- Talking to God – prayer!
- Stay in God’s Word everyday! Read your Bible!
My next challenge is for you to begin renewing your mind everyday by doing those three things. Soon you’ll find yourself walking in the opposite direction of everyone else. Living differently than everyone else. And Romans 12:1-2 will be true for your life.
But remember, the battle is in the mind! Our enemy knows us and he will use whatever tactics he can to distract us from following these simple steps, even good things! Stay vigilant! And don’t beat yourself up if you mess up – get back up and start again – daily! It’s a journey, and you may need to get up and start again many times. That’s ok. I encourage you to find a prayer partner or accountability partner to walk this journey with you.
Heavenly Father,
I pray for each person reading this. I pray that as they put time with You through prayer, quiet time, and reading Your Word that You will renew their minds in supernatural ways only You can. That the renewal will be so real and apparent, there will be no doubt where it is from and that it will set their lives on course to live Your will for their lives. Help us each to be the few living like no one else in this world. I thank You Lord for Your goodness and mercy that upholds us. In Jesus name, Amen!
Digging Deeper
I’ve quoted Pastor Shannon a few times in this article, so I wanted to also link you to a few sermons you can watch online where he is talking more about this scripture.
May 8, 2022 – I’ll Do It Tomorrow
August 23, 2023 – Rhythms Day
I encourage you to watch them to help you on your journey of formation and renewal.
Here are a list of scriptures you can start with in your daily Bible reading as well.
- Matthew 6:6 ESV – But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
- Romans 8:5-6 ESV – For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
- Colossians 3:2 ESV – Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
- Isaiah 26:3 ESV – You keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You.
- Philippians 4:8 ESV – Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
- Ephesians 4:17-24 ESV – Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
