Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2
We can also say, “be not 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.”
God gives us a powerful key to change our mindset. He encourages us to not be conformed to this world, to this age. The word conformed in Greek is “suschematizo”, meaning “to conform to another’s example” like it is also used in 1 Pet. 1:14. But be transformed by the renewing of your mind, not by a mere outward nonconformity to the ungodly world (many of whose actions may be humanistic, virtuous and praiseworthy in themselves), but by such an inner spiritual transformation that makes the whole life new. New in its motives and ends, even where the actions differ in nothing from those of the world.
It’s proven that our life will move in the direction of our most dominant thoughts. We can choose to think according to the world’s system or according to God’s system. The world’s system tells you to “see to it that you are the one who has the most followers, that you are the most beautiful or simply number one”. To do whatever you can despite your surroundings to get ahead and make yourself cool and happy. But God’s system says, consider others as more important than yourself, and by having this Kingdom mindset, you find happiness and blessing by serving and putting others first.
God doesn’t want us to have an attitude that is self-centered, jealous or greedy. He knows that those thoughts end in destruction. God wants us to live a blessed and prosperous life. That’s why the Scripture tells us to renew our minds, to transform our thinking.
The word transformed in Greek is “metamorphoo”, meaning “transformed or transfigured by a supernatural change”. This change takes place by a renewing of the mind and spirit, “that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”. The perfect will of God can also be translated as “to discern the will of God that pleases Him”.
There are 6 things that constitute the acceptable and perfect will of God:
Present your bodies as a living sacrifice to God (Rom. 12:1; 1Cor. 3:16-17; 6:20).
Sanctify your body (Rom. 12:1; 2Cor. 7:1).
Make yourself acceptable to God (Rom. 12:1).
Render reasonable service (Rom. 12:1).
Be not conformed to the world (Rom. 12:2).
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rom. 12:2).
We have to make sure our thoughts are the same as God’s thoughts. Whatever we allow into our mind is what will come out in our attitude and actions. The more we meditate on God’s word, the more we will transform our thinking to be like God’s thinking. Let’s choose today to focus on the Word of God and allow our mind to be renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we can be transfigured and become more like Jesus.
Prayer: God, I don’t want to be conformed to this world. This is the reason I’m asking You to transform me into a new person by changing the way I think. Holy Spirit, help me understand the word of God that will change me and even transfigure me to look more like Jesus. Amen!
Quote: Whatever we allow into our mind is what will come out in our attitude and actions.
Song: Power of your love – renew my mind / from Hillsong
