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 (NLT)
If we want to live peaceful and fulfilling lives, we must know the new identity Christ has given us. We must know who we are. To know who you are and to experience the fullness of your new life, you let God transform the way you think.
When you were born again and became new in Christ, what changed? Did your mind and the way you think suddenly change? Did your body change? No! But your spirit changed completely. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6, NKJV). You are spirit, soul (mind), and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Your spirit was completely reborn by God, but for your mind and body to experience the benefits of the new person Christ has made you, your mind has to be renewed. Faithful is God who calls you to do this because He does the work (1 Thessalonians 5:24). It is always God’s responsibility to do the work. It is your responsibility to seek His Word and allow the Holy Spirit to renew your mind.
“Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes,” Paul wrote. “Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 4:23-24, NLT). Your nature is new because your spirit has been born-again by His Spirit, but for you to believe this truth the way you think must change from what your natural mind reasons as true to what God reveals as true. You “put on your new nature” that is yours. You choose for your mind to be renewed continuously and molded by the Holy Spirit. God’s Word is what changes your mind, and it is the Spirit who guides you into the revealed knowledge of God’s truth (John 16:13).
“Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think!” Paul declares in Romans 12:2. When you surrender to receive God’s truth—when you choose to be renewed by the Holy Spirit, He brings all the fullness of God’s power to transform your thoughts and desires. It is your decision “to make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love” (2 Peter 1:5-7, NIV). When you purposely choose these qualities in 2 Peter 1, you put on the new nature that you received when your spirit was born again.
When you choose over and over again to grow spiritually to understand the new person God has made you, the Holy Spirit faithfully changes your attitude and the way you think. Your self-focused mind, which has fought fear and doubt, believes in His promises. You focus, instead, on God. When you consistently surrender your mind to the power of the Holy Spirit and choose to add these qualities to your life, you will be continually renewed in the way you think. You shall not only be effective in what you do for God, but you shall never look again at anything with a mind that has closed itself to possibilities. His renewing power will change your whole perspective. You shall experience the depths of His Grace, which continually convinces you.
Don't copy the world or make yourself like anyone else or compare yourself to anyone else. You are God’s unique creation to be molded by His Truth and Spirit. When you allow Him to renew your mind, you come to believe in your heart the new nature you received in your spirit when you were born again. You experience the healing wholeness of spirit, mind, and body—the triune God alive and living in you.
“Put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Colossians 3:10, NKJV).
And when you are renewed in the way you think, you shall know His good, pleasing, and perfect will for your life (Romans 12:2).
© 2021 Lynn Lacher
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