January 19, 2012
Today’s Text: Read Romans 12:2
“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.” Romans 12:2
Now we are going to talk about an incredible word…
Transformation- Instead of being conformed to the pattern of the world, God wants us to be transformed. He is the one that wants to do it. He wants to transform us. Isn’t that incredible? You can’t change on your own. You can’t be what God wants you to be on your own. God wants to do this work in you! This transformation says that we want God to set our standards and priorities from the inside out. We are no longer motivated by our flesh, but by the Spirit of God inside of us. How does this happen? By the renewing of our mind. God uses His Word to help us know how to think and as a result how to act. Why? So that we may be able to “prove” or discern “what is that good and acceptable perfect will of God.”
Application:
For you to be transformed by God, you must allow Him to renew your mind. How does that happen? You’ve got to allow God’s Word to influence and change your thinking and actions. Today, spend a few extra moments in God’s Word.
Study the Scriptures with Ben Jennings 
I think to be transformed by god tht it means u need to be influenced by his word. But to allow him to influence u… I think tht means tht u got to allow gods word in ur heart. U have to read his word… The bible. And prayer is the time tht u get to be with god., it’s just between u and him! 🙂 Uhh.. Let me know if I did bad cuz I think I did… But whatever!! 🙂 have a great Thursday!! 🙂 love u guys!! 🙂 ❤ c u on Sunday! :p
You did good tristian and I totally agree you too miss Laura haha good job 🙂 🙂
I think you did great Tristian!
thanks guys!! :)))))
The only one who can transform our hearts and minds is God. The bible is the living Word. We can be transformed if we just realize this and read scripture. The bible is one of the main ways God talks to us and convicts our hearts along with prayer. When we first get saved this seems so evident. So many “light bulbs” are going off and we have so much excitement for the things of the Lord. God doesn’t stop the transforming business later in our christian walk, but I think we can have a tendency, like anything else,to loose some of our enthusiasm after the “newness” wears off. I know for sure my mind needs transforming on an hourly basis sometimes. I need to really get in to God’s Word even more.
This is so true we can not renew our mind on our own we need God’s help. What I also got out of this is God won’t change us in less we want him to so if we stop doing what the world wants us to do and start doing what God wants us to do he will change you that’s just awesome.
I think it’s awesome too Blake. If you keep that perspective, God’s going to do some cool things in your life!
When I hear the word “transform” I think of a transformer. I never had one myself as a kid but I know I played with them on several occasions. The whole point is that it starts as one thing and then the person in charge changes it piece by piece until it becomes something incredible that you would not have seen otherwise. It’s a silly illustration but this is the way I believe God does it in us. We all start out as sinners and after the transformation of our heart first through salvation we are ready to begin the full life, body and spirit transformation. There are main things that we all go through like baptism and joining a church, as well as praying and reading our bible. God also uses things specific to each of our lives like the family we have and the different circumstances and situations we encounter in life that transforms us uniquely to who He desires us to be. It’s a process that takes time to complete and for us we won’t be finished until we get to heaven but it’s a necessary one if we are going to be confirmed and transformed to be like Christ. As the bible states this process happens through the renewing of our mind. To renew our mind we must continually seek Him first so we know that the transformation is the right one. Only He knows what we are to become and we must seek Him diligently to allow that process to work. It’s an amazing thing and we won’t know the end of it but the process is a great one to be part of. Even to look back and see how God has renewed your mind over the last few years and to see the transformation that has already taken place. It’s too wonderful!
This is definitely something I’ve had to learn the hard way. So many times I’ve tried to change on my own and really, that got me nowhere! I think the problem I face is that I like to be in control, I like to plan and know what’s going on. But in order for God to work in me I need to let GOD have control, not me! I know He can’t do any changing in me unless He has full control, and I really need to have the faith and trust Him that His plans are so much better than mine! After all He knows everything, I know nothing compared to Him! But I know God make some amazing changes, way better than I could, I just have to trust Him!
Alexis, I really hope that you feel better. It seems like we haven’t seen you in a long time! Good point on your devotion.
I know, I miss church! I have what Ben had, but I’m slowly getting better 🙂
I have the same problem as Alexis, I think we all do to some extent. We want to be in control and don’t want to give it all up to Him because we have this thought in our mind that WE can do it! We dont need help! But we do need help, we need to surrender to God and let Him take the wheel because He definitely knows where we’re going more than us. Alot of times I struggle because I try to do it on my own .. I could spare a lot of trial and error if I just gave it to God in the first place. I need to get it into my head that God needs to be in control! I already know that but I still don’t give Him full control sometimes. It seems so simple since you obviously get farther with Him in control but I still struggle to give Him ALL OF IT. Lately I haven’t really been “transforming” but I definitely need to get back on track with my devotions and just let God do the rest! 🙂
So true about how if we listen to God first, we can save ourselves a lot of mistakes and heartache. I don’t know how many times I’ve wanted to kick myself because of that mistake! Sometimes it’s so easy to let us be in control when God should be. We need to hand the steering wheel over to Him, and let Him take us for a drive and lead us down the right roads. On our own we end up making wrong turns, and needing to make u-turns because we mess up. If we just let God have control in the first place, and let Him transform us, we can be the Godly people God wants us to be, and essentially who we want to be. Transformation isn’t just a one time shot, it’s an on going process and something we need to be willing to let happen. It’s so hard, because we think we’re good sometimes, until we hit the wall and need God to pick us back up again.
very true. 🙂 i keep thinking I got it but then I ‘Hit the wall’ and realize…I don’t got this! I need His help haha
we think you have to be interested and influenced to learn his word.we never can do anything alone so why would we be able to change our own mind.