Romans 12:2 – And do not be 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.

Paul urges you not to be conformed to this world, or as someone once put it: “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold.” When you come into the kingdom of God, you should abandon the thought-patterns and lifestyles of this world. The world as used here means the society or system that man has built in order to make himself happy without God. It is a kingdom that is hostile toward God. Christ died to deliver you from this world. It would be absolute disloyalty to the Lord for believers to love the world. Anyone who loves the world is an enemy of God. You should not only be separated from the world; you should be transformed by the renewing of your mind, which means that you should think the way God thinks, as revealed in the Bible. Then you can experience the direct guidance of God in your life. And you will find that His will, instead of being distasteful and hard, is good and acceptable and perfect.

Challenge:

Many of the battles you face as a believer are the battles in your mind. The negative thoughts about who you are or what you are going through or what you should be doing at the moment. The world puts such high demands on what you should look like, what you should wear and the things you should have to make you happy. This verse is a great reminder of not allowing those things to influence you and take control of you. But rather allow your heart to be led by God and rest in the person He has made you to be. Your challenge this week is to think about who you are in Christ. As a believer you are a child of God and you are most valuable to Him. Renew your mind everyday and focus on the goodness of God and not the darkness of this world. Gods will for you is that He can use you to touch the life of someone in your circle of influence that needs encouragement. Make yourself available to God this week and may God bless you richly.