Are you ever overwhelmed by what’s next? I was thinking about this – particularly since I live in an empty nest and my calendar is different than it used to be. I’ve traded school schedules for writing deadlines, speaking engagements and more ministry opportunities at my local church. But guess what? I still have overwhelmed days.
I used to think I would get to the place in my faith walk where overwhelm would disappear. That hasn’t been my journey. I believe the inner critic’s favorite lie about our faith is that transformation might not happen. I might not be “good enough” to be transformed.
However, I’m learning over and over again that God calls us to renew our minds – not once – but continually. The inner critic wants us to believe that if we haven’t got it figured out by now – what’s the point of trying?
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (NASB95)
Have you ever run into someone you haven’t seen in a while, and although they’re the same, there’s something different about them? You can’t pinpoint the difference, but it’s pleasant and easy to connect with.
Romans 12 encourages us to give our bodies and minds to God as a living and holy sacrifice. Verse two helps us understand how to do that. There are several two-word phrases that show a directive or outcome: do not, but be, so that, you may, and which is.
- Do not. Do not be conformed to the world. If not conformed, then what?
- But be transformed. Okay, but how? By the renewal of your mind. It’s a good directive to have a renewed mind, but Paul doesn’t stop there.
- So that. I love to read the phrase “so that” in the Bible. It means we get a reason for what was said before. Here, it’s so that you may prove the will of God.
- Which is explains that it is the will of God, which is good, pleasing and perfect.
I learned that the person I hadn’t seen in a while had been allowing God’s Holy Spirit to help them change from the inside out through prayer and the practice of making wise, Biblical choices. A renewed mind changes the whole body, and it’s something others notice and want to copy or be like. That’s transformation!
LORD, may I apply the truth of your Word and be made different so that others will want to walk with you and learn to discern your will, too.
Journal prompt: Think about conforming vs being transformed. Write what you think. What thoughts would you like to see transformed? Write them down. Then ask the Lord to show you how He wants to transform and renew your mind.
(devotional excerpt from Freedom From the Inner Critic 14 Devotionals and Journal Prompts by Carol Feil)