Romans 12:2 | Be Transformed
Romans 12:2 ESV says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
God invites us not to be mere subjects in his kingdom. He calls us to be transformed. It’s worth taking the time to consider. God is powerful and rightfully the ruler of the universe. He could have commanded all creation to worship and serve him; in my opinion, he would have been justified. He would even still be righteous and good. That is how much more powerful and holy he is than us.
Instead, God uses this power to reign as a generous and gracious God. Our invitation is not the bondage of slavery. He invites us to be like him through the transformational work that comes from encountering God and being disciplined by the Spirit.
Encountering God will never leave you the same. In fact, if you aren’t changed at some level, I doubt you have encountered God.
There are times in our faith journey that radically change us. Perhaps the moment of salvation, a breakthrough of deliverance, or a gift of healing. These moments mark us and stick with us, but they aren’t the only side of the story.
There is also the slow growth as God molds us like clay. There is a process of abiding that equips us to do precisely what Paul says in this verse. We learn to discern the will of God and live according to what is acceptable and perfect.
I want to invite you to a confession, surrender, and transformation.
Confess that you often confuse what is good with what is self-serving and that you often fail to discern the will of God because you’ve been conformed to the pattern of the world. Surrender the strongholds where you have conformed to the world's ideology, practices, and values. Be transformed through the renewing of your mind as God teaches you the truth of who he is and who he has called us to be.
Psalm 19 is a beautiful place to begin renewing your mind.
Most people reading this post will move right on into the day. Perhaps your situation right now doesn’t allow you to stop and spend some moments in prayer. But I want to invite you one more time into this moment of prayer. Consider the freedom that follows a renewed mind and a transformed heart. Consider the willingness of the Holy Spirit to work in your life. Consider how great a privilege it is to be invited to draw near to God, not as a captive servant, but as a son and daughter.
Abiding happens daily in his presence. Abiding Daily is a simple and practical reminder to stay connected to the vine. Each prompt is inspired from the scriptures and designed to point you toward prayer and encounter. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To get the Daily Invitation sent to you every day click this link or text “Daily” to +1 (779) 237-3914.
