Hello everyone!
I just wanted to take a little bit of time to check in and say howdy.
I have been working through quite a few things to gear up and prepare for all this year holds. I'm not even completely sure that I know what that entails yet. However, I am positive that He holds the future (Jer. 29:11) and that His thoughts and ways are higher (and better) than mine. (Isaiah 55:9) I am F.R.O.G.ging it, for sure. (Fully Relying On God)
One of the first things I know is that my word of the year is transform. I am part of a few God-centered groups on Facebook. Posts started going up around December about each person's word of the year for 2019. I thought mine was going to be something like anxiety or fear. However, the Lord led me to this one instead through scripture.
My scripture of the year is Romans 12:2, "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." (NASB)
I also like these versions. I have adopted the second one for sure.
"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." (NLT)
"Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God--what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect." (Good News Translation, GNT)
"And do not imitate this world, but be transformed by the renovation of your minds, and you shall distinguish what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God." (Aramaic Bible in Plain English)
What I love about comparing different versions of the Bible is that you get a more full and complete picture of what it is trying to say. These 4 verses are basically saying the same thing. Yet, there are subtle and telling differences. For instance, "the renewing of your mind" means what, exactly? Left on its own, that could maybe mean multiple things.
Yet, in comparing the other translations, it is made clear that there is a silent understanding that "renewing" it is through reading God's Word and being willing to listen to Him. "but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." "but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind." How does God change your thinking, which changes your mind? He does it through a personal relationship with Him and with the reading of His Word.
I also love the word "renovation" in the Aramaic translation. That goes hand in hand with the NLT use of the phrase "new person" When you renovate a house, you usually do a complete overhaul of a room or the entire structure. It is nothing like what it was before. Renovation would also be a "complete change of your mind." There is no second-guessing the meaning here. A true transformation in the sense of this verse comes only from within.
So, we are allowing God the access to override (overhaul, renovate, and change) any thinking, protocols, or reactions that are either incorrect, defective, and displeasing to Him in order to replace them with thinking that is true, effective and desirable to Him. He has given us free will to make our own decisions. Those decisions we make every day can lead to either blessings or dire consequences. We don't have to let him rewire our minds. Yet, if we choose to, we can live a more pleasing and blessed life, even to our own eyes, through Him.
God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) Why, then, do we allow ourselves to buy into the lies of the devil that tells us things about how defeated and worthless we are?
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)
We are the sons and daughters of the most high God. If He is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) He will never leave us or forsake us. (Deut. 31:8) He who has begun a good work in us will be faithful to complete it. (Phil. 1:6) He has made a way for us out of the iniquity of our sin. We are not bound to this world and its fate. Jesus paid for our salvation with His own life and blood. (Rom. 5:8) All we have to do is accept Him into our hearts (John 1:12) and to take up our cross and follow Him. (Matt. 16:24) If we abide in Him, He will abide in us. (John 15:5)
What have we to lose by allowing God to inwardly and completely change the way we think, except sin and death? Of all the things that God, Himself, chose to model, He chose compassion and love. No one, nor any other spirit, is more worthy than He to lead us in the way we should go.
(*The words in blue are emphasized by me for reference of transform.)
Romans 6 (NiRV)
"What should we say then? Should we keep on sinning so that God’s grace can increase? 2 Not at all! As far as sin is concerned, we are dead. So how can we keep on sinning? 3 All of us were baptized into Christ Jesus. Don’t you know that we were baptized into his death? 4 By being baptized, we were buried with Christ into his death. Christ has been raised from the dead by the Father’s glory. And like Christ we also can live a new life.
5 By being baptized, we have been joined with him in a death like his. So we will certainly also be joined with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that what we used to be was nailed to the cross with him. That happened so our bodies that were ruled by sin would lose their power. So we are no longer slaves of sin. 7 That’s because those who have died have been set free from sin.
8 We died with Christ. So we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ was raised from the dead and will never die again. Death doesn’t control him anymore. 10 When he died, he died once and for all time. He did this to break the power of sin. Now that he lives, he lives in the power of God.
11 In the same way, consider yourselves to be dead as far as sin is concerned. Now you believe in Christ Jesus. So consider yourselves to be alive as far as God is concerned. 12 So don’t let sin rule your body, which is going to die. Don’t obey its evil desires. 13 Don’t give any part of yourself to serve sin. Don’t let any part of yourself be used to do evil. Instead, give yourselves to God. You have been brought from death to life. So give every part of yourself to God to do what is right. 14 Sin will no longer control you like a master. That’s because the law does not rule you. God’s grace has set you free."
I am looking forward to all the changes and strides of improvement that will be made in my life this year. Some may be evident and many may not be. My internal thoughts, reflections, and attitudes may not be visible but I am sure they will be different because they are already in the process of evolving. I am mindful of His commandments. I am becoming slower to become angry. I am striving to forgive as quickly as He forgave me and to pray for those that curse me. I am sure that I still have a long way to go but it is a definite start.
I pray that all of you are blessed and continually reaching for God. The more you lean into Him and dwell in His presence, the more you will want to lean into His presence. Let Him inwardly change the way you think and renovate your heart and mind as well. 😉 Be ye transformed. 💖
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