“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Rom. 12:2, NIV).
As children of God, we want to weigh out, agree with and apply His truth in our lives. This requires nothing short of a transformation in our minds. We need to totally change how we look at things in order to perceive God’s will. We cannot determine His plan through the counsel of man or the plans of this world.
Our minds, like our closets, can become cluttered—not by clothes that are in or out of season but by the patterns or trends of this world. These outfits, or thought processes, may look like they belong in our closets the first few years they take up residence there. But with the passage of time, they soon appear threadbare and out of sorts. They fit too tight or too loose, too long or too short. Unless our closets—our minds—are cleared out and reorganized on a timely and regular basis, we will not be able to test and apply God’s truth to our lives.
We may rest assured of three characteristics of God’s plan for us:
- It is for good
- It is pleasing to Him
- It is perfect
The standard for determining what remains in our minds is God’s Word. When we look into the Word, we can compare it to what is in our minds. In doing this we discover what needs to be removed or replaced, clearing space to make room for the wisdom and fresh insights God longs to give us.
How are you building a habit of cleaning the closet of your mind? Do you make time to immerse yourself in God’s Word on a regular basis? Only the renewing of our minds brings true transformation! As you approach God’s Word today, pray:
Father, thank You for the gift of Your Word! You have made Your wisdom available to me so that I can discover Your perfect will for my life. Holy Spirit, as I read Your Word right now, I ask for wisdom and revelation. Identify any clutter in my mind that contradicts or obscures what You say is true. Transform my mind today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Adapted from The True Measure of a Woman: Discover Your Intrinsic Value and See Yourself as God Does (Charisma House) by Lisa Bevere.
