MIND ORIENTATION - PART 6

MONDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2024

Reference: Romans 12:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

"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."

The New living Translation reads, "Don't copy the behaviour 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."

Being transformed by the renewing of your mind will position you to rightly test and approve what is God's will, especially in these regards - His good, pleasing (acceptable) and perfect will, which those whose minds are conformed to the ways of the world are not readily or consciously able to apply. Why? An unrenewed mind is governed by the flesh because it is fashioned after the pattern of this world and so, it easily adapts to its external, superficial customs, and the unfruitful works of darkness.

On account of this truth, Romans 8:6 reads, "Now the mind of the flesh is death [both now and forever—because it pursues sin]; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace [the spiritual well-being that comes from walking with God - both now and forever]" (AMP). God's Spirit controlling your mind as a result of being yielded to the ministry of the Word - can be exceptional in operation. This implies that there is no renewing effect produced in our minds that is actualised outside of God's truth, and the agency of God in securing a full godly influence on our soul is the Holy Spirit.

An unrenewed mind, which expresses the mind of the flesh, may also be seen to linger in the thought process of a Christian fellow - owing to their neglectful behaviour in discerning and applying the standard of God's good, acceptable and perfect will - to the minor things, and important activities of their daily lives, as well as in their decision-making references.

However, it can be deemed a virtue not to justify such laxity in your Christian walk, because it is unpleasing to God, but rather amplify and kindle afresh the sound teachings of the faith you have received by hearing, so as to bring them to remembrance, then strengthen yourself in the truth and remain vibrant and effective in the things of the Spirit. To that effect, Romans 10:17 reads, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (NKJV).

When your mind is constantly renewed by the Word, through the governing influence of the Spirit, there is nothing too trivial in your life to be brought under this category - is it either good, or acceptable to God? Is it His perfect will?

A constantly renewed mind can discern when something is good, whether something pleases God, and what His perfect will concerning any matter in question or any situation is. Having this purpose in mind, I have decided to expound the three important aspects of God's will mentioned in our referenced Scripture in this manner:

1. That which is good,

2. That which is acceptable,

3. That which is perfect.

When we function in the light of God's Word, we'll always walk as the children of light, and thereby, express strong and growing conviction in discerning God's will pertaining any given situation or matter. Stay tuned for part 7. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - 2 Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Timothy 3:16.

Guided Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift of your Word which is able to build me up and renew my mind so that I might continually experience a glorious life on earth, in Jesus' Name, Amen!