Romans 12:2 "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."
If someone was to conduct a survey with our closest friends and relatives, would they say that we are totally invested in the world in which we are living in, or would they say that we are totally invested in the future age, God’s Kingdom where we will dwell with Him forever? There is no sitting on the fence in this issue. Spiritually, we are in one of two categories and we must choose which set of standards will determine our future. We are either being conformed to the world as we know it or we are being transformed by adapting the standards of the Kingdom, preparing us for the future.
The word conformed actually means to put on, to dress like, etc. so it is saying that as Christians, we should not take on the habits, characteristics, feelings, or ways of those who do not know the Lord. We are to fashion our lives after the example of Christ. When a person surrenders their life to Christ, the Bible says that he is made new, he is transformed and in the midst of this process the mind, heart and soul are affected. It is an all conclusive alteration. The Christian is many times referred to as a new creature in Christ who seeks to pattern their life after the perfect will of God.
This transformation is likened to the flight patterns of the bird of paradise. The bird of paradise, which has a plethora of amazingly beautiful feathers, cannot fly with the wind; if it attempts to do so, the current, being much swifter than its flight, ruffles its plumage and hinders its progress, and finally halts it. These birds are compelled to fly against the wind, which holds their feathers in their place, and thus are able to fly where they're determined to. What a perfect example for the Christian who must not attempt to go with the current of the sinful world. If he/she chooses to conform to the world's ways, like the bird of paradise, they will not only slow down their growth, but their growth in the faith will stop. The Christian must go against the tide of the world and the kingdom of the carnal mind and seek to do the will of God so that he/she will continue to be transformed in His likeness.
God's way is the good approach to life on this earth; His will is the perfect way for all people; and the soul that tests it shall find it is true. I have tasted and seen the goodness of the Lord and I pray that if you haven't already, you will venture to explore Jesus and see for yourself the peace and joy that the Christian life affords.
_____________________________
Personalize this prayer.
Dear Lord,
It is so easy to get caught up in worldly affairs but I pray that You would help us to be eternally focused at all times. May Your purposes and priorities dominate our thoughts and prompt us to live according to Your will. Help us to live in such a way that there is no question in people’s minds as to where our loyalty lies. After all, everything should be all about You, not us. May our joyful songs rise to You and give other’s an indication of who we represent and what we are all about.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
#tranformed #conclusive #alteration #conform #patternofthisworld #transformedbytherenewingofyourmind #Godswill #Hisgoodpleasingandperfectwill #survey #closestfriends #relatives #totallyinvested #invested #world #futureage #GodsKingdom #dwell #sittingonthefence #spiritually #standards #determineourfuture #adapting #Kingdom #future #toputon #todresslike #habits #maxims #feelings #Lord #fashion #fashionourlives #exampleofChrist #surrenders #lifetoChrist #Christ #Bible #mind #heart #soul #conclusivealteration #Christian #newcreatureinChrist #perfectwillofGod #flightpatterns #birdofparadise #plethora #beautiful #feathers #cannotfly #wind #current #swifter #plumage #hindersitsprogress #stops #flyagainstthewind #perfectexample #sinfulworld #growth #faith #goagainstthetide #kingdom #kingdomofthecarnalmind #seektodothewillofGod #Hislikeness #goodapproachtolife #perfectway #soultastedandseen #goodnessoftheLord #venture #exploreJesus #peace #joy #Christianlifeaffords #worldlyaffairs #eternallyfocused #atalltimes #Yourpurposes #priorities #dominate #thoughts #promptus #Yourwill #noquestion #peoplesminds #loyaltylies #allaboutYou #joyfulsongs #risetoYou #indicationofwhowerepresent #whatweareallabout