Devotion: Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2 Do not conform 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 you ever participated in the AWANA program, whether as a child or a leader, you will recognize this verse. And when you read the context around the verse it is easy to understand why it was selected for inclusion in that program. Kids and adults alike benefit from memorizing this verse and reminding themselves of its main points.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world. What a way to start. It is so easy for us to follow the crowds and do as they do. And peer pressure makes it all the worse. But we are warned by Paul to avoid following worldly patterns and lifestyles and instead to live holy and righteous lives. It means we have to reject cultural conformity. We are to have no part in the secular societal norms and ways of living.

This rejection of cultural conformity happens in the mind. We must decide to be renewed and transformed, starting in the mind and then seeing it fulfilled in our actions and behaviors. This is an active process. It is something that we need to do often. We must take every thought captive and give it to God and then strive to live a life of righteousness instead.

And then we have that second half of our verse. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. This is what we want in our lives. This is what we NEED in our lives. We want a spiritually renewed, transformed mind that is able to discern the will of God and then do it.

On a final note…

I LOVE the way this verse is translated in the NLT: “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.”  (Romans 12:2)

I pray that today you would let God transform YOU into a new person by changing the way you think.

Prayer: Lord, Thank You for helping me to change my thinking. I want to be transformed. I don’t want to live in the ways of the world. I want to do what is holy and pleasing to You. Amen 

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