Conforming Our Hearts to God’s Will

Examining Scripture:

“And be not conformed to this world:
but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable,
and perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:2

Evaluating Soil

In today’s culture emulation is a way of life. We’re conditioned from a young age to look, behave, work, play, shop, sing, decorate, cook, and succeed like those we look up too, or who are doing what we’d like to do. We compare ourselves and conform our actions and attitudes to those we see in magazines, and books, or on TV and social media. We follow people’s lifestyles and emulate their behaviors hoping we can live bigger and better lives too.

Romans 12:2, teaches us that we are not to be conformed to this world. It goes against God’s Will. The Greek definition says that “conformed” means to:

• Fashion alike
• Conform to the same pattern

This made me think, “What or Who am I fashioning or patterning my life after?”

Experiencing Seasons:

We seem to have a natural tendency to want to fit in and be accepted and approved by others. Very few people enjoy exclusion or disapproval.

Since I was a young girl, I’ve always wanted everyone to get along, have friends, and be included. However, because of the way I was taught, I made a commitment to not lower my standards to fit in. Sadly, this has cost me many friendships through the years.

As much as I’ve wanted friends, I never wanted friendships that meant I had to deceive my parents, displease God, or do things I knew were wrong. This left me excluded in many ways. Although those are sad experiences, I carry no regret.

Embracing Solace:

I’ll admit, “Rejection stinks at any age.” While doing right can cost us, God graciously comforts us and helps us stay conformed to His Will. He may even send new friends along the way. Doing God’s will alone provides more solace than conforming to the world ever will.

Enjoying Simplicity:

Sometimes our minds get so cluttered and complicated by the ways of the world that we become overwhelmed with earthly desires, decisions, and directions. This can pull us away from God’s desires for us.

God’s plan is simple. His Will produces holiness. The world’s ways do not.

Employing Solutions:

If we want to cultivate holiness in our hearts, we are to be “transformed by the renewing of our minds” as taught in Romans 12:2. This “renewing” in the Greek means “restoration.”

So, how can we restore our minds? Let’s start with asking ourselves a few questions about what we’re currently conforming to:

• Where are our hearts?
• Who are we following?
• What are we doing?
• Why are we doing it?

Is our heart conformed to the world or God’s will?

Renewing our minds comes with a specific purpose—to “prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.” How do we prove that?

According to the Greek definition of “prove,” we are to:

“test it, (literally or figuratively) which by implication means to approve it.”
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)

The best way to prove something is try it out. We can prove God’s Will by applying it to our lives. When He says do, we do. When He says don’t, we don’t.

Renewed minds transform us. This is God’s perfect will.

Bring It Home

I’m currently conforming to God’s Will by filling my mind with Bible truths.
How would you renew your mind?

Praying for you as we grow together,
Smiles, BRC