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.
Our thoughts, words and actions can take us places we’ve
never been. We can think, talk, and act
our way into a dark place and allow our souls to dwell there or we can choose
to think, talk, and act our way into the light where everything is fresh and
new. Only on mountain tops can you see
the furthest vistas, the sun rise and set and what once looked like the largest
obstacle now seems minute. I want my
mind to live there, on the mountaintops. But what if there was a better
view? Heaven, yes, from Heaven’s
perspective, that must be the best view where even Earth finds its place
amongst the stars and the planets dance in perfect harmony.
From Heaven’s view all of the worries of
Earth seem but a speck on the massive scale of time of which is eternity.
From Heaven’s view, you might ask the
question, what is worth holding onto and what is just sand slipping through our
fingers? The dark places still exist on
earth but the light, that light that illuminates those dark places, that
everlasting light from Heaven’s throne, surely there is no better vista. I want my thoughts, words, and actions to not
only live there but be propelled from there bathed in the light of my Creator, who’s
transforming me from the dark places and into his glorious light.
My thoughts, words, and actions need transformation to keep
me from the dark paths and places. God’s
word has the answer. Colossians 3:1-2
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on
earthly things. Colossians 3:10 and have
put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its
Creator.
It begins with setting our hearts and minds on things
above.
Focusing on what is lasting and
eternal verses the temporal. To put this
another way, what are we going to take with us when we die? Those things that we can’t take are the
temporal things, the sand that will continually slip through our fingers. No matter how hard we try to grasp, those
things will always evade eternity.
Once we shift our focus to the lasting and eternal, then we
as believers are to choose to put on our new self which is in the process of
renewal by the knowledge of God. God’s
knowledge is found in every word throughout the Bible. Next we are to daily put on compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
We are also to forgive each other and to put on love as a part of this
daily renewal. Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves
with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever
grievances you may have against one another.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in
perfect unity.
Transformation by renewing my mind is a process and it’s a
journey worth taking. This journey will
take me to new places I’ve never been.
I’ve challenged myself to focus on the transformative knowledge of God
that I wrote about in this blog above.
I’m focusing on one virtue a week, meditating on that virtue and letting
it sink deep into my soul and allowing it to transform my thoughts, words and
actions. I’m choosing to do this until I can put on these virtues daily whilst
keeping them in mind throughout my day. Will you join me?
Week 1: compassion
Week 2: kindness
Week 3: humility
Week 4: gentleness
Week 5: patience
Week 6: forgiveness
Week 7: love
What other ways,
through the knowledge of God, do you renew your mind? What are other ways you focus on things above
verses the things of earth?
*Follow me on Facebook www.facebook.com/pathoftheblessing
