The Renewal of the Mind (Romans 12:2)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
– Romans 12:2
This is such a critical verse for us to hear, apply, and obey in our lives. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” This verse is one of the primary reasons why I personally… And I don’t mean this in any trite way, or I’m not saying this just flippantly. I cannot live every day without spending time alone with God; in His Word, in prayer in the morning every day, because I need my mind transformed by God and His Word.
If I don’t have that time alone with Him, then I will be conformed to the pattern of this world. My thinking, my desiring, my planning, just my outlook on the whole day, is so prone to be conformed to the way this world thinks that I need every day to reset my mind, to make sure that I’m going into the day with a transformed mind by the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and time alone with Him.
Romans 12:2 points to the need of starting each day in God’s presence.
And it’s why I would encourage you to at least start your day with some time with God. Even if you spend more concentrated time with Him later in the day. Have some way to make sure you’re going into your day not conforming to the pattern of this world. Or not just running into the world in all that you have going on in your day, without pausing and letting God’s Word, God’s Spirit and time with God affect the way you think, desire, and how you approach every moment of your day. So I just want to encourage you with that, as I pray this verse over us.
God, we confess, we acknowledge that we are all prone to be conformed to the pattern of this world. And I just think about all the messages from the world that will come at us today on social media. On the screens that statistics show we’ll spend hours looking today and in interactions with other people. And just our own natural inclinations, fleshly inclinations.
God, we need Your Spirit and Your Word to transform us to live toward the life that You have designed for us today and every day. So God, we pray over each other that we would not be conformed to the power of this world. That we would not live with the wisdom this world offers, that’s foolish before You. That we would live with the wisdom that comes from Your Word and Your Spirit.
Romans 12:2 reminds us of our need to be conformed to God’s Word.
God, we pray that we would not desire what this world desires. That we would desire what Your Word says You want for us. That our thoughts, the way we process things, our words, the way we speak, that all of it would not be conformed to the pattern of this world. But that it would be transformed, starting with the renewal of our minds. God, we pray that You help us to do whatever is needed in our lives on a daily basis and particularly in the mornings, to make sure we go into the day with transformed minds.
And God, we praise You for Your Word that guards us from the ways of this world, and the ends toward which the ways of this world lead us. God, we pray that You would help us to live transformed lives. The life that You’ve designed for us to live, and that You’ve made possible for us to live with Your Word.
A Prayer for the Chalvadi People
And God, we pray for the world in light of your Word. We pray today, fix our minds and hearts in intercession for the Chalvadi people of India. For over 200,000 Chalvadi. They’re Kannada speaking men, women, and children in India. God, we pray that they would be transformed by Your Word. Transform them by the gospel spreading to them. Bless our brothers and sisters in India for the spread of the gospel to the Chalvadi people of India. That they might experience the life that’s found in the transforming power of Your Word. God, we pray Romans 12:2 over each other in Jesus’ Name. Help us not to be conformed to the power of this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds today. Amen.
