BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND
What does that really mean?
New American Standard Version
Romans 12:1, “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Verse 2. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Amplified Version
Romans 12:1, “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. Verse 2. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].
From the Greek
Verse 1. I exhort therefore you, brothers, through the compassion of God, to present the bodies of you a sacrifice living, holy, to God well pleasing, which is (the) reasonable service of you.
Verse 2. And not be conformed to the age this, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, for to prove by you, what is the will of God, good and well pleasing and perfect.
This exhortation by Paul is not ‘a magic formula’. This ‘transformation’ comes from the Greek word, metamorphóō, which is the root word of the English terms “metamorphosis” and “metamorphize.” It is an irreversible transformation, and it does not come miraculously. It comes by exercising your spiritual disciplines. For examples:
Read Ephesians 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, think about these things. Verse 9. As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
ALSO
Read Romans 8:5, “For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Verse 6. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”
ALSO
Read Joshua 1:7, “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the Law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may achieve success wherever you go. Verse 8. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success. Verse 9. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Dwelling on, thinking on, meditating on and memorizing scriptures is always a good thing. But strategically studying and dwelling on, thinking on, meditating on and memorizing ‘targeted scriptures’ is highly effective in renewing your mind and thus being transformed in your thinking and behaviors.
What I mean by ‘targeted scriptures’ is scriptures and texts that speak directly to your thoughts and behaviors in life. It is useful, then, to ‘personalize’ those verses from the ‘third party’ to the ‘first person’. For example:
John 8:31 says, “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.”
Personalized, I would recite to myself thus, “Because I believe Jesus, and Because I abide in Your word, I am Your disciple indeed.”
Matthew 21:21 says, “And Jesus answered them, ’Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.”
Personalized, I would recite to myself thus, “And Jesus is telling me, ’Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.”
Therefore, “since I have faith and do not doubt, I will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if I say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.”
Personalized, I would recite Joshua 1:7, thus, “I will be strong and very courageous; I will be careful to do according to all the Law which Moses commanded; I will not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that I may achieve success wherever I go. Verse 8. This Book of the Law shall not depart from my mouth, but I shall meditate on it day and night, so that I may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then I will make my way prosperous, and then I will achieve success. Verse 9. Has God not commanded me to be strong and courageous! Not to be terrified nor dismayed? The LORD my God is with me wherever I go.”
PLEASE NOTE: This is not a ‘name it and claim it’ methodology. And please do not be mistaken by thinking it is you who is doing these things – it is God, through you, doing His Works. By following the teachings and methods found in scriptures, you will be transformed by the renewing (the reprogramming) of your mind, in order to prove to yourself, what is the will of God in and through your daily life!
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
Text Analysis (From Biblehub.com).
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Verse 2
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