By the Renewal of Your Mind

It really doesn’t take much to look around and see things aren’t normal this year. Everything is changing so fast leaving us in this state of uncertainty about what’s coming next. It has brought a whole new set of emotions to a lot of families and individuals. Perhaps it’s always been this way, but when hard seasons of life come along they rise to the top. I see a lot of stress, anxiety, depression, grieving, and just some hard stuff happening to people from all walks of life. There seems to be this sense of depletion or defeat that we have accepted as the new normal.

All of us had plans this year that didn’t go as we had hoped. We had put pressure on ourselves at the beginning of 2020 for this to be the best year ever. And well, you know the rest of the story. None of us wished this year to be what it has been, actually if we could take a vote I would say the majority would vote for a complete reset. And maybe for you that’s been your whole life. It’s a never ending cycle of failed attempts at this race we call life. And then we throw in all the expectation people have on us and it just becomes harder and harder.

I can’t be the only one who finds this cycle exhausting and self-defeating, right?

In the midst of an ever-changing world there is and always will be one constant: Jesus. What if we could just pause for a moment, be still, sit in the mess and use this time not to sulk in our sorrows or complain about everything we can, but use it as a time to allow Christ to mold us and shape us, to teach us something new each day. What if as a church Church we choose to walk a little closer to Jesus each day? What if instead of drawing a line in the sand we focused on moving forward?

It that easy? No. But after the first step, the next steps become easier. So, what is the first step? For me, it is meditating on and praying through Scripture. I am convinced that the more I think like Jesus, the more I act like Him. I heard someone say one time: “Right thinking equals right actions.”

Romans 12:2 says it this way, “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.”

When we meditate on scripture it becomes more than just reading a passage then going on about our day. It means pausing to really take God’s words in, praying that He will help us live it out, and repeating what we have read throughout the day. It will eventually become part of us and He will use it to speak to us, to guide us, to correct us, and before we know it we have our attitudes and behaviors have changed and we look more like Jesus.

Father, allow me to use each day as an opportunity to draw closer to you. To seek your face in the times of uncertainty, frustration, stress, and when I feel ready to give up. May we be a people who doesn’t sulk in our sorrows, complain about everything in life, but may we rise above, be different, be holy, and not be conformed to what this world tells us is right and good. Align my heart and mind with Scripture, teach me each day what it looks like to be a representative of the Gospel and live as the image of Christ. Amen.