Change The Way You Think

Scripture

Romans 12:2 NLT Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good, pleasing, and perfect.

Let’s go on a journey

In every culture, regardless of its origin, we are taught how to behave, what we should like, and what our belief systems should be rooted in. From the moment we are born, our surroundings and circumstances shape us. Love and trauma influence our wiring, and we absorb the environment around us. Today, we often find our interests through influencers driven by personal gain. Music that leaves us feeling more depressed, angry, sad, and confused; and algorithms that feed us what we are most drawn to, often leading most down destructive paths. Despite having access to more resources, many still feel isolated, misunderstood, and struggle to find their purpose. What is it that we are truly missing?

Let’s backtrack a bit

If you’ve been following along, you can see that Jesus offers us the freedom to choose whether or not we want to follow him. He invites us to come weary and laden with doubt so that he can bring genuine healing into our lives. He helps us develop faith in him to overcome our unbelief, preventing anxiety from stealing our peace and joy. However, we keep allowing what we see and experience to dictate our thoughts and determine our path. We choose what we allow to dwell in our minds. Romans 12:2 tells us not to “copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” The KJV says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This means we must not allow our past, environment, or culture to solely shape us; instead, we must surrender to God’s power so that we can be transformed from within.

This scripture is countercultural. Throughout the chapter, Paul passionately urges us to do the opposite of what our culture teaches. He warns, “don’t think you’re better than you really are” (Ps. 12:3), never repay evil with more evil (Ps. 12:17). Never take revenge, leave that to God’s righteous anger (Ps. 12:19), and “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink” (Ps. 12:20). God declares, “my thoughts are nothing like yours, and my ways are far beyond anything you can imagine” (Isa. 55:8). Yet still everyone sees themselves as the main character, leaving no one to play supporting roles. People relentlessly betray one another to make a point. Revenge, once carefully planned, is served cold. When an enemy appears hungry, it is justified to say they deserve it. To renew your mind means to make it new or to start afresh. We must unlearn what we’ve been taught to align with God’s will, which is good, pleasing, and perfect. In order to do that Ephesians 4:22 tells us to, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Colossians 3:10-11 essentially says, Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from, or your background. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

Let’s bring it home

Sometimes we accept what’s handed to us and speak only of what we see, rather than what needs to happen in our lives. We adopt the victim’s stance, believing events always happen to us and that we are powerless to change them. We feel helpless, convinced we must simply deal with the hand we’ve been dealt, never rising to the occasion to fight against the norm because life just feels unfair. We rely on others to solve our problems, hoping they will validate us and declare us great. We often fail to realize that God Himself has chosen us as His people. It’s worth considering that our circumstances might not be entirely random or by chance. In fact, the tough situations we’ve faced and conquered could be opportunities to support others in similar struggles, helping them find hope and escape situations that could have killed us or made us lose our faith. Sometimes, instead of using our pain to uplift others, we hurt them or push them away, but we can choose a different path. 

God has not forgotten you. He is waiting for you to change your mind about him, about yourself, and about your situation, because when you do, you can stand in the authority that Christ has given us.

Challenge

Today I challenge you to rise up and commit to something different. Cry out to the Lord and ask Him to renew your mind and shift your perspective; see that what you’ve faced only made you stronger, and that you still have purpose because you’re still alive. Resist culture’s influence and let God transform you into a new creation. Be patient in times of trouble and continue praying (Ps. 12:12). Don’t let the lost lead you astray, and don’t allow your past to keep you chained. God’s way brings freedom and identity; it guides you toward your purpose when you draw near. Learn to love one another (Ps. 12:9) and always look to help someone else in need (Ps. 12:13). I challenge you to change the way you think!

Questions for the Week (Grab a notebook and dedicate it to these weekly devotions, and comment below if you like)

The more we seek God, the better we understand our true selves, and the less we concern ourselves with matters that don’t advance us toward our purpose.

1. What has your culture, environment, upbringing, or circumstances taught you that is actually not true?
   1. My Example: My life’s experiences have shown me that trusting others can be difficult, and I used to think that no one truly loved me and that I was the only one who could protect myself. Because of this, I kept the world at a distance. But when I opened my heart to the Lord and invited Him to renew my mind, I began to see things differently. I realized that I was letting hurt and pain control my thoughts and actions, which wasn’t my truth. As I started healing, I understood that those negative beliefs were just lies from the enemy, trying to keep me stuck in cycles of self-sabotage.
2. Changing your mindset requires shedding the life that causes you to follow your desires instead of God’s Spirit. What are you willing to sacrifice to see transformation in your life??

Come back next Sunday for the new weekly devotion! Please like this post if you were encouraged. See you then!

If you missed last week’s devotional, click here