Romans 12: 2
Do not conform 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.
A person with a renewed mind has a choice as to what he/she wants to do or be in life.
Paul in this scripture calls believers to a transformed life, a life that is not conformed to that of the world. I strongly believe that no one can live a transformed life without a renewed mind.
Transformation starts from the mind. The only way you and I can recognise the perfect will of God for our lives is to have a renewed mind.
The reason why many people still remain in the same state of defeat even after becoming believers is because they do not have a renewed mindset. They still live in their past, they set aside the grace and love of God for their lives. Transformed believers instead will embrace and cherish the will of God as the best way and the highest form of life for them. However, without a renewed mind you will remain in the same state of defeat, uncertainty, failure and fear.
Acts 3:2-5
Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Peter and John one afternoon met with a man who for over forty years sat at a place called the beautiful gate, yet for him nothing was beautiful. He was crippled from birth and had to be carried everyday to beg for alms. This man was known by everyone who came to the temple. He was crippled, hopeless and in a state of defeat and probably despair.
On this faithful day when he met with Peter and John something happened in this man’s life that changed his life forever
The Bible says the man was expectant. What was he expecting? He probably was expecting money from Peter and John but there was an expectation of something good.
Peter and John were not going to give him what everyone else had always given to him. They were going to give him something completely different something that would bring a transformation to his life forever.
Yet it required a mind that would be renewed. You can never receive what God has for you if you do not have a renewed mind.
Unlike everyone else Peter and John did not give him money but they gave him four words that transformed his life but he had to receive those words. “RISE UP AND WALK”
Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
To arise is a word from the Lord for us this year.
The word ARISE means to
Get up or stand up, rise, get to one's feet, jump up, leap up, spring up · become erect, straighten up.
Many who met with Jesus were commanded to arise and do something that they probably could not do before.
How expectant are you today? Are you at that point in your life where you have lost all hope, where there is no more expectation? You have come to a cross road and you are wondering what is it all about, this Christianity thing.
To arise requires a renewed mind, a decision and determination to arise from what ever situation or circumstance you have found yourself in. It is a determination to change your position or see your position changed.
Many have remained in the same position for years without hope, many have allowed their position of affliction to define their lives.
I am here to challenge you today to have a renewed mind and arise and get up from your position of hopelessness.
Arise from your position of affliction.
Arise from the position of fear.
Transformation starts from your mind. You then go on to believe God for the impossible, obey His command to arise which leads to you walking in His perfect will for your life.
The lame man began to leap and praise God and people were amazed for they had known him to be the man who sat at the beautiful gate begging alms for over 40 years. He could have closed his mind to the words of Peter and John when they said to him, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Instead he opened his mind, heard their word and responded to it.
When we have a renewed mind, we will live a transformed life in Christ. We will be able to test and prove and affirm the good will of God for our lives.
