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. — Romans 12:2

We are nearing the end of our 2 weeks of devotions on renewing the mind, and I’ve been reflecting on what I’ve learned through each of the devotions, as well as where I haven’t measured up and what is possible. I’ve become aware of how I’ve fallen short in taking steps to renew my mind, having allowed complacency, pride, and my aversion for discomfort to get in the way. I’m thankful for God’s grace and the fact that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) And I have a fresh desire and determination to move on from the places where I’ve been stuck, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

I’m also tremendously thankful that we can choose at any moment to renew our minds—the door is always open to us! We are not beholden to anything- in Christ we are free. Any time we want to, we are free to confess our weaknesses and accept God’s grace…free to choose what we feed our minds….free to choose to abide in Christ and in His Word…free to choose to rewrite the narrative with the storyline God reveals to us. What He wants to do in us is glorious! He wants us to be “transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory.” (2 Cor 3:18 NIV)

Exercise: Ask God to show you any areas in need of His transforming power that you haven’t given over to Him yet, or have been hesitant to give over to Him completely. Ask for the grace to ease your grip and let Him start (or resume/continue) the process of transformation in those areas.

Prayer: Lord, as we give every part of ourselves and our lives to you, we thank you for your love and goodness and what You want to do in us, to make us more like Jesus. Thank you for doing in us what we could never do without you.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. — Isaiah 43:18-19