Be Transformed By The Renewing Of Your Mind
by Margaret Silvester
We were staying at a centre in Russia, set alongside other dwellings, all built on an unmade road. The road had developed deep ruts from weathering and constant use. Looking on I was convinced that once the wheels were in the ruts, the cars could find their way home without any assistance from the driver. The ruts kept the wheels secure.
Strongholds in our mind are like deep ruts on a dirt road. You don’t need to steer the car, the wheels stay in the grooves. Ruts in the mind force you into one rigid restricted direction, robbing you of abundant life outside of the narrow dirt road experience. These ruts in the mind are ways of thinking that we have built into ourselves in infancy and early childhood. We often don’t know that they exist, but they guide and entrap us, daily robbing us peace of heart and mind that is the fruit of an intimate relationship with God.
Our verses for today give us a three step process for the renewing of our minds. Firstly, we are to become living sacrifices by giving ourselves without reserve to God. This is something that involves mind, will and heart – the least we can do when we consider the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Secondly, we are to be different to the world – not to conform to its ways of thinking and behaving. We are to stand out as different. Thirdly, we are to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The root of the word transformed is metamorphosis. The dictionary meaning of this is ‘A change of form by natural or supernatural means’.
A caterpillar goes through a natural process and emerges from a hard outer case as a butterfly, to live a new life. It has been changed in appearance and nature. It flies free. Similarly, when the supernatural process of our minds being renewed takes place, we are changed. We think differently and act differently. The old nature with its wrong values, beliefs and practices is replaced by the new nature we have in Christ.
We are not able to transform ourselves, not is it a natural or an automatic process. Wrong patterns of thinking and behaving that have been deeply embedded in us over many years need to be recognised as sins, and slain at the cross. It’s the work of the Holy Spirit to transform us, as we submit to Him. ‘The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace’ (Romans 8:6).
Prayer: Father, today I submit myself to You. I acknowledge that I can’t change myself and that transformation is a work of Your Spirit. Please show me the areas in my life that need changing and give me the grace to humble myself before You, so that Your Spirit can change me from the inside out. I pray for the glory of Jesus. Amen.
Margaret Silvester had a career as a teacher prior to being called into full time Christian Ministry with her husband, David, in 1986. They were involved in establishing a Healing Ministry in the local church and Margaret has a passion to see lost and wounded people found and restored. She and her husband joined the Ellel Ministries teaching and ministry team in 2000 after a clear call from God. Margaret`s book "Stepping Stones to the Father Heart of God" has recently been published.
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