Testing and Approving

"Do not conform any longer to the patterns 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

This text is very helpful for Christians who want to know the will of God for their lives. We are being persuaded to not conform to the worlds philosophies of living or to be "pressed into its mold" but that we are to be transformed. This happens through the renewing of ones mind. This speaks of sanctification, that act of being seperated from sin.

The believer still must struggle against sin. We still have a sin nature that must be crucified daily to live life in abundance. When we feed our fleshly desires and do things that go contrary to the ways of God we sin. But to resist sin and temptation is to feed the spirit. The spirit is feed through prayer and the Word of God. As we allow God's glory to shine through us we are transfigured like Christ was. We become transformed into what God would have us to be.

"The 'renewing' indicates present continuous action on the mind...The continuous renewing of the mind is a major part of the process of sanctification. When one's mind is being renewed by the Word, prayer and right choices, it becomes easy to know and to live in God's perfect will." (The Complete Biblical Library, pg. 193)

The mind is where the spiritual battle wages for the souls of men. Romans 8:7 says "The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so."

In order to know God's perfect will for ones life our minds must be submitted to God. The scripture says "Put on the mind of Christ." I believe the reason so many believers cannot figure out what God's will is for their lives is because they have not submitted their minds to God, and may need to repent of sin. If you are trying to discover God's will for your life, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything that may be blocking your access to God so that you may repent and change in order to know the perfect will of God.

It all starts in the mind.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." Phil. 4:8

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