Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer 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."
I was thinking about the fact that allowing God to renew me - mind, body, heart & soul - requires a certain amount of commitment & resolve. In the abstract, His renewal and transformation sound like a great plan...but when it comes to walking that out, and making space for His work, I sometimes find myself truly challenged.
What I'm learning is that if I want to surrender results to Him, I also have to surrender the space in which the prep work happens. Sometimes this is space in my day, space in the construction of my life and, almost always, space inside my will & heart.
So, looking back at Romans 12:2, I see a tip: the word "pattern" jumps out at me. I think about the patterns in my thinking and in my behavior, the patterns in my emotional responses and reactions. This verse tells me that, in order to be transformed, I need to stop conforming to these patterns; I need to break out of the mold of my own life. I need to submit my actions to His will, and He does the transformation. That submission (oh, the "s-word!) is the key. And it's in the small, finite, one-at-a-time decisions that I submit. It's not a theory; it's a practice. And yes, I definitely need practice in order to get better at it.
Thankfully, the promised outcome is worth the resolve. One little day at a time!
