Refresh the Mind

Scriptures: Romans 12:1-2, Romans 9:22-23, Romans 9:16

Why God Wants To Refresh Our Mind – by Sym Yeow

When I was younger, I used to help my Mum cook dinner by chopping the ends off the beans and peeling the potatoes. I used to think I was an expert potato peeler, but now I realise that my Mum was very patient. In fact, even though I was slowing down the process, she still wanted me to help her, and she was able to use my part and my willingness to help to prepare a lovely meal.  

God too, wants to involve you in His plans. But we need to remember that it is not about us, but through His glorious goodness.

Romans 12:1 is a reminder that through God’s mercies, although we may not be deserving, God can use you. In fact, not only CAN God use you in His plans, He WANTS to use you in His plans.

The enemy wants you to believe the many lies that say you aren’t good enough. But God’s mercy is not only an invitation to look at His power and authority, but also to set your eyes into his loving and kind heart.  

This mercy is available to all. When you fully accept and believe this, you should then allow it to impact your mind and body. It starts in your mind, because where your thoughts begin, your actions will follow. 

And so, as the Passion Translation asks, what should our response be to God’s marvellous mercies? Well, when you understand the gospel and love, your response is to be willing. God is looking for someone to say, “yes God, use me” and “yes God, I will do it.”  

If you have a heart that is willing, God can do the rest.

As we explore the rest of Romans 12 over the next few days, you will be able to see how God can transform the rest of your life, but it starts first in the mind.

Questions:

(1) In what areas of your life can you begin to say “yes God, use me”?

(2) Practically, what does being willing look like for you? 

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, Thank you that through your kindness and mercy, you want to use me in your plans. Today I surrender my own plans to yours and say that “I am willing”. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

What does being Living Sacrifices mean for us? – by Barbara San Jorge Ruiz

Have you ever watched a game of poker? There’s one sentence that can be said within a game that changes everything… “I AM ALL IN.”

What if there is more in common with watching a game of poker as there is with this passage in Romans than we realise?

The writer is urging us to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. By definition, a sacrifice is costly; it requires you to give up something valuable. Therefore, to offer yourself as a living sacrifice should be costly. It requires your whole self — not only the easier areas to surrender to God, but also the areas that feel risky and scary to do so.

I know it might be a massive step of faith to offer your whole self to God, but this is done in light of God’s mercy and, therefore, his own sacrifice for you on the cross. 

At this moment, you might feel stirred to offer God an area of your life. Maybe it is a dream or desire, a situation or outcome, a relationship or an opportunity, or surrendering yourself wholeheartedly to His ways and will. 

Well, let me encourage you that it says this is our most beautiful and true worship to Him.

Offering yourself as a living sacrifice is a daily choice. 

Today is a new opportunity to choose to be ‘all in’.

Questions:

(1) What stood out to you by the phrase ‘living sacrifice’ in Romans 12:1?

(2) What are you choosing to surrender to God?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, You gave your all for me on the cross. Now I offer my whole self to you. I surrender, Lord. Have your way in me. I am all in. I am yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scriptures: Romans 12:2, Galatians 5:19-23

Conformed to the World vs. Transformed by His Word – by Jordan Denton

We live in a world that champions sin, and at times this can greatly impact our minds through the constant exposure of a lifestyle of sin — whether on social media, amongst friends or around us.

In medical research published by Baris Afsar, the average person spends at least 2 hours a day on social media, and within their research there was an even greater correlation between social media and anxiety leading to difficulties sleeping as well as lessened cognitive function. This research reveals how easy it can be to expose ourselves to content that wants us to conform to the world & its patterns.

You may read this and relate to this study, or you may have even lessened your social media intake. It is a great reminder of the fruit of what we spend our thoughts & attention on. 

Romans 12:2 speaks to us about being careful and recognising the patterns of the world we live in, speaking directly to how we spend our time, and how easy it can be to be conformed to the pattern of the world. 

In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul makes reference to the patterns of the world and the fruit of being transformed by his Word with a renewed mind:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

We are given guidelines on how to live our lives in step with the Holy Spirit, pursuing the fruits of the spirit and trusting that this is what is best for us. 

There are accounts of the early church fasting to take time to be in prayer to not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by His Word. This is a great example of giving up something to help renew & refresh your mind by spending more time with Him.

As we submit to his Word and live according to the Holy Spirit, we are set free from the world’s patterns and we are able to live according to his good and perfect will.

The evidence is in the fruit.

Questions:

(1) Which area in your life do you find easily conforms to the world’s patterns? How have you seen it impact the way you think?

(2) Paul urges us throughout Galatians to spend time devoted to prayer and meditating on the Word. How can you practically do this today?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, As we meditate on your Word help us to refresh and renew our minds to think more like you. Help us to live according to your Holy Spirit, and be with us as we endeavour to rid ourselves of the patterns of this world & be transformed by your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scriptures: Romans 12:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

How Does God Reveal His Will in Scripture? – by Jarron Rima

The humble flick-n-pick.

We’ve probably all found ourselves here at some point in life. Flicking to any page in the Bible, trying to pick a random verse and hoping that God would use it to reveal His will for us. 

I know that I’d often resort to flicking and picking; fingers crossed with hopes of suddenly having a revelation of God’s will for my life.

But, unfortunately, that’s sometimes just not how it works.

You’re probably asking “Then how does it work?”

Here are two things I’ll encourage you to remember.

(1) Remember that God’s Word is drenched in His will for us.

The Bible is filled with passages, like 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, that tell us plainly of God’s will for us.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

But sometimes it isn’t that plain and clear. 

Sometimes it requires a bit of labour to find His will in scripture. I’ve learnt that if I search diligently through His Word I can find the will of God for every situation I face. So don’t give up. Keep reading.

But, what do we do if His will isn’t obvious?

(2) Remember that the consistency of your intimacy with God will teach you to become familiar with His Voice.

You’d probably recognise the voice of your best friend in a crowd because you’ve spent so much time together. In a similar way, the more time you spend with God in His Word and His presence, the easier it will be to recognise His will for you in the scriptures… even when it isn’t obvious.

Like it says in Romans 12:1-2, we will be able to know what God’s will is for us, but that is a product of living a life that is surrendered to Him; a life that has recognised the need to be changed by the constant renewal of the mind through His word.

So, draw near to God and dive deep into His word. 

Trust Him and His promises for you. 

Let’s be people who can easily recognise His voice and will for our lives through being in His Word.

Questions:

(1) What are some scriptures that help us understand God’s will? 

(2) Have you found yourself questioning God’s will for your life? Why?

(3) Can you think of a time where God’s will didn’t make any sense to you, but in the long run it was exactly what you needed? 

(4) Have you ever found yourself looking for “God’s will,” but in reality you’re searching for affirmation for your own will? 

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, I trust you. I thank you for being faithful and gracious toward me. You know my pathway and you know what I need. I ask that as I draw closer to You, in Your Word and presence, that I would be able to know what Your will is for my life- your good, perfect and pleasing will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scriptures: Romans 12:2, Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 7:7

How To Live With a Refreshed & Renewed Mind – by BJ Lane

In 1985, the International Maritime Organisation introduced a new computer-based navigation system for marine travel. 

Boats would now be able to see maps of the sea and land as they departed into the ocean for travel — the technology was revolutionary.

Before this new type of navigation was introduced, ships had a much more difficult task when setting sail. Because of the lack of proper tools, it was much harder for them to stay on course. 

For example, if a ship was heading west in one straight direction, and they steered off course just 1 meter without realising it, eventually the ship would end up in some place completely different from where it needed to be.

Our lives can be similar. 

We have a course that is set for us — a way of living that is pleasing to God — and it can be easy for us to get distracted and end up far off from that way of living.

Paul tells us, in Romans 12:2, that we ought to be renewed in our mind so that we may “discern what is the will of God”. God’s will for your life is pleasing and perfect and it is the course at which our life should go.

But the question is, how do we discern what God’s will is? How can we know it?

Let’s look at Jeremiah 29:13 [MSG]:

”When you come looking for Me, you’ll find Me. Yes, when you get serious about finding Me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” 

This verse is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:7:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

As we seek Christ, we will find Him; and as we seek, we discover His plans and purposes for our lives.

We can seek God in many different ways:

– By reading scripture

– By praying

– By being in community with believers

– By worshipping

Living with a renewed mind is about the intentionality by which we seek Jesus and align ourselves to His will. 

Seeking Him wholeheartedly is how we live with a renewed mind.

Our prayer is that you may live with a refreshed mind through being in God’s word.

Questions:

(1) When is a daily time you can seek God daily? And what does this time look like for you?

(2) What is the importance of community in seeking God together? 

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, Help me to seek you. I pray that as I seek you each day that you would make your will known to me so that I may live by it wholeheartedly. In Jesus’ name, Amen.