RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL ;
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2th 2019;
PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME PHD. DsC. D.D;
RENEWING THE CHARACTER OF YOUR MIND;
?And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2).
Your mind is very important. It’s the door to your spirit, and it’s also the door from your spirit out, to bring something into the natural world. The underlined portion of our opening verse tells us, “ be ye transformed (metamorphosed) by the renewing of your mind….” This means you exchange your thoughts for God’s thoughts; you cast away your carnal thinking, your fleshly ideas, and receive His glorious thoughts and ideas. The latter part of it says, “…that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
The word, “prove” is from the Greek – dokimazo— meaning to scrutinise or examine. Simply, it’s like the Customs official who’s assigned the responsibility of disallowing illegal exports and imports- interdiction of contrabands. Once he sees such, he disallows it from entering the country. That’s what that scripture is making us understand as the result of renewing the mind. You’re able to “prove,” that is, scrutinise the thoughts you allow to go through your mind, to be sure they’re consistent with God’s Word and His perfect will for your life.
Now that you’re born again, you’re required to think excellence and only see pictures of excellence. Focus your mind on things that are pure, just, honest, lovely, virtuous and of good report (Philippians 4:8). You can’t afford to continue with the old way of life; you’re different now.
Ephesians 4:22-23 says, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” It’s expressing the same thought: think and live differently now that you’re a child of God. As you do this, you’d be giving vent to the glory in your recreated human spirit; the beauty of the Spirit in you will be revealed on the outside in an ever increasing measure. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION
I’ve been clothed with the new spiritual self, which is renewed and moulded after the image and likeness of God. I think excellent thoughts and only see pictures of excellence, success, victory and abundance! My mind is focused on things that are pure, just, honest, lovely, virtuous and of good report. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY
Ephesians 4:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Colossians 3:10 AMPC And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it. [Gen. 1:26.]
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 John 3:11-24 ; Ezekiel 47-48
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 17:1-10 ; 2 Chronicles 5-6