Romans 12:2 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.
Renewing of the mind tends to lead people to educating themselves about God. I have a hard time thinking that is really what Paul was talking about here. Education about God, as important and as good as that is, is nothing compared to living in the Spirit (living with God). So what did Paul mean by "be transformed by the renewing of your mind"? Here is what I've experienced and what Paul's words mean to me...When I learned about transformational grace through Dallas Willard's writing, in Renovation of the Heart, my mind was renewed through a revelation from God. I learned that grace is an agent of change, not just a type of mercy. God uses grace through the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts to become what He created us to be. Our actions and words change because we are transformed from the inside out by the work of the Spirit through God's grace. Our hearts no longer desire to do things of the flesh when we allow the Spirit to take over. We are transformed bit by bit. Our heart begins to desire things of the Spirit, which is how we will be able to "test and approve what God's will is". This is a journey and it takes a lifetime. I have only begun to scratch the surface. It is still hard, at times, for me to know God's will, but I am continuing the Journey with Jesus to be transformed.
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