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Hope For The Hurting – A New You
Stepping Stones Devotional
But be transformed by the renewal of your mind.
Romans 12:2
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Renewal is a byproduct of change which comes forth after an action has been undertaken. Spiritual renewal is something to seek with one’s whole heart. How? Scripture instructs us to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul, and our neighbor as ourselves. That is a tall order.
Self-focused thoughts do not lend themselves to loving others or God. When we do not love well and do not love in sincerity; and when we hold back, hide behind our issues and harbor anger towards God and others, we are impeding a work of God. The love is not producing in kind because it is not real love, it is a facsimile of love. Change is needed.
What to do?
Love God. There you have it. That is what it will take. Renewal of the mind has at its base a love for God. What if we don’t love God or feel his love? What can we do to change its nefarious emptiness? The mind and the heart must bind together if love is to be released in fullness. There is no magical formula to fabricate love from out of nothing. However, the more we know, grow, bond and develop in our relationship with God, the more we will know and experience his great love for us.
God loves us with a deep, eternal love that conquers sin and death. His is a love that reaches and changes each person who is open to his ministrations. A reciprocal action is initiated when we open ourselves to God. He will transfuse his character within our character. God’s presence will renew our mind, desires and purposes. He is creating new life in us.
Ask for God’s love. Claim his promises. This is radical. Offer yourself with no holds barred. He will begin a new work in you. The mind, your mind, will begin to think in a way that exhibits the Source of its considerations.
Love God.
Dear Father God, you are all I want. I give to you my mind that you may renew it, my heart that you may grow it, my soul that you may transform it.
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©N. L. Brumbaugh
Thank you, Norma, for the reminder to be transformed. This is an essential thought to keep front-of-mind.
This scripture is one of my favorites: Be not conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. The two concepts go together – not being conformed to worldly ways of thinking and behaving…customs, and being transformed by renewing our minds.
It’s a work we cannot do by or for ourselves, but once we surrender…daily…to the Holy Spirit, He will perform it.
Florence, I quite agree. It is an absolutely amazing process. That passage of Scripture says it well. Thank you for sharing it with us and drawing our minds to its truth. Bless you.