Do not conform 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.
Romans 12:2 NIV
What did God mean when He said ," Do not conform to the pattern of this world"? The word "pattern" in this verse doesn't refer to any outward expression or appearance. He is saying not to think according to the world's way of thinking.
Our thoughts are of significant importance here. The simple interpretation of the above verse would be , "Think according to God's way of thinking." This counsel from Paul by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to the Roman church is beneficial to our life today.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord .
Isaiah 55:8 KJV
We are constant thinkers. We have an unending thought process going on in our minds. God says "My thoughts are not your thoughts". This implies that we need to renew our thoughts with God's thoughts about us. What substance do we have to transform our thinking? All we have is the precious Word of God.
It is like an excercise to daily renew our mind with the Word. Paul never said that our minds have been completely renewed already, but it is an on-going process. It doesn't happen instantly just because we got saved.
We have the mind of Christ. Our human minds can be forgetful, so we need to remind ourselves for our own advantage. One of my daily practice is to shout aloud scripture from Psalms 23 as I wake up. I declare ," The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing. He will make me lie down in green pastures today. He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. In the same place that I was ashamed, God will anoint my head with oil. Surely, goodness and mercy follows me today. My youth is renewed as that of the eagle's."
Every child might know these scriptures. But, I am not shouting these aloud for someone else to hear, but myself. If you keep declaring , you will never feel old as you age. You will never lose your vision for life as you remind yourself what God said about you.
A bold experienced preacher cannot say that his mind has been completely renewed. Till the last step we take on this earth, we will need to renew our minds.
We let so much of the world's news force itself into us without our knowledge. This makes it irrelevant for us to say, " I will confess the word after 10 years". We can cancel every negative thought that comes to us only with the Word.
When a situation seems insurmountable, I boldly declare, " I am of God and I have overcome this world because Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world".As I say it , I renew my mind and negate those thoughts from the enemy.
God is saying, "Don't think like the world. Think of what I said about you". If there is fear about a dangerous disease, declare that it cannot touch you , because your life is hidden with Christ in God!
I was praying for a dear friend of mine who is a pastor in Delhi. He was battling with high fever and severe body pain and his tongue had turned black. He was taking paracetamol and going for tests. After 5 days , he prevailed and was perfectly well.
After many months, I started feeling something abnormal. My mind raced to take paracetamol like my friend did. But before I could do that , God reminded me of Romans 8:11.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Romans 8:11 KJV
I preferred Romans 8:11 over paracetamol. I started to boldly confess it. Then my knee started paining and I encountered severe back pain.
This is a good fight of faith. Satan doesn't walk away from us just because we are believers. He will come inside if we open the door to him. Sometimes, it is a battle that we should fight like warriors.
We must refuse to think the way the world does. Remind yourself of the Word!
And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.
Isaiah 33:24 KJV
I declared, I am healed by God. The next day when I woke up, it was all gone. My friend battled for 5 days but my pain was gone in one night without taking any medicine. This testimony is not for me to boast, for it is not by might, nor by power, but is based on the Word of God.
Remember, our lives are hidden with Christ in God. If the devil wants to touch you, he will have to first touch The Father , then Jesus Christ. The good news is he cannot touch The Father or Jesus, so he can never touch you. No evil shall befall you neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. A thousand may fall beside you and ten thousand at your right hand but it shall not come near you.
God's thoughts of us are far higher. So , God is asking us to think exactly like Him. This is what we practice as we are doers of the Word. As we speak the Word, our mind is renewed. We remind ourselves of who we are in Christ and through that identity, we will reign in life!