Carol J German

The Apostle Paul knew something quite valuable. It matters what you think about. The tone of your inner voice sets the stage for your emotions and feelings. It keeps your heart in tune to God. When you carelessly allow your thoughts to sway from one random thing to the next, you cause God’s voice within you to cease. The Spirit is hindered and quieted.

In Romans 12:1-2, Paul shares how important it is to remain focused on God. “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice, the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

As a follower of Christ, God will transform your life. His transformation begins in your mind. This is why Paul says that God will transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. What comes afterwards? You will learn to know God’s will. You become obedient to the Lord.

Every believer will go through His transformation process. Every person who desires to know God and follow His Son will be taken into the wilderness, as some call it, or be put into the refiner’s fire. God is preparing you for Kingdom work while on earth as well as getting you ready for life on the new earth after He returns.

Check out the following scriptures that describe wilderness living, Matthew 4:1-25 along with Mark 1:12-13, Isaiah 43:19, Hosea 2:14,and Ezekiel 34:25. Also look at the following scriptures to help better understand the refiner’s fire, Zechariah 13:9, Isaiah 48:10, 1 Peter 1:7 and Proverbs 17:3.

You will be go through many tests that will deepen your faith. These tests are ways for God to help you see the depth of your sinful nature, become utterly ashamed and saddened over your flesh, then turn to Christ and repent for you want something better. Christ is your something better.

The presence of Christ is the ultimate goal of a believer.

Whether you have abundance in your life or you are totally broke, God’s presence is what will take you from dead in your sins to alive in Christ for eternity! It has nothing to do with what you have achieved or accumulated in this life. God’s presence is what you are seeking after. When you understand this reality, everything in your life comes alive. Faith takes on a whole new look. Your faith becomes personal and intimate as you learn to walk with God in all areas of your life. You have a relationship with God rather than looking religious on the outside.

So, what do you think about? What do you dwell on? What do you meditate on, marinate in, stew over as you go about your day? The easy thing to do is focus on what you don’t have. Unfortunately, this is a preferred tactic of the devil to keep you from walking with God. I understand this all too well. The battle is real in staying focused on what God has done and is doing in my life. I imagine it is for you too.

The enemy will distract your thoughts to lead you away from all that God is doing so your heart becomes lethargic, ungrateful and unbelieving. When you choose to look up and see the goodness of God in all things, He lifts you up to see life differently. He lifts you to Himself where His presence changes the tone of your inner voice. This change then transforms your thinking. Eventually, you align yourself back to Him and life becomes purposeful and fulfilling.

Let’s make Romans 12:1-2 along with the rest of God’s Word, our heart’s anthem and song. When we dwell on His truths, we become more than we ever can imagine. We become God’s children who are called to light the way in this dark world. We become world changers. We become children of the Most High. We have a great destiny that will go on into eternity. We are His, and there is nothing more that we need.