WHAT DOES GOD EXPECT OF ME?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
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)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever thought to yourself,
    “I want to please God, but what does He expect of me?”
You may wonder,
    “How can I know what God expects of me?”
    “What pleases God and fulfills His will for my life?”

Do we have any responsibility in determining God’s will for our lives?
Will we struggle with finding peace and happiness until we discover
His will for us? Fortunately, Paul provides answers to these types of
questions. He tells us we can find answers in only two steps.

First, he says that we should not ‘conform to the pattern of the world’.
What does he mean? The word ‘conform’ means we are controlled
by influences from the outside. In the dictionary, the word is defined
as ‘being the same or similar to something’.

Webster also includes
    ‘doing what other people do’
and
    ‘to behave in a way that is accepted by most people’

We might look at these descriptions and think,
    “That doesn’t sound bad; what is wrong with conforming?”
But, we have to remember that Paul said,
    ‘do not conform to the pattern of the WORLD’.

When we ‘conform to the pattern of the world’, by default we
are excluding God from our lives. Why? Because the ways of
the world are in opposition to God’s ways.
    As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and
    sins, in which you used to live when you followed the
    ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of
    the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are
    disobedient.
    (Ephesians 2:1-2)

The pattern of the world leans toward sinfulness, but God’s ways
lean toward righteousness. His ways are not as natural to us as the
ways of the world. Why? Because we were born with sinful desires.
If we expect to please God, then something must change.

When we live in a worldly manner, we are yielding to our natural
desires, instead of allowing God to give us directions. It becomes a
matter of selfishness versus submissiveness. We want what we want,
and we aren’t willing to allow God to have any influence on our lives.

So, how can we change our pattern of thinking? According to Paul,
in addition to avoiding the influences of the world, our responsibility
is to discover God’s will for us, and allow Him to change us,
    ‘be transformed by the renewing of our mind’.

‘Conforming’ is,
    being changed by ‘outside’ influences,
but ‘transforming’ is,
    being changed from ‘inside’ influences
    (which of course, is our mind).

Webster defines ‘transform’ as,
    ‘changing completely and usually in a good way’.
Webster also includes,
        ‘to change the outward form or appearance of a person’
    and,
        ‘to change the character or condition of a person’.

The key word used by Webster is ‘change’. If nothing changes,
then we are not following Paul’s advice to be ‘transformed’. For
us to be transformed, we must replace our ‘natural desires’ with
something different, which is, ‘God’s desires’.

Webster includes the word ‘completely’. When we become
transformed, we become totally new people. If we continue
holding on to previous ‘natural’ desires, then we have only
been partially changed.

Straddling the fence is not indicative of a person who has
been completely changed. Not only that, but a partially
changed person will become restless, as they grapple with
deciding which desire will ‘win out’ in each circumstance.

Now we can see why Paul said our minds must be renewed.
We must learn to think differently, but how can we do that?
Controlling what goes into our minds is where we should start.
When we read and study the Bible, pray, worship God and
thank Him for His blessings in our lives, we invite God’s will
to find a home in our minds. Is it easy? Of course not, but for
those who ask, God gives us the Holy Spirit to assist us in
allowing God to transform (sanctify) us.

The more we include Him in our thoughts (and our subsequent actions),
the more we will be able to find ‘His good, pleasing and perfect will’ for
our lives. As our lives become more pleasing to God, we will be more
pleased with ourselves, as well. Why? Because we no longer have to
struggle with which choices to make, based on the circumstances.

We no longer must choose between pleasing man, and pleasing God.
When we discover this new contentment, we can readily agree that
‘transforming’ and ‘renewing our mind’ are excellent for discovering
God’s will for our lives!

ACTION:
Time for self-assessment:
    – Have I ‘completed’ the transformation and renewing of my mind?
    – Do ‘ways of the world’ still influence the things I say and do?
    – To what degree does the world influence my thoughts?
    – Is there anything in my life that still needs to be transformed?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, make me aware of any worldly things that are
still occupying my thoughts, and affecting the things I say and do.
If I have not been completely transformed, convict me of the areas
that I need to surrender to Your will. I want to discover Your will
for my life, and I understand from Paul’s instructions that I have
some responsibilities if I expect to know what You want of me. I
also know that when I allow Your Will to control my life, I will be
more pleasing to You and happier with myself. Teach me and guide
me, so the Holy Spirit will feel comfortable living within me, and I
will be able to experience a new, genuine peace and happiness in
my life.”

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