“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.” — Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Have you ever stopped and asked yourself why you believe what you believe? As children, we often adopt the beliefs of our parents. As we grow, we may be shaped by our friends, teachers, culture, or significant others. All throughout our lives, we are constantly influenced—sometimes knowingly, sometimes unconsciously. And often, those influences become so ingrained in us that we accept them as truth without ever questioning them.
But what if some of those beliefs are off base? What if some of the things we were taught, or assumed, or embraced, aren’t fully in line with God’s truth? I’ll be the first to admit—I often think my way of thinking is the right way. I assume my perspective is the best or most accurate. But I also often ask myself the question: Is it possible that some of my thoughts about God, faith, and life might be skewed? Could I have adopted a version of truth that actually needs some correction?
That’s where humility and a willingness to be taught by God come in. We live in a world full of opinions, ideologies, and noise. It’s easy to gravitate toward the things that make us comfortable and ignore the things that challenge us. But true discipleship means letting Jesus shape every part of our lives—including how we think. Romans 12:2 reminds us that transformation begins in the mind. God wants to renew our thinking. He wants to reshape our thoughts with His truth—not the world’s, not culture’s, not even our family’s or friends’—but His.
That means we need to be open to change. Open to correction. Open to seeing things differently—through the lens of Scripture and with the help of the Holy Spirit. One of the most powerful prayers we can pray is: “Lord, show me where I’m wrong. Teach me Your truth. Shape my thinking.”
It’s not easy to admit we may be wrong, but the path to growth is paved with humility. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If our goal is truly to know and follow Jesus, then we must be willing to let Him challenge our assumptions and transform our beliefs. Let’s not settle for inherited faith or convenient beliefs. Let’s seek the Lord, dive into His Word, and ask Him to shape our minds and hearts.
Lord, I confess that sometimes I hold tightly to beliefs simply because they’re familiar. But I want Your truth to shape my life, to transform my mind, and renew my thinking. Show me where I need to grow and guide me into Your perfect will. – Amen
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