Renewing Yourself

The calendar turned from 2025 to 2026.  A simple turn of the calendar page doesn’t change much for most of us, but it can motivate us to reset our goals and habits. Whether you are into New Year's Resolutions or not, we, as Christians, are in a continual process of renewal.

The Apostle Paul wrote. 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 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.  Roman 12:1-2

Paul’s words give us a spiritual goal, along with a plan and path to experience all its blessings.

To live out the message of Romans 12:1-2, you must first view your daily life as a continuous act of gratitude rather than a series of religious obligations. People who cultivate gratitude have come to grips with God’s mercy. You and I are recipients of God’s mercy in greater ways than we even understand. God’s mercy is a constant flow of grace into our lives.  This means that, in response, we should present our bodies continually through our work, the way you speak to your family and neighbors, and seek to serve as a surrendered soul before God. How many of us view every task, encounter, and challenge as an opportunity to be the change that God has already accomplished? This starts by acknowledging His mercy as your primary motivation; when you realize how much grace you have received, the logical response is to use your time and energy to serve His purposes. Grace and mercy are great motivators! Treat every task, no matter how mundane, as a high-priestly duty performed for an audience of one. 

Practical transformation, however, requires a vigilant guard over your mind. What are you putting into your mind on a regular basis? The messages we receive through social media, music, and TV pressure us to conform to the world’s values, to compare ourselves to others, and to seek temporary gratification. Renewing your mind begins with identifying what needs to stop and what needs to start. This involves a transformation where you intentionally replace cultural narratives with biblical truth through study, reflection, and prayer. As your thinking shifts, your ability to discern God's will becomes sharper; you stop asking "What do I want?" and start recognizing what is truly good, pleasing, and perfect. By changing the way you think, you naturally change the way you live, moving from a life of external pressure to one of internal peace and purpose. Instead of expecting things around us to change, we become the very change that God will use transform the world for all eternity.

Al Rossi BS, THM