Audio By Carbonatix

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by renewing your mind. Then you can test and approve God’s will—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

One evening, while meeting with a particular ministry team at our church, my husband and I wanted to ask some questions about how they became part of the team and whether what they were doing was truly achieving, through a deeper inquiry into why. As we probed, we found that they all desired deep discipleship and a close connection with God and others. But then I asked them, “Is what you’ve done this year leading you to your deep connection and discipleship?” They quickly realized that their actions did not accomplish their deeper why. 

Seeing the light bulb go on in their minds was rewarding as they understood that they needed to change how the ministry team functioned to achieve a more profound connection and discipleship. The author focused on numbers and how many people showed up, rather than focusing on smaller numbers and a deeper connection through consistent attendance and a deeper study of the word and its application to their lives. Eventually, they pivoted their ministry to a small group that met each week for ten weeks. After a few weeks, the leader commented on how well the group was doing and noted that people were becoming more involved in their lives.

It is easy for false thoughts that do not align with the word of God to linger in our minds. Sometimes those thoughts come from the barrage of messages the world sends us each day through various forms of media. Other times, those messages come from poor role models or parents who use shame and control to raise their kids. But God says there’s one place where you can find the truth—the word of God.

The word of God is helpful because it can help transform pain from thoughts that are lies sent by the enemy or remove shame that does not belong to us. It can also help us change how we operate so that we don’t keep doing the same behaviors and getting the same results, yet still want something different. It is essential to anchor ourselves in the word of God to transform our lives and avoid conforming to the world’s pattern that tells us we are ashamed or should feel guilt that does not belong to us. 

For one week, analyze your thoughts, and write down any thoughts that come to your mind. Have a piece of paper and write down each thought. Have paper in your car, in your home, and at your workplace. Each time you have a thought run through your mind, write it down. How many of those thoughts align with the word of God? How many times did you choose to think about God throughout your day? If you find that your thoughts dwell less on God and more on what the world has to say or giving into fleshly desires, it is time to transform your mind through the word of God.

For one additional week, choose to read the word of God instead of other forms of media. Shut off the TV, unplug the phone, and focus on God through his word. At the end of that week, analyze your thoughts. Did you find you dwelled more on the word of God rather than on the world? Did you find that you focused more on God and gave your troubles over to him, rather than feeling guilt, shame, and anxiety? Pray and ask God to reveal any areas of your life where you believe lies. Allow him to transform your thoughts so we can eventually transform your heart. 

Be someone who reads the Bible often enough to allow it to transform your mind. Go one step further, write down your favorite scriptures, and put them all around your home. Put one in the bathroom mirror, one on your fridge, etc. Please put them in places that you often go to throughout the day. Remind yourself of the word of God even in the moments when you’re not thinking about it. Allow the word of God to ruminate in your mind so it can ultimately transform your heart.

Father, let us be people whose lives are transformed by the word of God. Let us be the example of a life dedicated to you. Amen.

Photo credit: Unsplash/Bethany Laird

Michelle S. Lazurek is a multi-genre award-winning author, speaker, pastor's wife, and mother. She is a literary agent for Wordwise Media Services and host of The Spritual Reset Podcast. Her new children’s book Hall of Faith encourages kids to understand God can be trusted. When not working, she enjoys sipping a Starbucks latte, collecting 80s memorabilia, and spending time with her family and her crazy dog. For more info, please visit her website www.michellelazurek.com.

Audio By Carbonatix

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by renewing your mind. Then you can test and approve God’s will—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

One evening, while meeting with a particular ministry team at our church, my husband and I wanted to ask some questions about how they became part of the team and whether what they were doing was truly achieving, through a deeper inquiry into why. As we probed, we found that they all desired deep discipleship and a close connection with God and others. But then I asked them, “Is what you’ve done this year leading you to your deep connection and discipleship?” They quickly realized that their actions did not accomplish their deeper why. 

Seeing the light bulb go on in their minds was rewarding as they understood that they needed to change how the ministry team functioned to achieve a more profound connection and discipleship. The author focused on numbers and how many people showed up, rather than focusing on smaller numbers and a deeper connection through consistent attendance and a deeper study of the word and its application to their lives. Eventually, they pivoted their ministry to a small group that met each week for ten weeks. After a few weeks, the leader commented on how well the group was doing and noted that people were becoming more involved in their lives.

It is easy for false thoughts that do not align with the word of God to linger in our minds. Sometimes those thoughts come from the barrage of messages the world sends us each day through various forms of media. Other times, those messages come from poor role models or parents who use shame and control to raise their kids. But God says there’s one place where you can find the truth—the word of God.

The word of God is helpful because it can help transform pain from thoughts that are lies sent by the enemy or remove shame that does not belong to us. It can also help us change how we operate so that we don’t keep doing the same behaviors and getting the same results, yet still want something different. It is essential to anchor ourselves in the word of God to transform our lives and avoid conforming to the world’s pattern that tells us we are ashamed or should feel guilt that does not belong to us. 

For one week, analyze your thoughts, and write down any thoughts that come to your mind. Have a piece of paper and write down each thought. Have paper in your car, in your home, and at your workplace. Each time you have a thought run through your mind, write it down. How many of those thoughts align with the word of God? How many times did you choose to think about God throughout your day? If you find that your thoughts dwell less on God and more on what the world has to say or giving into fleshly desires, it is time to transform your mind through the word of God.

For one additional week, choose to read the word of God instead of other forms of media. Shut off the TV, unplug the phone, and focus on God through his word. At the end of that week, analyze your thoughts. Did you find you dwelled more on the word of God rather than on the world? Did you find that you focused more on God and gave your troubles over to him, rather than feeling guilt, shame, and anxiety? Pray and ask God to reveal any areas of your life where you believe lies. Allow him to transform your thoughts so we can eventually transform your heart. 

Be someone who reads the Bible often enough to allow it to transform your mind. Go one step further, write down your favorite scriptures, and put them all around your home. Put one in the bathroom mirror, one on your fridge, etc. Please put them in places that you often go to throughout the day. Remind yourself of the word of God even in the moments when you’re not thinking about it. Allow the word of God to ruminate in your mind so it can ultimately transform your heart.

Father, let us be people whose lives are transformed by the word of God. Let us be the example of a life dedicated to you. Amen.

Photo credit: Unsplash/Bethany Laird

Michelle S. Lazurek is a multi-genre award-winning author, speaker, pastor's wife, and mother. She is a literary agent for Wordwise Media Services and host of The Spritual Reset Podcast. Her new children’s book Hall of Faith encourages kids to understand God can be trusted. When not working, she enjoys sipping a Starbucks latte, collecting 80s memorabilia, and spending time with her family and her crazy dog. For more info, please visit her website www.michellelazurek.com.