SWHW Bible Reading Plan: November 2021Sample

Top Takeaway from Liz Patton:

I think we can all agree that the world we are currently living in right now is loud. Like really, really loud.  In fact, if we’re not careful, we could almost get whiplash from looking left and right at all of the stuff that is happening all around us. 

Which is why I love Paul’s advice in Romans 12:2: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” 

The world that Paul was living in 2000 years ago wasn’t any more or less corrupt and evil than it is today.  The truth is that we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “as it is written, ‘None is righteous, no, not one.’” (Romans 3:10).

Paul was reminding the people of the church at Rome (and us today!) that we are to be like Christ, not like the rest of the world.  And in order to be more like Christ, we have to show up every day in humility and allow God to transform and renew our minds.  It’s not going to happen overnight; it’s a process that requires our daily surrender.

But the beautiful thing is that when we do show up and allow God to transform and renew our minds, the second part of verse 2 is possible:  “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

I love the order that Paul uses to describe this transformation that allows us to be in God’s will (which is truly the safest place we could possibly be no matter the chaos that is around us; Amen?!) God’s will goes from good...to pleasing...to perfect.

God’s will is good.  This means that when we are obedient and doing things God’s way, we will have greater peace and contentment.  Sin is often so tempting because it provides quick pleasure, but it doesn’t bring lasting joy and peace.

God’s will is pleasing.  When we are living in God’s good will, this leads to us pleasing Him!  Living this way, to please God and not our flesh, will allow us to eventually hear those words we long to hear (and that we talk a lot about here at swHw) which is, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:23

God’s will is perfect.  I did a little study of that word in this context which means, “having reached its end, complete, especially of the completeness of Christian character.”  As we live for God, and not for our sinful selves, and we let Him transform us, we will come to the end of our lives being complete and satisfied in Christ.

So let’s show up today in humility. And rather than conforming to the rest of the world, let’s fix our eyes on Jesus and allow God to transform us so that we can be in His good, pleasing, and perfect will!

Dear God, please forgive us for all of the times that we have conformed to the rest of the world.  We desperately want to be transformed, and we invite Your Holy Spirit to completely renew our minds.  We long for Your will to be done in our lives; Your good, pleasing, and perfect will.  We love you so very much.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.