Louise Gevers

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”Romans 12:2

When we look at a caterpillar we seldom think of what it will become. Although fascinating to watch, caterpillars just seem too small, hairy and earthbound to imagine them possessing a future of any kind; yet each one leaves the earth behind and disappears into its cocoon where it’s transformed and emerges again as a beautiful butterfly, liberated from captivity and able to fly. The ungainly worm is left behind – its transformation completing God’s plan for it.

In many ways we are earthbound like that caterpillar; we just crawl all over the earth, but we don’t understand God’s will or purpose for us. As human beings we lose touch with who we are in a world that is out of alignment with God’s plan. We become absorbed with our problems which make us negative and we believe we can’t cope. This further limits our minds and we neglect to give our problems over to the One “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power … at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

We need to be transformed - Christ died to set us free! We need to discern God’s working and consciouslychoose love, thankfulness and humility, in everything, to no longer “conform to the pattern of this world”. His Spirit helps us to connect to who we are as transformed people, and frees us from believing our own publicity.

Transformation starts with the mind. When we open our hearts to Jesus, who has no limitations, He changes our old mindset and we enjoy unlimited connectivity to Him. He doesn’t see problems – He sees the solutions. Our negativity becomes, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13.)

We notice and delight in beauty and we rejoice in uprightness: creation in its magnificence; justice for the oppressed; families working together contentedly; respect for the elderly; love conquering hatred; people working with integrity; the strong protecting the weak; the truth defeating corruption. In difficult circumstances we experience the peace that Jesus promised, true serenity, “not … as the world gives” (John 14:27) because the world will never know peace - it makes its own rules. Do we seriously believe the clay could make the potter?

Being transformed will alert us to the patterns of injustice, greed, self-centeredness, lust and idolatry prevalent in the world; daily, the Holy Spirit will renew our minds and give us the strength to resist these temptations.

Prayer: Dearest Father, Please stay near to me. Renew my mind and save me from the snares of the world so that your ways may become my ways, and obedience to You my joy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen