Mind renewal

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 12:2 (NASB)

Our redemption comes by faith in the blood of His cross, which is our only hope of salvation, but becoming transformed into a new creature in Christ, requires the renewal of our minds, and that is a lifelong process. 

God loves us just as we are, but He also sees our potential and He knows that we were made for more. That’s why He is always working to renew our minds, every day of our lives. While He is transforming us into the image of His Son, He uses everything that happens in our lifetime to make us a  better version of ourselves.

We may be asking God to remove the unpleasant, painful or confusing situations in our life, but it is through adversity that He transforms and renews us on our journey of faith. During the most difficult situations, it’s hard to truthfully say to Him, “Your will be done,” but when we do, it’s another step toward letting God renew our minds and transform us for the better.

Through every trial or test, the Lord works to bring out shepherd like tendencies that are within us. If Jesus is our Chief Shepherd, then we are all mini shepherds, and whether we know it or not, those shepherd urges are within each one of us. 

Shepherd like tendencies give us the urge to seek, lead and feed His sheep. I remember times when I felt like a failure in this area, with no patience, but God never gives up on us. We will again find ourself praying for the sick, visiting the lonely or redirecting some lost sheep, because those sheep were led into our pasture for that very reason. We are all gradually being turned into mini shepherds. 

By nature, I seek whatever is good for me, but as the Holy Spirit renews my mind, I start thinking more like a shepherd, looking out for the other sheep that are in my pasture. Here is one small example of how it happened in my life. 

Soon after I became a widow, I missed not having my husband to share the events of my day with. Although I regularly talked to God, I was thankful to have my long time friend of fifty years. I could pick up the phone anytime and share my thoughts with Helene, and always enjoyed her wisdom and insight. Three years after my husband passed away, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. 

Her illness progressed with rapid deterioration, but I remember wanting only to step up and be the friend she needed in that difficult time. I remember thinking that the most important thing to me was to be a good friend, rather than to have a good friend.

Something changed within me and my way of thinking about friendship was being transformed. Helene ultimately chose to refuse all further medical treatment, went into hospice and passed away only three months after her initial diagnosis. 

When my son was placed in a Nursing Facility after his traumatic brain injury, I looked around one day and saw all the people sitting alone, like lost sheep, who never receive a visit from a friend or a relative. I felt the Holy Spirit evoking that shepherd urge within me, and in that moment I knew I was to be their friend. They were the sheep that God put into my pasture, asking me to be a mini shepherd to them. 

Mother Teresa cradled in her arms about 16,000 dying people in Calcutta over the span of her ministry. Someone once asked her how she converted so many dying people, who never heard of Jesus, and only knew the popular religions of India. She said that she asked each person who was dying in her arms, “Do you want to give your life to Christ ?” and they responded by asking her, “Who is Christ, is He like you?” 

What a beautiful question. Those who she held in her arms never heard the gospel or read one verse of scripture, but they would gladly receive the One called Christ, whose love they felt, while being held in her arms. 

Allowing ourselves to become His body on earth, is at the heart of being a mini shepherd. There are souls who God sends into our lives, who may be looking at us today and asking each of us, 

“Who is Christ? Is He like you?” 

We are the mini shepherds of Christ in this world and we answer that question with our actions. We are His voice, His eyes, His hands, His feet, and His body on earth, until He returns. 

Someone once told Mother Teresa that what she was doing is only a drop in the bucket, compared to all that is needed in this world, and she replied, “No, it’s a drop in the ocean, and the ocean is forever changed by it.” Every act of kindness is ocean changing.

Lord, help us to be your mini shepherds, and to see people through your eyes, so that they can see You in us. Amen

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.