Transformed by the Spirit

BEGIN AGAIN!
Terry R. Baughman

“Be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes” (Romans 12:2 TPT).\
The way of the culture is conformity. Peer pressure insures everyone conforms to cultural norms. Anyone who dares disagree or give voice to a contrary position is labeled, shamed and canceled by an unforgiving culture. How ironic that the very social construct that preaches tolerance and acceptance for every deviant act can suddenly switch from warmth and universal embrace to rude rejection of any who dare disagree with their values (or lack thereof). 

While the culture espouses conformity from the outside in, the Spirit of God works from the inside out to change our very thoughts and feelings by His transforming power producing total reformation. The One who knows the very “thoughts and intents of the heart,” can produce unimaginable change (Hebrews 4:12 NKJ). Paul wrote concerning the discipline of the mind when he said, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8 NIV). The baptism of the Spirit gives us power over our thought life and gives us the ability to choose what we will think. A conscious effort to control our thought life will have tremendous rewards, for “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” indicating the wisdom our thought life and some self-reflection (Matthew 12:34 NKJ). 

God is in the process of changing lives for eternity. We are transformed from vile sinners to radically saved Christ-followers! Paul said, “And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT).

Be transformed by the Holy Spirit! This is radical reformation.

Theme passage:
“Be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think” (Romans 12:2 TPT).