Having A God Outlook
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2 (KJV)
How can we change our outlook when all we see is bad- bad people, bad events, bad days…? The enemy brings bad people and circumstances to our lives to get us thinking, speaking, and acting badly. He attacks relentlessly, trying to get us into a mindset of negative thinking. This is why we must renew our minds to God’s Word.
When bad things happen, read the Good News and think on God’s Word, instead of the bad things going on around us. As we renew our minds to the Word, our thoughts are changed and we are transformed to think with the mind of Christ. We’ll begin to think good things. We’ll disrupt and cast out negative thoughts, replacing them with God’s Word. We are not conformed, shaped and fashioned to think like the world, which thinks contrary to God. Rather, we are transformed, or changed into another form. The word transformed in Romans 12:2 is the Greek word metamorphoo, which is where we get the word metamorphosis. It is like the transfiguration of Jesus as His form was changed by God’s glory.
As we renew our minds to the Word, our thinking is changed. It transforms us into Christlikeness in our character, and conduct. This is how we become more and more like Christ. God uses His Word to transform us as we consistently read, study, meditate, speak, and act on it. The Holy Spirit changes us from the inside out. This involves daily discipline and is a life-long process.
The more our minds are renewed, the better our outlook becomes. When bad things happen, we will respond automatically in line with the Word, casting down negative thoughts when they try to come. As we think and act in agreement with the Word of God, it is an indication that our minds are becoming renewed and we are progressing in becoming more like Christ. Our minds are made new to think the thoughts of God. Thus, we begin to have a “God outlook” of life.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 (KJV)
Renewal of the mind will help us think on good things like Philippians 4:8 tells us to do. And the result is that the God of peace shall be with us.
