Christian Daily Word (21)
[b]Daily Word for Christians...Here's the scripture to meditate on![/b]
[b]Romans 12:2 (NLT)[/b]
[quote]"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."[/quote]
[b]Analysis of the Daily Word[/b]
Let's remember the changes we had to make when we accepted the truth of God's Word and decided to serve God. Many of us had to stop doing bad things. [b](1 Corinthians 6:9-11)[/b] How thankful we are for allowing God to help us abandon some of these practices. However, we must never rest on our laurels. Although we have given up the serious sins that we committed before we were baptized or about to be baptized, we still have to work to avoid anything that will cause us to fall back into them. We must do two things. [b]First, we have to stop conforming to this world. [/b][b]Second, we have to transform ourselves by remaking or renewing the mind.[/b] Transformation involves more than just a superficial change in appearance. It affects all that we are. [b]We should renew the mind, that is, our deepest inclinations, attitudes, and feelings.
[/b]
[b]How does prayer help us to change the force that drives our minds?[/b]
The first thing we must do is pray. We should ask the same as the writer of the psalm who said: [quote]"Create in me even a pure heart, O God, and put in me a new spirit, one that is constant."[/quote] [b](Psalm 51:10)[/b] We must recognize that we have a need to change the driving force in our minds and ask God for help. [b]Why are we sure it will help us? [/b] Let's see what he promised about the stubborn Israelites of Ezekiel's day: [quote]"I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them; [...] and I will give you a heart of flesh"[/quote], that is, receptive to God's guidance. [b](Ezekiel 11:19)[/b] God was willing to help those Israelites to change, and He is willing to help us as well.
[b]When it comes to (Psalm 119:59), what should we meditate on and what questions should we have to ask ourselves?[/b]
It is very important to meditate. Every day, we need to read the Bible carefully and take time to ponder or reflect on what ideas and opinions we should change. [b](Psalm 119:59 | Hebrew 4:12 | James 1:25)[/b] Let's identify the thoughts that have been influenced by the world's philosophies. We have to honestly acknowledge our weaknesses and strive to overcome them.
To do this, we could ask ourselves questions like these:
▪️ [b]"Do I have some envy or jealousy in my heart?"[/b] [b](1 Peter 2:1)[/b]
▪️ [b]"Am I proud of my background, education, or financial situation?"[/b] [b](Proverbs 16:5)[/b]
▪️ [b]"Do I look over my shoulder at those who do not have the same things as me or those who are of another race?"[/b] [b](James 2:2-4)[/b]
▪️ [b]"Am I attracted to what Satan's world has to offer?"[/b] [b](1 John 2:15-17)[/b]
▪️ [b]"Do I like immoral and violent entertainment?"[/b] [b](Psalm 97:10 | 101:3 | Amos 5:15)[/b]
The answers to these questions may highlight areas where we need to work on. If we tear down these [b]"strong entrenched"[/b] ideas, we will please our Heavenly Father, God. [b](Psalm 19:14)[/b]
[b]Romans 12:2 (NLT)[/b]
[quote]"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."[/quote]
[b]Analysis of the Daily Word[/b]
Let's remember the changes we had to make when we accepted the truth of God's Word and decided to serve God. Many of us had to stop doing bad things. [b](1 Corinthians 6:9-11)[/b] How thankful we are for allowing God to help us abandon some of these practices. However, we must never rest on our laurels. Although we have given up the serious sins that we committed before we were baptized or about to be baptized, we still have to work to avoid anything that will cause us to fall back into them. We must do two things. [b]First, we have to stop conforming to this world. [/b][b]Second, we have to transform ourselves by remaking or renewing the mind.[/b] Transformation involves more than just a superficial change in appearance. It affects all that we are. [b]We should renew the mind, that is, our deepest inclinations, attitudes, and feelings.
[/b]
[b]How does prayer help us to change the force that drives our minds?[/b]
The first thing we must do is pray. We should ask the same as the writer of the psalm who said: [quote]"Create in me even a pure heart, O God, and put in me a new spirit, one that is constant."[/quote] [b](Psalm 51:10)[/b] We must recognize that we have a need to change the driving force in our minds and ask God for help. [b]Why are we sure it will help us? [/b] Let's see what he promised about the stubborn Israelites of Ezekiel's day: [quote]"I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them; [...] and I will give you a heart of flesh"[/quote], that is, receptive to God's guidance. [b](Ezekiel 11:19)[/b] God was willing to help those Israelites to change, and He is willing to help us as well.
[b]When it comes to (Psalm 119:59), what should we meditate on and what questions should we have to ask ourselves?[/b]
It is very important to meditate. Every day, we need to read the Bible carefully and take time to ponder or reflect on what ideas and opinions we should change. [b](Psalm 119:59 | Hebrew 4:12 | James 1:25)[/b] Let's identify the thoughts that have been influenced by the world's philosophies. We have to honestly acknowledge our weaknesses and strive to overcome them.
To do this, we could ask ourselves questions like these:
▪️ [b]"Do I have some envy or jealousy in my heart?"[/b] [b](1 Peter 2:1)[/b]
▪️ [b]"Am I proud of my background, education, or financial situation?"[/b] [b](Proverbs 16:5)[/b]
▪️ [b]"Do I look over my shoulder at those who do not have the same things as me or those who are of another race?"[/b] [b](James 2:2-4)[/b]
▪️ [b]"Am I attracted to what Satan's world has to offer?"[/b] [b](1 John 2:15-17)[/b]
▪️ [b]"Do I like immoral and violent entertainment?"[/b] [b](Psalm 97:10 | 101:3 | Amos 5:15)[/b]
The answers to these questions may highlight areas where we need to work on. If we tear down these [b]"strong entrenched"[/b] ideas, we will please our Heavenly Father, God. [b](Psalm 19:14)[/b]
22-25, M
