Weekly Devotionals – 21 February 2022

Our Christian journey is an ongoing renewal process. We are expected to be constantly growing in our relationship with Jesus in view of the great mercy He has given us through His life, death and resurrection. This life of transformation takes place as we continually renew our thinking through the power of the Holy Spirit.

God the Father has given us the Scriptures so we can grow in Him and be transformed by the renewing of our mind. However, we must seek more than just intellectual knowledge, for that would be merely mental assent. The devil also knows the Scripture as proven in the way he used them to test our Lord Jesus Christ in the wilderness but in no way does Satan submit to God. We must let the Word penetrate our mind and heart. The Pharisees in Paul’s time had great knowledge of the scriptures but most of them were not transformed in their hearts. Paul explains that authentic transformation comes through experiential knowledge. He writes in Ephesians 3:16-17a,

“I pray that out of His glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”

Paul is stating plainly that in and by ourselves, we are not strong enough to do this on our own. Only with the strength that God the Father supplies through the Holy Spirit, we can be continually transformed to believe and willingly obey Jesus. For faith opens the door of the soul to admit Him, and causes us to submit to Him. By faith, we receive grace to surrender to Jesus, and be more like Him. Paul continues in Ephesians 3:17b-19,

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

As we continue to allow our lives to be grounded and firmly developed in God’s love along with other believers, we will not only be able to increasingly understand but also to progressively experience how much Jesus truly loves us. We are made complete with fullness of life and power as we experience His love through faith and obedience. This week, let God transform your mind, thoughts, attitudes and actions through His word and His love.

PRAYER
Father, renew me, transform me, change me to be more and more like Your Son, Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, teach me and renew my mind. Lord Jesus, make Your home in my heart.  Help me to be all You want me to be. In Jesus’ name I pray.
AMEN