"Experiencing Your Expectations"

"And be not conformed (another pattern than the intended one) to this world: but BE YE TRANSFORMED (transfigured from one form to another) BY THE RENEWING (total changing for the better) OF YOUR MIND, THAT YE MAY PROVE (by experience) what is that good, and acceptable, and PERFECT (intended fulfillment of expectations), WILL OF GOD" Romans 12:2 KJV (Capitals are mine for emphasis)

HOPEFULLY, TRANSITION WILL LEAD TO TRANSFORMATION

All of us are going through some kind of upheaval and change. It is during these times of uncertainty that we pray for something better than we have known previously. Hopefully, transition will lead to transformation. Most people resist change, as it is "their security blanket". It is the fear of the unknown which hinders progress and spiritual growth. Without the daily exercise of our faith we cannot plunge into the future with confidence and assurance of a positive result.

IF THERE IS NO RESISTANCE, WE ARE HEADED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION

All of Hell will contest our moving ahead in life's race toward our goals. Salmon swim upstream. The ones flowing with the current of that same river are those who are floating on top of the water--dead. If there is no resistance, we are headed in the wrong direction, being conformed to the pattern of the world's godless social system. The Phillips translation says, "Don't let the world squeeze you into its mold".

OUR RESPONSE TO LIFE'S UNEXPECTED UPSETS WILL CAUSE US TO EMERGE EITHER BITTER OR BETTER

If we resist and refuse change, life will pass us by. We disqualify ourselves from being world changers if we do not place ourselves in a position for personal change. When "the earthquake of change" knocks out the props from underneath us, we have a choice. Our response to life's unexpected upsets will cause us to emerge either bitter or better.

THE "BATTLEGROUND IS THE MIND". MOVING IN "THE FLESH" IS "A NEGATIVE WAY OF THINKING"

When we do not surrender ourselves to the Holy Spirit when we are being assaulted by the fears and frustrations of a changing world, we will regress and go backwards. The "battleground is the mind". Moving in "the flesh" is "a negative way of thinking". It is only when we move in the Spirit--surrendering our human spirit to God's Spirit--that our mind can be transformed and renewed.

WE EXPERIENCE OUR EXPECTATIONS

The Holy Spirit's prescription to "prove the will of God" for our lives is by having a transformed mind. When we think new thoughts--"God thoughts"--we begin to develop our expectations of stepping up into a higher level of living. Then, and only then can we experience our expectations. We do not live in a fantasy world filled with illusive dreams, but come into a reality of all we can be in Christ.