The Transformed Mind

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

By the power of the God, our minds are renewed and we are transformed into people who prove God’s will. Proving is active and thus requires action. Proving involves testing out what we are given. We are transformed into people of action who take what God gives us and put it into practice. Paul goes on further in his letter to the Romans directing us in the use of the gifts given to the body, given by grace. Each gift has the power to prove God’s will. There are many gifts. All who lived with transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit have specific gifts to administer to the world. The mere presence of the Spirit brings us into a place the world cannot operate. It is veiled to them. This is why God commands us to put into action the gifts we have received, to demonstrate God’s immense love and transforming power to a world that, in their dead minds, can’t see how anyone could operate this way. 

God assigns each of us a measure of faith. Think of the parable of the talents. If we are people given one talent, we must take that one talent and use it to the fullest. If we can be trusted with one talent, God will increase our portion to two talents. If I put my two talents in the closet, I am not going to expect that I am deserving of any further measure of faith. “Having gifts that differ according to the grace of God let us use them.” (Romans 12:6). So if we are gifted to be teachers than we must teach with zeal in a way that proves God’s will. If God calls us to service, then our service, done with a transformed mind will prove God’s perfect will to those around us. (Acts 6:5) If we are to prophesy, God gives in proportion to our faith and we use that gift to prove God’s will to the world around us. 

In John 16, Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth. He speaks only at the Father’s authority and reveals mysteries in order to glorify Jesus - when we walk with a transformed mind.  

John 16: 13-15: 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. (NKJ)

Life attentive to the Holy Spirit takes time in prayer and practice. Test and approve as you walk through your day. “God what is your will in this place, in this situation? Is there something you need me to say or do while I’m here? Is there anyone you want me to talk to? How can I serve you in this place?” In my experience God is either quick to answer or silent. We won't need to ask continually.

Sometimes the will of God is proven to others in my day through my obedience to act upon a pulling feeling or urging toward a person or group of people. When we walk seeing all things through a transformed mind, we take the will of God to the people he needs to reach. Sometimes we are to teach, sometimes to pray, sometimes to share an encouraging word. The Holy Spirit takes what is Jesus’ and declares it to us. In practice, we learn to walk in a way that we are attentive to the Spirit of God, practicing the presence, some call it.  In the times that the presence of God rests upon strongly, we often feel very energized and bolder than we do in our own strength. This is the time to ask God, “Where do you want me to take this?” “Who needs to be reached?” “Or, what do you need me to declare?”  These are the moments we have a talent to spend and the Holy Spirit gives us direction in how we spend it. It is our job to test and approve (NIV) or prove (NKJ) what the will of God is in that moment to those around us. In these times, the Holy Spirit speaks for God in our midst.