The Gateway to the Abundant Life
ICS Daily Devotions
Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 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.
The Bible says that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). Our behaviour is closely linked to our thoughts, which are heavily shaped by the values and principles instilled in us over the years. If we want to live the abundant life that God intends for us, we must work on our thoughts, aligning them with the Word of God.
The opening Scriptures tell us that we can either be conformed to the world or have a renewed mind—be transformed by the Word of God—so we can live differently from the world. God has a good, acceptable, pleasing, and perfect will for us, but we won’t live under it unless our minds are renewed by His Word. It is our choice!
What might be in our minds?
1. Values like those of the world.
2. Basing our security and identity on who we are, what we have, and where we work.
3. Our soul still dictates how we respond.
4. Believing that we are slaves to sin.
5. Fearful of not having enough, reflecting a poverty mindset.
The Word of God reveals the will of God. It is God’s will for us…
1. To have peace in our lives by having the right identity.
2. To live a victorious Christian life by reigning in righteousness.
3. To prosper in our souls.
4. To have a blessed marriage.
5. To have more than enough.
We are three-part beings, comprising spirit, soul, and body. Our mind is part of the soul. The worldly indoctrination we received before accepting Christ may have established strongholds in our minds, and the habits and values formed within us will take time to change. Since we are a product of our thought life, we will continue to live according to our old man’s lifestyle unless our minds are renewed to embrace the newness of life in the new creation.
The devil wants to kill, steal, and destroy our lives instead of letting us enjoy the abundant life; he wants us to keep living in the old lifestyle instead of following God’s will for our lives. He accomplishes this by preventing us from renewing our minds with the Word of God, because the Word reveals God’s will for different areas of our lives. Therefore, we need to accept what the Word of God says in order to live the abundant life.
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you still thinking in line with the world rather than with the Word of God? What strongholds, fears, or old mindsets do you need to surrender to God today?
Sermon Series: As a Man Thinks in His Heart So is He
