Excerpt from Tired of Trying to Measure Up

Renewing the Mind

In order to fight the right battle, understanding how to renew our mind is equally as important as the faith-fight. Paul says, “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” (Romans 12:2). Notice that he doesn’t say, “Be transformed by trying hard to be a good Christian.”

This instruction is so simple. “Be transformed,” in the Greek, is the same word as metamorphosis in English. It means to change from the inside out. But in the Greek it is passive-that is, transformed is something done to us, not by us. Transformation is not our job. It happens as a result of the renewing of our minds.

– Jeff VanWonderen