ROOTED IN LOVEâ—½ HOME
Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:2a
Happy New Year, friends! It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone. I don’t know about you, but it seems like every year goes by quicker than the last. Sometimes I wish I could figure out a way to slow down time. But, alas! All I can do is enjoy each day and make the most of it before it’s gone. And now, as another year unfolds, I want to step into it with a renewed mind.
There has been so much darkness going on in the world, and social media only serves to amplify it all by making us aware of every little thing that ever happens. It’s overwhelming and scary sometimes, and I have to admit that it makes me uneasy. What kind of world are we leaving behind for our children? There are days where I just pray for Jesus to return and take His children home.
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​Yet there is also still so much beauty in the world. So much joy and life and love. I see it in the smiles of my children and the color of the sunset after a long day. I see it in the flowers and trees and birds singing overhead. This world is such an amazing creation. There are still people who love others and spread kindness. There are still friends and families creating wonderful memories together.
The contrast of light and darkness is one I think about often. I know that the light will win in the end, but it feels like the darkness is steadily closing in. It’s hard to be a light in a world that tries to snuff it out. It’s hard to stand for truth when truth is considered hateful. It’s tempting to fade into the background and quietly wait for the Lord to return. It’s hard not to bend and twist yourself to fit what the world calls good. It’s scary being different. It’s not easy to be ridiculed and scorned for speaking your beliefs.
We must remind ourselves that it isn’t us the world truly hates – it’s the Lord. The darkness hates the light and wants to extinguish it. The world calls good the things that are evil, and they want us to go along with their delusions.
But we cannot conform to the patterns of this world, nor can we condone the things God calls evil. We must be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This means aligning our thoughts with things that are pleasing to Him. It’s a constant choice to focus on things above rather than earthly things. It’s a conscious decision to follow Jesus, no matter what the world throws at us.
We must daily remember to keep our eyes on Him. He is the author and perfector of our faith. He is the true and living God. He is our Rock, on which we must build our trust. Renewing our minds means trusting Him when things look bleak. Standing for Him in the face of mockery and slander. Shining a light into the darkness so that others might find hope.
Let this year be a time for renewing our minds. Let us not conform to what the world calls good, but rather faithfully follow the One we know to be true. He alone is worthy of our devotion and our praise. Let us glorify Him and make Him known this year, keeping our eyes on Him until He returns to bring us home.