A New Person

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭‬‬

Like I said last week, we want to focus on dealing with strongholds. I hope you all had a great weekend, and are looking forward to the festive week ahead.

Today’s text is a central key on dealing with strongholds of the mind. Dealing with strongholds according to this scripture passage means it is God’s work. You can’t deal with strongholds on your own, no matter your resolve.

Secondly, from this scripture passage, God wants to transform us into a new person. When the issue of change comes up, it is a difficult path to tread on. It means some unlearning and relearning will have to take place. It also means you will be stretched beyond your environs. No one (including me) likes that, especially when you have been comfortable in a zone for sometime.

Thirdly, you can see that being a new person all depends on thinking, not necessarily habits or character per se. If God wants to change us into a new person, He will work on our thinking which will in turn affect our habits and a change in character.

Looking at this scripture, one can ask, “how does God change people into new persons? What does He use?” Let us look at how God changes people. Consider this scripture passage.

“Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character,” 2 Timothy‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭

God will change us through the scriptures (the Bible). The Bible is an inspired book of God that has a four fold purpose in the life of every reader: teaching, showing mistakes, correcting and training character. God through the Bible will give you new ideals IF ONLY you read it. It is in that process that old mindsets and certain destructive thinking patterns will drop off. In addition to that, you will also know God’s will which is good, pleasing and perfect. People often ask me, “how do I know God’s will?” It is simple: read the Bible.

God is interested in your transformation, but you will also have to be committed for that to happen. I pray that in this season, one of the best gifts you can invest in is a good Bible- your key to transformation.

On this note, let me leave you with an advice an apostle gave his parishioners after teaching them the Bible.

“Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you.” Philippians‬ ‭4:8-9‬ ‭

Next year can truly be a new year when it starts with a ‘new you‘.

Thank you for reading, and I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Till I come your way again…

Peace & Love