40 Days of Purpose Preview
What on Earth Am I Here For?
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Thursday, October 9, 2003
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, I know that Your word tells me that You don’t want me to be the way I am now, for the rest of my life. You want to renew and transform me by the empowering presence of Your Holy Spirit. I pray for You to pour out Your Holy Spirit in my life today, and in the lives of every person who is associated with New Life Christian Ministries. I pray that You will transform us that we may live boldly and confidently for You regardless of the situations or circumstances of our lives. I pray that all that I am and all that I have may be used to glorify and honor You. I yield myself to You today, and ask that You will do with me whatever is pleasing in Your sight. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bible Verses
Romans 12:1-8
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Reflecting on Scripture
What does it mean to you to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”?
What is one mind renewing activity or event that you have experienced recently?
Exploring the Scripture
According to today’s Scripture, what does God expect of us in view of His mercy to us? (12:1)
How does this take place? (12:2-5)
What gifts does God give us for helping one another to be transformed? (12:6-8)
Understanding the Scripture
The Apostle Paul frequently refers to the importance of the mind in our transformation as followers of Jesus. How is this different from what is sometimes said of Christians that we must “check our minds at the door” in order to worship Him?
What do you do intentionally to see that your mind is renewed, and what is there in your life that prevents you from renewing your mind?
Applying the Scripture
What does this Scripture help you to do right now, in the way of being transformed?
Being Transformed by the Renewing of Our Minds
One vital aspect of 40 Days of Purpose is the focus on becoming more what God created us to be by fulfilling the five purposes for which God created us in the first place. While the 40 Days of Purpose will appeal to all aspects of our lives—spirit, soul and body; mind, heart and will, today’s reading makes it clear that our faith is not just a nice gullibility—it is an informed trust. Jesus never intended us to be mindless followers, but rather that we will use every possible resource He has given us to His glory and honor. There will be much to read and discuss together, as well as individual opportunities for growth on a daily basis throughout the 40 Days of Purpose. The key to success will be our intentionality and commitment. Jesus once asked a lame man, “Do you want to get well?” It may seem like an insensitive question, until we realize that sometimes the reason we aren’t “whole” is that we don’t really want to be. Sometimes we aren’t being transformed, because we’re comfortable with where we are at the moment. My prayer is that each and every one of us will invest ourselves completely in being transformed by the renewal of our minds, hearts, and spirits during these 40 Days of Purpose. God wants to do more than we can imagine through this time, and all we have to do is say, “Yes!” All we have to do is allow Him to work in us. The rewards will be great, as we focus our minds, our hearts—our whole beings on Jesus during this time!
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