These past two days I have been in solitude with the Lord. The guys went out into the mountains to find the Lord by ourselves for 28 hours. This practice brought me deep inner peace. I find peace in solitude, but back home I was never intentional about it with God. I firmly believe that if you are, He will show up no matter where you are at. Even non-believers can find God’s presence! He gave me a huge realization that I will try to make as concise as possible to get the point across to you all.
Romans 12:2
“Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but instead be transformed by the renewing of your mind”
In solitude I did a lot of examining of my past. What showed up was how much I was wrapped up in the world. When I was young I would go to school, hang out with my best friend, have family time, then bed. As I got older it would be go to school, go to sports, do homework, then bed. Not that these things were bad, as it is a part of growing up to adulthood, but I’ve been unaware all these years of the Good news inside me. My life revolved around the patterns of this world. My mind was in the world.
The great thing about this kingdom journey is that God has taken me out of the patterns of this world. Not saying that everyone needs to go on the World Race, but you have to get out of the patterns of the world to find the beautiful truth behind Romans 12:2. By not conforming to the patterns of the world, you can become transformed by the renewing of your mind. Living for Heaven over the world transforms your mind!
God has been transforming my mind. Renewing it. In 1 Corinthians 2:6-15 God talks about the Holy Spirit that He has given us and that we have the mind of Christ. We have the mind of Christ inside us, but by conforming to the world we don’t transform ourselves in the renewal of our mind. It is in us all, but if we live for this world we can’t tap into God’s call for us to live in His kingdom. I am starting to not only know what it means to follow Christ, but what it means to have the mind of Christ.
This gets me so excited! The mind of Christ lives in us! How glorious this is! If we get out of this world, we have access to get into the mind of Christ and to be able to follow Him. It is so much harder to follow Him when you are still stuck in this world. I encourage all of you to find what getting out of this world means to you and to find the beauty behind a transformed mind. It may take a big step. This is a lifelong process, but God will make you new through Jesus!
A question I asked was ‘will I go back into the patterns of the world after the race?’ God hit me with a response: “With the mind of Christ you do not conform to the patterns of this world, but rather you embrace your new mind in Christ to find what God wants you to do IN this world. In this world… not OF this world.
There is so much more to everyone on Earth that they don’t realize. The key to TRUE life is to get out of YOUR life. This was life-changing to me and I hope I can spark a change in those of you that read this. I have struggled getting out of my flesh and into my spiritual identity since I’ve been here, but if we don’t conform to the patterns of this world, rather seeking the true kingdom, our minds will be transformed into the beauty God calls us to. Thanks to Jesus! How wonderful this is! This was life-changing to me and I hope it can be to everyone who reads this! This verse is not a recommendation but a lifestyle!
Great meat, way to challenge your supporters and not hit them with the watered down truth but with THE TRUTH!! AMEN *thanks God. Keep clinging to this verse even when you go home. How are you going to cling to this lifestyle when the WR community is no longer around you? When it’s you and the world? Go ask him for your why
The challenge you give all of us in here is so great! How to live IN the world and not OFF is so good! Thanks for sharing Samson!
I appreciate your honesty about how hard it is to live IN the world while not being OF the world, and the push/pull from all the distractions we encounter on a daily basis. (You are not alone!) You are surely building an arsenal of tools to help you on your journey, and in the coming months, I pray God will provide you with an opportunity to use them to share the Gospel. Always in my heart, Gramma J.
What a great blog Samson. You really hit the nail on the head with this message. Unfortunately many of us have black and blue thumbnails because we often really miss the head of the nail with our hammer. Why does this happen? Because as you said our “mind was in the world” instead of on God.
Quite inspiring words Samson. You urged me to “get out of my flesh.” “Therefore anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” James 4:4b
God’s first priority for us is always transformation-a change from the inside out. That’s exactly what you’re encouraging us to do. God almost always transforms US before He transforms our CIRCUMSTANCES. God always prepares US for the place He prepares FOR us. Thank you for reminding us through your journey so far of that important principle. “Keep me from paying attention to what is worthless; be good to me as You have promised…I want to obey Your commands; give me new life for You are Righteous.” Psalm 119; 37,40. “Instead let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” Ephesians 4:23. Keep listening Samson. Keep sharing!
Hi I’m Gabriel’s sister. Encouraging blog. In the grip of God’s grace is always the best place to be. Proud of you all and what God is doing IN you and will do through you all.
Wow, Samson. What an inspiring blog. I especially like the way you captured the oh-so-important-difference between the pronouns, IN and OF. God certainly has created us to live IN this world because we are his hands, his feet, his mouth to minister, but he does not want us to become part OF the world patterns which will keep us from our mission. Bless you that you are open to his wisdom and guidance. Love, love, love, Grams