We limit God by holding onto old attitudes. It is interesting that when our minds are renewed that we become more aware of God and less aware of our present circumstances. This allows us to be more confident of Him and less insecure in ourselves.
It is only when we present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God that we no longer conform to this world but are transformed by the renewing of our minds.
The renewed mind is hungry for the things that the Scriptures say about us, “You are the light of the world”. We will bear God’s light to change the world. God’s kingdom has come, and we desire God’s will be done in us as it is in heaven. We will believe God for the impossible as, “all things are possible to those who believe”. We will see our future more clearly than ever before.
When we have a renewed mind, we realise it is more important to know what we have been birthed into than what we have come out of. We are not beggars but sons and daughters. His divine power has given us all things (2 Peter 1:2-3).
One dimension of living out of a renewed mind is awareness. Having heightened consciousness of the Holy Spirit within us, makes us aware that He who lives in us is greater than the forces of darkness around us.
When we present our bodies as a living sacrifice, only then do we have the mind of Christ and can find out the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.
The grace He then gives us is not just favour but His empowering presence that brings righteousness, peace and joy. Knowing the will of God produces true humility and ‘is not thinking less of yourself’, according to C.S. Lewis, ‘but thinking of yourself less’.
“You will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise”. (Philippians 4:7-8).