Transformation
Marya Lewis
Salem Chapel
January 18, 2012
Do 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. Romans 12:2 (NIV)
It began with a stomach ache. For several days, my eight-year-old complained of increasing discomfort in his tummy. When he doubled over in pain one night, we rushed to an urgent care clinic. The on-call physician attributed Nathan’s aches to a virus and sent us home. Yet, over the next few days, more troubling, inexplicable symptoms emerged. He became confused by simple instructions and avoided eye contact. He rarely slept and his arms and legs began to twitch and flail involuntarily.
Our pediatrician was perplexed. Desperate for answers, I scoured the Internet searching for a possible diagnosis and praying for guidance. Meanwhile, Nathan’s condition only worsened. He became “afraid” of food and refused to eat. He winced at undetectable sounds and claimed to see people walking around our house.
My son was slipping into an abyss of mental and physical bondage and it was horrible to watch. My husband and I began to pray specifically for healing for Nathan’s body and mind. We also asked God to point us toward someone who could speak truth into our situation.
Out of His incredible grace, God directed us to a veteran neurologist. After a brief battery of tests, he confirmed that Nathan’s symptoms stemmed from an undiagnosed case of Rheumatic Fever. Better yet, it was treatable with antibiotics!
After nine months of suffering, I’m happy to report that Nathan is on the road to recovery. Watching him emerge from the effects of this frightening disease has been both humbling and joyous. The constant pain is gone, the imaginary people have disappeared, and we are once again graced with Nathan’s beautiful smile each morning. And when he happily ate his entire Christmas dinner, we marked his victory with hugs and cheers.
When I knelt at our church’s altar this Christmas Eve, my tears flowed freely as I recalled the darkest moments of my son’s struggle. I thanked God for answering our prayers and prayed for an opportunity to encourage others with Nathan’s story. A verse immediately came to mind—Romans 12:2. (see above)
I thought of the neurologist’s explanation of how Nathan fell prey to Rheumatic Fever and its terrible side effects. Through a weakness in his immune system, this ugly disease slipped in and essentially hijacked his mind. As a result, Nathan’s perception of the world around him was temporarily altered. In this confusing state, he could no longer distinguish between reality and falsehood.
I began to see the life application for myself, and perhaps for some of you. Although I accepted Christ as a child, I have spent periods of my life paralyzed by grief, blinded by depression, and enslaved to fear. In this vulnerable state, I allowed the Enemy to invade my heart and mind, bringing with him a host of doubts and deceptions.
Even with the freeing truth of God’s Word readily available to me, I have often mistaken Satan’s whispers for reality. As a former chronic worrier, I used to spend hours fretting over difficult situations when a dose of biblical truth would have quickly resolved my problems. This is precisely why God gave us this incredible verse in Romans. It reminds us of our vulnerability to mental attacks and instructs us to continually renew our minds with God’s truth.
But there’s more good news in this verse: when we submit to this mental renewal, we are given a great gift. The second half of Romans 12:2 says that this transformation will equip us to “test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” With minds unleashed from deception, we are free and clear to discern God’s will.
Are you seeking God’s will for your life in this New Year? Have you allowed the evil one to hijack your thought life? If you are tired of living in bondage to troublesome thoughts, dangerous deceptions, and painful patterns, there is hope for you today. Simply accept the gift of renewal God offers through the absolute truth of His Word. With renewed minds, we can move forward in His strength and power to accomplish great things in His name.
Prayer
Father God, I confess to you that I have allowed feelings of fear, worry, guilt, and unforgiveness to invade my heart and mind. I submit those thoughts to you right now and ask you renew my mind with your transforming truth. Fill the void in my heart with the satisfaction and peace that come from trusting you with all of my worries and cares. I pray this in Jesus’ name.
© Marya Lewis
