A life verse of mine is Romans 12:2. It has meant a lot to me for a long time. I memorized it in the ESV translation, so that is what is written here, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
My family growing up was all about raising farm animals, country music, hunting, fishing and fixing cars. Now, none of that is bad, but it just wasn’t me. I do enjoy hunting, but I am not as adamant about making sure I have gear for animals of every season. As I am sure you have figured out by now, I am more techy. I enjoyed playing videogames with my friends, tinkering with electronics and learning new tech related things. Most of that doesn’t really line up with the rest of my family. Throughout Middle School, and some of High School I listened to country music, pretended I knew what my brothers were talking about when it came to cars, and tried to hunt and fish as much as they did.
Quite frankly, it was exhausting. I was trying to conform to my world, instead of embracing who God made me to be. Romans 12 goes on to talk about how each member of the Body of Christ has their own role. While those roles listed talk about gifts, can you properly use those gifts if you are pretending to be someone other than who God has created you to be? When I took Romans 12:2 to heart, I began to let go of all of the pseudo-country-boy things in me and be who God created me to be. Only after that did I begin to feel immense spiritual growth. I heard God telling me to go into Youth Ministry and I became more authentic to those around me. I still work on my own car, it’s a good money saver. I still hunt and fish sometimes, it’s good food. I occasionally listen to some pre-1990 country music, it was actually good back then (sorry folks who listen to modern country). But those things don’t define me anymore. Instead what defines me are the skills God has given to me, and his calling on my life.
It is my hope and challenge for all of you to spend some time in silence and prayer to ask God where you are authentic, and where you are just trying to conform to your world. Maybe you are already fully conforming to God’s will, and that is wonderful. Spend some time in prayer for those around you, and not just for this. We all can always use prayer!
-Isaac