Romans 12:2 English Standard Version (ESV) 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.

In our hearts we want to know God’s will in order to be obedient servants. The renewed mind has to be tested to discover if in fact we are “getting the message”.

Since the flesh opposes the Spirit it appears to be a lifelong battle in search of the truth that already abides in us.

My pastor once told me “You keep shooting yourself in the foot.” He was right and no one had ever said that to me before. There was a condition of my mind that was hampering me from hearing God’s will, whether good, acceptable or perfect.

I was born with Asperger’s Syndrome. It is hereditary and not something I could understand or control without coming to terms with my condition.

Sometimes what is wrong with us goes deeper than our emotions, sometimes it really is in our DNA. Asperfer’s is on the spectrum of autism. No one wants to admit they are autistic if they do not understand what that means and what it involves. It is a truth we do not want to hear.

Ignoring the truth does not change it.

Ignoring God’s will does not change it either.

I thank God that He did not leave it up to me.

What is troubling to the mind is the associated memories that helped us in our old life that do not help us now. When we see the word test, we think of tests that are pass/fail and we wait anxiously for the test results, apprehensive about our performance.

Jeremiah 12:3a English Standard Version (ESV) But you, O Lord, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you.

It is not our mind being tested but our hearts.

Galatians 5:17 English Standard Version (ESV) For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

It is important to listen to the Spirit because He will not lie to us and yet we can and often do lie to ourselves. The habit of being defensive goes all the way back to original sin. Denial is in our DNA. And yet the only way to break out of the bondage is confession that comes from the heart.

Paul made this same confession in Romans 7.

Romans 7:15 English Standard Version (ESV) For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

It isn’t easy to make these confessions, Our DNA tells us we are unworthy, it’s the urge to hide from God when we know we have done wrong.

We must not ignore the Truth that came by faith in Christ.

Romans 7:4 English Standard Version (ESV) Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.

We belong in this family no matter how we feel about ourselves. Nothing can undo the grace that has already been given. It is the conflict of conscience.

God gave us a conscience to prevent us from doing wrong but it is a part of the mind and therefore flesh. The mind has to be convicted by the truth not convinced. Conviction is a heart condition born of the Spirit.

This is why the mind has to be transformed, reprogrammed to respond to the truth and not our emotions.

Romans 12:2 English Standard Version (ESV) 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.