Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

I quoted this verse in yesterday’s devotional. I do believe that we all understand what Paul meant by this warning. Within us is a desire to be conformed to Christ. Our love for Christ is a compelling force towards that good end. I said that I need to be continually renewed in my mind yesterday but I did not say why exactly.

Have you ever walked by a bakery and smelled the fresh baked goods? What does that smell alone do to you? If you enjoy those baked goods, the smell stirs memories and might even entice you to stop and buy something on the spur of the moment. It is called impulse buying. It was caused by the venting of the aroma into the street. That is influence.

You drive up to your favorite fast food restaurant and look at the menu board. “Hmm, that’s new. That looks really good.” So you order the new menu item because it looks good. When you drive off and the bag is opened and you see the meal you just bought, it doesn’t look anything like the picture. That is influence.

We know by experience that those who sell use marketing techniques to influence sales. We have come to a point in our conscious minds where we expect and accept the practice. It has become the norm, it is what it is, and we have come to terms with that world.

Observer effect is a physics term. The observation of an event changes the event. It means one thing in physics, it means another in psychology. Observation is influence in the mind. We see things and those things are imprinted on our brains. Often times, as with world news, dialogue accompanies the pictures or video. Influence is being exerted on multiple levels. Even adding music enhances and makes the observation more intense and dramatic. That is why we have music scores for movies.

It is part of our world and not all of it is godly. Renew your mind.

Isaiah 41:25-29 I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.  Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words. The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings. For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word. Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

None but Jesus.

We desire to know truth, to speak truth, and to do what is right. I am sure of my desire, yet all that I know, speak and do falls short of my desire. It is vanity on my part to think I can be all that I desire.

I am in Christ and Christ is in me. While this is true, it does not remove me. I still exist. It is a truth that the Holy Spirit abides with me to be all that Christ said that He should be and do in me. Yet that does not remove me. I still exist.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

I continually have to renew my mind because I live in a world where I see and hear things which are not of God. The more time I spend in the world, the more time I need to spend in the Word of God to renew my mind and stop the unsound influences of this world.

It is vanity on my part to think that I can, by force of will, keep in perfect alignment with God’s Word. I use a flawed human brain to try and hold onto all that is right, true and good. I need help and that can only come from the One who is right, true and good.

Yet He trusts me enough to disciple others.