Trading Spaces - Exchanging the World for the WordSample

Exchanging The World For The Word

The SPACE YouVersion Plan theme is based on Ezekiel 36:26-27 and Romans 12:2.

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations” (Ezekiel 36:26-27, NLT).

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2, NLT).

When someone becomes a Christian, their heart of stone trades spaces with a new heart of flesh. While the heart changes instantaneously, the mind does not. Transformation of the believer takes place when the world’s ways of thinking and living are exchanged and traded for biblical thinking and living through reading, studying, obeying, and applying Scripture.

Consider this illustration of the principle. What is a flashlight’s purpose? What if you removed batteries and filled the battery compartment with several items i.e.: jewelry, matchbox car, mini mirror, coins, candy, etc. Will the flashlight function? Will there be any light? Now unscrew the top and remove the items one by one. Replace the batteries. Can you turn on the flashlight? Does it shine?

Just like the flashlight could not fulfill its purpose of providing light without trading spaces with all the stuff inside for batteries—so our lives need to be emptied of the world’s thinking and replaced with the truths of God’s Word.

Each day read the Scripture, pray for understanding, and answer the questions. Use the notes app on your phone or a journal or notebook to record your answers. Better yet, invite someone to do this plan with you and answer the questions in the “Talk it Over” section each day.

SPACE Overview

Day 1: Summary

Day 2: Promises

Day 3: Ask

Day 4: Conform

Day 5: Exchange

Today's focus is the Summary.

Read the passage several times slowly then summarize in your own words. What is the most interesting thing you read in this passage?