Becoming Like Jesus: Spiritual DisciplinesSample

Mind | Knowing God

One of the most well-known Bible verses talks about how we can be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2). That sounds pretty straightforward—change your mind, change your life. But the truth is, changing the way we think requires what we’ve been talking about. It requires discipline.

To renew our mind, we’ll have to actually teach it some new patterns to follow. And where better to learn those patterns than from the guy this is all about—Jesus.

First, let’s pray.

Pray …

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to save me. I’m different because of Him. Help me to never forget Your love and Your grace. Show me how to live for You. I want to make Jesus’ habits my habits so I can grow as a disciple. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Read …

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 NIV

Consider …

Let’s start breaking this down. What does Jesus say first? If we hold to His teachings, we are really His disciples. So, who or what are you holding onto? Is it your worries? Your money? Your emotional energy? Or is it Jesus—what He said and how He lived? If someone were to ask you what Jesus taught, would you be able to tell them? Do you know the teachings of Jesus?

And this isn’t just something Jesus instructed His followers to do for Him. If you look at the context of these verses, Jesus, more than once, talks about how everything He did and said, He did because His Father told Him to. Jesus knew the Father, trusted His words, and obeyed His commands.

It’s really hard to be a disciple of Jesus if we don’t even know what He said.

What do you do if you find yourself here? Get to know Jesus. When you’re getting to know someone new, your mind is engaged in that process. You’re curious about them, ask questions, and listen attentively to their answers. You probably observe them more closely. How do they like their coffee? What do they do for fun? Who do they spend time around?

You can get to know Jesus like this, too. Be curious about Him and attentive to Him. In prayer, yes. But you can also do this when you’re reading your Bible. Start by reading a chapter of the Gospels each day (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). When you do, ask yourself two questions: What does this chapter teach me about Jesus (who He is, what He’s like, etc.)? And, how does this chapter help me live like Jesus? You’ll get to know Him more and more every step of the way, which is the promise attached to this command: Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

In another place, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Truth is not an abstract concept; it’s an actual person. Knowing the truth is knowing Jesus! And when we know Him, He sets us free.

Practice …

Again, what do you do if you find yourself not really knowing Jesus or holding to His teachings?

First, repent. Repent is a word that means “to change direction.” And a change of direction starts with changing your mind.

Today, in any area where your words have not lined up with what’s true, repent. Change your mind. Start moving in a different direction.

Maybe you’ve called yourself a follower of Jesus for a really long time. You’ve been going to church, and that’s great. But, over the past few days, you've realized that what makes you a follower of Jesus is not your church attendance—it’s your relationship with Him. Is He the guy you listen to sermons about? Or is He the One you are following step-by-step?

How do you repent? Admit where you were wrong. Beg for mercy. Commit to making a change.

You cannot change what you don’t confront, so admitting what and where you were wrongly thinking, believing, or living is step one. Step two is to beg for mercy, because to truly change and be transformed, we need to humbly ask for help. We need Jesus—the truth—to set us free. Finally, commit to actually changing. Don’t be all talk and no game. With God’s help, intentionally live out your change of mind every day.