January 13, 2026
- djohnstoncc
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
TRANSFORMATION REQUIRES CHANGE
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
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
TODAY’S THOUGHT
There is a word we don't hear often in many modern churches, yet it was at the very heart of the New Testament message. That word is repent.
We love to talk about how Jesus transforms us and makes us "better," but we often skip the essential step of repentance.
When John the Baptist began his ministry, his message was simple: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:1-2).
On the day of Pentecost, Peter’s first instruction to the crowd was to “repent and be baptized.”
What Repentance Really Means
In the original Greek, the word for repent is Metanoeo. It is a beautiful, powerful compound word:
Meta: This is where we get the word metamorphosis—think of the radical transformation of a lowly caterpillar into a butterfly.
Noeo: This refers to the mind.
Therefore, to repent literally means to change the way you think. It is a shift in how you view God, yourself, and the world around you.
The "GIGO" Principle
This is exactly what Paul is teaching in Romans 12. You cannot experience a transformed life until you have a transformed mind. You cannot fully know God’s "good and pleasing will" while still thinking like the world.
Think of your mind like a computer. There is an old tech term: GIGO—Garbage In, Garbage Out. If a virus infects the operating system, the whole machine fails.
If we spend hours every day consuming secular media, dressing like the world, and being entertained by the world, but only give God five minutes of our time, whose "software" is running our lives? What is truly shaping your thinking?
The truth is: You become what you think.
A New Input for a New Year
Transformation requires a conscious choice to change your "input." If you want to see God show up in a mighty way in 2026, you must prioritize spiritual input.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit, I recognize You as my Teacher and Guide. I invite You to transform me from the inside out. Show me where my thinking has been shaped by the world and help me to fill my mind with Your Word. Help me to change the way I think so I can live the life You have planned for me. Amen.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”
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