Lesson 12: Transformed mind
Romans 12:1-2 
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 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 this last lesson of overcoming addictions we focus on our greatest way of making certain we will never fall into addiction again - the answer is found in our verses above. The answer is a transformed mind.

The first question must be, to what is our mind to be transformed? And our answer is found in Philippians 2:5. We are to have the same mind and ourselves which is in Christ Jesus. In the following verses we find what Jesus’ mindset was. He did not grasp at fame and honor. He was not concerned with position. He became a servant. He humbled Himself in obedience to God His Father. He became willing to die for others. His was a life of complete submission to God.

Our mind is transformed through three things we can practice each day. The first is studying the Bible every day. As we open the Bible to read we can ask the Holy Spirit to teach us and guide us as we read. Teaching is His primary reason for being in us. As we read, we need to talk to Jesus about the things that we read. He also wants to hear all the things that are of concern to us, the things that we love or that make us upset or the names of people for whom we have concern. We also need to memorize Bible verses and promises so the Holy Spirit can use them to speak to us during the day. He can bring verses to our mind in specific situations and they guide and give us wisdom at those times as the Holy Spirit makes them very real to us. In addition to reading and studying the Word of God, we need to develop a prayer life so that we will learn to express our selves to God.


A set time and place are good, but like any loving father he also wants his children to simply speak with him about whatever is on our heart – the good, the bad, and the ugly. He knows all of the details, more even than we do, so we are not telling him anything new. We are simply opening the door to a closer deeper relationship with Him.

Lastly, we need fellowship. God lives in community (the triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit). As God lives in community He designed us to live in community with Him and with other devoted followers of his Son. None of us can live our lives for God as a hermit. We need other people to cover our backs and we need to cover theirs – no one has 360 degree vision, not physically or spiritually.

Those three elements: The Word, Prayer, and Fellowship are critical to our on going growth in our relationship with the Living God through Jesus Christ our Lord, growing in the grace and in the knowledge of Him, which is what the renewing of our minds is really all about.

Versus to memorize: Romans 12:1-2

Your prayer: Holy Spirit, teach me today as I open Your word, and help me learn of You. As You help me conquer my addiction, I give myself to You to serve You with all my life forever.