As Paul points out in Romans 12:1, all born-again Christians are required to present their bodies as living sacrifices to God for His use. As the verse says:

“I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.”

But this is only the first step. Next we have to present our minds – or at least allow God to renew our minds. For Paul continues in Romans 12:2 saying:

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.”

Presenting our bodies is one thing, presenting our minds is quite another. With our minds, we can keep our bodies under control (to some extent), but our minds require more than just presenting. As Paul says, while presenting our bodies as living sacrifices may suffice, we need to renew our minds so that they may be transformed. But even this is a three step process which does not happen all at once. As we are transformed, as we renew our minds, we will begin to see three developing aspects of God in us. First His Good Will; then His Pleasing Will and finally His Perfect Will.

As God begins to renew our minds, our minds begin to see things differently, and we begin to act differently. We begin to see different standards and different priorities and our lives slowly begin to change. Perhaps those around us will be the first to see the changes we manifest, as we begin to act differently, in the Will of God. God does not manifest His changes in us from the outside in, but from the inside out.

This is in many regards contrary to what religion teaches; for traditional ritual religions are all about rules and regulations: what you eat, what you drink, what you wear, what you can touch, what you cannot touch, what you should do, what you should not do. These religions change the actions of the people and require them to comply, but leave hearts and minds untouched; though they begin to react because of conformity to the rules and rituals and become compliant and docile, or reactionary and rebellious inwardly.

The Holy Spirit takes another approach altogether, by first transforming the mind, such that the external manifestations, the external changes which other see, are as a result of deep inner changes which emanate naturally for a Godly mind in conformity to the Will of God. There is no need for rules to be laid down for compliance, because the compliance in action, will come naturally and joyously as we obey the Will of God.

This is confirmed in Romans 8:5-7 as we read:

“For they who are according to the flesh mind the things of flesh, but they who are according to the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can it be.”

Our unrepentant carnal mind is all about our fallen nature and self. It is at odds with God, it is at enmity with God, and such, without the help of God, cannot change. As Romans 8:10 tells us, we are dead in sin, and the dead cannot cure, heal or change themselves. God also does not reveal His Will to the unrepentant heart, but as First Corinthians 2:10 says:

“But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

Through the mercy of God, what more deep thing can there be for man, than the sovereign Will of God? Yet, the Holy Spirit will reveal the deep things of God, once we accept Him, offer ourselves to Him, and give Him control and authority over our lives.

As we saw in Romans 12:2 there are three phases in the releasing of the realisation of God’s Will in us: good, acceptable and perfect.

As we begin our transformation, first we see that God is Good. We begin to see the lies which have been placed within us by the enemy, and begin instead to recognises that God only wishes good for us. As God desires that none of us be lost, he also desires good for us in all things; but that which God sees as good and acceptable, is often contrary to the world’s view of good and wholesome. As we begin to move towards Christ, the enemy will try to persuade us that becoming a Christian requires giving up all the enjoyable and pleasurable aspects of the flesh and settling for a boring life, a life of drudgery. The opposite is the truth, for God wants mankind to be set free from the enemy’s bondage and free to receive all of His gifts and blessings. Acknowledgement and understanding of the simple idea that God is Good, will allow us to see Him in a new light: that He is there to prosper us, not harm us.

As we come to understanding of the goodness of God, He will begin to unveil to us that His Will is Acceptable. At this point we need to come to an understanding that all of God’s will is acceptable to us. We cannot negotiate with God on this aspect, we simply need to take it on Faith; faith being trust in that which we cannot see. God is offering us eternity and untold riches if we have faith, but not necessarily riches as the world see riches or wealth. God is asking us at this stage in our transformation, to put our full trust and faith in Him and believe that whatever He plans for us, is in our own best interest, and therefore is, and should be, and must be, acceptable to us.

The final revelation in our transformation is that the Will of God is perfect. This does not mean that at any given date or time or situation, we will clearly and fully understand God’s Will. No, it means that through faith in Him, we recognise that the goodness of God in all forms and at all times, is acceptable to us and perfect, in its own way. God’s ways are not man’s ways and His ways are so far above us, that we will never understand or even begin to comprehend them.

God is in every detail and situation and aspect of our lives, once we place our body and will into His hands. Things begin to happen and “coincidences” abound. Things we consider unimportant, can turn out to be life changing events, if not for ourselves, for others. A kind word spoken here or there to another may be a message from God to that person, leading them to eternity and the fulfilment of God’s Will in their lives. A passing smile to a stranger in the street may avert a suicide, may make a day happy, may save a life – yet we know not why we smiled at that particular stranger. Having been blessed by receiving oral and written testimonies of acquaintances whose lives I have unknowing touched in meaningful ways, I now recognise the perfection of the Will of God. It may be beyond our comprehension and understanding in breadth, length and depth, but it is reassuring that God is there in all things, all the time.

Heavenly Father,
I come to you as a confessed sinner, acknowledging all my guilt and unforgiveness. As I willing offer my body to you as a living sacrifice, I lay it down on the Alter of Your service. I also willingly lay down my will before You Lord and surrender it to You on this day, and for every day of the remainder of my life.
I recognise Father, that for me to be forgiven, I too must forgive. I therefore ask Your Holy Spirit to bring to my mind all the areas of unforgiveness in my life for which I now forgive.

{Now forgive one-by-one, all the people and situations which the Holy Spirit brings to mind.}

Father, I unreservedly forgive ­­___name___ for ­­___action___ to me and against me. I forgive him/her/them and bless him/her/them in the name of Jesus. For all the wrong and bad words and actions against me, I return them seven-fold as the peace and love of Jesus Christ himself.
I pray Lord God that You will now change me as Romans 12:2. Help me Lord, not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of my mind by You. Test me Lord, that I may discern what is Your Will, and in faith, know that it is good and acceptable and perfect.
Thank You Lord for this opportunity to come before You in prayer, for Lord, I believe, please help my unbelief.
I Jesus name I pray. Amen and Amen and Amen.