Romans 12: 1-2, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Think

"When you give up control to God, you truly gain control." Growing up, sometimes it was hard to follow the rules when no one else did. No one wants to be the kid who stands out for fear of being made fun of! However, deep down we all know that following the rules helps us avoid trouble and stay in better standing with authority. The same principles hold true in following Jesus. God has given us his word, the Bible, as instructions for how to live our lives. Living life God's way is not always easy, especially when those around us are doing the opposite. But the Bible tells us that God has better things in store for us if we will trust him. God has a plan for every one of us. When we are obedient to God and trust him with every area of our lives, we will see God's tangible and intangible blessings. When we take time to regularly read our Bible, God will transform the way we think. This will help keep us on track to live a life that lines up with God's plan for us.

Act

You've already taken a good step in renewing your mind by reading this devotional – keep it up! Set a daily reminder on your phone to help you remember to read that day's devotional and stick to it.

Pray

God, help me to have the confidence to follow what the Bible says – no matter what everyone around me is doing. Continue to transform my thoughts and perspective. Thank you for the amazing plan and purpose that you have in store for me. Amen