In the midst of this chapter, this revelation, he says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  I believe we need to renew our minds so that we will not conform ourselves to the world’s wisdom, to its lusts, to its treasures, to its ideologies; that is how we need to begin this new year.  The world has affected our lives more than we would like to think.  In the midst of a holy church, let’s preserve and protect the innocence of our children.  There is no longer innocence in this world.  It is a crooked and perverse generation.  The stuff that your kids are still seeing on these phones and whatever movies they might be watching--keep your children innocent.

In this hour in which people will continue to depart from the faith--let’s pray for the return of some of these; amen?  Don’t you dare “love” them with your love.  Love them with God’s love.  He has given the formula that can bring them back, which is to turn them over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh so that they will learn not to blaspheme.

How do we prepare ourselves for this year to come?  Don’t lean to your own understanding, but in all of your ways acknowledge God, and He will direct your path.  Renew your mind.  Prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect in the will of God.  Romans 12:16 says, “Be of the same mind one toward another.  Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.”  Receive council, receive reproof, and receive rebuke.  Stop being so haughty and high minded:  there is more hope for a fool than for those of us who trust in our perceptions and perspectives alone.  “Be not wise in your own conceits.”  Proverbs 3:7 says that if we are subjecting ourselves to that true humility that God calls us to, the humility of the cross, of dying to self on a daily basis, then as we walk in that voluntary giving over of every decision, with every direction being wholly of God, it will create the fear of the Lord and a departure from evil.  The evil is the independent heart.  Rebellion is self-reliance.  Hatred is self-love.

Father, we thank You for Your goodness and Your kindness toward us.  Your blessings are new every morning.  Great is Your faithfulness.  Hallelujah!  So, we come to You expecting the blessing of the Lord.  They are new every morning; they are fresh every morning.  We rise up expecting the blessings of the Lord to overtake us because of Your great and sure promises.  So, Father, we will do our job to take up this cross and deny self.  By Your grace, because of Your mercy, we choose to humble ourselves and trust that You will exalt us in Your time and for Your glory.  We acknowledge that and thank You for it, Father, in Jesus’ name; amen.