FAITHFULWORD.ORG | TEACHINGS

Romans 12:1,2; Psalm 119:83; 103:1-5; II Corinthians 3:18; 4:1-18; Hebrews 4:12; Isaiah 40:28-31; Psalm 27:14; 119:28

We as Christians have a choice each day to continue to be filled with the life God gives and be transformed to what He wants us to be, or to be conformed to the ways of the world. When we consider the mercies of God, it is a logical to present ourselves as living sacrifices. God’s Word exhorts us not to be conformed (molded or affected by) but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Renewing is a change. It means to get a new, upward vision from God’s Word and place it in our minds and hearts.

Many things in life wear at us. At times we get weary and it is then this renewing becomes vitally important. Psalm 119:83 speaks of becoming like a bottle in the smoke. In the East, bottles for storing water were made of animal skins. When they were hung in the house where cooking was done, over time, the smoke would affect the skin, darkening it and making it more brittle. Life can have an aging affect, yet our response to the wear-and-tear of living should be not to forget God’s Word. Psalm speaks of the eagle being renewed. As the golden eagle aged, its feathers became frayed and worn by the elements, making it difficult to fly properly. The eagle would go as high as it could, fold its wings and plunge into a body of water. The impact would dislodge the old feathers and the bird would wait on land for new feathers to grow in so it could once again soar high and effectively. God does this for us — He renews us like an eagle. We can maintain a youthful vigor despite our physical age.

We must not care about what others around us say, but must focus on God’s opinion of us. What we focus on, we become. As we do so, we will not lose heart. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that the Word of God is the standard for decision making.

For the people in the times of the Bible, the eagle was very important because it symbolized life and strength. If we are weary, we must get our strength from God. We can have a youthful heart, yet walk in wisdom. The Word of God in our hearts is the sustenance by which we can be transformed every day with our youth being renewed like the eagle’s.