Renewing the Mind Isn’t a One-Time Thing

We often treat transformation like a transaction. 

Like a single moment, a quick prayer, or a well-timed sermon can flip a switch and fix everything inside us. 

But Paul’s words in Romans 12:2 aren’t describing a one-time event. “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” is written in the present active tense—meaning it’s ongoing. Repetitive. Daily. 

Renewing the mind is not about having a powerful emotional encounter and then coasting through life on that momentum. It’s about intentionally choosing to think differently, again and again. The truth is: your mind doesn’t stay renewed any more than your hair stays brushed. It requires upkeep. 

Every thought, belief, reaction, and perspective we carry is either aligned with the truth of God or the lies of the world. That alignment doesn’t happen by accident. You don’t drift into transformation—you discipline yourself into it. 

It’s not about being “more positive” or slapping a Scripture on your bad day and moving on. Renewing your mind means replacing the false narratives we’ve lived by with God’s truth—on repeat—until those truths take root and reshape how we think, feel, and live. 

Some days, this looks like journaling through a Scripture instead of spiraling into anxiety. Other days, it means standing in front of a mirror, declaring what God says about you even when it doesn’t feel true. And sometimes, it’s just refusing to replay that same old thought pattern that’s always led you down a path of defeat. 

If you’re wondering whether you’re actually changing, ask yourself: 

What lies have I believed on repeat that God is trying to rewrite with His truth? 

That question alone can reveal the battleground—and where your next victory begins. 

You may feel like you’re still struggling, but the difference now is that you’re fighting back. That’s renewal in action. It’s slow. It’s messy. But it’s holy ground. 

Renewing your mind isn’t flashy. It’s faithful. 

And every time you choose truth over the old script, transformation is happening—one thought at a time. 

 Love in Christ,

Miranda Embry