When we get born again (Romans 10:9,10), we receive the gift of holy spirit from God. With that gift comes the ability to walk powerfully as Jesus Christ walked, and the key to manifesting this power is lining up our thoughts and actions with God’s Word. This is how we are transformed by the renewing of our minds.
Romans 12:2:
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We need to know what God’s Word says in order to renew our minds, so a first step to take is to study the Word of God. Let’s see what it is to study God’s Word and consider further why His Word warrants our diligent study.
Let’s go to II Timothy 2 to build our understanding of “study.”
II Timothy 2:15:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
In The Bible Tells Me So, Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille, our ministry’s Founding President, stated regarding this verse, “…the depth of the meaning of ‘study’ is to expend a diligent effort, remembering the brevity of time. In other words, ‘Give it everything you’ve got.’ God is telling us to exert an effort earnestly and diligently, utilizing our time wisely….”
God exhorts His sons and daughters to be workmen of His Word so that we know what His Word says. One way to exert a diligent effort to study is to read and study on a daily basis. As we set aside time devoted to Him each day, we can line up our thoughts and actions with His Word and prove what His good and acceptable and perfect will is. Every minute we spend studying God’s Word can encourage and strengthen us to live more powerfully and abundantly for Him.
Why does God’s Word warrant our diligent effort to study it? God’s Word is worthy of our trust: it provides a firm foundation to stand upon.
Psalms 119:160:
Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
God’s Word is true. The truth of His Word stands forever; it endures. It “liveth and abideth for ever” (I Peter 1:23). His Word will never let us down. We can trust in its integrity and accuracy. As we trust His Word, we make it the foundation of our lives.
In the Book of Hebrews, God declares that there are benefits to those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6:
…he [God] is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
One of the best places to seek God is in His Word. His Word is His will. As we learn and apply His Word in our lives, we will be rewarded for diligently seeking Him and will build a personal relationship with Almighty God as our heavenly Father.
II Peter 1:3:
According as his [God’s] divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.
“Godliness” refers to a true and vital spiritual relationship with God Almighty. He created life and He can show us how to live it to the fullest, walking powerfully as Jesus Christ walked.
We’ve considered this first step to renewing our minds—study God’s Word. We study it with diligence, with brevity of time in mind. We do this because the truth of God’s Word stands forever—we can fully trust God and His matchless Word. And we can expect to be rewarded for diligently seeking God as we learn and apply what we have studied. Let’s study the Word of God and renew our minds to it; we will prove that good and acceptable and perfect will of God and live more powerfully and abundantly for Him.