Day 21 – The Exchange: 21 Days of Spiritual Swaps

Day 21! I did it! I can’t quite believe I have completed my first ever bible study! Thank you so much to everybody who has read a portion of this work.

21 days ago, I felt stuck.

I had studied Romans 12:2, which reads:

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.

Romans 12:2, NIV.

Nevertheless, after hearing this verse again and again, I didn’t know how to practically renew my mind.

“What does renewing my mind even look like?” I thought. To me, the term “renewing of your mind” was a bit Christianese and confusing!

So I set out on a journey of spiritual swaps…

I started coming to God every day and I let Him exchange lies, doubt, guilt, worry and fear for something new. I wanted to change, I wanted my mind to be filled with truth.

As I approach the end of this journey, I have realised: this is the way I was created to live. I was created for connection with God, in this way, every single day.

I thought that renewing my mind meant hard work. Instead, I’ve realised that it is type of un-doing. Less about learning something new and more about un-learning lies, sin and pain that I’ve picked up, unknowingly, throughout my life.

Renewing your mind looks like coming to your Father in Heaven and letting Him take off all mess, frustration and disappointment you carry.

It is letting Him daily remind you that you were born to be loved, heard, seen and known.

Before this, I used to pray every day. But praying in this way has reminded me that my God is alive, real and speaking to me in a new way each morning.

He doesn’t want me to say the same thing to Him every day, like a ritual. He knows that each new day brings new chaos, new mess and therefore He wants to equip me with something fresh to face each day.

This morning, I came to God with all sorts of problems. Worries, let’s call them. Worries about friendships, hopes and the future.

God led me to these verses from Isaiah:

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

Isaiah 61: 1-3, ESV.

This whole chapter basically embodies what I have been doing in this 21-day bible study. Coming to God with things like “mourning”, “a faint spirit” or a broken heart and letting Him clothe me in “righteousness” and freedom.

One line in particular grabbed my attention

“to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,”

Isaiah 61: 3, ESV.

I think that one line sums up this entire study. I have come to God with a head full of ash! Lies, dust and mess swirling around in my mind.

Instead, God clothes me with a “beautiful headdress.” He calls my messy mind beautiful! He cleans the dust out and gently weaves a headdress of truth for my brain to carry.

He adorns us with beautiful thoughts, if we let Him.

I felt like He reminded me that He can deal with all of my worries. All of the craziness, He can carry.

I think that I am going to keep this practice up of coming to God and actually connecting with Him. I want to give Him my mess and let Him replace it with truth.

I don’t want you to just read about my connection with God – I want you to bring all the ashes, which you think you can’t give Him, and lay it out in front of God.

I want you to let Him lead you. Rather than striving or pretending, I want you to experience the Holy Spirit prompting you to give up old habits and thoughts that you were never created to carry.

I want you to believe that He has got something wonderful and beautiful that has been uniquely crafted for you.

A beautiful headdress like no other.

If you have ever wondered what it looks like to renew your mind, this is it! Coming to God, just as you are and letting Him gracefully replace your torn, burnt up, painful mess for something that fits you perfectly. Something that suits you, better than it would suit any other.

Make a commitment to swap your ashes for His beautiful headdress.

Delight as you step into beauty that God custom-designed for you, before you were even born.

He made you, He knows you and He is ready to give you something special every single day.

Action Points:

• Read Isaiah 61 aloud.
• Make a commitment to come to God every day swapping your mess for His beauty.