Trust the Process

Intro

Imagine buying the newest iPhone.

Beautiful screen | Fast processor | Amazing camera.

But every few weeks/months… Apple releases updates.

The phone looks exactly the same...

but the software changes everything.

Same phone.

Different operating system.

When you give your life to Christ, God doesn't simply give you better habits.

He doesn't just clean up your behavior.

He begins rewriting the operating system of your life by changing the operating system of your mind.

An internal transformation that eventually changes everything else.

Scripture

Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

By the end of today, I want you to remember one sentence: Trust the Process

Renewing the mind is a process not a promotion.

It’s not an instant result of external recognition.

It’s a lifelong journey where God transforms us one surrendered step at a time

POINT 1 - A RENEWED MIND BEGINS WITH SURRENDER

Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world…

The first command isn't "change."

The first command is "stop following."

It’s a DECISION

I’m not following the world’s culture anymore.

I’m not going to laugh at that b/c everyone else is.

I’m not going to do that just b/c everyone else is

This isn’t renewing your mind

it’s positioning yourself for renewal

POINT: A Renewed Mind Begins with Surrender

When we accept Jesus as savior, we also accept Him as Lord… Decision to follow Him

1 John 2:15 “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.”

A decision to surrender to God is necessary because you can only love&follow the world or God.

Not both.

When I decide to love God I’m deciding to reject the world.

The mindset, the behaviors, the customs.

Not because it’s cool, but because I love God.

A renewed mind begins with Surrender > Neighbor = “Trust the process”

Transition

Saying "yes" to Jesus doesn't instantly change how you think.

It begins a lifelong process where God slowly teaches you to think like Him.

POINT 2 - A RENEWED MIND LEARNS TO TRUST GOD

Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.

BUT LET GOD! … Transform you / renew your mind.

We can’t lead ourselves to

what God wants us to be.

How God wants us to think

See things the way God wants us to see them.

We surrender to the work only God can do.

POINT: A Renewed Mind Learns to Trust God

A Renewed Mind Trust…

A renewed mind trust God…Transformation begins where control ends.

We all want God to Change us, we just don’t like the process

God’s timing - my plan is second to God’s schedule.

I’m learning to trust that when i want it, may not be when God’s going to do it!

One thing I’ve learned - God has never been late.

God’s ways - “When god helped w/ the tension in their family hd did it like this (easy, fast but mine is slow and hard)

I’m learning to trust that how i want it, may not be how God wants to do it

God’s ways often make sense after obedience

God’s truth - We want God's truth to conform to our truth

I feel this way so that's what this scripture means.

Truth is understood in biblical context not in circumstantial comfort

Feelings make terrible foundations.

Truth never changes because God never changes.

2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

God’s Power - Remember He's the only one that can finish the work (Hebrews 12:2 through Jesus He’s the author and finisher of our faith)

God will complete the work in you

Stop letting imposter syndrome tell you you're incomplete.

Because of Jesus, you're a finished work that's in progress 

Stop trying to finish what only God can complete.

When we trust God's timing...

God's ways...

God's truth...

and God's power...

God slowly rewrites the way we think.

A renewed mind trust God > Neighbor = “Trust the process”

Transition

The process of renewing our mind started w/ surrender > moved to trusting God > but we’re not at the end of the process.

Transformation is proven by how we live!

Point 3 - A Renewed Mind Begins to Live Like Jesus

Romans 12:2 …Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Then you will learn (Greek = prove / test / discern) God’s Will

The renewed mind eventually produces a renewed life.

POINT: A Renewed Mind Begins to Live Like Jesus

You don't behave your way into a renewed mind... you think your way into renewed behavior.

That’s why we're expected to live like we've been changed

Walk like we've been changed

Go to work like we've been changed

Respond to rogue thoughts like we've been changed

Pursue reconciliation like we’ve been changed

In the Sermon on the mount,

Jesus addressed the law  and broke it down to the heart of things. 

Jesus wasn't changing behavior.

He was changing thinking.

You’ve heard, But I say even if …

A changed heart is more than keeping the law, it's loving God with the way you live from the heart

Proverbs 23:7 As a man thinks in his heart

A renewed mind lives like Jesus > Neighbor = “Trust the process”

The Cross Connection

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you that is also in Christ Jesus

Jesus didn't just teach a renewed mind.

He lived one.

Think about it...

Jesus trusted the Fathers will | plan | promise

Garden of Gethsemane.

"Not My will..."

"...but Yours."

That’s what a renewed mind looks likes!

Jesus showed us how to live with a renewed mind by consistently surrendering to God and Trusting God.

It resulted in us having the choice to surrender and trust God with our eternal life.

Jesus walked the path of surrender first...

so we could follow Him.

Closing

Imagine buying a new phone...

...and refusing every software update.

Eventually...

the phone still works...

but not the way it was designed.

Some of us have accepted Christ...

but we've been hitting "Remind Me Later" every time God wants to update the way we think.

Romans 12 isn't trying to make you into someone you’re not.

It’s God restoring you into the person He created you to be!

The Reset isn't becoming someone new overnight.

The Reset is trusting God enough...

to say...

"Update whatever You want."

Someone in here may need a hard reset

Maybe you've been trying to update your behavior...

while ignoring your heart.

Maybe you've been trying harder...

instead of surrendering deeper.

Maybe today isn't about trying more.

Maybe it's finally saying...

"God...

update whatever You want."

I’m encouraging you to give your life to Christ - Trust the Process