By Kay Owen-Larson

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

It is so easy to conform to the things around us and so very difficult to go against the tide of people and circumstances in our life, but that is exactly what the Lord calls us to do. We are not called to be like the caterpillar that crawls on the earth and conforms to the earth. We are called to be like the butterfly that soars high above the earth and is carried about by the wind of the Spirit.

It is said that the greatest struggle in the life of the butterfly is breaking out of its cocoon.  However, without the great struggle, the butterfly would not have the strength to use its huge wings.

There are many struggles facing each of us today; some are in the arena of health, finances or other struggles might be with a family situation.  The struggles may vary in kind and strength, but they are calling us to give in and conform to their pressures. The only solution is to renew our minds to the Word of God and be transformed to Christ’s way of thinking, not our own.

This is the time to obey Romans 12: 1-2.  The Greek word that is translated “transformed” in this text is actually the word that we derive our English word “metamorphosis” from, which is the process that a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly.  So, wherever you are in the process—it is ok. We are all being transformed from the cocoon to a beautiful butterfly when we renew our minds to the acceptable and perfect will of God.

Now is the time to “fly.” Have a great March!