“Do not conform any longer 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).

I began writing weekly posts for the NewLife blog way back in October 2006. Shockingly, I have not yet run out of things to say. The hope from the beginning was to use this space primarily to reflect Biblically on the world around us. Most of my sermons on Sunday morning begin with a Biblical text, and then consist of me explaining what it meant in its original context and what it means for us today. The Pulse, on the other hand, usually begins with an observation about the world around us – something in the news, something I’ve experienced – and then I process or evaluate that observation or reality in the light of the Word of God. The hope is that by doing that, we would do what Paul wrote in Romans 12:2, which I included above – we would no longer conform to the pattern of this world, but would be transformed by the renewing of our mind.

As I look ahead to 2011, I would like to hear your opinion. What would you like to see me evaluate and reflect on from a Biblical perspective in the coming year? What are the questions you’ve been wrestling with, or the things you notice in our world that you would like to see me talk about? How can I use this space in a way that would build you up in your faith? Please take the time to let me know, whether by posting a comment on the blog, on Facebook, or by emailing or calling me.

In the meantime, I encourage you to meditate on Romans 12:2 and take it to heart. So many of us wonder what the will of God is for our life. In this verse, Paul lays out clearly that the best way to know what God wants for your life is to resist becoming a slave to what the world tells you to think and do, but to instead allow God to transform your mind to be like His. I don’t think that the Bible teaches that we primarily come to know God’s will by looking for signs, open and closed doors, or listening for nudges and promptings in our spirit. Instead, we come to know His will as we spend more time with Him and become more like Him. As we do that, we develop His heart and His mind, and find ourselves desiring the things that He desires. I know that many of us would prefer to learn shortcuts and secrets towards knowing the will of God, but the reality is that the answer is as simple – and challenging – as becoming His disciple, learning to love and follow Him step by step. My prayer for you is that you would allow Him to transform your mind more and more in 2011, so that you might live in His will.