St Paul who (before his conversion) was thrown off his horse by the glorious Light of the risen Christ, admonishes us: “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.” (Romans 12:2)

One possible shade of meaning, among others, would be: “So I have to change the way I think.” But how can I change the way I think? How do I even begin to think differently? And the answer is not so obvious.

In a better translation of the Bible, it reads thus:

“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2; RSVCE)

To be “transformed by the renewal of your mind” is an expression that is far more rich; it holds a meaning that is far more broad and deep.

So how can you be “transformed by the renewal of your mind”, you might ask? We know that the first step is to turn away from sin.

Sin darkens the mind. Whether you know it or not. Whether you believe it or not.

As St Paul wrote: “For although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened.” (Romans 1:21)

And again: “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct.” (Romans 1:28)

And again: “They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.” (Ephesians 4:18)

Those who live in sin cannot see clearly. Their mind is darkened. That’s why Jesus taught us to follow Him: “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.” (John 12:35)

Aldous Huxley wrote: “The victim of mind manipulation does not know that he is a victim. To him, the walls of his prison are invisible, and he believes himself to be free.”

Just as the victim of mind manipulation “does not know that he is a victim”, so also he who lives in sin cannot see the darkness of his own mind.

But Jesus does not want us to be victims of sin and darkness. He calls to us from the deepest Love: “Come to me all who labour and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

“I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Having turned away from sin, the soul then needs to “draw near to God” (James 4:8); the soul must “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)

To be “transformed by the renewal of your mind” is not something that you can achieve on your own strength. It can only be accomplished when you turn to God in faith and love.

As soon as you turn back to God in faith and love, God begins to enlighten your mind and to warm your heart, and to draw you ever closer to Himself in the spirit of prayer and loving communion with Jesus.

And when this happens, the soul is increasingly transformed into God’s likeness—not because the soul deserves to be raised to such union with God, but by the glorious power of God’s merciful Love: “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the [Holy] Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

And when this happens, the Lord increasingly imparts to us the same knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of His own mind: “For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16)