Romans 12:16 Amplified says, “Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to (people, things) and give  yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits.”

The  NKJV says, “…associate with the humble…” Humble folks walk in grace ~ grace dwellers. Practically it looks like 2 Corinthians 9:8. It says, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward  you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” Though the context is finances, we can make personal applications ~ living with companions in grace.

Psalm 131:1 were David’s words we can implement. It says, “Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me.” Trying to figure out things that we have no control over ~ mental gymnastics.

Romans 8:28 says that all things work together for good. When a new trial stops us in our tracks, do we balk or embrace it? If we balk, then we have a hidden lie that controls our life.

When the newly created butterfly emerges from the cocoon, it is really weak. Its body is swollen because it is full of liquid. In order for it to fly it has to go through a tremendous struggle.

When we begin our process of renewing our mind from an erroneous belief, there will be a struggle. In that struggle we will be ‘proved’ or tested so that the dross from the lie surfaces. The dross is discerned as we implant His word. It reveals it and crowds it out so that it has to come out of hiding. We then acknowledge the lie and renounce or disown it. The implanted word rushes in to fill that space. Our behavior changes because our belief system has become new.

Transformation through mind renewal is a divine exchange. Think of the caterpillar who spins the cocoon. Inside that dark night of the soul it melts. The butterfly is formed from that liquid. 

1 Peter 1:15 says to be holy in all our conduct. Verse 17 says, “…conduct yourself throughout your stay here in fear.” Amplified says holy reverence. When our behavior does not exemplify the Lord, we need to renew our mind in that area of behavior. Our belief system is faulty. 

What we do behind closed doors, when no one is watching, reveals our character. Are we the same visually as we are when hidden? 1 John 2:6 says, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” Do your actions agree with what you say you believe? Inner transformation melts the old so the new can emerge.

When we look at the word perfect in relationship to God, we know that it cannot be improved upon. Psalm 18:30 says that His way is perfect. Verse 32 says, “It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.”

When we use the word perfect in relationship to our lives, it is an ongoing process. Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Romans 12:2 says to be transformed, “…by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” To renew our mind requires a change in how we think.

All actions are preceded by thoughts. In order to ‘prove’ the renewing, our actions will be a testimony of God’s perfect will.

The truth is that God is love, and His love dwells within us. When that truth becomes experiential, then we live as more than conquerors. Romans 8:35 asked questions. It says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

Conquering over the enemy’s plans against us is to be our lifestyle. We cannot be slack in this battle. Ephesians 6:10-18 is our marching orders. Every attack must be intentionally fought through proclaiming His truth through praise. Our military fortification in Nahum 2:1 thwarts the scatters plans. “…Man the fort! Watch the road! Strengthen your flanks! Fortify your power mightily.”

Paul answered in verse 37, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Let me take you to a verse. The rider is our Victorious Conqueror. Revelation 6:2 says, “…He went out conquering and to conquer.”

Have you ever felt isolated and alone? It was an attack against the truth. Romans 8:38 says, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers…” I want to stop right there.

Demonic lies infiltrate through fiery darts unawares, when truth is not our internal sentinel. Defeat comes when we forget that we are loved unconditionally. The moment we are saved, His love pours into our hearts. Romans 5:4.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says that we are to give thanks in everything. When we proclaim truth through praise, the enemy flees. Psalm 22:3 says that He is enthroned in our praises. Psalm 68:1 says, “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those also who hate Him flee from before Him.” In 2 Chronicles 20:22 it says that when they began to sing and to praise the Lord defeated their enemies.

Think now of the things that we have which were freely given. First of all salvation, abundant grace, unending mercy, peace, joy, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, instant access through prayer, truth, forgiveness, and resurrection power to name a few. Hopefully this will cause you to add more.

One of the devil’s greatest ensnarements is when we allow fiery darts to penetrate. They are designed to attack and destroy our faith. An internal stronghold is built and our battle becomes internal instead of external. They seep into our thought processes. They intrude when we want to be still before the Lord. They are distractors and disruptors!

Paul closed out Romans 8 with God’s inseparable love. Any thoughts to the contrary are lies from the pit of hell. Ephesians 1:13 says that we are sealed until the day of redemption. Possessing truth will keep you free from the devil’s hidden ensnarements.

If you will recall, the children of Israel were given land to possess. Joshua 18:3 says, “…How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?”

Romans 8:31 asked who could be against us since God is for us? The answer is the enemy of our soul. He hates us because we are made in the image of God. Satan uses his unsuspecting wiles to entrap us.

Romans 8:32 says, “…how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Considering John 10:10 we know that the thief comes to steal, kill, and to destroy. Yet Jesus came to give us abundant life.

The thief uses: too much stress, wrong thinking, toxic relationships, anemic faith, adversities, etc. Use this partial list to discern what part of God’s abundance you might have neglected to possess.

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God is for us! What an amazing truth that the enemy hates! He brings all kinds of fiery darts against us ~ targeted to destroy our belief that God is for us! It is true now and will be throughout eternity. It is unchangeable, inalterable, steadfast, and absolute.

Any thought you have ever had against yourself is a fiery dart. I love to think about when the Lord formed Adam. He breathed His life in that dust form. Instantly Adam was a fully functioning man. Our body is so astoundingly amazing. All cells communicate with one another. Every cell has a laminin ~ the shape of a cross in them.

Colossians 1:17 says, “And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Consist means to hold together. Laminin is what holds our body together. Louie Giglio was introduced to laminin through a molecular biologist. 

We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14.