God's Will Vs. My Will

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform 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.      How hard is it NOT to be conformed to the pattern of this world?  How can we avoid it?  Paul gives us some pithy instructions in these two verses: renew your mind claim God's mercy  worship God spiritually and physically actively seek God's will recognize that God's will is good, pleasing and perfect      So how can we test whether or not we are conforming to God's will or to the world's?  Perhaps we can run through these verses, and daily, hourly remind ourselves that, because of God's mercy, we can claim God's good, pleasing and perfect will - and not fall prey to the world's calls for self-fulfillment and fleeting pleasure.      When our children were little, and they didn't want to obey us, Gene and I often found ourselves frustrated.  Couldn't they see that a proper bedtime, healthy food and limited TV time was for their own good?  Yet, they wanted 5 more minutes.....1 more ice cream cone....a later bedtime.  And they were angry that we denied them these things (yes, sometimes we gave in....).  Isn't our relationship with God a lot like that?  He has a good, pleasing and perfect will for our lives - and we settle for junk.        Just for today, Lord, help me to transformed by the renewing of my mind, to long for your good, pleasing and perfect will for my life.  Amen.