I recently had the pleasure of assisting in a Sunday school class with a handful of 8-9-year-olds. The topic was wisdom, and the goal was to challenge the kids to think about all the different ways they have grown in wisdom since they were babies, and how much more they will continue to grow in the coming years.  

As we stood together in a circle, each child took a turn sharing the things they can do now as “big kids” that they couldn’t before. Their examples were as expected. The ability to read books, do long division, and level-up on their video games were all mentioned more than once.  

“But what about your spiritual maturity?” I asked them. “Have any of you grown in your understanding of God’s word?”  

One kid chimed in quickly. “Nah,” he said. “Bible stories are easy! I have always understood them.” 

And with that I couldn’t help but laugh, knowing my 8-year-old self would have said the exact same thing. 

We know, however, that growing in wisdom is more than just understanding Bible stories. It is allowing the words within those stories to transform our hearts. Only then, according to the Apostle Paul, can we “test and approve what God’s will is” for our lives (Romans 12:2).  

As women serving all over the world, many of us know transformation first-hand. To uproot one life somewhere and start another elsewhere. To change our cultures, our languages, our careers, and our homes. But what about our hearts? In the midst of all these huge life transformations, are we also making sure our heart is transforming as well? 

In my first few years doing ministry abroad, my heart did transform. But not in a good way. Rather, I had let various hardships and challenges turn my heart bitter and hard. It wasn’t until I committed to the “renewing of my mind” did God transform my heart so I could truly see and understand His good and perfect will for my life and ministry.  

Transformation is hard, especially when dealing with the heart. But committing to daily practices to renew our minds can help bring healing and clarity in a world full of hardships and challenges.