"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." Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)
When I moved from Brazil to London, I deeply desired to see non-Christians being transformed by the power of the gospel. However, it didn't take long for me to find out that God also wanted to change my heart in the process.
One day, while I was praying for people's salvation, a question came to my mind: "Are you praying for these people because you want to see them as part of God's kingdom or because you want to see your church plant growing?"
Although I didn't know if the question was asked by the Holy Spirit or my conscious, I knew one thing for sure. I was not praying for the expansion of God's kingdom. I had the expansion of my ministry as a priority. I felt very uncomfortable with the state of my heart, but at the same time thankful to learn an important lesson: God uses transformed people to transform people. In other words, God not only wants to use us (missionaries) to transform people's lives. He also wants to transform our hearts by renewing our minds.
I now ask God to remove my heart's idols while praying for people's salvation. I ask Him to transform my heart while I seek the transformation of people's hearts.
Father God, would you help us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice? Would you also help us not conform to the evil desires of our hearts? Finally, would you transform our minds and hearts so we can be led by your good, pleasing, and perfect will? Amen.