Nicole Johnson | Staff Writer 

Although establishing habits and routines are helpful for creating a healthier lifestyle, it is the inconspicuous habits of our culture that lead to trouble. These habits can be anything from finding your worth in your success to striving to please your peers. The Bible makes it clear in this verse to not conform to the patterns of the world, such as greed, selfishness, lust and hate. In Romans 12, Christians are called to a higher standard, a higher pattern, than the rest of the world.

The goal is to be transformed to be like Jesus, who has the most perfect pattern of all. This kind of transformation does not happen merely in the pursuit of “being a good person” or “doing acts for salvation.” Rather, transformation can only be done through following Christ. By asking Him to transform our lives, we are “…bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,” as stated in Colossians 1:10 (NIV). It’s not some sort of magic that happens overnight; this grows day by day when choices are made to pursue God and not the world.

Paul says in Romans 8:9 that believers are controlled not by the sinful nature of ourselves, but by the nature of the Spirit that lives in us. The Spirit will produce fruit like patience, joy, gentleness and love. These characteristics are the kinds of patterns found in the Christ- follower lifestyle.

This year, I decided to make a change in my own patterns that has helped me live with a more positive outlook. Rather than conforming to all of the negativity that surrounds me, I choose to wake up and live with an optimistic attitude. Trust me, positivity is not the first thing I want to think about when I wake up in the morning stressed about school, homework and everything in between. But I can attest that choosing to reflect on a Bible verse every morning has shifted my focus and positivity daily.

Another way to change from the patterns of this world is to simply slow down. In a culture that finds busyness a sign of success, take time to spend time with God. Be still and rejuvenate in the Lord’s presence.

While there are many veiled patterns praised by our current culture, ask yourself if you are following a different pattern—a pattern that is transformed by following Christ, where the fruits of the spirit are produced in us.