We are so excited to share a pilot episode of a brand new project: The What’s Better Today? Kingdom Lens Podcast.

For a while now, we’ve been exploring what it means to be “Apprentices of the Way” - not just reading the Bible, but letting it fundamentally reshape how we see everything.

That’s where the Kingdom Lens Meditation comes in.

It’s a framework we’ve been developing to help us get deeper revelation from scripture. The premise is simple: the Kingdom of God is almost always the complete reverse of the world’s common sense. The Kingdom is:

* 🔄 Back to Front: It reverses what the world values (success, strength, wisdom).

* 🔁 Inside Out: It starts with the heart, not just external behaviour.

* 🔃 The Other Way Up: It exalts the humble and finds strength in weakness.

* 🫥 Invisible: It works beneath the surface, quietly and spiritually, not in flashy, obvious ways.

In this new video podcast, we’re taking this lens and applying it to key passages to see what new truths emerge.

We Need Your Feedback!

This first episode is a pilot. We’re testing the format, the style, and the whole concept. We’re posting this to Substack, YouTube and the Sparks podcast to invite you - our regular subscribers, followers, and listeners - to be part of the creation process.

Please watch or listen and let us know what you think in the comments!

* Does this “Kingdom Lens” framework resonate with you?

* Does the conversational format work?

* What insights did it spark for you?

We can’t wait to hear your thoughts.

Part 2: The Kingdom Lens Meditation on Romans 12:2

So, what does this look like in practice? In the pilot, we did a deep dive on Romans 12:2. It’s a verse many of us know, but when you look at it through the Kingdom Lens, it hits differently.

Here are the verses we started with:

(ESV) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

(TPT) Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eye.

Here is the guided meditation we walked through, using the Kingdom Lens. We invite you to sit with these prompts yourself.

🔄 Back to Front

The Principle: The Kingdom reverses what the world values. It directly confronts worldly wisdom, success, and strength.

Ask Yourself:

* What assumptions or cultural norms does this passage directly challenge? (e.g., “Everyone thinks this way, so it must be fine.”)

* How does the command to “be transformed” flip the world’s expectation to “just fit in”?

* What is the “common sense” response to culture? How does the Kingdom contradict that?

🔁 Inside Out

The Principle: God starts with the heart. External behaviour isn’t the main thing - internal alignment is.

Ask Yourself:

* What heart posture is this passage pointing to or correcting?

* What’s your immediate internal response (emotional, mental, spiritual) to the idea of a “total reformation of how you think”? Does it expose any intellectual pride?

* Does this passage reveal integrity in you, or does it expose a contradiction between what you say you believe and how you actually think?

🔃 The Other Way Up

The Principle: The humble are exalted, the proud are brought low. Weakness, servanthood, and dependence are Kingdom strengths.

Ask Yourself:

* What power structures (in the world or in yourself) are being challenged here?

* How does this passage confront pride, entitlement, or our deep-seated self-reliance?

* Where is the invitation to surrender your own “brilliant” intellect to the wisdom of the Kingdom?

🫥 Invisible

The Principle: The Kingdom often works beneath the surface. It’s hidden, slow-growing, and spiritual - not flashy or obvious.

Ask Yourself:

* What deeper spiritual reality (like the unseen battle for our minds) is being revealed?

* What’s easily missed in this passage? (e.g., The TPT version says this empowers us to live a life “satisfying and perfect in his eyes,” not in our own or the world’s).

* Where might God be working quietly to “renew” your mind in a way that isn’t loud or obvious?

🚪 Lies Exposed / Truth Revealed

The Principle: Every Kingdom encounter confronts a deception with a truth. Transformation happens when we name the lie and receive the truth.

Ask Yourself:

* What false belief or cultural script is this passage directly confronting?

* What lie have you believed (e.g., “I can straddle both worlds; I can be conformed just a little bit and still be transformed”)?

* What is the non-negotiable truth God is offering in its place? (e.g., “I must choose.”)

* What does obedience to this truth actually look like today?

🙏 Integration & Application

After walking through the lens, we land here. This is our takeaway.

* My Kingdom Insight: Surrender is so much easier once I lay my intellectual pride at the foot of the cross.

* My Prayer This Week: Lord, help me lay aside my pride. Help me to seek your Kingdom first - your love, joy, peace, and righteousness - in all things.

* An Invitation: Who could you share this with? We wanted to share it with you, our readers, especially as we think about the “fixed mindset” that believes in its own superiority. Our intellect, great as it is, is nothing without God.

“The Kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21)

Let us know your thoughts on the podcast and on this meditation in the comments below!

Until next time, keep exploring.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit differencemakers.substack.com