Are you overdue for a spiritual check-up? If you’ve been wondering how to know if you’re growing spiritually or what the Bible says about renewing your mind, this devotional will help you reflect on your faith and realign your heart with God’s Word. In Romans 12:2, Paul reminds us not to conform to the world’s standards but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Yet, it’s easy to compare ourselves to others—whether friends, celebrity Christians, or social media influencers—instead of measuring our hearts against Scripture.

Drawing from Paul’s humility and honest self-reflection, this devotional encourages us to stop competing, stop comparing, and start aligning our lives with God’s standards. True spiritual growth comes when we consistently examine ourselves and allow Scripture—not the culture around us—to shape our transformation.

✨ Highlights

• Why spiritual check-ups matter — Regularly examine your faith, attitudes, and heart alignment with God’s Word (2 Corinthians 13:5).

• Comparison is a trap — Measuring ourselves against others can lead to pride, shame, or complacency.

• Paul’s example of humility — Despite his influence, Paul called himself the “worst of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15), reminding us we all need grace.

• Renewing the mind — Transformation begins when we filter our thoughts, habits, and actions through God’s Word rather than worldly standards.

• Pressing toward the goal — Focus on Jesus and the calling He’s placed on your life, not the noise around you (Philippians 3:14).

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Full Transcript Below:

Spiritual Check-Up 101

By Lynette Kittle

“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 12:2

Like we go to the doctor or the dentist, do we go to God for a spiritual check-up to see how we’re doing spiritually overall? 

Or, do we look at the surrounding crowds of individuals around us, comparing our current condition with how they are doing, checking the latest celebrity Christians to measure ourselves next to them and see if we’re spiritually keeping up?

Are we measuring our spiritual condition with the world then deciding whether we’re doing better or worse than them, whispering a ‘thank you” to God that we’re not walking in their shoes, relieved about ourselves, but not being very gracious when it comes to those who are struggling?

Many of us may not realize that looking at others to feel better about ourselves is prideful along with having a haughty spirit. In comparing ourselves to others around us, we’re setting ourselves up to fall, as Proverbs 16:18 warns: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

God’s Word Sets the Standard

Of course, as Christians, we know deep down that people aren’t how we measure our spiritual condition, but rather the word of God is what we need to hold up to our lives, to see how we’re doing.

2 Corinthians 13:5 urges us to, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”

When we do, it alerts us and points out areas in our lives where we may be off-track and needing of correction and that is probably why many of us are reluctant to examine ourselves, because we may not want to know the truth or like what we find. 

The Apostle Paul’s Self-Examination

Many of us think of the Apostle Paul as a Saint, yet, in his own words, he counted himself the worst of sinners, which is hard for us to believe because he wrote most of the New Testament. 

Still, he wrote in1 Timothy 1:15. “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.”

He recognized that sin is sin and there is no difference between being a big sinner and a little sinner, because all sin leads to destruction.

Nowadays, many of us judge how well we are doing spiritually by checking social media updates, seeing how we’re doing in comparison to others, measuring their successes and losses against our own..

Still, again, Paul brings us to looking at God’s standards rather than man’s, stressing to us in Romans 12:2, that we are not to conform to human patterns but to be transformed by God’s word, renewing our minds. 

Keep Pressing On Towards Jesus

Paul didn’t get caught up with what those around him were doing but said, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

He focused on his own spiritual condition, keeping his eyes on Jesus, and careful not to let the world dictate how he lived his life by resisting conforming to it.

As well, the Apostle John warned in 1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.”

Intersecting Faith & Life: How are you doing spiritually? Are you checking God’s word to see how you’re measuring up to His standards? If not, set time aside to check in and see how you’re doing with the transforming and renewing of your mind.

Further Reading: Are You Grieving the Holy Spirit?

https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer/are-you-grieving-the-holy-spirit.html

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