Living Set Apart in A Self-Focused World

The Kingdom Mindset Shift: Living Set Apart in a Self-Focused World with JW Forged in Faith Kingdom Strategies Ministry with Jeannie Walker 

May 17, 2025

From Survival to Surrender: (Romans 12:1-21)

Dear Forged in Faith Family,

Have you ever felt like you were doing everything right on the outside but still felt like something was off on the inside?

I’ve been there. Pressing through the routines of day to day life... Serving. Smiling. Surviving. But not truly thriving. Not truly living from that well of peace and purpose that God provides for us.

Then the other day, I sat with Romans 12:1-21. And it awakened me in the most holy, healing way.

The entire chapter of Romans 12 is more than a checklist for Christian behavior. It’s a divine blueprint for what it means to live a set-apart life for Christ Jesus in a world that wants to squeeze us into its mold.

✝️ I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1, NKJV

That word sacrifice hits deep. It’s not about performance. It’s about posture.

It’s the daily surrender of our will, our pain, our pride, our preferences and even our past.

And brother and sister, when I finally laid it all down, and when I stopped trying to hold myself together and instead let Him hold me, true transformation began.

✝️ Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Romans 12:2, ESV

This verse became a lifeline for me. I was living with a mind shaped by trauma, rejection, and fear. But God showed me that healing would begin when I let His Word rewire my ways of thinking.

This wasn’t a quick fix. It was a difficult but slow and painful process.

Repentance. Renouncing. Forgiveness. Letting go and letting God. Laying down the right to be bitter and angry.

Choosing to bless when I wanted to stay silent or curse them with hurtful words…

Choosing peace when I wanted revenge and remembering as in Exodus 14:14, The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

.

That’s the power of transformation…it’s internal first. Before anything shifts in your circumstances, God starts working in your mind and heart.

✝️ Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Romans 12:9, ESV

Paul doesn’t just give us principles, he gives us a new and powerful way of being while in this world.

He shows us what the fruit of a transformed life looks like:

👑 Loving without pretending

👑 Honoring others above ourselves

👑 Being patient in affliction

👑 Blessing those who persecute us

👑  Weeping with those who weep

👑  Overcoming evil with good

This is Kingdom living. And it’s not easy. 

🌺🔥⚔️ But it’s where we walk in the Power of the Holy Spirit ...

🌺 It’s where your pain meets purpose.

🌺❤️‍🩹👑 It’s where your heartbreak becomes holy ground.

🌺 It’s where you stop performing or pretending and start transforming. 

✝️ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21, ESV

If you are anything like me, you’ve had moments where it felt easier to shut down, stay small, and protect your heart.

But God is calling us higher. To be bold and courageous.

He’s not asking you to be perfect, He’s asking you to be willing to stand boldly in Faith of His Living Word being obedient to His will.

🕊️Willing to live differently.

🕊️Willing to lay it down.

🕊️♥️💝Willing to forgive, love, and trust again, even when it may cost you something.

Because when you live this way, you’re not just surviving anymore.

You’re shining. You’re healing. You’re living in His freedom.

You’re becoming a living, breathing testimony of God’s graces, mercy and power of the Holy Spirit abounding you.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of Your Word and the call upon me to live a life that reflects Your Love and character. I lay myself down before You today as a living sacrifice. Not perfect, not yet completely righteous, but fully Yours.

Heavenly Father, Renew my mind. Lord Jesus, Heal what’s been distorted in my mind, heart and emotions ~ by trauma, by fear, by the lies of the enemy. Replace the patterns of survival mode with a spirit of surrender, peace of God and obedience. Let Your love and compassion be genuine in me.

Lord Jesus, Teach me how to honor others, even when it’s difficult to. Give me the strength to bless and pray for those who have hurt me. Make my life a light and living testimony that reflects the goodness of Your Character, Lord Jesus and help me testify about the goodness You have done in my life.

Help me not to be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good.

May my life be an offering of praise, renewal and a vessel of transformation, and a witness to Your healing mercies Father God. In Jesus’ holy and mighty name I pray, Amen and Amen.

You are not alone in this. We are in this Spiritual battle together! You are being forged through the fires you walk through for His purposes, so hang in there.

And this world needs the light you carry!

Keep forging forward with the Full Armor of God in place.

Until next time keep pushing forward, surrendered to the Living Word of God and continue to stand strong, bold and courageous in Faith.

With love, in His Grace and Mercy, your sister in Christ Jesus,

Jeannie Walker | JW Forged in Faith Kingdom Strategies LLC

🌺👑🕊️Remember ~ You are seen and Loved. 🥰  You are called. You are covered in the Blood. You are rising into Kingdom Purpose.

👑⚔️🩸🛡️✝️ 💪🏼 

🌺 Stand Bold and courageous in Faith of Christ Jesus! ⚔️🩸🛡️🪽🫶🏼👑✝️🔥♥️🙏🏼♥️🔥 We are called for such a time as this!! 👑🪽💝✌🏼

👑Building Kingdom Warriors⚔️

👑Equipping for Victory⚔️