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.

Romans 12:2

“The words and images we share on our phones influence others, but the words and images we consume transform us.” — Tony Reinke

That quote has stayed with me.

A few weeks ago, our Bible study group focused on Jesus’ teaching about temptation in Gospel of Mark 9:42–50. In those verses, Jesus uses vivid language—hyperbole—to emphasize how seriously we should deal with sin. He speaks about cutting off a hand or plucking out an eye if it causes us to stumble. Of course, He wasn’t calling for literal amputation. Instead, He was showing that anything that consistently pulls us away from God is worth removing.

If we’re honest, some of us might feel the weight of those words most strongly when we think about our phones.

Digital media shapes the way we think whether we realize it or not. Every day we absorb a steady stream of voices, images, opinions, and ideas. Without intentional choices, those influences quietly form our attitudes, priorities, and identity.

The early Christians faced a similar challenge. The surrounding Greek and Roman culture constantly pressed people to conform—to seek approval, blend in, and adopt the values of the crowd. The apostle Paul urged believers to resist that pressure and instead be “transformed by the renewal of your mind” in Epistle to the Romans 12:2.

For many of us, that transformation involves two simple but powerful steps.

First, we remove what consistently distracts or dulls our spiritual focus.

Second, we intentionally fill our minds with what leads us closer to God.

That might mean listening to solid biblical teaching on a podcast, spending more consistent time in Scripture, or simply creating quiet moments to reflect on God’s truth.

The goal isn’t perfection—it’s direction. As we choose what shapes our minds, God faithfully works to shape our hearts.