Before You Begin
Pause. Quiet your mind, take a slow breath in and out. Stay in this moment.
Passage
Reading & Reflection
These two verses are packed with meaning and purpose. The first line begins with Paul begging people of faith, “I appeal to you, brother, by the mercies of God,” that we would offer ourselves to God. That, in light of God’s mercy and grace through Jesus, our only natural response would be to give ourselves to Him completely, mind, body and soul.
I had a mentor ask me once, “Do you know what the problem with a living sacrifice is? It keeps getting off the altar!”
Still, 15 years later, that funny turn of phrase reminds me that surrender to Jesus is a daily, sometimes even hourly choice. That we need to climb back up onto that altar and surrender, again.
Through our repentance, surrender and sacrifice, we are transformed. We are transformed by the renewal of our minds. Offering ourselves to Jesus as a living sacrifice changes us from the inside out, mind, body and soul. The science nerd in me has to tell you that God literally changes our brains. As we offer our lives to Him daily, and as we turn from our ways to become more like Jesus, the neural pathways in our brains physically change.
In a world that continues to appear dark, lost, and broken, offering us half-truths and empty promises, it is a gift to be invited into union with God who can restore us, renew us and transform us. It is a gift to be transformed into the heart and mind of Christ and to be able to discern His way over our own.
We don’t renew ourselves by effort alone; we are renewed as we yield, as we offer ourselves in surrender. When we offer our whole selves to God, His Spirit reshapes us from the inside out.
When you catch yourself climbing down off the altar, will you turn around and hop back up? In what way do you need to offer yourself as a living sacrifice again, today?
Bottom Line: Your transformation is the fruit of your surrender.
Morning Prayer
Lord, today I offer myself as a living sacrifice to you; this is my act of worship. Reveal to me the moments when I turn the other way, and renew my mind so that I can see your will and walk in your way today. Amen
Evening Prayer
Jesus, renew my mind and heart. Father, forgive me for the moments today where I got off the altar and tried to forge my own way, or followed the ways of this world.
Jesus, I surrender.
I ask that you renew my mind to be like yours. Help me to trust you, to learn your ways, to see the people in my life, my workplace and this city, as you see them. Fill my mind with compassion for them and a burning desire to see them know you, Lord.
Jesus, I offer my life as a living sacrifice to you out of gratitude for the mercy and grace you have shown to me. In Jesus' Holy Name.
