“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer 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 12:1-2
I remember sitting in a class when a student asked, “How do you know if something is God’s will?” We sat in silence as the professor pondered the question. Then he answered, “If you really want God’s will, with all of your heart, then He won’t let you miss it!” It was a profound answer to us. The professor focused on the heart of the matter. He was advising us to follow the urging of Romans 12:1-2.
When we surrender and allow the Word of God to shape and transform us from the inside out, we will not miss what God has for us. But when we focus on the externals of what is or is not God’s will, we can miss the whole point.
Today’s verses do not prescribe a one-time offering but a continuous offering of ourselves to the Lord. The Message paraphrases them like this: “Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking around life – and place it before God as an offering. … fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.” By giving ourselves to the Lord, we acknowledge that our life belongs to the Him – He is our leader, guide and master. If we focus on keeping our heart in the right place, the Lord Himself will ensure that we don’t miss His perfect will.
Lord, each day, moment-by-moment, I want to live my life in surrender to Your will. I offer myself to You completely. Renew me from the inside out. Lead me step by step. I pray for Your perfect will to unfold in my life. For Your honour and Your glory. Amen
Take Action
Write a prayer of surrender to the Lord and place it somewhere where you’ll see it often. Ask Him to point out areas of your life that are not surrendered completely to Him. “Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it.”
The Life Commitment Prayer is a great one for expressing your surrender to God.