“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” (Romans 12:1. NLT)
Life is unpredictable. Many times the best-laid plans are changed or rerouted. And often the key to the entire situation is our response.
This response of “embracing what God does” must come from a surrender of our lives to Him. It’s taking our everyday, ordinary life – sleeping, eating, working and walking-around life – and placing it before God as an offering. We must relinquish our rights and expectations to what we do and where we go. I will embrace what God has for me, knowing that in the act of warmly receiving and clinging to those things, it will be the best thing that I can do for Him.
May we embrace what God does and allows in our lives.
Prayer: Father, Your ways are not my ways, and I praise You that You know best. I accept what You have for me today, knowing that You will direct my paths. Amen.
(from Voices of the Faithful compiled by Kim P. Davis, page 261)
Today I am joining … Open Sunday Thoughts and Spiritual Sundays and Scripture & a Snapshot and Sunday Scripture Blessings .
I love this post! I’m a great believer in the truth that our most ordinary moments and acts of service are often when we experience our most profound encounters with the heart of God.
Thank you, Elizabeth, as I think so too!
Whew…”We must relinquish our rights and expectations to what we do and where we go”…this is a daily struggle for me, perhaps because I spend so much time organizing my children’s lives. I’m praying this prayer today, to relinquish a little more than I am comfortable. Blessings, Joanne!
It doesn’t come easy, Jamie, and I so agree with you!
One of the most important decisions in my life was made back when I was 22. Within 2 days I had 2 jobs offers – 2 different states – both at fine Christian schools. My head would have chosen the job in the state/school I had actually visited, but the Lord used a godly professor to show me He wanted me at the other Christian school. It was a decision that changed my life completely, and I’m so glad I listened to the Lord as to where I should go.
How wonderful that there was a godly professor to help guide your decision. We need help now and then!
The truth is that we live our lives in the midst of the mundane, so this is a great word for ANY day, Joanne. I love the way The Message renders Romans 12:1 —
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life””your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life””and place it before God as an offering.”
Michele, The Message rendering had come to mind when I was putting the post together so I am glad you shared it.
I love this post and the passage. It sounds so simple in theory but in practice I’m still working it out. Living each day as a sacrifice for Him is my goal. But, even after 12 years here on the mission field there are days when my agenda and my selfishness get in the way.
Alida, I think we shall be living this out all of our days. Just my opinion. Or at least I will 🙂
Amen to your prayer, and a great reminder post that God is there even in the simple things that we take so much for granted. Sometimes, I forget and just look for him when there is a big problem, but I’m working on doing better with the thank you for just being able to enjoy the day.
Peabea@Peabea Scribbles
The simple things can become so much bigger when God is in the midst of them.
Wow, that is such a perfect picture to go with the Scripture and the devotional thought! Something to aspire to – bringing glory to God in the midst of our everyday routines, and how could we view it as drudgery if it’s an offering of praise?
Thank you for your encouragement, Kym. I actually enjoy washing dishes as it is mindless, meaning I can focus on thinking about other things while doing them – like praying. Have a blessed week!