Scripture/Prayer
We receive from the Lord every day the fruits of his mercy. Let us render ourselves; all we are, all we have, all we can do: and after all, what return is it for such very rich receivings? It is acceptable to God: a reasonable service, which we are able and ready to give a reason for, and which we understand. Conversion and sanctification are the renewing of the mind; a change, not of the substance, but of the qualities of the soul. The progress of sanctification, dying to sin more and more, and living to righteousness more and more, is the carrying on this renewing work, till it is perfected in glory. The great enemy to this renewal is, conformity to this world. Take heed of forming plans for happiness, as though it lay in the things of this world, which soon pass away. Do not fall in with the customs of those who walk in the lusts of the flesh, and mind earthly things. The work of the Holy Ghost first begins in the understanding, and is carried on to the will, affections, and conversation, till there is a change of the whole man into the likeness of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. Thus, to be godly, is to give up ourselves to God.
When I first encountered Romans 12:1 KJV – 'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service' – it felt like a profound challenge. What exactly does it mean to be a 'living sacrifice' in today's world? It’s not about giving up my life in a dramatic, one-time event, but rather a daily, moment-by-moment surrender of my will to God's. For me, living as a sacrifice means consciously choosing God's way over my own desires, even when it's uncomfortable. It's about letting go of self-centered ambitions and instead asking, 'How can I glorify You through this?' This isn't always easy, especially when the world around us constantly pulls us towards self-indulgence and fleeting pleasures. The original text talks about not conforming to this world, and I've found this to be one of the biggest battles. It’s about being counter-cultural, letting my values be shaped by scripture, not by trends or societal pressures. A key aspect of this surrender is renewing my mind, as mentioned in the article. This involves actively replacing negative or worldly thoughts with biblical truths. I often find myself praying, just like the prayer in the OCR: 'God, I surrender my life to You. You can have it all—every thought, action, behavior, and desire.' It’s a prayer of raw honesty, acknowledging that I can’t do it alone and inviting Him into every corner of my being. It means actively seeking out what is holy and acceptable in His eyes, not just what feels good or convenient. Practically, this looks like choosing patience when I want to react in anger, choosing generosity when my natural inclination is to hoard, or choosing to speak words of encouragement when I could easily criticize. It’s about viewing my time, talents, and resources not as my own, but as gifts entrusted to me by God, to be used for His purposes. It's a continuous process of dying to self and living for righteousness, as the original article beautifully puts it. The journey to living as a 'holy and acceptable sacrifice' is ongoing, filled with ups and downs. There are days when I feel utterly aligned with God's will, and days when I stumble and feel far from it. But the beauty is in His mercy and grace. He doesn't ask for perfection, but for our willingness to surrender, to keep coming back to Him, and to allow His Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out. My hope is that through this continuous surrender, my life truly becomes a vessel for His glory, a reasonable service indeed.
