WE ARE TO DO SOMETHING WITH OUR BODIES AND MINDS
ROMANS 12:1-2
ROMANS 12:1-2 NKJ
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
These verses have been some of my "go-to" verses for years. Both are important, and both instruct us as to our role in obtaining a transformed life.
Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God. In a world permeated with sexual content from mild to perverse, this is easier said than done. But if we don't do it, we run the risk of being swept up in the tide of uncleanness that runs rampant today. This presenting our bodies is, according to other translations, our intelligent act of service and worship. So, a way we can serve, and worship God is living clean with our bodies set apart for Him.
But we don't stop there. Hand in hand with presenting our bodies to God is doing something with our mind. And this is just as, if not more, challenging. We are not to be pressed into the world's mode of thinking. This world does not honor God and His ways. He is not their Lord and Master, so the world is not subject to Him. But we want to live differently, to be transformed. And that requires us to challenge the conventional thinking of the world without God. Instead, we begin to adopt His ways and perspectives, bringing them into every area of our lives. As we do, we'll begin to experience God's will for our lives; His best for us. This renewed way of thinking is instrumental in changing our self-image, our view of our relationships, our roles in a family, and our purpose in life. Presenting our bodies and renewing our minds: easy - no, possible - yes. And worth the effort - absolutely.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that I have the capacity to present my body to you a living sacrifice. It’s one of the best things I can do to honor You. And by Your grace I will continue to renew my mind to think inline with your word which contains Your thoughts. I desire Your best for my life that I might be a blessing to those in my sphere of influence.