We are women and as women we want to appear to have our “act” together. We are conditioned to look good, smell good, act good and have the appearance of a whatever a “woman” is expected to be in our world, at the given time.

But our lives are not always the pretty package that you see in magazines. On the contrary we struggle with less than perfect marriages, less than manageable children, and less than ideal appearances. We live through very real suffering and we also live through imagined or perceived suffering…the kind where we are our worst enemy! Throughout the course of our days we will walk in imperfect places and deal with disappointing people, health and circumstances…that is life in this real world.

So do you want get real? Well then, to be “real” in our faith we must embrace not only the blessing but also the suffering. To live for God does not initially come natural for any of us, but the more we have had to die to or give up, the easier it is to grab hold of Him. The more we see the weakness of our own ways, the quicker we will pull ourselves up by His Strength alone.

If you ever thought suffering was not in the Bible, think again. And, after you have digested it, remember it to encourage those who face very real sufferings in their present circumstances.

Today’s Truth: 1 Peter 4:1-2.

“Since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”

This month’s verse to SOAK or MARINADE in….1 Peter 4:19

“Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

Unpacking the Truth

• Suffering has a purpose ( essential to KNOW and believe this)
• It changes our compass and enables us to live pointed towards Christ more than SELF.
• Suffering humbles us and causes us to look to God and requires a different attitude.
• The attitude of committing ourselves to God because He is FAITHFUL is the way to freedom in the middle of circumstances we might not be able to change.
• Ask God to have his purpose in your current suffering and then daily, or as many times a day as needed, commit your self into the hands of you faithful creator.
• Don’t sulk in your suffering, instead commit yourself to God and look for ways to find joy through continuing to help others or do whatever good you were already walking in prior to your present circumstance.

Not suffering yourself?

Encourage those you know who are in a less than desireable place in life. Love them, support them the best you can, and most especially pray that God has his perfect work in their time of suffering.

Today’s Prayer

Lord, I thank you that your word of truth is so relevant to our every day imperfect lives. Father when we suffer in our flesh, in this life, we die a little more to self. In ourselves we can not really accomplish this kind of death, and it happens through our sufferings, from small to large, in this life. Shape us as we go through things and teach us the importance of committing ourselves into your faithful hands each day.

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Yesterday we looked at the truth that it is pleasing to God to offer the whole of us, our bodies, our physical selves, the part of us that is heart, soul, strength and mind…to God. This IS what pleases God and is considered worship.

Worship? I thought worship was singing a hymn or a chorus. I thought worship was verbal praise. Worship? Yes, according to Scripture a spiritual act of worship is surrender of our selves, the REAL selves, body, soul, spirit, to the God who made us. This includes how we treat our physical body, the lifestyle we choose to live in, the things that we allow access to our heart, and the very practical place of our minds.

Today’s Truth: Romans 12:2-3

“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.”

Let’s take a look at a few key words here:

• Conform: To become similar in form or character. To act or be in compliance with.
• Pattern: a model to use for imitation of, in the purpose of making things.
• Transformed: To change to nature, function or condition of
• Renewing: To make new again or to restore

Unpacking for Practical Meaning:

According to Scripture I am NOT to become similar in character or form to the model that I see in this world. Instead, it is God’s plan for me to be changed from a person who is patterned after the world, society or culture…to a person who is made new and restored mentally.

Why do you think it has to take place first and foremost in the mind?

Our minds are the control center of our lives. What we think eventually becomes a belief, and we all live by what we believe, not by what we say we believe. If you are running around in fear or doubt, it could be that you do not believe the very Truth that God is God over your very life. There are many other examples, but for the most part, we have been affected by the world we live in.

We have learned to think like the world we live in, plan like the world we live in, find value in what the world values, and act like the world portrays acceptable human behavior. In other words, we all have learned from a young age how to conform to the standards or patterns of the world we live in.

That is where the words ANY LONGER come in. It is true that we have already become accustomed to this kind of reasoning and lifestyle…but we are not to do it one second longer! Do not conform ANY LONGER.

Today ask yourself what your REAL values are. I am not talking about the spiritually correct answer for real values, but what they really are. Examine your own heart and mind to determine if your values are in line with the World you live in, or if they are moving more towards being undivided and in sync with what God values.

One thing is for sure. ..God allows UTURNS, and today you may need to make a major turn in order to have all that God has for you.

Back to the Mind…how is it renewed?

Our minds are changed by the Truth of God’s Word. God’s word is living and active, having the power to set us free and change us from the inside out.

Today think on these things:

” Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes form the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrated even to the dividing of soul and spirit; joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Heb 4:12

“How can a young woman keep her way pure? By living according to your word.” Psa 119:9

Today’s Prayer:

Father, speak to me about my lifestyle. Show me where I conform to this world, and yes Jesus, renew me, restore me, and turn me around to face you…face to face, heart to heart, YOURS and only YOURS.

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Have you ever wondered why things are as they are? Things like… how does  grass stand so tall, and why is it green? How do the clouds get their perfectly puffed design and what holds them in place? How do the stars light up the night? How does my body work…there are so many functions, and it works without me consciously telling it to! We know the “correct” spiritual answer to these questions, but have we made the answer our living reality? Do we believe God is as BIG as He says He is?

This week we will be in Romans chapter 12. But, before we can dive into chapter twelve, let’s back up to the last few verses of 11. We are doing this because chapter 12 starts with a “therefore”, and we need to determine what it is there for!

” Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”

Now on to chapter 12…..

Today’s Truth: Romans 12:1

“Therefore, I urge you, 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.”

Things are the way they are because…from him and through him and to him are all things! He is the beginning and the end. He holds the grass tall and places the clouds in the sky, as well as lighting each star. He also holds us together.

What are we to do in response to such a BIG God? Paul is urging us, as believers in Christ, to stay connected with the reality of God’s love and mercy towards us, and in response surrender our lives as an offering to Him.

More specifically to offer our physical selves to God, our bodies and all its faculties….surrendered over to the God who made us , loves us, has forgiven us and who presently holds us together.

Why is this so hard? This is our starting point, but many of us don’t get past the start gate, do we? Our bodies, our physical selves feel like they should belong to us, and the idea of just giving them over to God…well, seems a bit unpractical. That is, until we realize that this IS the starting point.

This past year my Dr. kept trying to get me to take a certain drug and I refused. I did not want the side effects, which we can all understand. After all who wants to gain weight, be depressed, etc….But, I never got better. Finally in desperation, I listened to my Dr, offered my self to God, and took the medicine. It was a short period of time, and the medicine worked. I also had to committ any side effects to God, trusting Him. And, I had none!

How does this pertain to a surrender of our life to God? Well, I thought, because I didn’t want to take the meds, I didn’t have to. But, truth is, my body belongs to God, was ill and not recovering, and I needed to be responsible and trust God. I had a need to get better, listen to wisdom and trust God with the outcome. Instead, for months I kept myself in my own hands, in this one particular area. Maybe you can relate to this…perhaps you have diabetes but still eat all the sugar you want, or have high blood pressure and still eat tons of salt.  Or maybe you never move your body, to keep it strong. Maybe you have never worked on that extra baby weight, and are not as physical as you could be if you had…it goes on and on and on.

What is the sacrifice that is a Spiritual Act of Worship? It is an intentional surrendering of our SELF , as we know it, to the God who made us. It is coming into agreement with His word, that says we don’t belong to ourselves anyway….

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Today let’s reflect on this thought of giving our lives completely over to God as a surrender, and yes…a sacrifice. This is truly  WILD living, in a world that says we belong to ourselves, and presents a menu of choice of how we can BE our best selves. What if we could NOT really be our best selves until we made that sacrifice of surrendering our bodies, and all of us, to the God who made us? Think about that today and let God speak to your heart.

Today’s Prayer

Lord, you made me and though I often think I am my OWN, I really am not. Teach me to live as one who no longer is about SELF, but as one who is about the God who made her, for his purposes. Only then, can I become my BEST self, as you develop me along the lines of your Son, and your plan for my individual life. Show me what the  sacrifice of giving myself to you , looks like.

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