Day 9 of 21 Day Prayer Challenge

​Day 9: Living Sacrifice

In Romans 12:1, Paul says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” The dictionary defines sacrifice as “anything consecrated and offered to God.”

So what does this look like? Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” We are a living sacrifice by not conforming to the world. But how do we not conform to the world? We do this by “renewing our minds.” In other words, we fill our minds with the truths of God’s Word. If we continually follow the patterns of the world, we will struggle with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (see 1 John 2:15-16). God, through the power of His Word, is the only power that can completely transform us from worldliness to true spirituality. The result is that we will be able to “discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2b). It is the will of God for every believer to be a living sacrifice for Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:3
“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”

Psalm 119:9–11
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

Psalm 1:2–3
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

Think about:

• Am I conforming to the world or being transformed by the renewing of my mind?
• How so? In what areas of your life do you fall into the lusts of the flesh, the eyes, or pride of life?
• How often are you reading God’s Word? Is it as much as you should be?

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, please reveal any area of my life that needs to be transformed. Help me to meditate on your Word so that my mind may be renewed. Speak to me in fresh and new ways. Today I offer my life as a living sacrifice to you. Amen.