As I finished reading in Romans, I realized how many verses I had highlighted and notes I had taken, because so much of it began convicting my heart. I would love to share each one of those with you today, but I know that would result in a super long post and may take away from the Word itself, so instead I am just focusing on one chapter. After reading this particular chapter and taking many notes, I wrote in the margin: "whole chapter is convicting and worth memorizing". It's true. This one chapter spoke volumes to me because I am certainly not living up to it and yet, it is the very essence of how I want to live my life for God.
Take the time to reread Romans 12. Read it, soak it in, and pray for God to give you the ability to live by it. Memorize it and act upon it. This entire chapter gives us detailed instructions on how to live a sacrificial life to God: ~ Give your whole body to God as a living sacrifice (heart, body, mind and soul). Verse 1 ~ Don't copy the behavior of this world, instead, change the way we think. Verse 2 ~ Be honest in your self-evaluation. Measure yourself by your faith. Verse 3 ~ Each one of us have been given different gifts. Find your gift and use it well. Verses 4-8 ~ Really love others. Hate wrong and hold on to what is good. Love and honor each other. Don't be lazy, instead, work hard and serve God enthusiastically. Be patient. Help the needy. Bless those who persecute you. Be happy with those who are joyful and weep with the weary. Live in harmony and peace. Don't be proud. Never pay back evil with evil. Do all things honorably. Don't let evil conquer you, instead, conquer evil by doing good. Verses 9-21 If you are a believer, you already know every one of these directions. You may even say to yourself, "Duh, of course, this is how a Christian is supposed to live!" Yes, it is. But......how many of us are living this way? Am I giving my whole body to God, or am I serving someone with my hands and feeling bitter about it in my heart? Am I living by the ways of this world, following the culture and it's modern advances; or am I living according to God's Word, even when it seems outdated? Am I being honest as I evaluate myself and the way I am living? Have I prayed and asked God to clearly show me the gifts and talents He has given me so that I can use them efficiently to bring Him glory? Do I love others? Do I really, truly love others, even when it seems difficult to do? Do I hate what is wrong and hold on to good? Do I turn off the TV or radio when evil begins to play? Do I monitor the things that come into my home so that only things that are good and pure and holy are present in my house? Do I love, honor, and respect other people, starting with the ones God has placed in my home? Am I lazy? Do I work hard? Am I serving God enthusiastically? Am I patient? Do I hold my tongue? Do I show grace to others? Am I helping others who are in need? Do I bless those those who persecute me? Am I praying for them? Do I show them kindness? Am I supportive of others? Do I rejoice with those who are happy and weep with those who are hurt and struggling? Do I live a life that promotes harmony and peace; or am I grumbling and complaining as I work and serve? Am I proud? Do I live selfishly and pridefully;or do I put others interests before my own? Are my actions honorable? Do I let evil conquer me and decide to retaliate; or do I conquer evil by doing good even when others don't deserve it? How about you? How has your self-evaluation turned out? As I ask my self these questions, my heart aches. I know I am falling short. However, I also know what I need to work on. So, that is my prayer. That God will make me strong in the areas that I am weak and that He will keep me always aware of the way I am living. These are just my thoughts. Please reread Romans 12 and ask God to open your eyes to the things He wants you to work on, then follow His lead. I'm praying for each of you. May we each strive to live our lives as a true sacrifice to God. Joyfully His, Andrea
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For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. " AuthorHi! I'm Andrea, wife to my handsome hubby, homeschooling mama to my 7 amazing blessings, and daughter of the King of kings. I am so glad you have stopped by my little piece of the web. My prayer is that the Lord will use this blog to encourage you in your personal, daily walk with Christ. Archives
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