READ Romans 12
The Christian life is a life of total dedication and service to others.

INSIGHT
To better understand the implications of the first two verses of chapter 12, it is helpful to read them backwards. We all want to be a living demonstration of the fact that the will of God is “good and acceptable and perfect.” In order to do that, we must have our minds transformed and renewed. In order to have our minds transformed and renewed, we must make our bodies “a living sacrifice” to God. We all want the will of God in our lives. We can experience it if we present ourselves as a living sacrifice to Him.

PRAYER
Praise the Lord for the bond of love that binds us to Him and to other Christians:
My soul, bless the Lord!
Lord my God, you are very great;
You are clothed with majesty and splendor.  
He wraps himself in light as if it were a robe,
Spreading out the sky like a canopy
May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
May the Lord rejoice in his works.
May sinners vanish from the earth
And wicked people be no more.  
My soul, bless the Lord!
Hallelujah! (Psalm 104:1-2, 31, 35).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
“I deserted you for a brief moment,  
But I will take you back with abundant compassion.
In a surge of anger
I hid my face from you for a moment,
But I will have compassion on you
With everlasting love,”  
Says the Lord your Redeemer
(Isaiah 54:7-8).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love (John 15:10).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

• That others will see Christ in you
• That the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers
• Your activities for the day

Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while. To him be dominion forever.  Amen. (1 Peter 5:10-11).