January 13, 2022
Surrender Your Life
Lord’s Prayer Focus: Surrender to the Father’s Kingdom
When we talk to God, we must remember who we’re talking to. We’re talking to the King! God’s kingdom is an awesome kingdom and our desires should be the same as the desires of our King! Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). As we continue to use the Lord’s Prayer as our guide through these 40 days, let’s focus now on what it means to pray for God’s kingdom and what it means to surrender to His will.
Romans 12:1-2 (CSB) “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites worshiped God through offering animal sacrifices. Through the blood of an animal, they would show their faith in God and repent of their sins. Paul uses this imagery for the Christians in Rome when he commands them to “present their bodies as living sacrifices.”
Paul relates the old ways of sacrificing animals to our new command. Instead of killing animals as a sacrifice, our lives are to be sacrificed. Every bit of who we are must be surrendered to God’s law, and commands. Our true worship is through total surrender of our lives, gifts, plans, hopes, and dreams. How we live our lives, from our words to our bodies to our actions, must be offered up to God. The hard part is that being a living sacrifice isn't just a one time decision. It requires daily or even moment by moment surrender. Each day we are tempted to take back control of our lives and each day we must submit ourselves to God.
Consider:
Prayer Points:
Lord’s Prayer Focus: Surrender to the Father’s Kingdom
When we talk to God, we must remember who we’re talking to. We’re talking to the King! God’s kingdom is an awesome kingdom and our desires should be the same as the desires of our King! Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). As we continue to use the Lord’s Prayer as our guide through these 40 days, let’s focus now on what it means to pray for God’s kingdom and what it means to surrender to His will.
Romans 12:1-2 (CSB) “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites worshiped God through offering animal sacrifices. Through the blood of an animal, they would show their faith in God and repent of their sins. Paul uses this imagery for the Christians in Rome when he commands them to “present their bodies as living sacrifices.”
Paul relates the old ways of sacrificing animals to our new command. Instead of killing animals as a sacrifice, our lives are to be sacrificed. Every bit of who we are must be surrendered to God’s law, and commands. Our true worship is through total surrender of our lives, gifts, plans, hopes, and dreams. How we live our lives, from our words to our bodies to our actions, must be offered up to God. The hard part is that being a living sacrifice isn't just a one time decision. It requires daily or even moment by moment surrender. Each day we are tempted to take back control of our lives and each day we must submit ourselves to God.
Consider:
- What parts of your life do you most struggle to surrender to God daily?
- Have you surrendered your life to God to go wherever he wants to share the Gospel?
Prayer Points:
- In prayer, surrender your life to God.
- Surrender your hopes, dreams, and desires.
- Surrender to do what is necessary to reach others with the Gospel.
Posted in 2022 Prayer and Fasting