{"id":2772,"date":"2026-02-23T07:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theycallmefancynancy.com\/?p=2772"},"modified":"2026-02-12T15:11:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T22:11:37","slug":"two-simple-steps-to-become-a-living-sacrifice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theycallmefancynancy.com\/?p=2772","title":{"rendered":"Two Simple Steps to Become a Living Sacrifice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Each morning, I spend time reading God\u2019s Word. In the past, I studied a book of the Bible, reading a section at a time and doing my own research. At times, I followed a guided Bible study, or used the Bible Project app. Lately I have chosen various devotional plans on the YouVersion app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Continually Reading Romans 12:1-2<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In each of these recent plans, the authors referenced Romans 12:1-2. I didn\u2019t intend to study those two verses specifically. However, I continually studied the same topic. I even completed a plan that dealt specifically with just those two verses!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cTherefore, 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.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by\u00a0Sixteen Miles Out<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Romans 12:1-2, CSB<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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These verses are tough. I read them and the phrases or words that jump out are living sacrifice; holy; be transformed; discern what is good, pleasing, and perfect. Did you notice that if you just read what popped out to me, you could get a skewed view of what Paul is talking about?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Trying to Define Living Sacrifice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Often, we read these verses, and we walk away with the idea that we must give everything up. And that is true, yet probably not in the way we imagine. We create a picture in our head that we are to be slaves at the beck and call of God. Since we are slaves, we forfeit all fun, fashion, fancy food, and freedom. We envision a life of hard labor as if we were in a Charles Dickens novel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pastors talk glowingly about these verses, so we strive to figure out how to act like or be a \u201cliving sacrifice.\u201d I wonder if we are just trying to find some hint of control over our lives. After all, the idea of releasing complete control to someone else, even God, is difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Defining by Comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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We tend to compare ourselves to others when we seek a definition for living sacrifice. I\u2019ve learned not to compare myself to my sweet Pastor husband. He\u2019s an achiever, and he always accomplishes more in a day than I can even imagine. I admit, some days I find it very annoying. I also admit, on other days, I take full advantage of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Dietmar Becker<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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We all find difficulty when we compare ourselves to others. God gifted us with different abilities, interests, personalities, levels of patience, strength, skill sets and more. God did not create us to be robots all doing the exact same thing. However, He did create us in His image to treat others with His compassion, grace, and love.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Keep God\u2019s Mercies in View<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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To keep me from spiraling over living sacrifice, Holy Spirit in His wisdom and grace pointed out two specific things to me from Romans 12:1-2. First of all is the phrase, \u201cin view of the mercies of God.\u201d Even as I type those words, tears come to my eyes. I am desperate for God\u2019s mercy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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God\u2019s mercy is found in His forgiveness, the forgiveness that allows us entrance into His holy presence and declares we are His sons and daughters. God\u2019s mercy is found in His compassion toward us. He reveals His mercy in His goodness, His presence with us, His intervention in our lives, His willingness to bend His ear and listen to our prayers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Jametlene Reskp<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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God offers mercy to us when we hit the alarm too many times in the morning and then rush through all that has to be done with a snippy and frustrated attitude. He extends mercy to us when we worked hard, gave our best, fell short of the goal, and now wallow in our negative thinking and self-incrimination. Christ wraps us in mercy when we are happily doing our thing and inadvertently crush someone\u2019s spirit because we didn\u2019t take the time to be aware of those around us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Everything begins with God and His mercy. Whatever we face in a day, we manage after we firmly set our hearts and minds on God\u2019s mercy. We choose our attitudes and behavior through the filter that God is merciful toward us. We keep God\u2019s mercy always in view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Present Yourself to God<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The second thing Holy Spirit pointed out to me was the phrase \u201cpresent your bodies.\u201d Other translations use the words offer or give instead of present. In The Message, Eugene Peterson uses the phrase \u201cplace it before God as an offering.\u201d With great tenderness, Holy Spirit whispered just offer yourself to me for this moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This is not a one-time event; this is a day-to-day submission to God\u2019s authority. As Holy Spirit and I were processing this concept together, I lived one of those emotional days. You know what I mean? I felt sad and overwhelmed and tired and unable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by NADER AYMAN<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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At one point in the day, I was headed up the stairs to get work done at my computer. I felt the Spirit\u2019s prompting to say, \u201cI present myself to you.\u201d In that moment, God\u2019s presence reassured my spirit; He would lead as I worked in my office. I experienced His comfort and His pleasure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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When we head out for a day of shopping, we should present ourselves, our desires, and our wallets to God. As we drive into work, we must present ourselves, our schedule, our work relationships, our frustrations or dreams to God. If we discover a neighbor is in need, we present ourselves to God and ask what He would like to do. If we need to discipline our children, we present ourselves to God and seek His wisdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We present ourselves to God, and then we listen. We wait for Holy Spirit to reveal the next step. In addition, we rest in God\u2019s strength, wisdom, love, and mercy. There is no need to rush. There is only a need to trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here I am Today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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We don\u2019t need to feel so overwhelmed by Romans 12:1-2. Paul certainly challenges us to give Christ all of who we are, nothing held back. However, we can gain reassurance and strength by keeping God\u2019s mercies always in view. Then, we can begin by just offering ourselves for the moment ahead, stating \u201chere I am today\u201d to our Lord and Savior. God will do the rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Reading God’s Word Photo by Sixteen Miles Out<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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