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Oct. 9, 2009
How To Be a Living Sacrifice
I wanted to share why I chose the name "Living Sacrifice" for this blog.
I'll give you today, for example.
My daughter and I got up early and left the house because she had an early morning play practice with her community children's chorus. After I dropped her off, I drove to run an errand before I picked her up. While driving and sipping my coffee (organic dark chocolate cherry--a splurge), I gave full heart attention to my Lord. Up until this point I had been too busy "DOING" to give Him full attention, even though it feels like He never leaves my mind. But up until this point, I had been nursing the baby, dressing him, getting a shower and getting dressed, getting the three of us out the door, driving to choir and talking with my daughter (one of the best times for talking with her about things). But with that all done, I started in full prayer, which often means getting out of the off-handed talking to Him mode and just tuning into "listen" to what He wants from me for the day.
After sending messages of gratitude for all He has done for me, and even for the lovely cup of coffee, I said, "Lord, how can I make this day a gift to you, pleasing to you?"
My husband came to mind (priority #1 after the Lord). I was created to be a help meet to my husband. My husband is busy--getting the rest of the firewood in for the winter, plus a couple of other looming household projects like HVAC modifications, insulation, and more. I know he was counting on getting a lot done today. I knew it would please the Lord if I made sure my husband's time was completely maximized--I took care of the kids, the meals, the housework, without asking for so much as one iota of help from him. Not even a potty trip for the baby, not even carrying the baby swing downstairs for me, and not even leaving him to fix himself a sandwich (he did fix himself a sandwich, but I offered several times before that to fix him something!)
My children came to mind (priority #2 after the Lord). My little newborn needs loved, nursed patiently, held lovingly and talked to as much as possible. My 20-month old needs positive attention, loving and fun activities, managed surroundings and boundaries, and patient, loving, CONSISTENT correction. My four-year-old needs to feel my support. I know he would benefit if today I offered a fun activity, such as painting or baking alphabet cookies (something he has wanted to do). My daughter--she and I sewed together yesterday. But today, I want to give her the gift of some free time to read, draw, write, and relax. My oldest son, 15, needs exhortations and encouragement regarding all his little decisions throughout the day as he is learning to make all his daily decisions himself as his own man. He also needs quiet time to get his school done--as much as I can give him.
The Holy Spirit brought to mind that sometimes when I am nursing, I turn on the TV to help me be more "patient" while I nurse. What happens, though, is I get more impatient with the other children because I want to hear the news or whatever other stupid thing I decided to watch. I lose time because even after I finish nursing, I sometimes stay to finish whatever show I started--and then I'm irritated and behind and things don't get done. I promised God today that I would "sacrifice" the TV--not even turn it on.
Within a few quiet moments of waiting on my Lord, I had already set my tone for the day. I wanted nothing more than to be a loving servant to my family and to sacrifice myself (my moods, my emotions, my rest, my comforts, my wants, and even my needs) to please God by serving and loving my family. If I do this, I KNOW He will supply my needs.
You see, I have needs. It is our flesh nature to think of those first and worry about how those are going to be taken care of. For example, my needs: I haven't even come close to getting enough sleep lately. My adorable newborn is not so adorable at night. I am often up most of the night with him. I am exhausted. My memory foam pillow is my favorite spot in the house, when I actually get to put my head on it and enjoy it! I have a cold. I know my body needs rest. How easy would it be for me to "put that first" and have an agenda all day long that I need to get some rest? Also, I have personal projects I need to finish that would help my family. I have things on my mind--concerns, thoughts.
Each day, I try to give them ALL up--a living sacrifice--in order to put God first. I make myself a sacrifice. It's like I take all of me--my needs, my wants, my thoughts, my concerns--anything ME-- and just put it on the altar and light fire to it.
But I know my God.
And I know He promises that if I love HIM first, and seek HIM first, then He will supply all my needs. I don't even need to remotely worry about my needs. I am confident, because His Word says so, that if I sacrifice myself and put only God's agenda first (seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness), then I will have all my needs abundantly met. He promises so in His Word. I WILL get rest. I will get healing. I will get time, energy, and strength to do all that needs to be done. There is no worry.
None.
When I mess this up, and try to logically plan my days to meet my needs as well as everyone else's, the day falls to pieces. I become selfish. My priorities are off. I procrastinate and waste time because I get crabby, or irritated, or depressed--all trying to fit "me" into the day.
How do you know you're not living as a sacrifice unto the Lord? You will feel stressed, tired, overwhelmed, and depressed. That's what happens when you stay in "me" mode.
The term "Living Sacrifice" is what helps me remember not to do this. To sacrifice each day full of things I want and replace it with only the things my Lord wants.
You should try it.
It works.
Conversely, you know the saying, "If Mama's not happy, ain't nobody happy." In my house, this is so true. But it is also true that, "If Mama has a servant's heart, everybody has a servant's heart."
Take today, for example. It is now the end of the day. By dinner time, I was actually "fighting" with other members of my family to do things to serve my family. Everyone was trying to serve. That was the tone of the day. We did paint pictures. We did make Alphabet cookies. My toddler had a great day of play and discipline--I was amazed at how well his training works out when I put the Lord first. Chores got done. My daughter got free time to play with her new watercolor pencils. I got a one-hour nap with the baby. It was a blessed day of peace.
And that's just how it goes when I love the Lord with all my heart and put Him first.
Have a good day.
--Mrs. E |
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Posted by Anonymous 
Posted by 
Oct. 17, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Blessings,
Suzanne
www.blueberrycottage.blogspot.com