Sin, if it is to be forgiven, must be forsaken
Luke 14:26 reminds us that we really cannot be God’s disciples unless we are willing to (not wanting to or feeling like it, but just willing to) lay everything down (father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters). We don’t have to feel willing in order to do this; we simply must be willing.
For attitudes of:
- Being a Living Sacrifice – willingly giving God permission to walk through us and to expose anything that needs to be dealt with
- Denying Ourselves – internally setting aside our own thoughts, emotions, and desires
- Getting up and Doing what God Says – being willing to obey God’s Will, no matter what He tells us to do no matter how we feel, no matter what we think, no matter what we want
- denying ourselves concerns our inner man setting aside our own thoughts, emotions and desires, so God can fill us with His Life. This attitude of obeying God’s Will is different; it concerns the outer man—our outward actions. It’s getting up and doing in action what God has called us to do, saying, “Not as I will, but as Thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39).
- Taking Every Thought Captive – be willing to take every thought captive
- our thoughts stir up our emotions; our emotions then influence our desires; and our desires are what produce our actions
Pray –
I love you, Lord God, with all my heart, all my will, and all my soul. I pray my actions today will show and prove my love for You. I praise you, Father, for who You are and thank You for this (situation, circumstance, feeling, opportunity, etc.) because I know You have allowed it for my learning and my growth, so I might come to intimately know You better and be more conformed into Your image. – Matthew 22:37; Hebrews 13:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Deuteronomy 8:16c
I choose to present my body as a living sacrifice. I choose to set aside my own thoughts, emotions, and desires and to listen to and follow only Your Voice (Your Word), no matter what You tell me to do because I know You love me and I am precious in your sight. – Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 3:8-15; Psalm 91; Psalm 18; 2 Corinthians 3:5; 10:5; Proverbs 23:4b; Isaiah 43:2-5; 54:10; 55:8-9; Jeremiah 31:3
I know, Father, that You will never leave me nor forsake me. So I choose to do Your Will, Your pleasure, above my own at all costs. For You are my life. – Philippians 2:5-9; Matthew 26:39; Philippians 1:21; Galatians 2.20; Deuteronomy 30:19-20; Hebrews 13:5
