I’m on Spring break this week, so I’m spending time catching up on stuff.  Here’s a post from 8/11/2007 – Romans 12.  

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So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you:  Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. . .Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply;  practice playing second fiddle. ~ Romans 12:1,2,9,10 (The Message)

My hubby bought me a new Bible for my birthday (I have a gazillion). I’ve always wanted “The Message” version to read. It really speaks to me and I love the fact that it was translated from the original Hebrew and Greek. But I digress. . . .

Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. (Verse 2)

One of the things I’ve always struggled with is worshipping God on a ‘continual’ basis. I thought that I always had to be singing a song or praying a prayer. And I would be so disappointed that I couldn’t “keep it up.” So I would just stop altogether. But the first part of this chapter (vs 1-2) tells me to offer up my every day ordinary life to God. Wow.

So, my life in general is or can be an offering to God?!?! That was such a freeing thing to me. I can worship washing clothes! I can worship giving the baby a bath! I was so excited! This is great! My life is an offering of worship to Jesus. He gave me life and I’m giving every part of it back to Him! That’s awesome!

Love from the center of who you are  - (Verse 9)

That’s a powerful statement. Don’t just surface love someone – with words only. But love from the very core of your being. Oh Lord – how do I do that? How can I love that much? Is it possible? How do I get there from here?

Practice playing second fiddle  - (Verse 10)

Now there’s a kicker. Our human nature is to be first – “ME FIRST” we say all the time. We look out for number 1. I know I don’t want to be looked over, stepped on or passed by. That would crush me. But the Word tells me to  practice  playing second fiddle. Well I definitely know what the word “practice” means. That means it won’t be natural for me to do it, but if I keep practicing it, it will become easier for me to do.

Oh Lord, I have failed so miserably at this. I long to live a life of worship to You. I want to let everything be in my life to glorify You – even the things I wouldn’t consider worship. Help me to do everything with the right attitude and praise You in the small things too. I long to love as You love – from the very center of who I am. And if I am reflecting You, Jesus, then loving from the core of my being should be easy to do. And God, help me practice playing second fiddle. I know my nature is to please myself first. But that isn’t what You want from me. Help me to want only what You want – and to put others before myself. I love You. Amen.