Episode 278-Becoming a Living Sacrifice

Why does God want us to be living sacrifices? Is it the same thing as surrendering to God? What does it mean to be a living sacrifice? Why would God even want us to do that?

Being a living sacrifice means that as God’s children, we do what He says and go where He leads. This is paramount as a child of God, but its also really difficult.

Paul tells us this in Romans 12:1 AMP: “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies, dedicating all of yourselves, set apart, as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational, logical, intelligent act of worship.”

Who He is and who we are makes surrendering every single part of our lives to Him a rational, and at the same time a very emotional, course of action. Doing this now and every single day is more than a starting place. It will define how we live in tandem with Him for the rest of our lives.

Episode 277-Can God Do That?

If I came up to you and said, “Do you believe God can do anything? Do you believe He is all-powerful?” you’d probably say, “Yes!”

You’d say you serve a mountain-making, mountain-moving, earth-shaking, sky-shattering, miracle-working, dead-raising, sick-healing God who can do anything!

But let me ask you this: Do you believe He will do those things for YOU?

Do you believe He will move mountains in your life? Or does part of you feel like those miracles were for long ago or for other people—but not for you?

I wrestled with this question for a long time. I knew God was powerful, but when it came to my own struggles—especially with my weight—I acted as if He couldn’t (or wouldn’t) help me. I prayed, but deep down, I didn’t believe my situation could change.

That mindset kept me stuck. I kept trying to fix things on my own, relying on diets and willpower, and ignoring the one thing God had already shown me—His plan for me.

The truth is, nothing is impossible for God. But we have to believe Him enough to follow His lead instead of taking matters into our own hands.

That’s what I want to talk about today.

Overcomers Academy Link: https://teresashieldsparker.com/overcomers/

Rebuilding Jayne Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Rebuilding-Jayne-Her-Fathers-Protection-ebook/dp/B0DGXTXR53

Episode 276-Conflicting Desires

Years ago I did an activity from a workbook where I wrote down every desire I had good or bad, healthy or unhealthy. I thought about what I really wanted in life and what my desires or passions were.

I wrote down everything that came to mind without evaluating it. I was honest with myself and didn’t judge my desires, wants, lusts, addictions, etc. I “threw up” on paper for lack of a better term.

With each desire I asked is this a true, God-given desire? Is it noble? Is it right? Is it pure. Hey right there my list got a lot shorter! Just being honest. Is it lovely, and not like new car lovely, but lovely in God’s eyes. Is it admirable? Is it excellent? Is it praiseworthy?

Many were good desires, but they were in conflict with another good desire. So I had to make some well-defined choice.

I learned that to get anywhere on my journey conflicting desires will keep me stuck. We can’t do everything, but we must do what God wants us to do.

Overcomers Academy Link: https://teresashieldsparker.com/overcomers/

Rebuilding Jayne Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Rebuilding-Jayne-Her-Fathers-Protection-ebook/dp/B0DGXTXR53