” . . . give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” – Romans 12:1-2 NLT

On this first day of a new year, I am thankful for seasons and new beginnings in life. They give me a chance to reflect, take what God has taught me, and begin again. In Romans, Paul encourages us to become a new person and live a life of true worship to God. More than anything I want to please and bless God with my life. The above scripture teaches us that the true way to worship and please God is by fully surrendering our lives to Him. Let us not be fooled. This is no easy task. The desire, motivation, and dedication that we must have to be a living sacrifice only comes through knowing and experiencing God’s love, mercy, and grace that He freely gives us. Living this kind of life cannot be attained through our own power or legalistic efforts but only through the work of Holy Spirit within us. May our prayer and desire be to know and do God’s good and pleasing and perfect will, and to please and bless Him with our lives as an act of true worship for all He has done for us.