Romans 12.1-2

NKJVI beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Present your bodies - daily. Present to god, stand by.

Living sacrifice - we are always offering ourselves up to Him. It’s not one and done. We moment by moment surrender our lives to Him.

Holy - we live a different way, set apart for Him.

Acceptable - pleasing to God

Reasonable - rational

Do not be conformed to this world - be transformed. these are verbs of action. Don’t be conformed. Do transform. The old man needs to be crucified daily, the new man needs to live. Same idea as submit to God, resist the devil. A do and a don’t do. If we just try to resist the devil without submitting to Gd we will fail. If we try to not conform to this word without transforming into His likeness, we will fail.

Take up our cross daily. Death to self. It isn’t about me, it is about Him. Fill ourselves with the LORD and the things of GOD.

​ NKJVDo not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Loving the world, what does it look like? Does it mean we can’t have nice things? Do we have to live in poverty, in constant need? Do we have a mind like that of the world? Do we desire fame and power and wealth? Do we live like those who don’t know Christ, striving for things, always wanting more and doing whatever we want to get it? Is it me me me or more of Him and less of me?

​ NKJVFor though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Weapons are not carnal. We are in a spiritual battle. We need to pull down strongholds, arguments, thoughts - the things going on in our minds. In His strength we bring our thoughts into captivity. What do we think about? How do we let our minds wander? What do we put into our minds? Like the children's song says “be careful little eyes what you see” That applies to us as adults also.

​ NKJVFinally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

​ NKJVBe diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

​ NKJVFlee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

We need to seek the LORD with our whole heart

​ NKJVYou shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

​ NKJVAnd you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

​ NKJVFor this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

​ NKJVNow to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.