REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR TOPICS FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH. EACH TOPIC IS A 12-MONTH STUDY ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF THE MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS WE REVIEW INSPIRATIONAL CHRISTIAN MEDIA.
On the third Friday of each month in 2022 we’re focusing our life recovery work on The Twelve Laws of Life Recovery: God’s Wisdom and Guidance for Your Journey with Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. This powerful study will take our life of recovery to a level of freedom most of us haven’t yet experienced.
THE TWELVE LAWS OF LIFE RECOVERY
Each month we’re looking at a requirement that guides us to a specific result which will fill our lives with love, gratitude and serenity. Each of the Twelve Laws of Life Recovery are aligned with one of the Twelve Steps of Life Recovery. As you go through the study you will see how they work together.
THE LAW OF SACRIFICE
REQUIREMENT: SACRIFICE
RESULT: FULFILLMENT
“The law of sacrifice is a powerful force in life recovery. Before we begin our recovery… we focus on pleasing ourselves and on what the world thinks is important… but we will not truly know fulfillment or significance until we learn the value of sacrifice.” ~ The Twelve Laws of Life Recovery
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to 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
Our focus scripture, Romans 12:1-2 helps us understand how our life can become fulfilled when we have a mentality of sacrifice. Let’s break it down.
1. Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God
The Apostle Paul’s call to sacrifice our body to God doesn’t leave anything out. No matter what our “drug of choice” is, we must willingly sacrifice what makes us feel good for God’s sake.
2. Give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you
We will find a fulfilling life if we will gratefully offer our body to God as a living and holy sacrifice in response to all He has done for us.
3. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable
God isn’t asking us to stop living. He wants us to live a life separated from what the bad things the world focuses on. That is a sacrifice that God can accept.
4. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world
Another reminder that we are to be separated from the ways of the world. We are not to try and fit in with those around us. But rather we are to follow Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit we can show an example of His light to the world.
5. Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think
We are not just to sacrificially offer our bodies. We need to give him our mind as well. God wants to change us from the inside out starting. To do that we have to sacrifice our perspective. But this process won’t start unless we get in God’s Word. As we daily read scripture, our minds will be transformed to the way God thinks and acts.
6. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect
As we surrender to God and stop trying to do everything our way, we will learn that He has a much better plan for our lives. His ways are good and perfectly designed for us. When we follow God’s will and ways He is pleased and our life is fulfilled. And those around us will see God’s blessings on our life!
Fulfillment comes when we know God’s will for our lives and when we sacrifice everything or our own in order to live within the boundaries of His will. ~ The Twelve Law of Life Recovery
Take some time to dedicate your life to God as a living sacrifice with this powerful song by Brandon Lake. Be blessed!