Romans 7:18 – I know nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. (NIV)

Some time ago, I was asked to do a study on the 12-step programme and the related scriptures. The step referred to here is one that is well known throughout Alcoholics Anonymous, or virtually any other 12-step programme.

Applied with scripture, the step takes on a new meaning. It extends far beyond the walls of an addiction; it reaches to the hearts of those who have never allowed themselves to experience a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. It also stands as a reminder to those who have wavered in their walk with Him, who have allowed sin to silently creep into their hearts, which in turn separates a person from the Lord.

Sin is dark; it's ugly, and nothing good abounds in it. God is calling His wavering child home. He wants us to crawl up into His lap so He can wrap His loving arms around us and restore that broken relationship. We can each ask ourselves, "Have I realized that I am powerless? Have I realized I've done everything I can do to fill that void in my life, only to fall short of the mark? Have I been broken?"

Are you broken?

Lamentations 3:40 – Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. (NIV)

Prayer: Father in heaven, in my shortcomings, in my vain attempt to run my life my way, please forgive me. I ask that you take control of my life, my heart, my mind, my actions. Lord, allow me to hear that small voice behind me which says, "This is the way, now walk in it." In Your Son's name. Amen.

Throughout the rest of the day, I kept thinking on the words of those songs. Pondering their meaning in my heart, finding that I just didn't want to be able to sing the worship song, but experience it. The Lord brought this verse to mind:

Romans 12:1 – I 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. (NKJV)

Some translations render the last part as "your spiritual act of worship".

Worship of God is a sacrifice. He doesn't merely want us to read His Word for the simple act of reading one chapter before the sun goes down. He doesn't want us to be involved in ministry because it's the thing to do and it gives us the warm fuzzies. He doesn't want us to worship Him only because we can sing on key, clap on the beat, or play an instrument. God wants us to experience Him. It's living a life of worship, physically, and more importantly, spiritually.

Worship of God is a sacrifice. God will remove that which we hold most dear, allowing us to suffer through great pain, in order that we would experience Him to the greatest degree possible. He'll use affliction, a broken heart, or our present circumstances to draw us nigh unto Him so that He can draw nigh unto us. God will also use these things when we think no one else is looking, that others may be encouraged by our faith.

Worship of God is a sacrifice. It's about death. It's about ministering to others without regard for self. It's about picking up the small child and wiping away the tears without saying, "Get over it." It's about dropping a bag of groceries off on the doorstep for a needy family. It's about dragging myself off the couch and gathering with brothers and sisters in Christ when I don't want to. It's about following the call of God through Christ in life, even into a third-world country. Worship of God is about dying to one's self.

Worship of God is truly a sacrifice. God wants our lives to be lives of worship, not just on the stage, nor when we feel like it. God wants our lives to be lives of worship. Period.

Prayer: Lord, help us to offer ourselves to you as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable, which is our reasonable service and our spiritual worship. In Jesus' name. Amen.

When you look in the mirror and begin to criticize the way you look, the shape you don't like, the imperfections that are unmistakable to you, the hair that you do or do not have, remember this:

God made you that way. Some of us are fat, skinny, tall or short. Some don't have arms or legs. Others have eyes, but will never see the sun set. Many have ears and will never hear a baby's cry. Some can't feel a thing at all, yet they have all their body parts. Then there are those with pimples, a navel that's an innie or an outie, a long second toe, a short finger… and the list goes on. But God made you that way. He spent nine long months forming every single detail of you within your mother's womb. He gave you a distinct look, a shape all your own. He gave you all He could, because He made you in His image.

When you look in the mirror and don't like what you see, remember you're made in the image of the One Who created you.

Prayer: Father Lord above, help us to remember to thank you for every breath, every step, every sight, every sound. And give us the strength to look in the mirror each day and praise you, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Amen.

What trial are you going through right now? Better yet, what has it caused you to do? Has it moved you to draw closer to the Lord, or caused you to wander off the path a bit? Has it caused you to dive into the Word, or have you tucked your Bible up on the shelf? Have you reached out to others who have gone, or are going through what you're experiencing, or have you tossed up those walls we're so great at putting up when we get hurt?

I've been going through a situation that has led to divorce with my spouse. It's probably the hardest thing I've had to deal with thus far. It's caused me to feel humiliated, ashamed, embarrassed, and to have some regrets. I've wandered off the path a bit. I tucked my Bible up on the shelf. I put up walls and isolated myself, all the while yearning for somebody to share my pain with. I've been bitter and angry, and projected it all in the wrong places. The easiest thing for me to do would have been to cling to the Lord, yet all the same it was the easiest thing for me not to do.

The circumstances we deal with can bring us up or tear us down in our walks with Christ. It is in our ability to make them or break them. We've got that free will to do so. God has His perfect will, and it's not for us to wander away from Him. Paul wrote in the New Testament that God allows us to experience these trials in order that we will be able to minister to others. In the end, it works together for good, because ultimately we learn more about ourselves and more about God. And we will be able to sit next to that quiet, hurting person who became angry and bitter, who tucked their Bible on the shelf, who put up the walls, who wandered away. We'll be able to tell them it truly will be okay, because we've been through it.

Prayer: Lord, let us to learn whatever it is we need to learn during this particular time in our life. It hurts, and there are days we don't know up from down. Help us to remember that all things will work out for good because you love us beyond what we could ever imagine. Amen.

Joshua had just been given the responsibility of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land after Moses had died. Picture him standing on a cliff of a mountain or small hill, looking into the valley of the Promised Land. Can you imagine what was going through his head? I'm sure if he was anything like the rest of us, he had doubts, worries, and might have been afraid. I have felt like this.

I'm going through a situation right now where there are lots of life changing decisions, most of which will be very painful. There are times when I feel so overwhelmed that the smallest thing will send me into a crumbled state of tears, times where I can't even find the words to pray for what I feel inside of my heart. I've stood on that valley where Joshua stood. I'm standing there now, looking down into the valley of my life, beating myself up over things that have happened in the past, wondering where in the world God is going to carry me to next. When I came across this passage in Joshua, I heard the Lord distinctly say to the quiet place of my heart, "If you remain in My Word, if you remain in Me, you will never be alone. I will not leave you nor shall I forsake you. Have I not told you? Have you not heard? Be strong and of good courage, do not be dismayed nor afraid, for the Lord thy God will be with you wherever you go."

Trials are unfortunately a part of every Christian's life. There are those who have lost children, who have terminal diseases, who are unemployed, depressed, suicidal, whose marriages are in shambles, who may have stumbled into sin. Cling to the promises in God's Word, because if you meditate in His Law day and night, you will have good success, and He's with you wherever you go, through the midst of everything you're experiencing right now.

Prayer: Dear Lord, You are forever faithful, and Your promises are Yours for us to claim. Grant us strength through Your Son Jesus Christ to make it through these difficult times in our lives, and as You showed Yourself to Joshua, show Yourself to us. We know that no matter which way things may turn, You are with us wherever we go. In Jesus' precious name. Amen.