Devotion #22

Hi, Everyone.
I apologize for posting later than normal. My daughter had car trouble, so I needed to take her (2nd grade teacher) and my grandson to their respective schools (one hour round trip). I'm praying that my husband can figure out what's wrong with the car and fix it this morning.
Today's devotion is from my personal journal dated April 30, 2007.

     I water walk in a friend's indoor pool 3-5 times a week. It's a great place to pray! As I was preparing to pray today, I looked out one of the windows and saw a monarch butterfly. I love butterflies. To me, they are true miracles of nature...how God takes a fat, fuzzy caterpillar and turns it into a beautiful butterfly.
     The Lord brought to mind that whole process called "metamorphosis," and I knew that was the topic for today. The Lord reminded me of some verses I had memorized in the past, and when I got home, I looked them up.
     Romans 12:1-2 says, "...By the mercies of God, present your body a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
     God's mercy and grace motivates me to offer myself to the Lord. Grace leads me to holiness, to pleasing the Lord with my body, and to true worship.
     I want to present my body to God, as a living sacrifice. I don't want to hold back anything! I prayed, "Oh, Father, how I have abused this body You gave to me! I have used it to gratify my cravings. Now, I present my body, all of me, to You. Receive me as a living sacrifice. May my body be dead to those things that dishonor You. Thank You for living in, working through, and using me to draw others to You. I worship You."
     The Lord has done a great work of renewing my mind through His Word, and that's truly a miracle when one knows my past, my story. Now, I know He wants to renew my mind in a way that will show in a transformation of my body. It's exciting!
     God gave me the idea of presenting my body to Him as a living sacrifice, first thing in the morning, then "putting on" the armor He has provided (Ephesians 6:11-17). I will then have my quiet time, ending in prayer. In my prayer time, I will include time to dwell on Jesus and His perfect sacrifice on the cross, and how I am to die to my flesh. I will ask Him to help me avoid temptation, giving Him my day.
     Renewing my mind is really just thinking differently, and I know that thinking differently will lead to acting/behaving differently. It's happening already. I am experiencing a decreased desire for food. I am eating less and being satisfied more by smaller portions. I am hungrier for God than for food. That is definitely by the grace and mercy of God, for I could NEVER do that on my own!
     I love how this is a "God Gain" lifestyle, rather than a "Weight Loss" program. I look forward to the day when people will begin to notice that I'm losing weight, because it will be an opportunity to tell them about what the Lord is doing in my life. One day, I'll be able to share how God lifted this fat caterpillar, who could barely inch along in the mud, and caused her to soar in freedom. Soon I'll be a butterfly, by the mercy of God and for the glory of God!

Today, consider what stage of metamorphosis you are in, and express thanksgiving to the Creator for how far you've come and for how He will help you find the freedom to soar!

Blessings,
Mary