Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Romans 12:1
During my senior year of college, I didn’t know that this verse would open my eyes to the true definition of surrender. For years, I have loved being in the background and living a comfortable life. For me, that meant staying in my hometown, getting a job, and doing it with few challenges. A life that was non-sacrificial and worshipless.
I soon realized I had to ask myself what it meant to present myself as a living sacrifice. If I would be willing to ask the Lord for my next steps and brave enough to actually obey. So, I did. I asked God what to do next with open hands and an open mind. I was forced to believe the words in Romans 8:28, “For we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, those called according to His purpose”. Why should I be afraid if God is working for my good? So, that's how I ended up being a missionary- something I never thought I’d do or even think was in the trajectory of my life. Missionaries are people who studied the Bible and heard the booming voice of God saying “start a church in Ethiopia!” right? Well, I’ve learned that people aren’t called to serve, that command is given to us as Christians, we should want to with joy! So, whether God was calling me to be a 2nd-grade teacher in Temple, Tx, or teach English in the southern deserts of Israel, I have to trust that as I follow Jesus into the unknown, I will be met with abounding grace and provision.