I believe that sacrifice is about selflessly placing the needs or desires of others before your own needs. It's about giving up the things you truly want (total surrenderance), to fulfill something else. When I think about sacrifice from a worldly perspective, I immediately think about my mother. Growing up there were so many sacrifices that I witnessed her make to ensure that my sisters and I were well taken care of. Around the holidays she used to work late overtime hours on her job to bring in extra cash. She would sometimes make us dinner before going to work and exhausted after a long shift, she would come home only having time to sleep for a few hours before waking up to help us get ready for school the next morning and most of the times she drove us to school as well. My mother was sacrificing her time, sleep, her money at times that were scarce, and even her own well being for us.
In May, the month where we celebrate Mother’s Day honoring phenomenal women across the world who have faithfully put their personal needs on the back burner to ensure that their families were taken care of, I believe that God wants me to remind readers about sacrifice. It is so easy to get lost in carrying the weight of everything going on in our own world that we forget to make sacrifices for others and God. When was the last time you sacrificed your day just to spend time alone with God? When was the last time you sacrificed your last dollar in your wallet or change in your cupholder to bless a stranger that you saw in need? When was the last time you sacrificed a few seconds out of your day to pray with someone knowing you were pressed for time? When was the last time you sacrificed a few hours of rest to bless someone else?
In May, the month where we celebrate Mother’s Day honoring phenomenal women across the world who have faithfully put their personal needs on the back burner to ensure that their families were taken care of, I believe that God wants me to remind readers about sacrifice. It is so easy to get lost in carrying the weight of everything going on in our own world that we forget to make sacrifices for others and God. When was the last time you sacrificed your day just to spend time alone with God? When was the last time you sacrificed your last dollar in your wallet or change in your cupholder to bless a stranger that you saw in need? When was the last time you sacrificed a few seconds out of your day to pray with someone knowing you were pressed for time? When was the last time you sacrificed a few hours of rest to bless someone else?
God will honor your sacrifices and there are numerous instances in the bible where He shows us this. One of my favorite stories in the bible about sacrifice aside from the infamous story about Jesus dying on the cross for us (Luke 23:26-44 NIV) is a story that I previously shared with you last summer about Abraham sacrificing his only son Isaac whom he loved to the Lord in Genesis 22. There is something about sacrifice that has the power to bring forth servitude, humility and compassion that reflects Jesus while at the same time magnifying our willingness.
This month I challenge you to make sacrifices. Not just for your family or people you know but make sacrifices for God that you wouldn’t typically make. That could mean something as simple as waking up and taking the time to pray in the morning, reading a daily devotional to spend time with God, actually sowing your 10% tithes, or going to church regularly on Sundays this month even though you typically wouldn’t go (Church Recommendations You May Also Live Stream Online If Not Present In Any Of These Cities: New Life Covenant Church Southeast here in Chicago, One Church L.A., Hillsong Church NYC). Make sacrifices for strangers and people that you don’t truly know. It could be something as simple as stopping to actually say “hello” to someone that you may inadvertently pass, engaging in conversation with the person/people who serve you food throughout the day, or praying on the spot for someone you don’t know if you see something that you feel you could pray for in the moment. This month live by Hebrews 13:16 ESV, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
This month I challenge you to make sacrifices. Not just for your family or people you know but make sacrifices for God that you wouldn’t typically make. That could mean something as simple as waking up and taking the time to pray in the morning, reading a daily devotional to spend time with God, actually sowing your 10% tithes, or going to church regularly on Sundays this month even though you typically wouldn’t go (Church Recommendations You May Also Live Stream Online If Not Present In Any Of These Cities: New Life Covenant Church Southeast here in Chicago, One Church L.A., Hillsong Church NYC). Make sacrifices for strangers and people that you don’t truly know. It could be something as simple as stopping to actually say “hello” to someone that you may inadvertently pass, engaging in conversation with the person/people who serve you food throughout the day, or praying on the spot for someone you don’t know if you see something that you feel you could pray for in the moment. This month live by Hebrews 13:16 ESV, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We thank you for having our best interest at heart. Thank you for knowing us authentically. Thank you for the sacrifices you’ve made for us and the sacrifices you will continue to make throughout our future. We give you glory, we give you praise, and we honor you for being who you are! Exonerate us from the empty pit of selfishness and allow us to become selfless. Gut us and place a desire in our hearts to always be willing and ready to make sacrifices for others according to your will. Rejuvenate our souls instilling servitude, humility and compassion within us that is a mere reflection of you. Through every sacrifice that we make we pray for power and authority to deliver and come through. Through every sacrifice that we make we pray for direction and wisdom. Through every sacrifice that we make we pray for miraculous overflow. Through every sacrifice that we make we pray for discernment. Through every sacrifice that we make we pray that it opens up the doors for more sacrifices to be made on behalf of you. Through every sacrifice that we make we pray that you get the glory out of it God because you are victorious, you are righteous, you are mighty and we love you. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Heavenly Father,
We thank you for having our best interest at heart. Thank you for knowing us authentically. Thank you for the sacrifices you’ve made for us and the sacrifices you will continue to make throughout our future. We give you glory, we give you praise, and we honor you for being who you are! Exonerate us from the empty pit of selfishness and allow us to become selfless. Gut us and place a desire in our hearts to always be willing and ready to make sacrifices for others according to your will. Rejuvenate our souls instilling servitude, humility and compassion within us that is a mere reflection of you. Through every sacrifice that we make we pray for power and authority to deliver and come through. Through every sacrifice that we make we pray for direction and wisdom. Through every sacrifice that we make we pray for miraculous overflow. Through every sacrifice that we make we pray for discernment. Through every sacrifice that we make we pray that it opens up the doors for more sacrifices to be made on behalf of you. Through every sacrifice that we make we pray that you get the glory out of it God because you are victorious, you are righteous, you are mighty and we love you. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.