Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1-2
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Someone once said that the problem with living sacrifices is that they keep trying to crawl off the altar.
  This is such a wondrous and challenging verse --  it defines our call as Christians, to somehow live a life that is fully dedicated to God, seeking him above all else, trying to follow his will, which is better than our own.  It involves our bodies and our minds, resisting pressure to conform and always seeking the most faithful way at any cost, trusting in the Lord our God.
  But the world tells us to do otherwise, and so often we would prefer to take the easy route, to go away from faithfulness and seek easy happiness or pleasure.  We want to be comfortable more than we want to be faithful -- we have a hard time trusting that God's will can lead us to ultimate fulfillment and abundance, so we choose what offers pleasure here and now.
  So we take up the challenge day after day, praying for the wisdom and strength to be faithful, to pursue God's will and to find a way to use our body and mind for his glory.  This is a lifelong challenge, and God promises that it is worth our dedication!