“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1, 2 NIV).
Personal pain makes it hard to be aware of other people and concentrate on anything else.
I have just come through a difficult year. I incurred many emotional hurts, so I have been learning a lot about pain. I have learned that pain gets easier when friends go through it with you. I have learned that pain’s intensity changes. Some days it hurts less than others.
I have learned that my pain makes me selfish. It is easy to get so involved in my own feelings that I am unaware of the needs of others around me.
Not long ago, I was at a women’s luncheon and was half-heartedly participating in a worship service. The Lord spoke to me unmistakably. He said, “Kim, don’t let pain become an idol in your life. Don’t let pain keep you from worship.”
Paul talks about bringing every thought into captivity. In other words, our thoughts should be our prisoners. We should order them about. Thoughts should not have power over us, but we over them.
What is keeping you from worship? Worry, sadness, or sickness? Don’t let your thoughts wander; don’t let preoccupation with yourself keep you from telling God you love Him, or from ministering to His children.
Kimberly Snider is a missionary to the Philippines.
From “Moments for Moms,” a free email subscription.
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