Acceptable Sacrifices

Psalm 40: 6-8
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but my ears you have pierced;
burnt offerings and sin offerings
you did not require.

7 Then I said, "Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.

8 I desire to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."

Holy & Righteous God,
Thank You for piercing my ears with the bold truth. Finally, I’m beginning to understand. Offering You my time without heartfelt devotion is inadequate. Presenting You my talent without wholehearted dedication is insufficient. Halfheartedly giving You my treasure out of obligation is inappropriate. You don’t want religious ceremonies and showy performances. All that You desire is a relationship with all of me.

It will please You when, by faith, I come to the foot of the cross admitting my faults and failures allowing the bond of Your blood to fix and fortify me. Realizing the high price you paid to correct my flaws will give me a deeper desire to walk and work with You. I’ll willingly sacrifice family, friends and freedom in order to spend time getting to know You. The more I know You, the more readily I’ll give up my possessions and plans in order to experience Your almighty power. Forfeiting my comfortable conditions and prominent position to endure difficulties will perfect my faith, make me shine purer and brighter, and draw others to You.

Please dear Lord, write Your commands on my heart so that I’ll remember to obey them. I desire nothing more than to walk and work with You so that my gifts will be adequate, sufficient, and appropriate for my Most Holy King. Amen.

God doesn’t want your rituals and routines. He wants your whole heart devoted to Him. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to please Him? Will you give up watching television, browsing the Internet, or chatting with friends in order to spend time with Him? Will you get up earlier to be with Him? Will you eliminate several activities from your busy in order to make time with Him?