sac·ri·fice
[sak-ruh-fahys] –noun: the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.

I find it interesting that the definition for the word “sacrifice” says that we surrender something “prized or desirable…”

Sometimes we feel like what we have right now is the best of the best. That boyfriend or girlfriend. That job or business. That chunky booty. For so long, we’ve become content with the current and, eventually, we begin to believe that it has become our “prized or desirable.”

The second part of that definition, however, gets to the good stuff.

“…for the sake of something considered having a HIGHER or MORE PRESSING claim.”

Sacrificing, in itself, sets us up to receive better, more, greater than what we had before. Everyone may not have to sacrifice in the same areas (i.e. if you have a great relationship/marriage, you don’t sacrifice that for “greener grass. Sitcho butt down.)

But those areas in which we desire for more, we must lose or surrender something that we may feel is already a prized possession.

Before the clock strikes midnight and brings in a new year,  I want us all to consider what we would be willing to sacrifice to gain what it is that we want. Really consider it.

And Jesus called [to Him] the throng with His disciples and said to them, If anyone intends to come after Me, let him deny himself [forget, ignore, disown, and lose sight of himself and his own interests] and take up his cross, and follow Me. Mark 8:34, Amplified

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1, New KJV

I like the fact that the bible says that it is our “reasonable service” in Romans 12. Reasonable means to be moderate, something that is capable of doing or expecting.

What God expects of us, when we “sacrifice”, is reasonable, doable, and in most cases, moderate.

Surely, it doesn’t feel that way when we have to give up what we’re used to or what our flesh likes. But when we consider that what we gain is much greater than what we feel like we are losing.

In the New Year, I plan to sacrifice. Yes, it’s going to hurt like hell, but what I plan to gain is much, much greater than what I feel I’m losing.

Join me, wont you?

On the Chase,

Alisha L.