Present Yourself

Present Yourself

Sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Romans 12:1

The sun rose brilliantly in the East Texas sky on that September day in 1982. I was exhausted from many nights beside Mama’s hospital bed in her last weeks of life, and today was her funeral.

“Cheri, would you write down the songs for my service—‘Special Delivery’ and ‘Great Is Thy Faithfulness’ . . . and that little chorus ‘Beauty for Ashes’ you’ve been singing to me? If no one in our choir will sing it, promise you will,” Mama had said two weeks earlier when she was dictating plans for her “Glorious Homecoming” service. I figured surely someone in that big choir could sing the song, so I said yes. But after Mama died, when the pastor looked at her requests and checked with the music minister, he said no one in the choir knew it or was willing to learn it on short notice.

“You’ll have to sing it yourself, or it won’t be in the service,” he said.

Now I was wrestling with God. I wanted to keep the promise I had made Mama. But this is too hard, Lord. I can’t do it. I’m sad and tired, and I don’t sing at funerals. Then I opened my Bible to that day’s reading in Romans 12, beginning with the first verse: “Give your bodies.” As I read those words, God spoke to my heart: Give yourself to me as a living sacrifice, and I will do it through you. And he did.

Six years later, when my first book came out and I was invited to speak at a school, I was petrified. I didn’t sign up to speak, Lord, just to write this book and articles to encourage parents. It’s too hard!

Remember Romans 12:1? Give yourself to me; go do this, and I will be with you, the Spirit directed. The same joy that filled my heart when I got up to share with those eager parents I still experience when I speak at retreats and conferences. Jesus wants to live through us. He’s just looking for willing vessels. —CHERI

Lord, once again I give myself to you as a living sacrifice. Not because that’s something special but because you gave all for me.

When we are abandoned to God, He works through us all the time.

—OSWALD CHAMBERS (1874–1917), SCOTTISH BIBLE TEACHER, YMCA CHAPLAIN IN EGYPT