Psalm 4:5
“Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the LORD.”
If you are holding on to your fears or over thinking your anxieties you are not living out the righteousness Christ has given you, and you are not trusting Him to lead you to green pastures and still waters. David knew this and boldly declared the answer to ridding himself of worry – trusting in the LORD through sacrifice.
It is a righteous thing to the Lord for you to trust in Him, even in the midst of your biggest fears. But this takes sacrifice, and sacrifices are rarely easy. Here are two things to know about Biblical sacrifices to help you conquer your fears.
1. Biblical sacrifices always require giving up something valuable. The things you worry about tend to be tied to the things you value most. Inherent in any true sacrifice is letting go of these things that are most valuable to you and giving them up to God. In this case it would be the things you fear or worry about most that you would sacrifice to God. This is a righteous thing to do in His sight.
Prayer is the way you sacrifice any fears you have and the means to surrendering your valuables to God. Take each care and pour it out to Him through prayer and thanksgiving. Then allow the Lord to take care of the rest.
Psalm 5:3
In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.
Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Remember to really let the fear go after praying and trust the Lord with your valuables no matter what the outcome may be. They are no longer yours. You’ve given them to God. This will not always be easy, but Biblical sacrifices rarely are. You are living out Christ’s righteousness when you do this. You are a righteous person in God’s estimation.
2. Biblical sacrifices are always worship. As we give up the things most valuable to us, surrendering them to the Lord, we are truly worshipping Him. Worry and holding on to anything other than the Lord are antitheses of worship (Read Genesis 22:1-19). Sacrificing our worries to God and trusting Him with them is an act of true worship in His sight because we are putting Him before our most valuable cares and trusting Him with them.
Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies (your body is made up of your mind, will, emotions, and actions) a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Be encouraged today to let go of your fears. Sacrifice them on the altar of your heart to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).” Let “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).” If you trust the Lord with your cares through sacrifice you will be living out a life of worship and righteousness.
What fears do you need to sacrifice to the Lord in worship today? What or who is most valuable to you? Do you trust God enough to give them up to Him?
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