Daily Devotional Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. - Romans 12:1-2

My reasonable service.  In light of the fact that Jesus laid down His life for us, it's only reasonable that we should give our lives to Him.  Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. -II Chronicles 29:13-14  I know that this is Old Testament, but God is God, whether you're talking about the Son or God, and here David talks about his smallness and God's greatness.  That's what it's all about.  Who are we?  We're only here by the grace of God.  We're only saved by the mercy of God.  Who are we that we shouldn't give our all to God?  Are we that important that we don't have time for God?  The beauty of that full surrender is in the second verse:  the transforming of the mind.  Whatever it is that has a stronghold on your life, when you surrender it to God, He literally changes your mind about that monkey on your back.  You know that camp song 'the things I used to do, I don't do them anymore?'  It's not because of some great will power.  It's because God has changed my mind about them.  I think about the wretched life I lived when I wasn't living for the Lord.  But as soon as I committed my life to Him, I had no need or want to live like that anymore.  The friends I had, I didn't feel the need to be around any longer.  The things I did, I didn't feel the need to do anymore.  I heard a preacher once say that the cross isn't a subtraction, but an addition +.  I know that to be true.  What has gone away from my 'past' has been replaced by a life filled with the joy of the Lord and filled with His love and mercy.