What do you do when you reach a crossroads in life or a fork in the road? If neither direction is “wrong” as in sinful, should we automatically choose the more “spiritual” of the opportunities? For example, if I am a gifted speaker and a gifted carpenter, should I assume God wants me to be a preacher or inspirational speaker rather than a carpenter? I don’t think so.

I remember the night in 1979-1980 when I “discovered” 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.² 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.

It seemed to me that most people, including Christians, lived their lives making up their own minds about what they did or didn’t want to do with very little thought as to what God wanted. But here in the book of Romans I had found a formula for knowing God’s will! I wanted to shout, “I knew you could know God’s will! I knew you could know!”

My excitement faded as I realized I had no idea how to carry out the first requirement in the formula—to “make of my body a living sacrifice.” I thought I understood not being conformed to this world and being transformed by the renewing of my mind, but how in the world did one make of one’s body a living sacrifice? If I didn’t understand God’s requirement, how could I claim His promise to know His will?

Prayerfully, I asked God, “How do I make of my body a living sacrifice?” As I studied Scripture, journaled and prayed, little by little I understood that making of my body a living sacrifice meant being willing to do or go or be in this body whatever God asked of me. If there was something I really wanted to do, I had to be willing not to do it. If I absolutely didn’t want to do something, I had to be willing to do it. It was all about surrendering my will.

Animal sacrifices in the Old Testament didn’t have a choice. Their lives were taken from them and their dead bodies placed on the altar. However, God is asking New Testament Christians to voluntarily climb on the altar to make of their bodies a living sacrifice. He’s asking us to choose to do in our bodies whatever God asks.

So in 1980, I made a promise to God. If He would reveal His will to me, I would do or go or be in this body whatever He asked. Little by little, He taught me to listen to His voice, to surrender my will, to be led by the Holy Spirit. Twenty years later when the Lord began to deal with us about being missionaries to Japan, Donn told me the book he was reading said God would never ask us to do anything we didn’t want to do. My answer was brief. “What about Jonah?”  The philosophies we embrace must line up with God’s Word.

Then [Jesus] said to them all: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23).
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:37

Years later a mentor of mine said, “If you allow yourself to be controlled by the expectations of people, you cannot be led by the Holy Spirit.” Wow! I’m not saying we shouldn’t consult others when we believe God is leading us to do something, but we need to be careful not to be swayed by the opinions of people who may not be in tune with God’s Spirit. They may be answering out of their own desire to spare us difficult things or to spare themselves what it would cost them if we obey God.

So when we reach a crossroads, we shouldn’t assume God wants us to do the most “spiritual” thing. We should concentrate on surrendering our will, making of our bodies a living sacrifice, affirming that if He reveals His will, we will do whatever He asks. Then we continue in the Word, write down what we believe He’s saying, and talk to godly people we trust. We wait for  God’s peace to come and for our circumstances to line up with what we think He is saying.

Colossians 3:15 says, And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds… (AMPC) One Christian teacher said, “Let the peace of God act as an umpire in your heart. If your peace is gone, you’re out.” If we’ve allowed ourselves to be controlled by the expectations of other people for a long time, it may take awhile for us to experience God’s peace and allow it to act as an umpire in our lives. But as we learn to walk in His peace, its absence in our lives will be a good indicator of whether or not we’ve made the right choice.

Father, enable us to make of our bodies a living sacrifice so we can carry out your plan for our lives, and not our own. Help us live for the One who died for us and was raised again. Amen.