Rom 3:23 (NIV) For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We all start with a God-given free will; then, many of our decisions bring us under the addictive slavery of sin. From that point on, God’s will was no longer being done on earth as it is in heaven, as it related to our life. That meant we needed something that would bring God’s will back into our life like it is being done in heaven.

Rom 6:6 (NIV) For we know that our old self was crucified with Him SO THAT the body of sin might be done away with, that we should NO LONGER be slaves to sin. Being born again gave us power against the addictive slavery of sin. John 8:36 (NIV) So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Now that you have your God-given free will back, it becomes your responsibility to DECIDE what you want to do with this great freedom.

You are NOW free to start offering or involving your body in those things you WANT to expose it to. Rom 6:12-13 (NIV) THEREFORE do not LET sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not OFFER the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather OFFER yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and OFFER the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.

Romans 6:12-13 is the goal that aims at bringing God’s will back into our life “as it is in heaven.” Now, let’s look at HOW to get the power and the procedures to “not LET sin reign in our mortal body,” HOW to “OFFER ourselves to God,” and HOW to OFFER the parts of our body to Him.”

You can see, from these Scriptures, how you have been freed so you can decide what to offer or involve your body in. From now on, the Bible is going to be appealing to YOU to do the right thing. However, it isn’t appealing to your body or its efforts to start doing the right things; it is appealing to your inner being, your spirit. If you try, by your human strength, to WILL your way into doing the right things and stop doing the wrong things, you will remain in the life of Romans 7:15-24.

Notice in Romans 6:12-13 above, that “to God” and “to Him” have been underlined; this passage isn’t asking you to offer your body TO living a mature Christian life. It is asking you to OFFER your body and all its activities TO GOD. GOD is going to be empowering you AND YOUR BODY to live the mature Christian life.

Two major passages in the Bible are ready to tell you WHY you should offer your body to God, WHAT you would have to do, and HOW you would go about doing it; these two passages are John 15:1-17 and Romans chapter 8.

In John 15:1-17 Jesus explains WHY you should offer your body; and, He tells you WHAT it is going to take for you to live the mature Christian life. Romans chapter 8 explains HOW to get the Holy Spirit to empower and help you live that life described in John 15:1-17.

After you have completed today’s prayer, you might want to open these portions of Scripture by selecting the blue buttons below. If you want to, you can print them so you can spend extra time with your heavenly Father. Jesus has helped us provide you with sample prayers, as you go through each verse. But, you can turn each verse into your own prayer for submitting your will to His will. Now, let’s take a look at the problem you face in offering your body to God.

By using the procedures of John 15:1-17 and Romans 8, you become ready for Romans 6:12 and 2 Corinthians 4:10-11. Rom 6:12 (NIV) Therefore do not LET sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 2 Cor 4:10-11 (NIV) We always carry around in our body the DEATH of Jesus, SO THAT the LIFE of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, SO THAT His life may be revealed in our mortal body.

You, as a spirit being, are learning how to deal with your mortal body that has a WILL or desire for those things found in Galatians 5:19-21. You, your spirit inner being, has a WILL or desire for those things found in Galatians 5:22-23. Romans 6:12 is addressing the fact that you, as a spirit being, have your will back; it is also addressing the fact that you have the Holy Spirit living inside you. This gives you Spirit-to-spirit communication. The Holy Spirit is telling you what God’s will is, how to live according to it, and giving you the power to fulfill God’s will on earth through your earth suit, your body.

Romans 8:13 tells you to take your freed will and the power of the Holy Spirit and stop LETTING sin reign in your mortal body. That means you now have a way to take control over the misdeeds of your body. You and the Holy Spirit will be working together to fulfill Romans 6:12 and 2 Corinthians 4:10-11. Let’s see how that works.

You have heard of people “having their minds made up.” That means they have already decided what they are going to do and there is nothing anyone can do or say to change it. When your will is set, then your mind is set on a plan of action, a decision, or a belief. God wants to help you have a mind-set that is from Him.

You can only have one of two mind-sets; here is an explanation of the mind-set in the will of the unsaved person and the will of the saved person: Rom 8:5 (NIV) Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. In other words, being born again made it possible for you to have a mind-set from God; you allowed God to set your mind. Now, let’s take a look at the Scripture that explains HOW to remain in Jesus and KEEP your will or your mind set “on what the Spirit desires.”

Rom 8:13 (NIV) For if you live according to (because you have a mind-set on) the sinful nature, you will die; but IF BY THE SPIRIT YOU put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. This is a mind-set for the desires of the Spirit; this is how to put your mind-set to work through cooperation WITH the Spirit.

This is the most important verse we can read other than those leading us into salvation. The words, by the Spirit you are giving you a look into HOW your relationship with the Holy Spirit works. Now that you are a child of God with His mind-set, you can work together with the Holy Spirit. BUT, notice this: It isn’t if YOU put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. AND, it isn’t if THE SPIRIT puts to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. It is if BY the Spirit YOU put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. So, let’s see how THAT works.

Now let’s take a look at HOW you and the Holy Spirit will work together to bring your body under the control of God. Rom 8:26-27 (NIV) In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He Who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

When you pray the Lord’s Prayer, you are praying things that are “in accordance with God’s will.” When you take Scriptures from the Bible and ask God to produce them in you, you are praying “in accordance with God’s will.” And, when you yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to express deep things from out of your heart, you are praying “in accordance with God’s will.”

All these types of prayers ask, seek, and knock on the provisions of God just like Jesus said we should; that brings the mighty power of God into our lives so we can take control over our body and make it do God’s will (Matthew 7:7-11).

After you pray these words: “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” start praying and asking God to fulfill all the Scriptures you feel are also dealing with this subject. Then ask God to show you anything else He would like you to pray that would bring healing to the deep recesses of your heart; then pray those things too.