Present Yourself to God Today
By: Dr. Bruce Wilkinson
Introduction
Sometimes when I'm in the midst of discipling a man, I'll ask him to sketch out his entire life on a piece of paper.
Put in the highs and lows and the dead ends and the major achievements. As you could imagine, each man's life line
looks entirely different from anyone else's except for one thing. The lines always have a number of sharp turns
that reflect the beginning of something entirely different in the man's life. For instance, marriage changes a
man. Your first child changes a man. A severe failure changes a man, often plummeting him into a deep valley. The
day a man met Jesus marks a man forever.
On some men's life lines though, is a different mark - - I call it a "Defining Moment." Men describe
it differently but they all are saying the same thing. See if you can identify with these rambling words: "You
know, after I became a Christian, I grew for a while but then, ah, well, I just kind of, ah, strayed away, you
know, from the Lord. Years went by when I kind of, you know, left the church, or just rebelled against what I knew
God wanted. But then right here (he points to a major upturn on his life line), I rededicated my life to God. That
was a true turnaround for me. Ah, not that I'm perfect, but I really started growing after I did that. That's when
I really sold out to God and stopped playing Church and started serving God with my whole heart." Sound familiar?
What the bible teaches:
Jesus Christ knew that the secret to a man's ultimate victory in his spiritual life had a lot to do with that "Defining
Moment." In fact, Jesus didn't beat around the bush nor back down one moment about that critical decision
to commit one's life to God with everything in you. Not only that, but He revealed it was really one of the few
defining decisions in your whole life.
If a man does not choose Christ above everyone and everything, then Jesus said that man would not become a full-grown
disciple of His. Not only would that man never become a disciple if he didn't make that decision, Jesus said he
could not! You see, after you are saved, then you must face the Lord's call on your heart. He doesn't seek part
of it or most of it, rather, Christ seeks to be the very Master of your heart. If you don't choose the present
yourself, then you'll never become a truly holy man.
You see, holiness always starts with the heart. Holiness doesn't start with the externals but the internals. Not
with a set of rules and regulations, but with a relationship of trust and complete dedication. Read the very words
of Jesus about what He's calling you to do:
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Matthew
16:24
Challenging words, right from the lips of the Lord. Do you see what Jesus says must be true of those who "desire
to come after Me" - you must "deny yourself" and "take up your cross" and then "follow
me." The key to this whole second stage in holiness is those very first words - "If anyone desires to
come after Me." Why? Because without a desire to come after Jesus, you will never pay the price He asks.
The call of Jesus to you isn't an easy call, but it is the call of a lifetime. He wants to be #1
to you above everyone else or you just can't be His disciple. He asks you to give Him the "deed" of everything
you have today and ever will have. He wants you to "die" to yourself and your own desires and "lose"
every part of your dream that isn't His dream - and live forever for Him and the fulfillment of His vision for
you.
I love Jesus Christ. I honor His character. I respect His person. I admire the fact that He was a man's man. He
didn't mess around with a man's mind or his life. He came right out and told everyone who wanted to know the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth. And, He wasn't afraid to give a hard challenge. He didn't fear asking
everything from a man as His Father had asked everything from Him, and He willingly gave it.
Right now, Jesus is asking you if you "desire Him with all your heart" - and then will demonstrate your
commitment with your very life. Jesus asks for your decision to present yourself to Him, as a living sacrifice.
Totally dead to self, but alive to Him who is life itself.
So, my friend, what will it be? Are you ready to step before Christ and make that presentation? Such an act is
a serious one - not only for you, but for the Lord as well. As such moments in life are rare and sacred, may I
suggest that you humble yourself before the Lord and take this moment and kneel. That's right, kneel. Right were
you are. Heaven itself will look upon this moment as a true moment of destiny, and don't you think it deserves
an appropriate posture?
In your mind's eye, picture the Throne of the Almighty with Jesus Christ sitting on the right hand of the Father.
Picture an altar in front of the throne burning bright. Walk up to the altar and climb right on top of it and lie
down. You are in the midst of presenting yourself as a living sacrifice, holy to God. You are going to separate
your whole life from yourself and your worldly interests and goals, and separate yourself to the Lord God and His
eternal interests and goals. Now, from this posture of humility and sacrifice, pray out loud the following prayer
or something like it in your own words:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I have heard your call to present myself as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to You. I confess that up to
this point in my life, for the most part, I have lived for myself and put You in the back seat of my life. I repent
and turn from this idolatry as I am convicted of the major sin of putting myself as the god I have served, not
You.
I now present myself to You as a living sacrifice. I choose voluntarily and freely to come after You, deny myself,
take up my cross, and follow You. I give myself to you genuinely and wholeheartedly and through this act of separating
myself, I become a holy man of God in my heart. Never will I doubt this moment regardless of what has happened
in my life in the past or the future. I thank You for receiving my sacrifice which is given out of love in my heart
for You and a desire to follow hard after You. In the holy name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Now is the time to call or right one of your brothers and share with him your presentation!
Daily Bible readings:
Read each day for the next week.
Morning
1 Peter 1:13-19 "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that
is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according
to the former lusts in your ignorance. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of
conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect
of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye
know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received
by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot:"
Morning Prayer
Dear Faithful Father,
Good morning Lord! Your presence has guarded me all through the night. Your Glory radiates in the heavens and Your
Love is shed abroad in my heart. How I praise You for working in my heart and for strengthening me as I seek for
personal holiness.
I thank You for Your unending Faithfulness to me. It amazes me that You are so active in every part of my life
including my temptations! Thank you for putting Divine Limits on my temptations so that none are too strong for
me. Thank You for also making "the" way of escape for each temptation so I don't have to be trapped by
temptations. Thank You for making sure that I can "bear" every temptation without sinning. My heart sings
to You - How wonderful are all your ways to me.
Afternoon
Romans 11:33-12:2 "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are
his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor?
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to
him, are all things: to whom be the glory for ever. Amen. 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 good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Afternoon Prayer
My Pure and Holy God,
You are never tempted! You will never tempt anyone - including me. Instead of tempting me to evil and harm, you
give me every good and perfect gift!Lord, I confess that at times I have felt that my worse temptations were all
Your fault. I have secretly blamed You. How sobering to realize that my temptations ultimately were from the lusts
of my own heart. If I didn't lust, then I wouldn't be enticed to sin in that area. Lord, I fully accept my responsibility
and no longer seek to blame anyone or anything else. Oh Holy Father, cleanse my lustful heart! Purify my thoughts
and actions. I confess my sins and humble myself before Your glorious holiness.
Evening
1 Peter 2:9-12 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that
ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in
time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained
mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the
soul: Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they
may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."
Evening Prayer
Dear Jesus my High Priest,
You are my personal High Priest, Oh Jesus the Son of Glory! You left heaven to die for me and now you actively
intercede in heaven for me! You understand all of my temptations because You were tempted in all points like me,
yet You did not sin. Forgive me for thinking You did not or could not understand my trials with temptations. Forgive
me from running from You when I needed Your help the most - right in the middle of temptations to sin! Therefore,
I pledge I will come quickly and boldly the next time I face temptations.
Lord, why do I rely on my own strength in temptations? Why do I not flee to Your face because you "aid those
who are tempted.: Oh Lord, I have sinned because of my weakness, but in my next temptation, I will seek Your aid.
Thank you for your death for me and now your life in me! Amen.
