Lord, your Holy Spirit through Paul doesn’t mince words, but sometimes I have to look back a verse or two to see what he means by ‘therefore.’ In this case, Paul writes our spiritual worship is a sacrifice of living in and controlling our physical bodies in a way that honors and glorifies You, because You are holy, worthy and sovereign. We can only do that by your merciful help. Show us the path, Lord. Keep us from turning neither to the right nor to the left. Plant our steps as You order them for your glory and honor. I ask in your name above all names and authority greater than any other, Jesus, according to the good and perfect will of the Father. Amen.

“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 11: 35, 12:1 ESV)