O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. – Psalm 5:3
In the modern age, we don’t often think about preparing sacrifices. Sacrifice is something that we do, not something that we ready for. But in the Old Testament a literal sacrifice required some intention and forethought. An altar had to be built; an animal had to be selected. A sacrifice didn’t just happen in the moment – there was some planning.
Emulating the Old Testament example, we would be wise to prepare our sacrifice at the beginning of each day. Of course, our sacrifice is not a lamb or a calf, but our lives. We need to prepare our hearts to be surrendered to God – to be willing to do whatever He says, to go wherever He leads. We need to start each morning with the commitment to give of ourselves for the sake of others, to the glory of God. As we do this, as we prepare our sacrifice, we, like the Psalmist, can watch in anticipation – and see how He works in and through a life that is wholly yielded to Him.
