Hello , 

Have you ever wondered why God had people sacrificing animals in the Old Testament? Did the blood of those animals have a power? And what do these sacrifices have to do with worship and praise?

 These are questions many of us ask in our walk with God. 

Incredibly, we can look back through history and see how these acts point to something much greater. Ultimately, it was Jesus' blood that perfectly covers our sins—and now, it's ourselves that we are called to offer as a sacrifice to God.

Today, many believe that because of grace, we don’t need to do anything more. But is that what the Bible really teaches? 

In John 14:15, Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commandments." And in John 8:11, He tells the woman caught in sin, "Go and sin no more." 

This shows that while grace covers us, we are still called to obey and live differently. The difference is that our obedience is no longer out of duty or law, but out of love for Jesus ❤️and what He has done for us.

But what exactly is worship? 

Worship can be defined as: 

• showing reverence, 
• adoration, and 
• honor to God. 
   

One way we're called to worship is by offering ourselves as living sacrifices. 

Romans 12:1 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us, "You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies."

Adrian Rogers once said:

We are either the steward of our body or the owner.

As the owner, we choose what we eat, do and how we live. No one will determine your life except you.

But as the steward, we see our bodies on loan, and all we do is to bring glory to God.

Many people have said to me, "Annette, we are saved by grace, we can eat what we want."

Yes, that is true, but what you eat and how you live WILL determine how well you live and serve.

1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 

Think about the body.  Did you know Poptarts have over 7 chemical additives that cause brain trauma and asthma in kids?
Did you know Bounce laundry sheets cause eczema  in babies? We used to call it a bounce rash in the ER when I worked there and babies came in the middle of the night crying.

Did you know alcohol causes a dysfunction in the brain within 10 minutes that limits your ability to worship?

Are we choosing food and drinks that honor God, or are we making choices that  dishonor Him?

Worship isn’t just about words—it's about how we live. 

Psalm 63:4 says, "I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands." 

Why do we lift our hands? 

It’s a physical act of praise that connects every neuron in the body. Lifting our hands to the Lord is like a spinal adjustment at the chiropractor. It brings the flow of blood through the vagus nerve and sends nerve signals from the brain and heart through the entire body. It improves your circulation. And you thought it was just spiritual.🙂

The Bible mentions other physical acts of worship too, such as

•  bowing (Psalm 95:6), 
• dancing (Psalm 149:3), and 
• clapping (Psalm 47:1). 

These acts engage our bodies in honoring God. How would your church respond if you started dancing and clapping as the Holy spirit moved in the service?

So, the bottom line is: Worship is more than just words. It’s about giving our whole selves to God—our body, our mind, our heart. 

Every choice we make, including what we eat and drink, should reflect our love and honor for Him. 

When we view our bodies as a gift from God, something to care for and offer back to Him, we make better choices. And we see worship in a whole new light.

As you go through the holidays, ask yourself: Does this honor God? Whether it’s what you eat, how you treat your body, or how you live, is it showing glory to God? Let’s make each decision an act of worship.

By the way, as we think more about honoring God with our bodies and souls, stay tuned for some exciting things coming your way soon, where we'll dive deeper into how we can live completely in God’s will, worshiping with mind, body, and spirit. Stay blessed! 🙏