Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
“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. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Reading this verse, I am reminded of how I have always wondered what God’s plan for me truly is. For years, I felt trapped in the relentless cycle of work, social obligations, and responsibilities. My early adult years were spent juggling a social life while earning my bachelor’s degrees and, at times, working three restaurant jobs simultaneously. I was far from achieving balance, and it seemed that only when things completely fell apart did I turn back to God.

The only moments where I felt a sense of clarity – like I was stepping into what God wanted for me – was when I was traveling or living abroad. During these times, I could finally breathe, even if only briefly. While I didn’t fully grasp God’s will for my life back then, I knew one thing for certain: the non-stop, chaotic lifestyle I had been living was not what He intended for me.

A Moment of Realization

After my last months of traveling in Europe, I moved in with my grandparents and reverted to old habits—I picked up two or three restaurant jobs, working anywhere from 50 to 70 hours a week. The money came in fast, but it disappeared just as quickly. My life was chaotic, lacking direction and purpose.

Then one morning in the summer of 2023, I woke up with a heavy realization: Here I am again, running in circles with no real end goal or purpose. At that moment, I knew something had to change. It’s easy to get caught up in worldly pursuits, convincing ourselves that we’ve built a fulfilling life. But sometimes, what we think will make us happy isn’t what God wants for us. Some realize this quickly, while others only understand it after years of chasing the wrong things.

For me, it wasn’t even about chasing the wrong dream. I wasn’t living the life I wanted, and I knew deep down that it wasn’t the life God wanted for me either.

The Transformation Begins

It is crucial to understand that God has a perfect plan for each of us. He calls us to be transformed by renewing our minds, surrendering our lives to Him so that we can obey and honor Him in the way we are meant to. God desires the best for us. That’s why He sent His Son, Jesus, to make this transformation possible. Jesus’ life is the model we should strive to follow. We will never be perfect, but we can offer our lives as a living sacrifice, asking God to continually renew our hearts and minds so we can become more like Christ each day.

I truly grasped this when I moved to Salzburg, Austria. The realization didn’t come immediately, but as I settled into my new life and allowed myself time to breathe and reflect, I began to hear God’s voice more clearly.

I can’t recommend traveling alone enough because it was during this time that I finally learned how to listen to my thoughts and, more importantly, how to hear from God. Finding a church community and surrounding myself with believers also played a significant role. I started reading books and listening to podcasts that deepened my understanding of the Lord.

I’ve come to see that the more I follow what Romans 12 teaches, the more insight I gain into discerning God’s will for my life.

Struggles and Surrender

Admittedly, I have fallen short countless times in offering my body as a living sacrifice. I feel like most of my life, I have lived for myself rather than for God. It is so easy to chase after material things, to desire the latest and greatest. I am completely guilty of this. However, I have also experienced moments of divine clarity. Times when I felt an undeniable sense that I was exactly where I needed to be. In these moments, I glimpse God’s will for my life in the present.

Yet, surrendering to God’s will isn’t always easy. I struggle with this everyday. Sometimes, it brings peace, but other times, it humbles me in ways I wasn’t prepared for. Just yesterday, I had a complete breakdown about my life. That’s how quickly I can lose sight of God’s plan. It’s also why I know I must fully surrender myself to Christ because I am acutely aware of how easily Satan can disrupt my peace.

Spiritual Warfare and Growth

I have often heard that the closer you grow in your relationship with God, the more Satan tries to attack you. I never fully understood this as a casual Christian growing up – going to church when it was convenient but not deeply engaging in my faith. But once I truly started seeking God, I was immediately humbled. The more I listened to Him, the more I felt the enemy trying to pull me in the opposite direction.

I will discuss spiritual warfare in more detail, sharing my personal experiences with it. But for now, I leave you with this: The transformation that Romans 12:1-2 speaks of is not a one-time event, but rather a daily process. It requires surrender, discipline, and faith. The more we seek God and allow Him to renew our minds, the more we can discern His will, step into our purpose, and experience the peace that comes with knowing we are right where He wants us to be.