Day 28: Offering All To God (Imitation of Christ. Bk. 4. Ch. 8-10)

• 
  What does God want from you? From me?
• Jesus gave all of Himself to me, how shall I respond?
• Do I do a thousand other things to avoid giving God my whole self? 

Ch. 8: Christ's offering on the cross and self-resignation. Christ offered all of Himself on the cross to God as a total sacrifice for our sins until there was nothing left of Himself. Nothing of ourselves interests God unless we resign ourselves wholly to God. You cannot please God no matter what you give to God if you do not offer yourself. [What is the main thing? It is our problem. What is our problem? We give God everything ezcept the one thing he wants: ourselves--our hearts, our complete selves.]

Ch. 9: We should offer ourselves and all that is ours to God and pray for everyone. I offer God all my sins, which I have committed before God up to this very hour (Ps 51:4). Erase all the stains of my sins and cleanse my conscience of every crime (Heb 9:14). Restore God's grace to me which I lost by sinning. All my sins are most displeasing (loathsome) to me. I am sorry for them and will be sorry as long as I live. Lead me, sluggish (lazy) and useless (puny) creature that I am, to a blessed and praiseworthy end. [The only thing I can give God is my heart, nothing else. Offer prayers and sacrifices for those who have hurt you and those you hurt.]

Ch. 10: We should not be too ready to go without holy communion. Do not stay away from holy communion over some small trial or difficulty. Rather, go quickly to confession and be ready to forgive everyone else's offenses [real or perceived]. Purify yourself as soon as possible. Spit the poison out quickly. [I know I am not worthy to receive Christ and holy communion. But go nonetheless. But if I go I know that I must stop sinning and let go of my sins now, which I don't think I'm ready to yet. I put off preparing my heart because I want to persist in my sin.] 

Every part of our life can be offered to God—our prayers, our work, and even our sufferings. Real union with God happens only when we place our whole heart—our best, our worst, and everything in between—into His hands.