Expendable.

     Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit.
                                            John 12:24

     It may seem shocking to many, but the reality is that we are expendable to God! Yes God loves and cares for us. He who sees the sparrow fall, and knows the very number of the hairs on our heads, is concerned for us through the trials we go through. Yet, we are expendable. 
     God calls us to lose all for His sake, in His service; even our very lives if necessary. When He calls us to lose our lives for His sake, we might very well face persecution and martyrdom. We are in a spiritual battle for the kingdom of God and the souls of men. Just like an army will count men as expendable, sending them out to die for the greater purpose of winning the war, we too are sent out to die for the sake of the gospel, giving our very lives if it so be, so that another can find life in Christ.
     Remember, we are living in these bodies upon this earth for a short time. We are spiritual beings with souls that will live on throughout eternity. To face death for Christ is truly no loss to us, as to be absent from this body, is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor 5:6-8). So even though we are expendable for the cause of Christ, it is no real loss to us, in fact, it is great gain.

Knowing God.

     For I desire goodness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.
                                 Hosea 6:6

     The vast majority of people seem to believe that the way to God can be found through forms and rituals. This is how all of the world's religions work. The individual approaches their god through sacrifices, rote prayers, and various other religious exercises, that give one a false sense of God's favor.
     Sadly, many who call themselves Christians also approach God in this way. They pride themselves on all of the religious rules and forms that they maintain, thinking that this is what God desires.
     God desires us to know Him intimately. This is what eternal life is, knowing God, through Jesus Christ (John 17:3). He cannot be found through all of our empty traditions. We worship in Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). The pursuit of God is carried out by faith, as we humbly submit ourselves to Jesus Christ, allowing Him to form Himself in us.
     Exercising justice, and compassion are what God really wants from us, as we walk humbly with Him. This far exceeds all the sacrifices and offerings we could ever bring to God (Micah 6:6-8).
    

Our Souls Delight.

     Delight thyself also in Jehovah; and he will give thee the desires of thy heart.
                            Psalm 37:4

     When God is our delight, we will be completely caught up with Him. We will desire His way, His will, His glory. Our plans and desires will fade as we view the greater excellency of the divine purpose. The desires of our hearts will no longer reflect self, but Him.

His Will Only.

     Jesus calls us to have no will but His alone. What a blessed thing to be free of all the strife and turmoil of our cluttered lives as we live out the words of the Lord's prayer-

     "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth."
                                        Matthew 6:10

     It is the clamoring after the things of this life, even the essentials, such as food and clothing, that keep us from the peace that one finds as they live for Christ alone.
     Jesus tells us to step out in faith-

     "But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
                                       Matthew 6:33

     We can find peace in our daily turmoil, fulfillment in our seemingly empty lives, if we would lay our plans, agendas, and wills down, and pick up one only, His.