Putting your body on the line
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. - Romans 12:1
This is more than just saying to God, “I will give you a portion of my day, or a portion of my income, or a portion of anything.” It is very all encompassing, it’s everything. It is also physical and action-based. It is not promising God to think nice thoughts about Him, and hopefully feel good inside.
Think of medic in a battle putting their own self at risk to rescue and care for the wounded. Think of a secret service agents taking a bullet for the president. Think of the mother who forgoes sleep to care for a sick child.
This is more than just thinking nice thoughts about God or even just not doing anything sinful or believing the right doctrine. It is giving yourself over to God and living as a sacrifice. What does it mean to be a living sacrifice for God? That is something worth exploring.