choose something small…

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  1. Start with a brief delay for something that you like or need, such as delaying:
    • your meal by five minutes or your drink by one minute when you’re very hungry or thirsty.
    • internet use by 15 minutes when it’s just for entertainment; maybe offer at least 5 minutess of prayer during that time or talk with someone without any electronic device.
  2. Reduce the portion size for your favorite drink or food. Eventually, you might eliminate it completely.
  3. Go to bed 15 minutes later or get up 15 minutes earlier to do something good for someone. During that time, offer prayers or good works for God, or read and ponder one passage or chapter from the Bible, especially the New Testament.
  4. Give some of your time for a pro-life cause (maybe just 30 minutes per week) in ways that would use your own talents and interests. So many different organizations that serve the unborn, the elderly, or the infirm need your help.
Promise yourself that you’ll do any of these deliberate sacrifices for 10 days, maybe a different one each day to see what works best for you. Then see if you can do this for just one more day – or even another 10 days - with the same or a greater level of sacrifice.

If possible, don’t let others know what you’re doing; “pray [or sacrifice] to your Father in secret” (cf Mt 6:5-8). When you offer these small sacrifices to God, He will give you strength for greater deliberate sacrifices – as well as strength for unexpected and unavoidable trials.

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