Someone recently made a statement that made me pause: “You will only go as far as your consecration allows you to.”
That hit home for me. Like you, I have dreams that go far into the future, and sometimes I doubt my own ability to do such things. Many times I will explain away my fears and blame it on bad timing.
This hasn’t happened yet because it’s not time. I haven’t finished college yet; I’m not married yet; I’m not prepared yet–and on and on the excuses go.
God could have an elaborate, perfectly laid out plan for your life, with the most inspiring story, a blessed adventure, filled with joy and peace, and yet, if you don’t act on it and MOVE . . . this plan will sit there on the horizon waiting for you. It won’t come nearer with the simple passing of time. It won’t get smaller or faded. The edges won’t shimmer as it disintegrates.
No.
It will sit, linger, and stay. Waiting for you.
Humans are creatures of instantaneous satisfaction. We want to feel good now, to be settled and secure now, to be through the trial now. We don’t like waiting in lines, waiting for our online purchases to arrive in the mail, or waiting on God to hurry up and answer our every prayer. But God. He shows up and makes the infinite difference! Consecration requires that you put all of that aside and make room for something way bigger than yourself.
So what is consecration anyway?
My definition would be your level of commitment to God–when you have reached the point of saying, “God I am no longer my own, but my life is yours.” In other words, you are to be a living sacrifice unto God by dedicating your life to a higher purpose than just us. Not my will, but Yours, Lord.
Romans 12:1-2 exemplifies how God wants us to live in a way that is different and serves a greater purpose than fulfilling our own wishes. This is our reasonable service, considering all that He has already done for us!
Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
I want to encourage all of you sweet readers to take a look within during your prayer time this week and just seek those areas of your heart that need changing or improving. Let us consecrate our hearts once again, restrengthen our ties with Jesus, and renew our love for Him and His will.
Joshua 3:5 (KJV)
5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you.