Consecrate Me Now...Week 2 (Lent 2017)

Consecrate Me Now...Week 2

Joshua 3:5 commends the people of God:
..."Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you."

For the first 6 days of the Lenten Season, we have intentionally sought out ways to block ourselves from blocking ourselves in order to experience amazing things.  I must admit the journey is not an easy one, and we are just getting started.  Now that we realize that the only person who can keep YOU from amazing is YOU, we must take the right steps to unblock ourselves.

This week's focus is all about consecration!  

Joshua told the people of God that there was only one step to get to amazing-consecrate!  By definition, to consecrate is to dedicate to a sacred purpose.  Some of us get hung up on the walk down the aisle to the preacher that we took with tears in our eyes to say "I want to be saved".  Now, don't go forwarding this devotion to tell people that Pastor C said being saved is not important.  Salvation is just the starting point, but who wants to stay at the starting point?

This is what God is saying to us.  If you want amazing, you must be amazing.  In order to be amazing, you must consecrate!  When we truly consecrate ourselves, there are just some conversations we will refuse to have... some places we will refuse to be seen... some things we won't even think about doing... and some people we will save as DNA (do not answer) in our phones.  When you are assured in the fact that God has a plan bigger for your life than you can imagine, YOU do not jeopardize it.  

So, this week begin the process to consecrate yourself from yourself!

Yes, here I go again!  If we are going to truly "consecrate ourselves" or dedicate ourselves to sacred use, then we must first un-dedicate ourselves to ourselves.  This Lenten Season should provoke us to be more selfless and Christ-driven.  Remember, Jesus was led into the wilderness (Matthew 4) by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus was consecrated before He got there!  We must be consecrated before we get THERE!  Stop getting frustrated with God about not receiving the promise if you have not made provision during the process.

This week, let's focus on all truly crying out to God:  Consecrate Me Now To Your Service Lord!   

CHALLENGE QUESTIONS:

In what area(s) of my life do I block myself from God's promise?
How can I benefit from removing myself out of my own way?

How can I consecrate myself for God's service?
How can I benefit from consecrating myself from myself?

CONSECRATION PRAYER:

Most Holy God, we thank you for the opportunity to walk with Jesus before the cross.  We recognize that we need preparation for the glory that You will reveal in our lives.  Help us to daily seek you throughout this Lenten season.  Help us to hear you as you reveal the ways we block ourselves from you so that we can experience the amazing things that you promise to us.  As we journey further into the wilderness, strengthen our walk and our relationship with you.  In Jesus' name, Amen.