What is consecration?
Consecration means to separate yourself from all things that are unclean or anything that will contaminate your relationship with our holy God.
For instance: As the Israelites set out from Shittim, to cross the river Jordan, God through Joshua, commanded the children of Israel to consecrate themselves before he promised to do ‘amazing things before them’ ( Joshua 3: 5). They were to bathe (cleanse) themselves and present themselves afresh before the Lord. They understood that no-one can follow the Lord until they are cleansed. Today, under this same premise we are going to cleanse ourselves from our sins and change our spiritual garments just like David and Joshua ( Psalm 51: 2-7). In Zachariah 3, a person's spiritual garments represent their spiritual state ( their garment will reveal whether they have been defiled by sin or not), their social function ( priestly, kingly) and their connection to the Lord ( 1 Peter 2: 9-10). As you pray these prayer points believe that God is setting you apart to serve him for his Glory.
This prayer of consecration is a prayer of acceptance to God’s call for us to surrender ourselves completely under God’s authority, remaining committed to his will and separated from worldly desires. Romans 6:13 says the following 'Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.' As you pray these prayer points in pursuit of God’s holiness consider why God calls his people to consecrate themselves and begin to desire spiritual purity.
Let us pray.
Prayer Points for a consecrated life.
- Confess the sins of your heart. Begin by approaching God with clean hands and a pure heart: ( 1 John 1:9, Psalm 24)
- Engage the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus. Allow the blood of Jesus to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. ( 1 John 1:7)
- Acknowledge God and Worship him. He is the reason for your consecration. Surrender your life to God by submitting yourself under God’s authority (Revelation 4:11).
- Commit yourself to God. Confess your desire for a deep commitment to the Lord. (Romans 12:1-2)
- Ask God to kill your appetite for the world and the things of the world as you renew your mind with the word of God. Pray with a desire to be separated from worldly desires. (Ephesians 4:23, Romans 12:2)
- Ask the Lord to renew a right spirit in you. ( Psalm 51:10, Ephesians 4:23)
- Ask God to purge your tongue. Your tongue should be consecrated to serve God in speech. ( Isaiah 6:7)
- Ask God to anoint your eyes with eye salve so that you can see him clearly in his word. Your spiritual sight should not be marred with sin. ( Revelation 3:18)
- Ask the Lord to give you a hearing ear. Your ears should be opened to hear the will of God. ( Proverbs 20:12)
- Ask the Lord to teach you his truth through the voice of the Holy Spirit so that you can shod your feet with the gospel of peace. Desire feet that only want to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. ( Ephesians 6:15)
- Ask the Lord to increase your hunger for him, as you read his holy words. Pray with a desire to live a life dedicated to God’s service. ( Matthew 5:6)
- Pray for fresh fire. Pray that the Lord will revive your prayer life with the fire of the Holy Spirit.
- Ask God to mature your faith. The word of God must become flesh. Desire that Christ will be seen in you. ( John 1:14)