A CONSECRATED LIFE

My Goals for the New Year

Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service. The word consecration literally means "association with the sacred". Living a consecrated life means pursuing am ever-closer association with God.

“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.” - Genesis 17:1-2

Spurgeon wrote: "If we should speak of sanctification or consecration, it is not as a first thing, but as an elevation to be reached only by preceding stepping-stones." In other words, it's a process just as God prescribed to Abraham. First, "walk before me", and then "be thou perfect".

The act of consecrating oneself to God requires conscious decisions to enter into disciplines that lead us closer to God -- a path that leads us to an "association [close relationship] with the Sacred". We simply don't wake up one morning and decide to be consecrated. It's a step-by-step process. We can and should make a conscious decision to walk the path toward consecration by enacting disciplines that position us to grow more closely to God, allowing His image to be more fully formed in us, and purifying our hearts by living a dedicated life. Living a consecrated life is to embark on a journey that renders us pure and holy before God. It's denying oneself, picking up our cross daily and following Christ as His disciple.

Stepping Stones that lead to a consecrated life:

• Daily Prayer & Fasting
• Daily Studying God's Word
• Daily Generosity / Giving

Living a consecrated life before the Lord would be an amazing discipline / goal for this next year; it's one I choose to employ. It's my desire to live a consecrated life before my King!!!