As we begin a New Year, it is timely as God’s people to take a deliberate step of committing ourselves and all that matters to us, our whole life, to our Father God, before the year overtakes us. This act of commitment recognizes God’s right over us and accepts that His great love and power alone will be able to keep us walking in obedience.
This is what consecration is all about. Consecration means dedicating or setting apart ourselves to serve, obey and honour God. The apostle Paul in Romans 12:1 tells us, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship”.
What does it mean for me to consecrate myself? Consecration is the giving of my life to God to do His will instead of my own. Consecration is receiving the ministry of serving God. It is to say to the Lord, “Today I will separate myself from everything to serve You, because You have loved me.”
It is an act that acknowledges His Sovereignty and Rulership over my life. I am not my own; I have been bought at a great price and I desire no less than that my life will now be lived for His service.
As I reflect on 2013, I praise and thank God for many blessings and challenges in my life. Through them, I have experienced God’s abundant grace and presence. There were times when I struggled to obey what the Lord wants me to do, but I was reminded that my consecration begins with the act of giving myself to the Lord on a daily basis. It means being willing to obey in spite of …. and letting go of my desires and plans and letting God take over.
I thank God that through it all, I have often experienced God’s assurance and promise as in Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismay for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” This verse assures me of a faithful God. Firstly, it tells me that God is with me; secondly, He is my God; thirdly, He will strengthen me; fourthly, God will help me and lastly He will uphold me.
I am thankful that when I consecrate myself to God, I have the assurance that He will never leave me alone and He is with me all the way in good times and in bad. On my part I have to love and obey Him, being faithful and committed in all that He has entrusted me to do.
As we start the New Year, let us be reminded afresh of what a Great and Mighty God we serve. Let us consecrate ourselves afresh to Him, to remain steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that in the Lord our labours are not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
By Lilian Teoh, Deaconness (YCKC Bulletin 11&12 January 2014)