Consecration,
1) Define “consecration.”
In a general sense, the term “consecration” refers to the act of dedicating oneself to a specific purpose or intention. To “consecrate” yourself essentially means to wholly dedicate yourself to something of greatest important.
- When spoken plainly, however, “consecration” refers to the act of setting yourself aside and dedicating
yourself to a deity, and that deity almost always refers to the God of Christianity. - The term can also be used to refer to ordination into a sacred office. For most believers, however, it only refers to a basic, personal act of dedication.
- To “consecrate” something, one makes that thing holy or sacred. In that sense, the act of consecration can also be defined as the act of being made sacred.
2. Consider its spiritual roots.
As a religious practice, consecration dates as far back as the Old Testament. There are discussions about consecration in both halves of the Bible, and the practice is also frequently referred to by the Christian community of today.
- One of the earliest biblical references to the act of consecration can be found in Joshua 3:5. After wandering through the wilderness for 40 years, the people of Israel were commanded to consecrate themselves before entering the Promised Land. As this command was issued and followed, they were also assured that God would do great things and fulfill the promises He made to them.
- The act of consecration is also referred to in the New Testament. In 2 Corinthians 6:17, God instructs His followers to “touch no unclean thing” and promises to receive them in response. Similarly, in Romans 12:1-2, Paul describes the necessity of viewing the body as a living sacrifice to God, set aside wholly for the worship of God and no longer for the ways of the world.
3. Understand God’s role in consecration.
God calls humanity to be consecrated to Him. The ability to consecrate yourself is only made possible by God, and the calling to do so comes directly from God.
- All holiness comes from God, and any holiness demonstrated by a human being is transferred to that person from God. Only God has the power to transform a human into something sacred, so in a sense, God is consecrating you—making you holy—once you decide to consecrate yourself.
- As the Creator, God wants each person to live in God’s image and likeness. As such, God wants to dedicate each person to a sacred or consecrated life.
4. Separate yourself from the evils of the world.
The physical body will always be drawn to the ways of the world, but consecrating yourself means prioritizing the spiritual life over the physical one.
- There are plenty of things in the physical world that are good. For instance, on a basic level, food is good because it provides the human body with the nourishment it needs to survive. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the food you eat, either.
- As a fallen world, though, even good things can be hijacked and used for ill purposes. Using food as an example, you can ruin your body by eating too much food, especially if you eat the wrong foods.
- Rejecting the evils of the world does not mean that you have to reject the good things of the world. It only means that you have to reject the bad side of worldly things. It also means that you have to accept that worldly things are significantly less important than spiritual things.
- On a practical level, this means rejecting things the world promotes when your faith tells you that those things are wicked. It also means following God’s will for your life even when it seems to conflict with something neutral the world holds as a major priority—financial security, romantic love, etc. These “neutral” things can be good when used to serve God, but they are not to be prioritized over service to God.
5. Draw closer to God.
Rejecting the wicked ways of the world will not be enough to truly transform you. The human spirit always needs to “drink” from some source. If you do not drink from a worldly source, you must drink from a divine source.
- Just as the body hungers for the ways of the world, the spirit thirsts of the ways of God. The more you train yourself to cave into the desire of your spirit, the easier it will become to continually turn to God.
- There are practical things you can do to draw closer to God. Regular prayer is one of the most important. Weekly worship at a church and study of the Scriptures are two other common and highly effective practices. Activities that allow you to keep God as the focus of your life and encourages you to approach God can be used as a tool for that purpose.
6. Stay committed.
Consecration is not a single, one-time-only decision. It is a way of living. When you make the decision to consecrate yourself, you must be prepared to continue pursuing God for the rest of your life.
- Even though you can only draw near to God after consecrating yourself, your consecration will never be “complete.” You will never achieve perfect righteousness.
- God does not demand complete perfection, though. You are only asked to make the commitment and to actively pursue it. You can stumble as you walk the path, but you must choose to keep walking even when you do.
Get into the prayer and fasting closet, hear what God has to say, and then obey His word.
Let’s go! As you fast, position yourself to receive. Pray, read the Word, keep a journal handy. Don’t give into the flesh; feast on the Word of God and lean into His presence when you’re hungry.
Any time that you would consume food, instead consume the Word of God.
Biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose. “Fasting, praying, and feeding on the Word of God puts that sword in your hand and positions you to discern the difference between your thoughts and God’s thoughts.” – Jentezen Franklin
Pray
Ask God what He would have you refrain from and focus on during this time. There is no better Person than the Lord to tell you what to deny in order to gain more of His presence in your life.
Ask
Consult your doctor before you start your fast. Particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or have any health conditions where abstaining from food for a period of time could put you at risk.
Check out this comprehensive guide on the Daniel Fast
Decide
Choose what type of fast you will do:
Partial Fast
Partial Fast
- Giving up particular foods and drink for an extended period of time.
- Skipping a meal or eating only one meal each day.
- No food from sunup to sundown.
- Fasting from a particular food or food group (Meat, sugar, soda, coffee, etc.)
- Daniel Fast (Only vegetables, fruits, and water) – for more info: draxe.com/nutrition/daniel-fast/
- No food, but you DO drink water.
Read
“Fasting” By Dee Leichner
“Fasting: Opening the door to a deeper, more intimate, more powerful relationship with God” By Jentezen Franklin
“Fasting: Opening the door to a deeper, more intimate, more powerful relationship with God” By Jentezen Franklin