Consecration: Remembering Your Source
For some Christians, January serves as a month of consecration. It is an effort to focus on our relationship with God to set the tone for the year. Whether a specific month is selected or not is up to the believer. Taking time to rededicate one’s life to God is something that can only grow the relationship. Consecration is a voluntary act of committing yourself to worship, prayer and service to God. The dictionary’s definition of the verb consecrate is to unite by force with the sacred.
It is with this understanding that I offer three items to focus on during this month of consecration.
Remember Your Call to Relationship with Christ
Being on the Christian walk can become full with the high impact drama of life. Take a moment to remember how you came into relationship with Jesus Christ. Did you grow up in a Christian home and get introduced at an early age? Did a friend or colleague invite you to church? Did you feel God’s presence when you encountered someone who showed you kindness and grace? How did you feel the first time you consciously experienced God’s presence? Did anyone share that moment with you? What does your faith look like now? How have you grown since accepting Jesus the Christ as your personal Savior? Consecration is the ideal time to reflect on your call into relationship with God the Father, Jesus the Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Remember Your Baptism
When was the last time you reflected on your baptism? For most Christians, it is one of if not thee most joyous occasssions of our lives. Baptism is the public declaration to the world and your local church community that you are a disciple of Christ. Reflect on this exciting time and remember the celebration that surrounded this event. Think about the relationships you developed with the members of your local church community. What do those relationships look like now? How does seeing new believers get baptized effect you?
Remember Your First Communion
Being invited to dine with someone is not a simple thing. It is an intimate treasure to those who value your companionship. Observing the sacrament of the Eucharist is the Lord’s invitation to believers to share an intimate meal together. Reflect on the first time you took Communion. What did it mean for you? What value does it hold for you now?
Consecration is an opportunity to remember the God who is always with us. The Source of our being, the source of our provision and the source of our creative extravagance. Consecration is a time to reflect on the how and why we worship, pray and serve the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God. It is also a time of revelation and inspired ambition. Many ideas for new ventures are birthed as a result of spending time in prayer and meditation with God.
We must remember the basic foundations of our faith. Whether you observe consecration at the beginning of the year or more frequently, it should be done in high regard. Value your consecration period as sacred whenever you choose to observe it. Have faith that your prayers will be answered as you grow in wisdom and understanding. I will leave you with some scriptures on consecration to ponder during your personal devotion. Be Blessed
