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The following is an excerpt from our daily devotional series Desperate for Change.
“Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.’” –Joshua 3:5
Who of us would not like to see the Lord do amazing things in our midst? We certainly need that supernatural work of God in our nation today. Israel received that promise; yet, it was a conditional promise. God would do miraculous things if His people consecrated themselves.
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Consecration is one of those “church words” that sometimes confuses us. To consecrate is to set apart for a particular purpose. It is closely tied to the idea of being made holy. In the tabernacle and later the temple, certain items were consecrated for a special purpose. They could no longer be used in an ordinary way. That was God’s Word to the Israelite’s in Joshua’s day. It is also God’s Word to us today.
Our nation desperately needs a consecrated church, a people set aside for the Lord’s purposes. We are the way God has chosen to communicate His will to nations. But if we are not a consecrated, holy people, the communication becomes garbled and mixed with our unholiness.
Note that the Lord said that they (and we) were to consecrate themselves. This was not a passive thing, but actively required them to set themselves apart for the purposes of God. As you pray today, would you consecrate yourself, so that we might see the Lord do amazing things in our midst?
Prayer Points
- Repent of a lack of consecration and purpose in your life.
- Commit yourself to a life of consecration for the Lord’s purposes.
- Pray for a spirit of consecration and holiness to come upon the church in America.
My Prayer
Father, I am so grieved over my lack of consecration. I have believed and loved You, but I’ve been trying to do Your work in my own strength, and so often for my own purposes. In the name of Jesus, I consecrate myself unto Your purposes. Here I am, Lord. Use me as You will. And what I pray for myself, I pray for Your church. Lord, help us to be holy. Our nation desperately needs a holy people to speak Your Word in these days. Pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us that we might be empowered to be used by You. Lord, we need You to do amazing things in our midst.
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David Butts is the chairman of America’s National Prayer Committee and the president of Harvest Prayer Ministries. Photo Credit: PonyWang/Getty Images Signature via Canva Teams.
