Heart Consecration by Josh Fletcher

I recently visited my father up in Indiana. My uncle had just passed away and the family was gathering to celebrate his life.

 I had to stay several nights and I learned something about my dad--He has a “Holy Grail!” You see, I woke up one morning, grabbed a mug out of the cupboard and poured a cup of coffee. When I looked at the mug I realized that I'd chosen my dad’s “Worlds Greatest Papaw” mug which has the pictures of my two girls on it. I was missing my children because they could not accompany me on this trip, so I was rather enjoying the coffee in the mug with their pictures on it until I learned my Dad’s secret. Dad guarded this particular mug with a jealous fervor.

I would have to choose another. His “World’s Greatest Papaw” mug was set aside as Holy, unto himself alone.

When we speak of heart consecration we are speaking about setting aside, as holy unto God, our hearts and anything on which we set our hearts. When we consecrate something we take our name off it and put God’s name on it. Consecration is not limited to material possessions. Activities, time, and talent should all belong to Jesus when the heart is consecrated unto the Lord.

Jesus speaks about heart consecration in Matthew 6, “Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” He goes on to discuss the heart in areas of simple living, appropriate giving, right prayer, and fasting. In each of these areas God’s name is on the activity rather than that of the practitioner, who seeks to do all things in secret.

Are you set aside as holy unto God? What parts of you are not His and His alone? What needs consecrating in your life? Which of your thoughts, actions, and feelings is God coming after with jealous fervor? Ask God to reveal more of how He wants to set you aside as special and holy unto Him, and listen carefully to what He says to your heart. You are His “favorite one” after all.

 

 Josh is the Director of Spiritual Formation and Men's Ministries at Crossroads Church in Concord, NC. He enjoys spending time with his family as well as fishing, doing artwork, reading and writing.