The God Guarantee: By Jack AlexanderSample

Yielded

Joshua 3

My contention is that God offers us provision, blessing, and the opportunity to live within his limitless capacity. In fact, he guarantees it. But what does he expect in return? That we consecrate our lives to him. And what, exactly, is consecration? It is an association with the sacred, an invitation for divine holiness to enter into our limited human experiences and efforts.

“Consecrate yourselves,” Joshua told the Israelites just before he led them across the Jordan River and into the land promised to them, “for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you” (Josh. 3:5). And God did, indeed, do amazing things. The people prayed, and the very next morning God stopped the Jordan, swollen and deep in its flood stage, giving them a dry and safe place to pass into their new homeland.

It’s easy to get excited about a promise like that and to eagerly pray for our own miracles, but consecration isn’t as simple as one prayer = one miracle. Consecration asks a great deal from us. Perhaps that is why, in the back and forth of our rhythmic relationship with God, consecration is an aspect we often misunderstand.

Like Jesus’s disciples looking out over the crowd on the hillside (remember Devotional 1?), we get distracted by the overwhelming need we’re facing and forget about the powerful support standing right beside us. Even after we experience salvation’s emotional release or witness God working in the lives of people around us, we are not convinced of his daily involvement with us directly. Perhaps we don’t feel worthy. Maybe, because of our limited human perspective, we just can’t grasp the possibility of a miracle. We want to believe Jesus will care for and provide for us, but something holds us back. So we continue to clutch whatever control we have over whatever gifts we’ve been given. We continue to be stuck in that place that is the opposite of holiness—one dimensional, flat, empty, and exhausted. We fail to see how to separate ourselves and prepare for his holiness to change us.

As one of my former pastors liked to say, “Being in the will of God is the second most dangerous place to be.” So set yourself apart for God’s purposes and invite his holiness and truth to guide every step of your life. Then watch what he does and how he provides.

Pray a prayer of consecration, inviting God deeper into your life and dedicating yourself—all of you—to him.