What am I missing?

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What am I missing? It’s the question I’ve asked myself in different ways and in different seasons. It’s the question that makes us either give up, or drives us harder to find the answer.

You believe in God, you trust Jesus for your salvation, and you know the Bible is true—but something still feels off. You fall into the same patterns, carry quiet anxiety or sadness, and slap on a smile that hides the ache. You want change. You’re just not sure how to get there.

There’s a story in the Old Testament about when the Israelites were finally ready for change themselves. After 40 long years of wandering around in the desert, they were ready to enter the Promised Land. 

There was just one minor obstacle: the Jordan River. Scripture tells us that the Jordan was at flood stage when they reached it. That’s not ideal if they hoped to cross safely.

So the day before they were to cross, God gave them a single directive.

Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.

Joshua 3:5

Simple enough, right? Before they crossed the Jordan, they had to consecrate themselves. Essentially, they had to set themselves apart by purifying themselves, by avoiding sexual activity, and by worshiping.

They had to prepare themselves by making room in their hearts and minds for God to act on their behalf. 

Spoiler alert! In case you haven’t read it, God miraculously parts the water. But not until the exact moment the Israelites step into the rushing river in faith that God would see them safely to the other side.

So…

While the act was fully God's, it was performed on the fulfilment of certain conditions by the people. Charged by Joshua, they consecrated themselves and thus made possible the action of God. 

Pastor George Campbell Morgan

What are you doing to consecrate yourself to make possible the action of God?

This is where I get to breakdown one of my most favourite things. Understanding the role of consecration in my own faith journey was a game-changer! And I believe it can be for you, too.

There are some helpful terms for understanding the basics of our salvation and here are three of them.

The first being: justification. Justification is the moment that God changes our status from sinful to righteous because of our faith in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Justification is the moment of salvation.

Once we come to saving faith and have been justified before God, the Holy Spirit begins the work of sanctification. Sanctification is the process by which we are being made holy like Jesus, and this is a life-long process. We will not be fully sanctified until Jesus returns in glory.

Finally, consecration! This is the part of our faith journey that we typically see as optional, occasional, or reserved for the Super Christians. Consecration is the act of giving yourself to the things of God and prioritizing spiritual over physical things. It’s living a life set apart. AND THIS IS WHAT WE CAN CONTROL!

Consecration is the everyday choices we make to follow Jesus with our thoughts, actions, and reactions. It’s how we spend our time, it’s how we spend our money. It’s what we think about when our minds wander and it’s what we choose to dwell on when we notice it has. It’s how we choose to cope with stress. It’s making room for the act of God in our lives.

It’s choosing to draw near to God, knowing he will draw near to you.

(James 4:8, paraphrase)

Pastor Jon Tyson often says, God shows up where he’s wanted. 

Friend, God is doing a new thing. It’s just hard to notice when we keep doing the same old thing and leaning into the same old patterns and coping mechanisms and still expecting our lives to look different.

So, do you need God to miraculously part some waters for you? Consecrate yourself! Make some room. And prepare to see the Lord do amazing things among you. 

What’s in the Ears

As an ode to my previous blog, the segment titled 'What's in the Ears' is being resurrected, where I'll share a song or podcast that I'm currently into.

These days, my kids and I are vibing to Forrest Frank and you can listen to the song 'Never Get Used to This' below.

Like what you’ve read? Let’s keep the conversation going. Share this post with a friend and leave your thoughts in the comments!

Podcast available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or your favourite streaming platform!