Daily Moments of Consecration
Consecration means “setting apart,” and it can apply to a person, building, or object. It is an old word that simply means to make or declare something sacred, hallowed, or holy; to set apart, dedicate, or devote to a holy use. Sadly, in much of Christianity, this word has lost its traction with a strong preference for living as close to the world or in the zone of minimum requirements. Consecration is a daily requirement for every spiritual leader.
While most people will see your external life, your “inner life” is crucial and must be nurtured. As Paul said, “strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being” (Ephesians 3:16). To be effective in our calling, there must be a constant and steady intake of spiritual strength. As a ministry leader, there will be wounds that come in your direction. Huge wounds? Not often. Sometimes it is just “death by a thousand tiny cuts”. Ministry is weighty!
When Jesus first called His disciples, He called them to COME TO HIM, not to GO INTO THE WORLD. This is probably one of the most important things to remember in ministry and let it be a reminder for us all. The “go” part (performance) can be seen by others, and it is tempting to prioritize this “seen” aspect of the call to ministry. The “come to me” aspect happens in our private time. These are the quiet and unseen moments of consecration. This is where the anointing comes from!
The first movement of consecration is to move toward Jesus. We do this in prayer, engaging with the Word, fasting, and all the other spiritual disciplines that make us spiritually stronger.
To be a strong spiritual leader, there must be a constant and steady intake of spiritual strength. As a leader, you are an “under shepherd” with responsibility to feed the sheep in your care. You cannot feed sheep in dried-out paddocks with dried-up streams. The flock will starve and become unhealthy in spiritual places like that. We cannot lead others spiritually higher than where we ourselves stand. We must remember that we are a sheep before you’re a shepherd.
We called it “the Lord’s Prayer”, but it would probably be better called “the Disciples Prayer”. In this prayer, Jesus taught us to ask God for DAILY bread. We cannot be effective in ministry without regular spiritual sustenance. Our pursuit of Christ impacts the people we lead. We know this, of course, but does our daily schedule reflect it?
While some ministries may end through some significant failure or unfortunate event, most end through a gradual wearing down, or as it has been said, “death by a thousand tiny cuts”. Ministry has a way, just by sheer attrition, of depleting our spiritual resources. While we may be able to keep going for a while, if there is not serious replenishment, we will suffer spiritual anemia. We need daily moments of consecration. Setting ourselves aside and setting time aside to be in the presence of God. The Psalmist said, “Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face evermore” (Psalm 105:4).