​​Consecrated. What comes to mind when you hear that word? Do you think of an elderly saint who has 90% of the Bible memorized? Or perhaps a missionary serving in a far-away land? Maybe you think of a Christian who has remained faithful to the Lord amidst great trials. But I believe that it is God's desire for all believers to be not only sanctified (separated), but consecrated (separated unto Christ). This is certainly not instantaneous. It begins at salvation and continues until we meet Him face to face.

​Several years ago my pastor preached a sermon from Isaiah 43 that deeply impacted my life. I will incorporate some of my notes into this article, and I pray the truths I learned (and am continuing to learn!) will encourage you in your own walk with the Lord.

​“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, Whose name is Holy;
I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”—Isaiah 57:15
 
What a delight to study God’s character as revealed in His Word! When I consider His impeccable character, His unmatched beauty, His magnificent power, I declare with the psalmist, “What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that Thou visiteth him? For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour….O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8) What a mighty God we serve! Yet He cares for us as the sheep of His pasture, He holds us in His right hand of righteousness, He knows the number of hairs on our head, He puts our tears in a bottle...what love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God (1 John 3:1)!

​Gardening is an activity I really enjoy . . . That is, I enjoy most of the work related to gardening! Some parts of it aren’t as much fun, but they still play an important role in the end product, whether it is a beautiful flower garden or a bountiful harvest of vegetables. I think most gardeners would agree that weeding isn’t the most pleasant task in the garden, although it is necessary to maintain your garden’s beauty.

​“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the
work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
—I Corinthians 15:57–58
 
“Change and decay in all around I see. O, Thou Who changest not, abide with me.”

I love that line of the precious hymn, “Abide with Me,” because it reminds me that in the midst of disastrous compromise and heart-wrenching sin in the world—or even in the lives of fellow believers who have strayed from the Lord—my God does not change! He is from everlasting to everlasting, the same yesterday, today, and forever!

Have you ever noticed disheartening compromise in a fellow believer? The direction of the world is enough to discourage anyone, but what is especially grieving is to watch Christians—formerly strong Christians—cave under pressure. We are to be set apart—called out—for God’s work. We have a strong arm to lean on, and rebellion to the Lord’s ways should not occur in our lives. Our family has been heart-broken in observing others collapse under pressure from the world. Recently, the Lord revealed Scriptures and thoughts that I wanted to share in hopes that it will be an encouragement as you endeavor to live strong in the Lord all your days. After all, glorifying Him is our life-long purpose as Christians!