June 29

Read: Philippians 3:7-11

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart (Psalms 40:8).

Continuing Consecration

Our continuing consecration is an impulse of the heart as well as a policy of the will. The Psalmist knew the joy of a life that is truly consecrated to God when he testified, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” It is this attitude of abounding love that is the secret of radiant Christian living in the high country of God. The people who are getting the most out of their religion are those who keep themselves fully consecrated to the will of God.

Dr. Philip Doddridge wrote out his own consecration thus: “This day do I, with utmost solemnity, surrender myself to Thee… I consecrate to Thee all that I am, and all that I have… to be all used entirely for thy glory… as long as Thou continuest me in live… ever holding myself in an attentive posture to observe the first intimations of Thy will, and ready to spring forward with zeal and joy to the immediate execution of it.”

At the altar of prayer God does graciously accept our Consecration which we deliberately make sometimes with great struggle. But in response to our desire and struggle God gives to us deeper desire and less of struggle for the days ahead.

Some effort is still required but the joy of the Lord becomes our strength in the Christian life. And God wants to give us that joy.

Prayer For Today

O God, I too have surrendered my whole self to Thee. By Thy grace I am today “holding myself in an attentive posture to observe the first intimations of Thy will, and ready to spring forward with zeal and joy to the immediate execution of it.” Amen.