Are You Ready? Preparing for God's Amazing Work

This blog is created from Ps Dan’s message Get Ready: Ready in Heart. You can listen to the full message here

Are You Ready? Preparing for God's Amazing Work

In our spiritual journeys, we often find ourselves eagerly anticipating the next big breakthrough or miracle. We long for God to move powerfully in our lives, our churches, and our communities. But what if the key to experiencing these amazing works of God lies not just in our anticipation, but in our preparation?

The story of Joshua and the Israelites standing at the edge of the Promised Land offers a powerful lesson. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, they finally reached the banks of the Jordan River. The land of promise was within sight, but before they could cross over, God gave them a crucial command through Joshua: "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you" (Joshua 3:5).

This moment of preparation before the miracle is a pattern we see throughout Scripture. Noah spent years building the ark before the flood came. Moses spent 40 years as a shepherd before God called him through the burning bush. Even Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted before beginning His public ministry. These examples remind us that waiting seasons are often preparing seasons.

But what does it mean to consecrate ourselves? The Hebrew word used in Joshua 3:5 is "kwadash," which means to be set apart, dedicated, or made holy. In the Old Testament, consecration was a significant act. Altars, priests, and even utensils for temple worship were consecrated – set apart for God's specific use and glory.

For us today, consecration goes beyond simply avoiding sin. It's about actively dedicating our entire lives to God's purposes. The Apostle Paul captures this idea beautifully in Romans 12:1, urging us to "offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship."

Consecration is not about earning God's love or trying to be worthy – we already have His love, and Jesus has made us worthy. Instead, it's a wholehearted surrender, saying, "God, I am yours. All of me. Every part of me is set apart for your glory." It's offering our time, finances, relationships, dreams, and future back to God as an act of worship.

This surrender is not a one-time event but a daily choice. Like a living sacrifice that can crawl off the altar, we must continually recommit ourselves to God's purposes. It's a lifestyle of obedience and surrender, choosing God's way even when it's challenging or doesn't make sense to us.

The beautiful promise is that when we consecrate ourselves, God does amazing things. In Joshua's story, as the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the flood-stage Jordan River, the waters miraculously stopped flowing, piling up in a heap. The Israelites crossed over on dry ground into the Promised Land.

This pattern of consecration leading to God's power being poured out is like a sailboat catching the wind. We don't create the wind (God's power), but we can raise our sails (consecration) and steer in the right direction (obedience). When both are in place – surrender and obedience – God carries us to places we could never reach on our own.

Reflecting on this truth, we might ask ourselves:

1. How am I using waiting seasons in my life? Am I allowing God to prepare and shape me through challenges?

2. In what areas of my life do I need to surrender control and say, "God, I'm all yours"?

3. Are there steps of obedience God is calling me to take, even if they don't make sense right now?

4. How can I cultivate a lifestyle of daily consecration, not just isolated moments of surrender?

As we ponder these questions, it's important to remember that consecration isn't about striving or earning God's favor. It's about creating space in our lives for God's Spirit to move freely. When we're not cluttered with our own agendas and self-reliance, we become vessels ready for God's use.

This principle applies not just to individuals but to entire communities of faith. When a church collectively consecrates itself and stands ready in obedience, it creates an environment where God can work in powerful ways. It's not about the church looking impressive, but about God's impact through His people – changing families, healing broken lives, saving the lost, and transforming entire communities.

The words of E.M. Bounds ring true: "Revival begins when the church falls on its knees and stays there until God lifts it up." There's a humility in consecration, recognizing that we are nothing without God, but that He can use us mightily when we're fully surrendered to Him.

As we look to the future, longing for breakthroughs and miracles, let's not overlook the vital step of preparation. God is inviting us to consecrate ourselves afresh, to surrender our lives fully to His purposes. It may involve allowing Him to challenge, convict, and reshape us. But the promise remains – as we set ourselves apart for Him, He will do amazing things among us.

So today, let's raise our sails. Let's steer our lives in the direction of obedience. And let's watch in anticipation as God moves in power, doing what only He can do. Are you ready?