Ladies! It’s day 1 of our UMFAST, so let’s start strong! Everyday for a little over 2 years now, I have made it a discipline to read the book of James. James will teach you how to live right AND keep you continually on your unbecoming journey…and that’s facts sister! I felt it appropriate, for the book of James to be our focus for our daily devotion time during the fast, and God has so beautifully broken down to me our daily consecrations.
James 1:1 “I, James, am a slave of God and the Master Jesus, writing to the twelve tribes scattered to Kingdom Come.”
First of all, you know when you start a chapter like this, it’s about to be ON! I don’t know about you, but I want to be able to refer to myself with confidence as, “I, Stephanie, am a slave of God and the master Jesus.” What a definitive personal description that defies the culture at large, and even American Christian Culture. We pride ourselves on being a slave to no one and our service to the Lord can often be labeled as self-serving. Consider this for a moment. How much of our Christian walk is about what God does for us? How much is it about ME fulfilling MY purpose? We may have even entered into this UMFAST with the underlying thought, what can I sacrifice to be closer to you so that I can fulfill MY destiny. I am reminded that Christ Himself, was not about His will at all, but His Father’s. It is one thing for Jesus to be Savior, but another thing altogether to enthrone Him as Lord. For Him to be Lord, means my allegiance is to Him. Not to myself, or others, my career, my dream, or any political party, or ideology. James is goals here. To be a slave to Jesus means I can’t be a slave to anything else. To be a slave to Jesus means I have no identity of my own outside of my Master. Now that is unbecoming. I must decrease, so that Christ can increase. Matthew 6:24 Says “No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other.”
Consecration: Self
Today, ask the HolySpirit to illuminate moments throughout your day, where you choose you. Be aware of how many times your thoughts lean towards what you want, what you desire, what makes you happy, or even makes you feel good. When those moments come, gently replace them with “what do you want Jesus? what do you desire Lord? what would be pleasing to God? what would be a God choice in this moment?” Allow the Holy Spirit to breath on your God-conscience today and embrace small moments on the journey to becoming a slave of God.
Daily Declaration
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