Arise & Prepare (Living Sacrifice Part 1)
Stepping into a Year of Promise
As we enter a new season, there's a fresh invitation from God to His people—an invitation to arise, prepare, and step into the promises He’s set before us. Just as He called Joshua and the Israelites to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land, God is calling us to move forward with faith, courage, and obedience.
Crossing Into the Promise: Joshua 1
The journey begins in Joshua 1, where God speaks to Joshua after the death of Moses:
“Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them… Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses.”
— Joshua 1:2-3, ESV
This wasn’t just a moment of transition—it was a moment of fulfillment. After decades in the wilderness, the time had come to enter into what God had long promised.
God reminded Joshua—and reminds us—that the promises are His to fulfill. But walking into them requires something from us: courage, strength, and unwavering obedience. “Be strong and courageous,” God says repeatedly (Joshua 1:6-9). Not because we’re confident in ourselves, but because He is with us.
The Promise Is Guaranteed. Our Partnership Is Optional.
God’s promises are unchanging and His word never fails. But each promise creates an opportunity for us to partner with Him through obedience.
As Joshua 1:8 reminds us, success and fruitfulness are tied to meditating on His Word and doing what it says.
Yes, under the New Covenant, we’ve been adopted into God’s family by grace. But that grace doesn’t make obedience optional. In fact, it empowers it. Through the Spirit, we become not just forgiven children, but obedient ones who can carry the Father’s heart and advance His kingdom.
“The promise is guaranteed. Our participation is optional.”
Preparing to Cross Over
In Joshua 1:11, we hear a critical call: “Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan...” The time of wandering was over. The time of crossing had come. And preparation was key.
This word still rings true. As a church and as individuals, preparation sets the stage for inheritance. Joshua didn’t hype the people—he prepared them. He led with clarity, obedience, and worship.
When we turn to Joshua 3, the people are told:
“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”
— Joshua 3:5, ESV
Consecration means setting ourselves apart for God's purposes. It’s about realignment. Not to earn God’s blessing, but to be ready to receive and walk in it.
God Leads Through People—Even Imperfect Ones
This story reminds us that God leads through roles: Himself as sovereign, Joshua as the appointed leader, officers who assist, Levitical priests who carry His presence, and the people who follow.
It’s no secret that many have experienced pain through leadership. But God’s design hasn’t changed. He shepherds through imperfect people. And He invites us not just to follow Him, but to trust again—even when it’s difficult. Healing is available for those places of mistrust or disappointment.
Consecration: Our Invitation in This Season
Consecration isn’t a hype word. It’s a holy one. And it’s costly.
To consecrate something means to set it apart for sacred use. When we consecrate ourselves, we offer our time, thoughts, actions, and desires back to God. We say, “Everything I have is Yours.”
One passage captures this invitation well:
“I appeal to you... to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
— Romans 12:1, ESV
As a church family, we’re being invited into a season of 21 days of consecration. That might include:
Following a weekly devotional guide
Fasting one day each week (e.g., Mondays)
Choosing one non-essential thing to sacrifice for 21 days
This is about setting our lives apart. Not from guilt or legalism, but from love and anticipation for what God wants to do.
A Year of Fruitfulness Ahead
Jesus said that those who remain in Him will bear much fruit (John 15:5). That’s not a maybe—it’s a promise. And it’s the promise before us as we step into a new year.
This could be the most fruitful year of your life. Not because of circumstances, but because of connection. When we stay close to God, align our hearts, and walk in obedience, fruitfulness follows.
Let’s not miss the invitation. Let’s arise. Let’s prepare. Let’s consecrate ourselves for the Lord to do wonders among us.
Reflection Questions
What promises from God are you believing for in this season? How are you preparing your heart to receive them?
Are there areas in your life that need to be reconsecrated to the Lord—your time, habits, thoughts, or relationships?
Is there any pain from past leadership experiences that you need to bring to God for healing so you can follow with trust again?