How to win the battle of temptation
What Is Consecration?
Not the curated Instagram-Christianity version.
Not the “quiet time” photo aesthetic or the bumper sticker lifestyle.
I mean real consecration. Holy consecration. The kind that costs something. The kind that sets you apart—not just in words, but in how you live, think, choose, and love.
Joshua speaks to this kind of consecration in Joshua 3:5:
“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” (NIV)
This command was given before God moved miraculously. Before the waters parted. Before they walked through what should’ve drowned them.
Joshua tells the people: Set yourselves apart. Why? Because God is about to move, and we must be ready—not perfect, but postured. This isn’t something God does to us. It’s something we choose to do for Him.
Salvation vs. Consecration
When we accepted Jesus as our Savior, He washed us clean. We were forgiven, rescued from death, and made new. That was His gift to us—free, unearned, and eternal.
But consecration?
That’s our gift to Him.
Consecration is not about escaping Hell. It’s about pleasing the heart of the One who saved us. It’s saying, “I don’t just want Heaven later—I want Jesus now.”
Salvation makes us sons and daughters.
Consecration determines how close we walk with the Father.
A Family Analogy
I have amazing parents. Truly. They love me unconditionally. I could make the worst decisions, even hurt them intentionally, and they’d still love me.
But would that closeness remain?
No.
Love? Yes.
Forgiveness? Absolutely.
But trust? Intimacy? That would be broken.
It’s the same with God.
Yes, you’re forgiven.
Yes, you're still His.
But without consecration, you forfeit the closeness you were made for. You miss out on intimacy, direction, and the deep joy of walking with Him.
Why Consecration Feels So Hard
Sometimes we stay trapped in sin—not because we want to, but because we don’t know how to break free.
Romans 6:17-18 says:
“But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”
Notice: you're still a slave.
You’ve just changed masters.
Sin was a cruel master.
Righteousness is a safe one—a Shepherd who leads, protects, and restores.
So why do we still wrestle?
Because many of us try to deny the flesh without feeding the Spirit.
We white-knuckle our way through temptation, but we stay spiritually malnourished.
Starving Flesh vs. Feeding Spirit
Let’s say you're fasting. Whether it's food, social media, TV—anything. You want breakthrough. But midway through, you cave.
The problem isn’t your willpower.
The problem is your hunger.
My first question to anyone struggling with fasting is:
"How much time have you spent in the Word or in prayer since you started?"
If the answer is “none,” then that’s why you’re struggling.
If you starve the flesh and starve the spirit—you’re just starving.
But if you starve the flesh while feeding the spirit, strength will rise.
Because Jesus is better than what you’re giving up.
The Power of Replacement
Consecration is not just about removal—it's about replacement.
We don’t just say no to sin. We say yes to righteousness.
Struggling with smoking? Use that smoke break to read the Word.
Addicted to toxic shows? Replace them with sermons or Christian podcasts.
Gossiping? Start praying for the person instead.
When you replace sin with spiritual things, you snuff out the temptation.
I used to love video games. Not sinful—but they consumed my time. God asked me to lay them down. At first, I felt bored. And slowly, I picked them back up.
But then God showed me what He wanted to fill that time with: Kingdom work. Eternal things.
I don’t miss them now.
Because what I exchanged them for is infinitely more satisfying.
The temptation died when I replaced it with purpose.
God Never Leaves You Empty
God doesn't ask for your time, desires, or habits just to leave you hollow.
He asks for them so He can fill you with more of Himself.
Not just rules, but relationship.
Not just sacrifice, but satisfaction.
There is no greater joy than walking in the will of God.
Consecration isn’t for God’s benefit—it’s for yours.
So today, I echo the words of Joshua:
Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.