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Day 1 - DevotedTuesday July 24 by David Demian
Today we begin this special time of consecration. Merriam Webster defines the word “consecrate” as "to devote irrevocably to the worship of God by a solemn ceremony".
When I read “solemn ceremony” my first thought is of a wedding. I think sometimes we forget that while it is true that we are servants, we are a body, we are an army – first and foremost we are a Bride. And our Bridegroom loves us with a jealous love.
Paul expressed this in 2 Corinthians 11:2-3
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
As believers, our lives are meant to be a complete giving over of ourselves - spirit, soul and body - to the worship and service of the Lord. For most of us, this is how our journey with the Lord began. But through time, the "cares and worries" of life and the desires of this natural life have a way of coming in and beginning to choke that pure seed of devotion.
In the Old Testament, there was a whole company of people, the Nazirites, who sought with extra care to keep the purity of their devotion to the Lord (Number 6:1-12) To do this, they deliberately set themselves apart by observing certain special behaviours, either for their whole lives (like Samson or John the Baptist) or for a specified period of time. These signs were a constant reminder to them, and to the people around them, of their choice to separate themselves wholly to the Lord.
Two years ago at the One Heart gathering in Quebec City, corporately as a nation we made a solemn vow of devotion to the Lord.
We make a solemn vow. We say we are yours, Lord Jesus Christ. Now and forevermore, we belong to You. We determine to take up our cross and follow You.
It’s time for Your promise, Lord, that we may be one as You and the Father are One. And from this time forward, because of this covenant we make, we expect a new release of the Spirit of God and that the knowledge of the glory of God will cover our land like the waters cover the sea.
The day before this vow, Tabitha Lemaire, Laura Woodley and Rob Parker Jr. were inspired to write a song of consecration which was an expression of God’s heart and our hearts as a nation.
The Consecration / La consécration
Canada, will you love the Lord forever? We will, we will, we will
Canada, aimeras-tu le Seigneur de tout ton cœur? Oui Dieu, oui Dieu, oui Dieu
Canada, will you be the faithful ones? (Canada, seras-tu fidèle?) We will, we will, we will (Oui Dieu, oui Dieu, oui Dieu)
Canada, étendras-tu la main aux nations? (Canada, will you extend your hands to nations?) Oui Dieu,oui Dieu, oui Dieu (We will, we will, we will)
Canada, show me your hearts Canada, révèle-moi ton cœur
We are every colour Nous sommes toutes les langues We are every nation, we are yours
Nous sommes toutes les couleurs
We are every language Nous sommes toutes les nations Nous sommes à toi
Tu es l'étoile qui brille le matin (You are the bright morning star) Tu es, tu es, tu es (You are, you are, you are)
Holy, Set Apart (Saint, mis à part) You are, you are, you are (Tu es, tu es, tu es)
Tu es, trésor de nos cœurs (You are the treasure of our hearts) Tu es, tu es, tu es (You are, you are, you are)
Bridegroom for all the earth (Époux de toute la terre) You are, you are, you are (Tu es, tu es, tu es)
Époux, révèle-nous ton cœur Bridegroom show us your heart
Tu es la beauté même You are every strength (Tu es toute la force) Tu es la passion même de mon cœur
You are every beauty Tu es la pureté même (You are purity itself) You are every passion of our hearts (Tu es la passion de nos cœurs)
We are one heart Nous sommes un cœur
As we enter into this special time of consecration, take time today to enter into your own "solemn ceremony" with the Lord. Maybe this is something you feel to do alone or with your family or others in the body. Listen to the song of consecration and make it your own song of dedication to the Lord. For those of you who come from other nations, as you sing stand in the gap for the church in your own nation.
Come into the Presence of the Lord and lay your whole life before Him and ask the Lord to speak to your heart if there is anything specific that He wants you to do as a sign of your vow of consecration during this time (or maybe perpetually). Maybe you want to seal this time by taking communion.
A great adventure awaits us in these next 52 days! May God grant us above all a greater revelation of Him so that we may be those, “who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
David can be reached by email at director@watchmen.org.
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David
Demian is a man of singular passion: to be a friend of God. This passion
has led him on an amazing journey in life and ministry. David is a
spiritual son to the founder of Watchmen for the Nations, Pastor Bob
Birch, who passed the mantle of leadership of the ministry to David
in 1998. David lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada with his wife Ruth
and seven children. 
