We’ve explored its importance and looked at examples of men in Scripture who lived lives that were set apart for God’s use.

Today, we will focus on practical steps we can take to separate ourselves for God, which will help us in our daily lives.

Before we delve into the practical steps to take, it is important you understand the holiness you’ve received from God.

‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭20‬ ‭
New King James Version ‬‬
20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

The Bible describes our identity in this text; it expresses the fact that we are consecrated to God and admonishes us to glorify God with everything that we have and are because we are His.

At salvation, God paid a price with the death of His Son Jesus in exchange for our sinful life that was leading us to death. But He didn’t stop there, He exchanged our sinful life with His. Now, because we believe in the death of Jesus, we carry the life of Christ.

What is the implication of this to us?

Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭8‬
New King James Version
8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

It means that we now live for the one who died to save us. Our lives are no longer our own but God’s who bought us and brought us to Him.

We have been chosen and saved by God but this doesn’t negate His holy standard. It emphasizes His standards. We are called to respond to God’s imputed holiness at salvation with a life consecrated and devoted to Him; a life set apart for God.

‭‭I Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭
New King James Version
8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

As believers, the outworking of God’s Spirit in our lives must be a visible difference that sets us apart from the rest of the world.

This text places a parallel between exercising your physical body and the spiritual. From the comparison, he says that exercising yourself unto godliness is better and more profitable. This means that even as God has made us holy and set apart we have a part to play in ensuring that this holiness is depicted in our actions, decisions, and way of life.

I Peter 2:11-12
New King James Version
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
12 having your conduct honourable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Now that you are an ambassador of Christ, you have been imputed the holiness of God and there must be a difference. You must now act in accordance with the rules of the kingdom you represent. By your actions, people must be able to tell that you have been set apart to God.

It must show that you are given wholly and solely to God; every other thing should spring up from this and not the other way around.

The above text says that when others look at you, they should be able to observe and glorify God. People should be able to look at your actions, inactions, and words and say “This one is of God”.

Can this be said of you in your office, in your class, and on your street?

Is it discernible that your life is God’s? That you are consecrated to God and his will? That you are set apart to the ways and direction of your creator?

Just in case your answers to these questions aren’t affirmative, let us examine practical steps to consecrate ourselves to God.

Ways to separate ourselves unto God:

1. In Prayer

Prayer is an outflow of a man given to God. If one says they are truly set apart to and for God, it would show in how they communicate with Him. If you discern that God is the source of your life and the reason you live, you won’t go a day without speaking to Him and hearing from Him.

Let’s take an example by looking into the life of our prototype; Jesus.

Jesus was a man set apart to God—His Father, and unto His will. And this showed in his prayer life.

Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬ ‭
New King James Version ‬‬
12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

The scripture is replete with instances where Jesus went apart from everyone else and stayed in the place of prayer. It was a significant part of his walk on Earth that before and after miracles or great events in his ministry and life, Jesus prayed.

The same is to characterize the life of a man who is set apart unto God. You ought to spend ample and adequate time in the place of prayer.

2. In The Study of The Word

A man that is set apart to God is to know His Word and to do His Word. A hunger for these two things is necessary for us to consecrate ourselves to God. When we understand the importance of Bible study, we know that total consecration to God stems from the accurate and diligent study of the word.

2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬ ‭
King James Version
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Greek word for “study” in this text is “spoudazō“, which means to be diligent: it connotes not just study but diligent and accurate study of the word. And in this text, Apostle Paul calls a man that accurately studies “a workman”. Diligence in the study of the Word is a true expression of consecration and separation to God.

More importantly, an accurate study of the Word wouldn’t leave you the same but would spur you more into good works, which leads us to our next point;

3. Evangelism

‭‭Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬
‭New King James Version ‬‬
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

This scripture is what we refer to as “The Great Commission”. It is an instruction from God to every saved man.

A believer who understands the truth and urgency of the gospel wouldn’t let a day go by without telling as many people as he possibly could of the truth of God’s words and its power unto salvation.

Since surrendering our lives to Jesus and accepting His, our main purpose on earth became to know God and to make him known and this should occupy the highest point on your list of priorities.

4. Love walk

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬-‭16‬
‭New King James Version ‬‬ ‬‬
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers

Love for the saints is always evident in a consecrated and mature believer. The understanding that you were born again into a large family would provoke love from you for all the brethren in the faith, regardless of tribe, class, or age. Consecration is discernible in your love and attitude to fellow saints.

5. In Service
You have been set apart, you have been chosen by God to be Holy, and this should spur you up to more service. It must spur you to be more involved in the work of God.

Consecration should cause you to preach the gospel to other people so they can experience the joy you are experiencing. God gave his life for you and gave you His Spirit, is there anything too big to do for Him?

Nothing can be compared to what he has done for you in redemption.

Colossians 3:23
New King James Version
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

Whatever you find yourself doing, you must remember that it is unto God. God has a standard in service, so as you serve; serve heartily, not grudgingly or by compulsion but from a place of delight.

As you walk daily, be conscious of your identity as a bought man in Christ and let it show forth in your actions and works.

Let it be discernible that you are truly set apart unto God.

Prayer Point
Lord, thank you for choosing me to be holy in you. I declare that I live a life that shows I have been set apart, I live a life submitted to your will. I put in the work to showcase you to my world, through my words, actions, and in every aspect of my life.