Part 3: 5 Stages of Consecration – The Surrender That Costs Something

If you’ve been walking through this consecration series with me, you know we didn’t start here.

Stage 1 was about salvation—the moment you said yes to Jesus. Not just yes to forgiveness, but yes to a new life. It was the beginning of surrender, the first step toward being set apart.

Stage 2 was about choosing God’s way—not the world’s way, not your way. It was the decision to stop living by your own rules and start aligning with His. It was the shift from convenience to conviction.

Now we’re in Stage 3. And this is where it gets costly.

Let’s be honest—consecration sounds honorable until it starts to interfere with your life. Until God asks for the things you didn’t plan to give up. Until obedience means discomfort.

Stage 3 is where the invitation gets personal. It’s no longer about attending church or reading your Bible. It’s about laying your life on the altar. Not metaphorically. Literally.

Paul didn’t mince words when he wrote to the Romans:

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”Romans 12:1

So what does that mean in plain language?

A living sacrifice means you stay surrendered while you’re still breathing. It means you don’t just give God your Sunday mornings—you give Him your Monday frustrations, your Tuesday temptations, your Wednesday fatigue. You give Him your plans, your preferences, your pride. And you don’t take them back when it gets hard.

It’s like saying, “God, I’m yours. All of me. All the time.” Not just when it’s convenient. Not just when it makes sense. Not just when you feel spiritual.

Being a living sacrifice means you stop asking, “What do I want to do with my life?” and start asking, “What does God want to do with my life?” It’s a shift from ownership to stewardship. You’re not the boss anymore—He is.

And maybe this whole idea of surrender still feels scary. That makes sense.

It reminds me of a little kid standing at the edge of a pool. His dad is in the water, arms outstretched, saying, “I’ve got you. Just jump.”

But the kid hesitates. Not because he doesn’t want to be in the water—but because he’s afraid of falling. Afraid of sinking. Afraid of what might happen between the edge and the catch.

Eventually, the kid doesn’t jump into the pool. He jumps into his father’s arms.

That’s what Jesus is asking of us. Not to leap into the unknown, but to leap into Him. To trust that His arms are strong enough. That His heart is good enough. That His promises are true enough.

Consecration isn’t about being fearless—it’s about trusting Him more than your fear. It’s about choosing surrender even when your knees are shaking. Because He’s not asking you to jump alone. He’s asking you to jump into His arms.

This stage of consecration is about surrendering the parts of your life that still resist the fire. Your preferences. Your patterns. Your pride. It’s where God starts asking for the things that feel essential to you—your time, your relationships, your reputation. And He doesn’t ask politely. He asks like a King.

“Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”2 Timothy 2:21

But cleansing isn’t passive. It’s intentional. It’s painful. It’s the kind of pruning that leaves you exposed. And that’s the point. God doesn’t use what we protect—He uses what we surrender.

Stage 3 is where you stop negotiating with God. It’s where you stop asking, “How much can I keep?” and start asking, “How much can I give?”

And if you’re still trying to fit God into your life instead of letting Him reshape it, you haven’t hit Stage 3 yet.

Peter reminds us:

“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”1 Peter 1:13–16

Holiness isn’t a vibe. It’s a standard. And it’s not optional.

So here’s the challenge: what’s still off-limits to God in your life? What are you holding back, hoping He won’t notice?

Because consecration isn’t a suggestion. It’s a summons. And Stage 3 is where you decide if you’re all in—or just playing along.