A Life of Consecration and Trust (Rewritten)

From everything we’ve already considered, it becomes clear that the sanctification of the heart — and all the blessings that come with it — rests largely on two foundational principles. First, there must be a complete and wholehearted consecration of ourselves to God. Second, there must be a firm, steady belief that this consecration is truly accepted by Him.

We have already touched briefly on this second principle before, but it deserves further attention here.

When we consecrate ourselves to God in the way described, we take a step that is absolutely essential from every possible angle. Yet simply offering everything is not enough. In the same spirit of reliance, we must also believe — without wavering — that God has accepted that offering.

This belief is nothing less than trust in God’s faithfulness to His word. It is the confidence that God will receive — and does now receive — all who place themselves without reservation on His altar. This faith, more than anything else, secures the presence of sanctifying power in the soul. On the other hand, someone may consecrate themselves sincerely and yet dishonor God’s truth by failing to believe that their offering is accepted. In doing so, they cut themselves off from the very power that faith alone can bring, leaving themselves exposed and defenseless against the adversary.

Seen in this light, several often-quoted passages of Scripture connected with present sanctification become much clearer. Consider, for example:

“So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24 NRSV).

 Or again: 

“And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.” (1 John 5: 14, 15 NRSV).

The teaching of these passages is straightforward. When we consecrate ourselves to God and sincerely pray for things that align with His will — such as sanctification and the Christian graces bound up with it — we can be certain that these things will be given to us. More than that, we can be certain that they are given now, provided we do not doubt God’s word.

This certainty does not rest in the mere act of believing, as some suppose, but in the truthfulness of God Himself. It is God’s unchanging truth — and nothing else — that forms the foundation of this promise. Still, the result cannot occur without a definite act of faith. A lack of faith creates a separation between God and the soul, and the promise itself is made only on the condition that faith is exercised.

When God, in mercy toward our own helpless efforts, removes the last traces of unbelief and grants us full confidence in His promise, victory necessarily follows. “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.” (John 1:12 NRSV). From that decisive moment on, regardless of how strong or weak our emotions may be, and whether or not we experience any special inward signs, we truly begin to feel the cleansing power at work.

After perhaps a long internal struggle, faith takes the lead. We stand in a new place. We become like children again — free from anxious care, living simply, receiving daily provision without worry about tomorrow, and resting securely in the arms of infinite love.

First Inference

One important conclusion follows from this understanding. There is, in reality, no absolute need — prior to sanctification — for intense emotional excitement, prolonged mourning, extended fasting, physical deprivation, or exhausting struggle. Some of these things may occur to a limited degree without harm, but they are not essential. In fact, when people begin to rely on them, they can become positively harmful.

The process itself can be summed up in a single sentence: Give all, and take all. Place everything on the altar, and believe that God, true to His word, accepts it. Remain always in a state of present, complete consecration and present, complete faith — and the work is done. If God is true, it cannot be otherwise.

The experiences of many confirm this. They labored. They prayed as earnestly as one can pray without true faith. They fasted for long periods and endured physical and emotional suffering, yet without attaining the desire of their hearts. Eventually, worn out by these seemingly fruitless efforts, they simply surrendered themselves fully to God and believed — according to His own promise — that He accepted them now.

By ceasing from their own efforts, which they may have secretly and wrongly credited with merit, they entered through faith alone into God’s rest and favor. From that moment, they were freed from the destructive habit of demanding signs or inward manifestations beyond God’s word. They let go of their own expectations about what the experience should look like. Like children, they allowed their heavenly Father to lead without conditions — content with having much or little, with being wise or ignorant, active or still, honored or overlooked, joyful or sorrowful — willing to be anything or nothing, exactly as God wills.

Second Inference

The same principle applies not only to sanctification as a whole, but also to specific graces needed for particular situations. A sanctified heart does not always express itself in the same way. Circumstances change, and different graces are called into action. Patience may be needed in one moment, gratitude in another.

All these graces flow from the same source — God Himself — and, except in very rare cases, they are received in the same way and according to the same principles. If I need wisdom or discernment for a difficult situation, I must go to God just as I did when seeking sanctification: first, with complete consecration, and second, with simple faith.

By faith, we mean a trust that fully believes God will do what He has promised—and that, if the present moment is right in His sight, He is doing it now. I once heard a pastor say that to pray rightly is to receive. That statement captures this principle exactly.

Many people pray earnestly for things they know align with God’s will, yet they do not truly believe God hears them — unless they receive some visible sign, inward voice, emotional experience, or other support for their faith. They lean on these props instead of resting on God’s word alone.

How blind the human mind can be when left to itself. To look anywhere but God’s simple declaration — and to require anything else as a basis for belief — is to step completely off the true path. It is, in effect, to throw away the very gifts that faith brings.

Scripture makes it unmistakably clear: the life of God in the soul is, and must be, a life of simple faith. When this faith is joined with complete consecration, we can be certain that whenever we pray for spiritual graces aligned with God’s will, we will receive them. And if the present moment is truly the right time, then we receive them now.

This does not mean the blessing will come in exactly the way or form we expect. But that does not alter the reality. If consecration and faith are genuine and complete, the divine response will not fail. God’s answer — shaped by His perfect knowledge and goodness — will surely come, even if it differs from our imperfect expectations.

Those who have learned to live by faith testify consistently to this truth. They have found God faithful. They have received wisdom, humility, gratitude, peace, and purity exactly as they asked — when they placed themselves fully in His hands and trusted His promise, confident in the real and timely bestowal of every needed grace according to His will.

 

"Jesus, the life, the truth, the way,
"In whom I now believe;
"As taught by Thee, in FAITH I pray,
"Expecting to receive.

"Forgive, and make my nature whole,
"My inbred malady remove;
"To perfect health restore my soul,
"To perfect holiness and love."

 

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This is a revision of Part 1, Chapter 6 of Thomas C. Upham's book The Interior or Hidden Life (2nd edition 1844), written with the assistance of Microslop CoPilot. The original chapter can be found here: Consecration to be followed by the faith of acceptance. The original chapter also includes a letter of testimony that the author received.