The Green Letters: Embracing True Consecration

Insights from Miles J. Stanford's The Green Letters

Consecration is often misunderstood in the Christian walk. Many well-meaning believers are caught in a cycle of surrendering and re-surrendering, committing and re-committing, driven by the notion that their love and gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary should fuel their devotion. While heartfelt, this approach often leads to frustration and exhaustion because it subtly leans on self-effort rather than on God’s provision in Christ.

Miles Stanford, in The Green Letters, beautifully clarifies that true consecration isn’t about offering God our self-driven efforts but about yielding to Him as those alive from the dead (Romans 6:13). This means we are not presenting our old, self-reliant lives but our new life in Christ.

A House Under Renovation
Imagine a run-down house inherited by a new owner. The old structure is crumbling, unfit for any lasting improvements. The wise builder doesn’t slap on new paint or patch cracks—he demolishes the old foundation and builds anew. In the same way, God doesn’t renovate our old self-life. He has already crucified it with Christ (Romans 6:6) and raised us to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). Our consecration is simply agreeing with this truth and yielding our new, resurrected selves to Him.

Moving Beyond the Love Motive to the Life Motive
Many believers begin their spiritual journey motivated by love for what Jesus has done. While this is good, it isn’t enough to sustain a life of consecration. Stanford emphasizes the need to move from the love motive to the life motive: “For to me, to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). God desires not our best efforts but the life of His Son living through us.

This shift requires understanding our identification with Christ in His death and resurrection. Without this, any attempt at consecration is merely offering the old self, which God cannot accept. True surrender flows naturally when we realize that our life is no longer our own but Christ living in us (Galatians 2:20).

Consecration Rooted in Dependence, Not Determination
Andrew Murray wisely noted, “The new will is a permanent gift, an attribute of the new nature. The power to do is not a permanent gift but must be each moment received from the Holy Spirit.” This truth invites us to cease striving and instead rest in the continual supply of Christ’s life within us.

Consecration is not a one-time emotional event but a daily acknowledgment: “Lord, I trust You to live Your life through me today.” This quiet surrender, moment by moment, allows His life to express itself naturally in us.

Prayer
Father,
Thank You for crucifying our old self and raising us to walk in newness of life. We acknowledge that apart from You, our efforts fall short. Today, we yield ourselves to You as those alive from the dead. We trust You to express Your life through us in every thought, word, and action. Let our consecration be rooted not in striving but in resting in the life of Christ within us. May Your will be done in and through us for Your glory.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May we walk in the fullness of our consecration—not striving but resting, not offering our old self but yielding our new life in Christ.

— Inspired by The Green Letters by Miles J. Stanford