Abbi Bodager
When I was thirteen, I had a life-changing encounter with God. The Love of a Father consumed me, and all my previous obsessions began to melt into peace. Though I had grown up in a Christian community and believed in God all my life, it wasn’t until that day, as an image-conscious eighth-grader, that something clicked inside of me. It was a beautiful and redemptive experience, one that changed the course of my life forever.
Four years later, I realize that it was my parents who made the space for me to have this encounter. Notice that I said made the space, not coordinated it. Try as they might, they never could have “arranged” for me to experience God in the way that I did. Even with the most gifted speaker and the most talented worship band, it takes a move of God for hearts to be transformed. My parents know this, which is why they’ve never tried to force my three siblings and me into a deeper relationship with Jesus.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying they haven’t been intentional about raising us in a Christ-centered home. Not a day goes by when there isn’t worship music playing on our TV or through our kitchen speaker, and Jesus is a constant topic of conversation in our house. I’ve simply never felt pressure for my faith to look just like theirs, or sensed that they were trying to check a bunch of boxes in order to become “perfect Christian parents”. Day by day, I’ve had the privilege of watching them come before the Lord, laying all their plans and dreams at His feet. They know my future is out of their hands, so they’ve never tried to micro-manage it. Love, joy, and grace flow naturally in our home because of their singular devotion–consecration–to the Lord.
By no means are my mom and dad perfect. Neither are their children (myself included:). As anyone who’s been following Jesus long enough knows, life is messy even when you’re pursuing Him with all you have. Still, my parents’ example of radical surrender has marked me and my siblings. Their consecration inspires me, and I hope that through reading this, it will inspire you too.
“Give God the right to direct your life, and as you trust him along the way, you’ll find he pulled it off perfectly! He will appear as your righteousness, as sure as the dawning of a new day. He will manifest as your justice, as sure and strong as the noonday sun.” (Psalm 37:4-6 – The Passion Translation)
Previous Posts
Day 27: Truth Liberates
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Day 26: Consecration Brings Joy
Jess Lewis “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13) Last year was certainly the hardest year of my life. Losing a baby, and walking through that...
Day 25: Consecration and Healing
Katie Bodager It was a peaceful morning. My kids were at school, and I was cherishing some time alone. I vividly remember the gratitude I felt and the prayer I prayed that morning – thanking God for sustaining me through a difficult season. Six hours later, I found...
Day 24: Consecration Brings Supernatural Power
Anthony Moguel How did you wake up this morning? Did you wave your hands around to where coffee was instantly made, and you were instantly showered and dressed? Did you hear of a cry for help from someone 10 miles away and fly to them at the speed of a rocket? We...
Day 22: Calling All Chamberpots
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Day 20: Jesus our Brother
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Day 19: Consecration of Gifts
Lydia Fuller There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. (1 Corinthians 4:11) If...
Day 18: Innocence Lost; Forgiveness Required
Ron Taylor I met Jesus as my Savior on September 8, 1970 in the basement of my summer job where I worked as a cook. My recent acquaintance and coworker, Betsey, had a direct impact on my Jesus encounter as she had been witnessing and sharing during our shared lunch...
Day 17: The Priesthood of Every Believer
Charlie Fiskeaux In ancient days, very few men talked with God. Even fewer walked with Him. Humanity again and again would forget or turn its back on God, and God would have to intervene to save humanity from its own evil. So God called Abraham to father a nation—the...
Day 16: “Treasured Possessions”
Meghann Easley “Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried...