Day 3-Get Ready for God to Move
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.’” — Exodus 19:10–11 (NKJV)
Summary
Before God revealed His glory on Mount Sinai, He gave Israel a clear instruction: Consecrate yourselves today and tomorrow, because on the third day I am coming near. This was a call to preparation, cleansing, and expectation. God was not only preparing them for His presence—He was preparing them for covenant, purpose, and destiny. In the same way, as we walk through these 31 days of consecration, God is preparing us—body, mind, and spirit—for what He desires to do in us and through us in this new year.
Insight for Today
God intentionally gave Israel time to prepare. They were told to consecrate themselves today, consecrate themselves tomorrow, and be ready on the third day. This reveals an important truth: God never rushes preparation. He invites us into intentional, daily readiness. Consecration creates space for Him to clarify our calling, cleanse what needs cleansing, strengthen our foundation, bring order to our inner life, awaken spiritual hunger, and prepare us for His purpose. When God calls us to prepare, it is always because He is getting ready to reveal something.
Going Deeper
God’s instruction to “wash their clothes” was not merely about outward cleanliness. Throughout Scripture, clothing represents character, habits, identity, attitudes, and the outward expression of the inner heart. In essence, God was saying, Cleanse whatever cannot go with you into the next season. Remove what hinders. Prepare both the inside and the outside for My presence and My purpose. This is an invitation to honest evaluation—allowing God to show us what needs to be surrendered, refined, or realigned as we move forward with Him.
Be Ready for the Third Day
The “third day” is one of the most powerful patterns in all of Scripture. It consistently points to divine intervention, revelation, transformation, and fulfillment. On Mount Sinai, the third day was the moment God descended and made His presence known. Biblically, the third day is often when silence breaks and God speaks. Personally, this reminds us that seasons of preparation are often followed by moments when God brings clarity and direction.
The third day is also the day of resurrection. Jesus rose on the third day, revealing God’s power to bring life out of what appeared dead. In our own lives, God often uses consecration to resurrect hope, passion, purpose, spiritual hunger, courage, and clarity that may have grown dormant. What feels quiet or inactive now may simply be waiting for God’s appointed moment.
Throughout Scripture, the third day is also associated with transformation and turning points. From Esther’s favor to Jonah’s release to Hezekiah’s healing, God repeatedly used the third day as a moment of breakthrough. This speaks to times when God shifts direction, opens doors, or brings change after a season of surrender.
In Genesis, the third day marked the emergence of land from chaos, the beginning of fruitfulness, and the establishment of order. Likewise, God uses consecration to bring structure, clarity, and growth into our lives. New mindsets, new vision, new disciplines, and new paths often begin to take shape after seasons of intentional preparation.
Finally, the third day reveals God’s faithfulness. It reminds us that what God promises, He completes in His perfect timing. Preparation is never wasted—it positions us to receive what He has already planned.
Bringing It All Together
When God told Israel to prepare for the third day, He was essentially saying, Get ready—I am about to move. The third day represents revelation after preparation, resurrection after surrender, clarity after consecration, purpose after obedience, and new beginnings after cleansing. This is the posture of consecration: expectant readiness.
Pointing to Jesus
Jesus Himself fulfilled the ultimate third day through His resurrection. And because of Him, our third-day moments continue. Dead things rise, broken things heal, lost things gain direction, confusion gives way to clarity, and dormant callings awaken. The same God who called Israel to prepare is preparing you now for what He desires to bring forth in this new year.
Prayer
Lord, prepare me today and tomorrow for what You desire to reveal in this season. Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, and show me what needs to be washed away. Awaken expectancy within me. Help me be ready for the third-day moments You have prepared—the breakthroughs, clarity, new beginnings, and revelation of Your purpose for my life. Amen.
Reflection
What area of your life needs “washing” or realignment so you can be ready for the third-day moments God wants to release this year?
Continue the Journey
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