Decreasing for His Purpose | My Utmost For His Highest

Decreasing for His Purpose | My Utmost For His Highest:

"And when you begin to see that person in the middle of a difficult and painful struggle, don’t try to prevent it, but pray that his difficulty will grow even ten times stronger, until no power on earth or in hell could hold him away from Jesus Christ."

I know for myself personally, guilty! Guilty of getting in the way of God's work. Every single time we desire to "help" someone avoid pain, or difficulty, or any of life's hard things, we insert ourselves into God's will.

Thinking of Job, the best service his friends provided took place when they just sat with him. Sitting by his side not saying a word provided positive support. It's when they started to speak that the wheels came off the support of their presence and everything went downhill.

It's our role to intercede in prayer, to seek God's will and purpose. This for ourselves, family, friends and everyone we know. Our needs are already know by our Father and in reality.... we truly only have one need - Our Father.

Roll all of this up and we need only desire more of HIM and less and less and less of of ourselves! God wants us to be totally sold out to HIM, HIS will and HIS way. When we place HIM entirely before everything in our life, then regardless of what comes our way today or tomorrow, our focus will remain the same.... God and Him alone.

Be BLESSED Always!!!

Streams in the Desert Daily Devotional, Charles Cowman, Christian Bible Devotions

Streams in the Desert Daily Devotional, Charles Cowman, Christian Bible Devotions:

"If you would save others, you cannot save yourself. If you would bear much fruit, you must be buried in darkness and solitude."

Remember Paul and Silas in the prison? Deep within the confined space, dark with only each other and Christ there too! They sang praises to our Lord and Savior despite their circumstance. The fruit, a converted jailer and his family!

Paul embraced what we shun and it's to our harm that we do. Over and over again, we read in God's word and the Holy Spirit bares witness: we must DIE to our self! All of nature proclaims each spring as death becomes life, we too MUST die in order to live!!!

May you and I pray for God's strength that we may die completely to self and live fully in HIS grace and power to proclaim HIS glory and sole means of salvation.

Be BLESSED Always!!!

Will I Bring Myself Up to This Level? | My Utmost For His Highest

Will I Bring Myself Up to This Level? | My Utmost For His Highest:

"I must cleanse myself from all filthiness in my flesh and my spirit until both are in harmony with the nature of God. Is the mind of my spirit in perfect agreement with the life of the Son of God in me, or am I mentally rebellious and defiant?"

My purpose, my goal and my destination should all be bound up in God's plan and direction for my life. When we cast off all illusions and self controls, then completely follow after Christ we will find ourselves on the right path. God loves us so deeply that His Son was sent to stand in our place to suffer the His judgement for our sin.

Now, the price has been paid and we only need to look to the example of Christ for how to live out our new right relationship with God our Father. Submission in today's world has such deeply negative thoughts and yet it is not negative with regard to right relationships.

God has given His all to us and it's only fitting that He rightly receive our all. Christ by His actions day to day shows us what we need to pursue this right relationship. First, to love God completely. Secondly, spend time with Him in His word and in prayer. Thirdly, love our neighbors as ourselves. Beyond this the good works He's prepared for us to complete.

I believe that when we commit ourselves to living in a right relationship with God, He will provide for our journey as never before. He's promised to never leave or forsake us and when we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.

Remember, Christ faced the very temptations, sorrows, highs and lows as we face today. We have a redeemer that know very well where we're at and what we will face today and tomorrow. We need to seek His face always!

Start now, looking to God for His divine direction in this life and His counsel for every aspect of life. When we follow the examples of Christ, spending time know God's word and praying that His will becomes ours, His will becomes our own. In this process we humbly submit ourselves to Christ and grow in His grace and power. Now we are enabled through His power to fulfill His will.

Here's the best part of the journey. Even though we'll face obstacles, trials, tribulation and miss-steps, we will become better at following Him. Meaning, we won't be so easily distracted or discouraged. We will grow in grace and faith and in the process live out our belief in God in greater depth. Those around us will be encouraged and strengthened and the lost will see that our belief in Christ is right and true.

Be BLESSED Always!!!

The Discipline of Dismay | My Utmost For His Highest

The Discipline of Dismay | My Utmost For His Highest

"The discipline of dismay is an essential lesson which a disciple must learn. The danger is that we tend to look back on our times of obedience and on our past sacrifices to God in an effort to keep our enthusiasm for Him strong (see Isaiah 1:10-11)."

How often do we look longingly back and think, "If I just could love Christ like I did when...?" or pray, "Lord help me to be on fire for You like I was....?"

The truth is that we are very different now than we were then. You and I are today the product of our life, both good and bad. The result of decisions made, paths chosen and friendships made and lost. With that said, our relationship with our Father, Christ and the Holy Spirit is exactly what we've put into this relationship.

Being honest with ourselves is the first step and God already knows our heart. He already knows what we'll choose today and tomorrow. His goal is to draw near to us and so He waits for us to make the step toward Him. Not only now and today, but everyday and throughout every moment of everyday! To say boldly with conviction, "Lord I'm yours! I belong completely to You! I choose to live my life wholly and fully devoted to YOU!!!"

Let's make the right choice and live in the confidence of God's word, "For we are HIS workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which GOD prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). This doesn't mean we will live free of mistakes, it does mean that God has a plan and purpose! Lastly, remember this....HIS GRACE is sufficient!

Be BLESSED Always!!!

Wait Quietly

March 14

Wait Quietly

"And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise" (Heb. 6:15).

Abraham was long tried, but he was richly rewarded. The Lord tried him by delaying to fulfill His promise. Satan tried him by temptation; men tried him by jealousy, distrust, and opposition; Sarah tried him by her peevishness. But he patiently endured. He did not question God's veracity, nor limit His power, nor doubt His faithfulness, nor grieve His love; but he bowed to Divine Sovereignty, submitted to Infinite Wisdom, and was silent under delays, waiting the Lord's time. And so, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

God's promises cannot fail of their accomplishment. Patient waiters cannot be disappointed. Believing expectation shall be realized.

Beloved, Abraham's conduct condemns a hasty spirit, reproves a murmuring one, commends a patient one, and encourages quiet submission to God's will and way. Remember, Abraham was tried; he patiently waited; he received the promise, and was satisfied. Imitate his example, and you will share the same blessing.
--Selected 

Turning Back or Walking with Jesus? | My Utmost For His Highest

Turning Back or Walking with Jesus? | My Utmost For His Highest:

"In John 6:70 Jesus lovingly reminded Peter that he was chosen to go with Him. And each of us must answer this question for ourselves and no one else: “Do you also want to go away?”"

In the end, any "sacrifice" we make for our Lord & Savior is really not much in light of HIS ultimate gift of salvation. To go where He leads to labor with Him, is in the end the greatest adventure we will experience this side of heaven.

So the question remains, do you and I wish to merely serve our Lord? Or, do we wish to enter wholly and fully into service beside HIM?!

Be BLESSED Always!!!

Is This True of Me? | My Utmost For His Highest

Is This True of Me? | My Utmost For His Highest:

"That attitude chooses our own judgment, instead of Jesus Christ, to be our guide as to where we should go and where we could be used the most. Never consider whether or not you are of use— but always consider that “you are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19). You are His."

Bottom line question for every Christian.... WHAT DO YOU VALUE ABOVE ALL ELSE?! Careful in your response.... honest examination of self will reveal the truth. Oh, we don't need to look far. Where do we go, who do we seek, what do we spend money on and how do we spend our time?

Ask God today to help see clearly what needs to be changed so we can draw nearer to Him.

Be BLESSED Always!!!

His Commission to Us | My Utmost For His Highest

His Commission to Us | My Utmost For His Highest:

"The love of God is not created— it is His nature. When we receive the life of Christ through the Holy Spirit, He unites us with God so that His love is demonstrated in us."

This devotion goes on to show that as Christ poured Himself out entirely for us, we are to do the same for His sheep. Without hesitation or reservation, Christ completed the mission of His Father! Would that there had been another way, but there wasn't.

Likewise, we are the light of Christ in this world and we too must pour ourselves out. This is the divine nature of God, there is no other explanation for God's gift of salvation for all mankind. Christ withheld nothing for us and so we should do all we are able to "Feed His sheep".

Be Blessed Always!!!

His Commission to Us | My Utmost For His Highest

His Commission to Us | My Utmost For His Highest:

"The love of God is not created— it is His nature. When we receive the life of Christ through the Holy Spirit, He unites us with God so that His love is demonstrated in us."

This devotion goes on to show that as Christ poured Himself out entirely for us, we are to do the same for His sheep. Without hesitation or reservation, Christ completed the mission of His Father! Would that there had been another way, but there wasn't.

Likewise, we are the light of Christ in this world and we too must pour ourselves out. This is the divine nature of God, there is no other explanation for God's gift of salvation for all mankind. Christ withheld nothing for us and so we should do all we are able to "Feed His sheep".

Be Blessed Always!!!

The Lightest Cross

Streams in the Desert

"And he went out carrying his own cross" (John 19:17).

There is a poem called "The Changed Cross." It represents a weary one who thought that her cross was surely heavier than those of others whom she saw about her, and she wished that she might choose an other instead of her own. She slept, and in her dream she was led to a place where many crosses lay, crosses of different shapes and sizes. There was a little one most beauteous to behold, set in jewels and gold. "Ah, this I can wear with comfort," she said. So she took it up, but her weak form shook beneath it. The jewels and the gold were beautiful, but they were far too heavy for her.

Next she saw a lovely cross with fair flowers entwined around its sculptured form. Surely that was the one for her. She lifted it, but beneath the flowers were piercing thorns which tore her flesh.

At last, as she went on, she came to a plain cross, without jewels, without carvings, with only a few words of love inscribed upon it. This she took up and it proved the best of all, the easiest to be borne. And as she looked upon it, bathed in the radiance that fell from Heaven, she recognized her own old cross. She had found it again, and it was the best of all and lightest for her.

God knows best what cross we need to bear. We do not know how heavy other people's crosses are. We envy someone who is rich; his is a golden cross set with jewels, but we do not know how heavy it is. Here is another whose life seems very lovely. She bears a cross twined with flowers. If we could try all the other crosses that we think lighter than our own, we would at last find that not one of them suited us so well as our own.

--Glimpses through Life's Windows

***

If thou, impatient, dost let slip thy cross,
Thou wilt not find it in this world again;
Nor in another: here and here alone
Is given thee to suffer for God's sake.

In other worlds we may more perfectly

Love Him and serve Him, praise Him,

Grow nearer and nearer to Him with delight.

But then we shall not any more

Be called to suffer, which is our appointment here.

 

Canst thou not suffer, then, one hour or two?

If He should call thee from thy cross today,

Saying: "It is finished-that hard cross of thine"

 

 

From which thou prayest for deliverance,

" Thinkest thou not some passion of regret

Would overcome thee? Thou would'st say,

"So soon? Let me go back and suffer yet awhile

More patiently. I have not yet praised God."

Whensoe'er it comes, that summons that we look for,

It will seem soon, too soon. Let us take heed in time

That God may now be glorified in us.

--Ugo Bassi's Sermon in a Hospital.