Drink the Cup

From "Streams in the Desert"

"Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" (John 18:`11)

Straight forward question, asked in different ways by so many since the fall of man.  Here, finally Christ is showing this need for man to give way to God's will and way.  As noted in the devotion for today, to "Drink the Cup" is the greatest act of faith and the greatest work we do here.

Exercising faith in all the steps of life, especially through tough times, heartache, oppression, and times of confusion are greater than everything else we do.  We must during these difficult times and days, reach deep within to hang onto our faith.  This is when we yield to the Master's hand, to whatever tool He is using in our life.

Although difficult and often a mystery to us during these times, this is when we grow in grace.  God's grace is sufficient,just ask Job or Paul.  I could list example after example, however the point is this.  Without pressure, there is no endurance.  Without the winds of trouble, there is no growth.  Without the silence of "unanswered prayers", there is no longing of presence.  Without the daily strife of this life, there is no need for our Savior.

We have a desperate need and that need is Christ!  The longing in the pit of our soul is for God and placed there by HIM.  Job said, "shall I not accept the good with the bad?"  Without difficulty, would the sweeter times and days be sweet?  The oak grows stronger by the winds.  Pebbles on the beach are made smooth by the relentless crashing of the waves.  All of the finest, greatest and most beautiful things in our life come through pressure and trials.

Welcome today, the tool in the Master's hand.  He has a plan that is greater than all our dreams.

Be BLESSED Always!!!

The Overshadowing of God’s Personal Deliverance | My Utmost For His Highest

The Overshadowing of God’s Personal Deliverance | My Utmost For His Highest:

"If you try to guard it yourself, you remove yourself from My deliverance.” Even the most devout among us become atheistic in this regard— we do not believe Him. We put our common sense on the throne and then attach God’s name to it. We do lean to our own understanding, instead of trusting God with all our hearts (see Proverbs 3:5-6)."

Being a good steward of what God has given us is far different than what we make it when we start hanging on to it wrongly. This is exactly what happens when the accuser get us to start thinking personally about what God entrusts us to care for. "Our" family, money, property, possessions and everything we are comes from only one source, God. As such, it is all HIS, not mine and not yours. How can we make any claim to what doesn't belong to us?

Our salvation is from God and can only be delivered by God! Although you may agree with that statement, are you really giving credit and honor to the ONE who is deserving? What "thing" are you hanging onto, claiming ownership?

Father, help us to cling to You and You alone. Respecting what we have as Yours, being entrusted with Your possessions for a time. Help us to make the best proper use of all You give us, that in the end You and only You will be glorified in our purpose. In Christ's precious name we pray.

Be BLESSED Always!!!

Are You Obsessed by Something? | My Utmost For His Highest

Are You Obsessed by Something? | My Utmost For His Highest:

"If we are obsessed by God, nothing else can get into our lives— not concerns, nor tribulation, nor worries. And now we understand why our Lord so emphasized the sin of worrying. How can we dare to be so absolutely unbelieving when God totally surrounds us? To be obsessed by God is to have an effective barricade against all the assaults of the enemy."

Obsessed is a word that many today are uncomfortable with and yet it is a very accurate description of everyone and where we are today in life. We tend very easily to be focused all the time on one thing or another and yet we would say we're not obsessed.

I believe we should all seek to be totally consumed and obsessed with God. HE is passionate about us and deserves nothing less than our passion in return. Call it obsession, passion, being sold out, zealot, or radical..... it doesn't matter the word, just give it all to God in total release!

This is my desire and goal. Will you join me and see the hand of God move in our lives like never before? Not because we seek His favor or blessings, but because we seek HIM and only HIM!!!

Be Blessed Always.

A Very Present Help

"Why standest thou afar off, O Lord?" (Psalm 10:1.)

 

God is "a very present help in trouble." But He permits trouble to pursue us, as though He were indifferent to its overwhelming pressure, that we may be brought to the end of ourselves, and led to discover the treasure of darkness, the unmeasurable gains of tribulation. We may be sure that He who permits the suffering is with us in it. It may be that we shall see Him only when the trial is passing; but we must dare to believe that He never leaves the crucible. Our eyes are holden; and we cannot behold Him whom our soul loveth. It is dark--the bandages blind us so that we cannot see the form of our High Priest; but He is there, deeply touched. Let us not rely on feeling, but on faith in His unswerving fidelity; and though we see Him not, let us talk to Him. Directly we begin to speak to Jesus, as being literally present, though His presence is veiled, there comes an answering voice which shows that He is in the shadow, keeping watch upon His own. Your Father is as near when you journey through the dark tunnel as when under the open heaven!

 

--Daily Devotional Commentary

***

 

"What though the path be all unknown?

What though the way be drear?

Its shades I traverse not alone

When steps of Thine are near."

Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest": May 23rd.

Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest": May 23rd.:

"Jesus sums up common-sense carefulness in a disciple as infidelity. If we have received the Spirit of God, He will press through and say - Now where does God come in in this relationship, in this mapped out holiday, in these new books? He always presses the point until we learn to make Him our first consideration. Whenever we put other things first, there is confusion"

The place where we enter into trouble is opening the door to worry. I don't believe Chamber means we shouldn't make plans for today or tomorrow. Only that these plans first should be made as the result of seeking God's plan and direction for our life. Once we've done this and we are confident that the direction is of God, now we must leave this to God. Casting our cares for the direction on Him and to follow in complete faith.

Read Oswald's devotion and see if you agree with my conclusion.

Be BLESSED Always!!!

My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers:

"God does not keep His child immune from trouble; He promises, “I will be with him in trouble . . .” (Psalm 91:15). It doesn't matter how real or intense the adversities may be; nothing can ever separate him from his relationship to God. “In all these things we are more than conquerors . . .” (Romans 8:37)."

Keeping our eyes on the prize is difficult when things are a little bumpy for some and more so when it seems that "the wheels are coming off" for others. I fall into the first group. When I know without a doubt the fires of trial and tribulation are heating up, I'm all in!

When I've no doubt my experience is the result of spiritual warfare, I'm at the greatest peace and looking to Christ and my Father for the answers and the ultimate solution. I never doubt He will provide and He receives all the glory.

My weakness and short comings are the result of the day to day "minor" stuff, you know life. Just yesterday, my wife's car was having issues and she seemed to me to be coming apart with it. Instead of immediately looking to the cross and laying the whole issue there, I went into the "solution mode" and the "you're making too big a deal out of this mode".

After giving her direction and then waiting for her to arrive so I could investigate, God spoke..... I admit, conviction isn't always pleasant, it IS always right. Apologies and confessions are good and right. Now, the work.

Trusting God in the little things and in all things small and great, this is our work. Maybe you're like me and it's the smaller troubles of life that derail your walk, even for a moment. Or maybe it's the crisis.

Either case, the answer is the same. Our God is big enough for all of what life has to offer. He stands ready to provide everything, great and small we need. Are we ready to "let go and let God"?

He promises to never leave or forsake us. He sees the beginning from the end. He knows you and I better than we'll ever know ourselves. So, be confident that our needs are already met and that the trials will come and go. His purpose IS to complete HIS work and in that, we will become like Christ.

Be BLESSED Always!!!

Take the Initiative | My Utmost For His Highest

Take the Initiative | My Utmost For His Highest:

"If you hesitate when God tells you to do something, you are being careless, spurning the grace in which you stand. Take the initiative yourself, make a decision of your will right now, and make it impossible to go back."

Be committed, be certain and go where HE leads. This takes practice, heeding God's direction. It starts with small steps and leads to bigger steps. God doesn't force us to step in His ways or on His path. He will show us the way and then we must act. Growth is an "on purpose" activity.

Don't stand still and expect our Father to just give to you. We are in a relationship with The Most High, our Father and Creator of all we see and those things which we do not and cannot see. This relationship more than any other requires work on our part. There's no "free lunch" on this path.

God's gift of salvation requires us to reach out and receive the gift. So too does our growth require our action, our steps of faith. God promises to complete His work and that we are that workmanship. Our part is the willing piece of the whole process and this is our work.

Being created with free will and having fallen from grace, means we now must work at this relationship. Controlling my self will, my self desires and all independence within me...this is the work.

As God's child, I've chosen Him! His path for me, His will for me and His way for my life. Praise God for the choice, now we/I must roll up our sleeves and surrender daily and moment by moment to all the HE wants to work in me for HIS glory and honor!!!

It is the road less traveled and the way is narrow. How great is the reward?! Unmistakable and without rival. God is the prize and yet we will benefit for all eternity in HIS presence when we choose HIM and HIM alone!!!

Be BLESSED Always!