Absolute Trust

5/31/2020

John 2:24-25 “Jesus did not commit Himself unto them…for He knew what was in man.”

“Our Lord trusted no man; yet he was never suspicious, never bitter, never in despair about any man, because He put God first in trust; He trusted absolutely in what God’s grace could do for any man.” ~ Oswald Chambers

In the light of what is happening in our world today, and even on a personal level for me, the key is to put full faith in God. This is all there is, and when we lose sight of our focus on obedience, our minds and emotions become Satan’s playground. We must abandon ourselves fully to God’s will and His way for all people, giving grace to one another and ourselves. We must trust in the supernatural power of our Lord, for He is the God of the improbable and impossible. When we are weak, He is strong. All we need to do is seek Him first.

Chambers writes, “Am I allowing my natural life to be slowly transfigured by the indwelling life of the Son of God? God’s ultimate purpose is that His Son might be manifested in my mortal flesh.” Am I willing to be transformed by that indwelling and fundamentally become a reflection my Savior?

Leap

5/30/2020

Luke 9:61 “Lord I will follow Thee; but…”

I am a safety girl. I am not someone who rides giant roller coasters, skydives, or eats spicy and exotic foods. I like when life is predicable, when caution is used surrounding life’s events. I am not a leaper or a risk taker. I like to stay in my lane and let others wiz by me if they wish. Slow and steady, that’s me. I am like this in practical ways in my life, but what about on my journey with Jesus?

Am I willing to take a risk for God? When He leads me or gives me a vision of something that I feel is more than I can bear, or something I do not feel strong enough to achieve, what is my response? Do I ask God to take the task from me, or do I trust Him completely to prepare me for it?  Chambers says, “If a man is going to do anything worthwhile, there are times when he has to risk everything on his leap, and in the spiritual domain Jesus Christ demands that you risk everything you hold by common sense and leap into what He says, and immediately you do, you find that what He says fits on as solidly as common sense.”

I want my faith to be diametrically opposed to my common sense practical life. My desire is to be able to face any situation God is calling me to without hesitation and with complete conviction. When Jesus calls me to leap, I want to jump without fear, and with full confidence that He will have me land exactly where He needs me to be. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

Power in the Name

5/29/2020

John 16:26-27 “At that day ye shall ask in My name…The Father Himself loveth you.”

Jesus is the bridge between God and Man; He is our one connection to the Father through the Holy Spirit. When we come to God praying in Jesus’ name, the Father will hear us and answer. Chambers writes that we should not invoke Jesus’ name as a magic word, but rather a word of intimate relationship. It is given to us through a profound sacrifice of love wrapped in grace. Along with prayer, however, we must also seek wisdom through listening to and reading God’s word, for in it lies all we need.

I take profound solace in the power of prayer and the mercy of my Savior, because we are currently experiencing disease, unrest, hatred, and violence in our country, and it feels as though it is all coming to a head. So for my 150^th blog post, I am going to make a single request; join me in praying to our Heavenly Father in Jesus’ name to heal our nation, and turn a hurting people back to Him.

 In John chapter 16:33, Jesus tells his disciples that He has overcome the world, and through Him we can find peace. Let us seek peace though Him together, and love others with our every word and action. Amen and Amen.

Just Say Jesus – Tenth Avenue North

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84LSLk3hfD4

Query

5/28/2020

John 16:23 “And in that day ye shall ask Me nothing.”

Do I ask too many questions? Boy, this is a loaded question for someone like me. I would like to say that my incessant questioning is because of a searching, inquisitive, and curious intellectual mind and soul, but alas, for me if is something connected to my lifelong battle. You see, questioning is how the OCD manifested itself most of my life, well before I was even diagnosed. I was technically a checker, but not of door knobs, ovens, and lights; my checking was always about people’s safely and emotional comfort. Both my husband and son have said that I developed a way to ask the same question fifty different ways until I received the desired answer to sooth my worried mind, or to kick me into action mode. I still do this sometimes, but now I am much more aware of those times. My guys are very patient with me, and sometimes need to give me gentle reminders. I’m working on it guys, I promise.

Today, Chambers is making me think about how much I ask God about things. Now for a worrier who knows that is not where God would have me be, it can sometimes be like I am on the spinning wheel of faith and doubt. Sometimes the arrow lands on faith, and I am trusting God in all things. Sometimes the arrow lands on doubt, and I ask and ask God over and over again, badgering Him if you will. These moments are not my finest for sure, although I like to believe God knows it all comes from a place of love for others. I am so thankful for His grace.

In order to walk in total faith, knowing that God is in control of all things and His will is unfolding in exactly the perfect way, Chambers says, “You have to come to the place of entire reliance on the resurrection life of Jesus which bring you into perfect contact with the purpose of God.” Entire reliance and prayer without ceasing seem so impossible in a world that tugs and batters, yet that is what we are called to do. Isn’t it interesting to think about how transformative it would be if I could do such a thing, or if every believer could? What would our world look like?

Again, as always, I am a work in progress.

Tarry

5/27/2020

Luke 24:49 “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

To tarry means to wait, or as one of Webster’s definitions puts it, to linger in expectation. I kind of like that second definition, because it brings with it an idea of hopefulness. The Bible is full of accounts of people waiting, or tarrying, on God. Often times this is done through a trial of some sort, but when God shows up everything changes.

I had a very difficult day today. The OCD monster was having its way with me for sure, and unfortunately, it was winning. I am not happy or proud to share this, as this monster’s weapon of choice is fear. Even though I cling to my faith, sometimes the monster in my head is so loud that it drowns out everything else. You may be wondering how that is possible. How does someone who walks with God, and writes about the power of faith in Him every day, fall victim to such an insidious beast? I can say with certainly that the winner of my focus every day is who I surrender to. If I am yielding to God and walking in His truth, I am a warrior and a conqueror. If I am yielding to fear, I become its prisoner. With me, the monster ALWAYS breaks in during periods of high emotion or unguardedness, and if I do not enter the battle in full armor, I fall to it. Satan knows just when and where to strike.

In these recent times of worldwide pandemic, fear has oftentimes ruled the day. There is much that is unknown and the unknown, just like the dark, is where fear creeps in. So the question is, can we tarry? Can we trust in and wait on God? Can we, in all the darkness that surrounds us, yield to His truth and Almighty Power in our lives? We often don’t have to wait long until He sends someone to our aide, someone to comfort us. Do we look upon these people as His hands and feet? I was blessed that God sent several people to me today, and I felt the warmth of His love.

 In these times, what and who we yield to will determine our outcome, and we will conquer in faith or fall in fear. The choice is ours. Sometimes we need to renew that choice every day, and to pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to imbue us with power and strength. Chambers writes, “The baptism of the Holy Ghost does not make you think of Time or Eternity, it is one amazing glorious NOW. ‘This is life eternal that they might know Thee’ Begin to know Him now, and finish never.”

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15)

The Breakup Song – Francesca Battistelli

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0wpP5o7xpI

Even If – Mercy Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6fA35Ved-Y

Unceasing

5/26/2020

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

Have you ever had a time where you pray constantly? I have come close, I think. I wish I could say this is how I approach prayer every day, but alas, I cannot. I usually have these kinds of prayer days when I am in intercessory mode for someone going through a trial. Today was one of those days. Someone I love very much is battling in a few areas, and Covid-19 certainly does NOT help this situation at all. He needed something bathed in prayer early this afternoon. I had been praying for the situation every day, but today I found myself lifting him up all day long. No matter what I was doing or where I was, he was in my heart and I kept going vertical. These non-ceasing prayers are not done on bended knees, and may not be eloquent, but they are constant and from the heart. I believe that they are powerful indeed.

I prayed this way when my mother suffered a debilitating stroke. I prayed this way when I was recovering from my illness. I have done this for family and friends alike. I have a friend who is struggling and I find she is always on my mind and in my prayers. I guess when I think about it, I have been spending a lot more time in this unstructured type of prayer for a while now. Chambers says. “If we think of prayer as the breath in our lungs and the blood that flows through our hearts, we think rightly.” To be so connected to God that prayer becomes as automatic as a heartbeat. Yes, that is where I want to be. Maybe the more deeply we are related to God, the more naturally this type of communication flows directly from our hearts. It is a soul connection, a powerful joining to God in a supernatural way. Why wouldn’t we want to access our connection with God every minute of every day?

Choose

5/25/2020

Genesis 13:9 “If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”

Today, Chambers is discussing having a right to choose. Again, very timely for what is going on in the world right now. Some people are choosing safety by wearing masks and social distancing. Other people are choosing to forgo that advice and gather in large groups, or go out to crowded places. Thankfully in our country, civil liberty is still with us and those choices are individual ones. I certainly fall strongly to one side, and know individuals who fall on the other.

But what about the topic of faith in God? How does choice factor into this? My relationship with God has been very liberating, although many may at first think this to be otherwise. I can turn to His word to seek guidance on everything and anything that could possibly happen in life. I can come to Him in prayer always, in petition or intercession. I can also unburden my soul. Whether in a time of testing, which we are all certainly experiencing now, or a time of prosperity, I know God is there with me every moment. I am still working to get out of His way in certain areas of my life, and trust Him with reckless obedient abandon. Chambers writes, “God sometimes allows you to get into a place of testing where your own self welfare would be the right and proper thing to consider if you were not living a life of faith; but if you are, you waive your right and leave God to choose for you.” During this uncertain time, have I gladly waived my right to choose because I know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that God cares for me? Am I listening to that still small voice? Am I trusting Jesus this minutes and every minute that follows?

Chambers writes, “Many of us do not go on spiritually because we prefer to choose what is right instead of relying on God to choose for us. We have to learn to walk according to the standard which has its eye on God.” For me, there is no other way.

I am, as always, a work in progress.

Caught

5/24/2020

Revelation 1:17 “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.”

Today, Chambers is again writing about the love and comfort of God. Sometimes it is difficult to feel Jesus’ presence when we are in the midst of personal despair and darkness, but He is always there. I know this truth because I lived it. When I was at the gravest/vilest part of my illness, I was in such a physical, emotional, and spiritual fog that, even though I was crying out to Him, I could not feel Him. This is when I was being tested and refined. Sorrow was my constant companion, but before I fell into oblivion, Jesus caught me. He led me to a place of releasing all to Him. It was like a blinding light of truth, and from that moment on I knew He could get me through the storm. I had to become recklessly abandoned to my Savior, and lean into Him in full faith and trust. I had to fall as dead before my God, so that all was stripped away from me but Him. I would never be the same again.

Chambers writes, “Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it is ineffable peace and comfort, the sense that ‘underneath are the everlasting arms’, full of sustaining comfort and peace.” I am so thankful that the loving arms of Jesus will never let me go.

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Infidelity

5/23/2020

Matthew 6:25 “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body what ye shall put on.”

Infidelity means being unfaithful or disloyal. Most of the time, this term is used in the context of a marriage relationship, but Chambers is relating it to our relationship with God. Today’s lesson speaks of worry as a form of infidelity. Chambers says, “It is not only wrong to worry, it is infidelity, because worrying means that we do not think that God can look after the particular details of our lives, and it is never anything else that worries us.” So true. If we are worried about our lives, we are living in unfaithfulness; we do not believe that God will care for our every need, as is stated in Matthew chapter 6. Worry happens when we are not focused on our Heavenly Father and how much He loves us. When we put God first in our lives, worry does not factor in. There is a saying that faith and fear cannot reside in the same place. I have two signs to remind me of this in my home. One, that my husband bought me, says, “Let your faith be bigger than your fear”. The other, which my son bought me, says, “Pray more worry less.” Obviously, they know my struggle.

It is a fact that the deeper my faith walk becomes, the less I worry. For someone with an anxiety disorder, this is a very powerful truth indeed. As I have said before, this current period in our world is the perfect storm for someone like me, as I know it is for many others. The constant stream of scary, confusing, or contradictory information circling around us every day certainly can induce extreme fear. We are living in a time of not knowing what is true. I can say for certain that the only truth I know in this world is that God is now, and has always been, in control. Though He gives us free will, and our choices do not always line up with His will, His love, compassion, and grace are eternal and freely given. All I need to do is seek Him first.

Chambers says, “I cannot trust where I cannot see, that is where infidelity begins. The only cure for infidelity is obedience to God.” Right now, there is so much we cannot see, especially our current microscopic enemy, but within the doubt and darkness we can trust that God is there. Life is but a moment, but God’s love is eternal.

I am, as always, a work in progess. 

Mete

5/22/2020

Matthew 7:2 “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

Chambers writes, “This statement is not a haphazard guess, it is an eternal law of God. Whatever judgement you give, it is measured to you again.” This is very sobering indeed, and not something we often think about when in casual conversation with others. Oh, how the world would be a different place if everyone truly understood and considered this eternal law! God judges us as we judge others.

 It is very easy, in our human condition, to speak about someone else’s life decisions or situation to another in the guise of being helpful or worried. If you are not seeking council out of concern from someone trustworthy and discreet, and being judicious yourself, then it can easily turn to gossip, and this should be avoided at all costs. Sometimes our judgement is stated purposefully with righteous indignation, but this is merely a trap of societal thought. We must always be careful with our words, because they can either be a healing salve or a poison to the soul. Judgement is always toxic and taints the work/walk of a disciple of Jesus.

No matter how different someone is from us, or how dissimilar their choices or lifestyle may be  from our own, our job as believers is to show the love of Jesus and share the truth of His saving grace. Judgement is never a part of this. Chambers says, “Life serves back the coin you pay.” Let us lead always with love. Judgement is God’s alone.

Seek First

5/21/2020

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

What would my life be like if I actually followed these powerful words of Jesus? I am supposed to pursue my relationship with God and His will first before EVERYTHING else. No matter what this world tells me, I must strive for to live or be happy, doing so outside of the will of God is not what I, as a believer, should do. God will take care of me and those I love if I only seek Him first. Jesus says that, “all of these things shall be added unto you.” The verses prior speak about God caring for the birds and the lilies, so I should not worry about what I am going to eat or drink because God has got me.

Today, I am very concerned about someone I love dearly. I am tied to him in so many ways, and I can actually feel his stress and pain. I have worried about him since we were young, and I only want to see him be secure and happy. He, like me, struggles so. I know what my own faith in God means in my life, and I desperately want him to put his life in God's hands. I want this person I love so much to find the peace that passes all understanding. I always pray for him to open his heart to Jesus. I truly have faith that one day soon he will, and it will change his life forever.

I am sure we all have those special people in our lives that we pray will find their way to God. Even in this, we need to seek God first and not act on our own desires or fears for the people we love. We need to trust, for God hears every cry of our hearts.

Matthew 33&34 (NIV)

33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Chambers says, “It is one of the severest disciplines of the Christian life to allow the Holy Spirit to bring us into harmony with the teaching of Jesus in these verses.” Truth!

Spiritual Pluck

5/20/2020

Luke 21:19 “In your patience possess ye your souls.”

Chambers writes that when we become born again, “We have to make an expression of the new life, to form the mind of Christ.” This expresses our new life in Jesus. Chambers also says that our moods are not something we should pray about, because they have their roots in the physical condition rather than the moral one. We need to be aware of our moods, and how they can affect our spiritual lives.

Reading this from Chambers today really gave me pause, as this is exactly what happens to me. Something temporal affects me, and then my mood transforms, and my spirit also changes. I can go from feeling strong to utter despair and weakness. My mood can turn for the better or worse, but it is rarely connected to my spiritual walk with God. If anything, my mood – especially when I am sad or stressed – puts me in a state of guilt, because if I was stronger in my faith I would not have these tumultuous emotions at all. It is certainly a vicious cycle.

It is true, though, that when I am walking closely with God and turning to Him about every area of my life, my mood steadies and I gain peace. I find the deeper my focus, the easier it is to shed the highs and lows of my terrestrial condition, and I realize the temporary nature of it all. Chambers says, “We have to take ourselves by the scruff of the neck and shake ourselves, and we will find that we can do what we said we cannot. The Christian life is one of incarnate spiritual pluck.”

Monster

5/19/2020

Romans 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”

I had another rough day today. I am blessed to have people in my life who love me and try to understand what I am going through. You know who you are. OCD is often times such a big bad monster and, as my husband puts it, Covid-19 is the perfect storm to release that monster. He also reminds me, when my mind is raging, that Jesus is my Anchor and He will calm the storm. I am so grateful to have such a faithful man in my life. I actually have two, as my son is also a faithful man of God, and has become one of my valued and trusted allies in the fight.

Additionally, I had a dear friend contact me several times today after finding out I was struggling, and I am so grateful for her as well. Then my sister, when I shared with her how I was doing, said she was going to pray for the monster to go away 3x (it is our way). God showed Himself to me through these dear ones today, and I felt His love through their encouragement and kindness. I am blessed.

Chambers says, “We are ‘more than conquerors in all these things.’ Paul is not talking of imaginary things, but of things that are desperately actual; and he says we are super-victors in the midst of them, not by our ingenuity, or by our courage, or by anything other than the fact that not one of them affects our relationship to God in Jesus Christ.” Amen and Hallelujah!

The love of my Jesus conquers all! He is my Anchor in the storm, and not even the monster can separate me from Him.

More than Conquerors - Rend Collection

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p8_4NbrcKA

Birds and Lilies

For Mikayla

Surrogate Daughter, Sister in Christ, Friend for Life

5/18/2020

Matthew 6:26, 28 “Behold the fowls of the air…Consider the lilies of the field.”

I actually have a dear friend who loves the entirety of this passage, because it brings her such comfort. She discovered these verses early in her journey, and they kept coming up time after time. God is so wonderful about communicating just what we need when we need it, and He never lets us forget as long as we are paying attention. These verses are such a beautiful reminder of God’s provision for our lives. We need not worry, for He cares for the whole of His creation.

The birds of the air and the lilies of the field are both complex and simple, a reflection of us as entities also made by God. As humans, we are vastly complex machines, but God requires us to have a simple faith. Birds and lilies live in an uncomplicated state of being, and this is a lesson for us all. God wants us to trust Him and know that He will care for everything that concerns us, just as he does for all of nature, because we are all part of His perfect design.

We are certainly in a time when anxiety and worry are at an all-time high for most of us. Chambers reminds us that, “Our heavenly Father knows the circumstances we are in, and if we keep concentrated on Him we will grow spiritually as the lilies.” During this time of solitude, as we keep mostly to our homes and are with our families, we have a rare opportunity to focus on our relationship with Jesus. We can dive into God’s word and spend time in prayer and reflection, or we can just sit and listen. For as difficult a time as this is, we are also being given the blessing of time and stillness, and it is in these moments that the lessons come.

When it is time to go back out into the world, fellow believers, let’s be ready!

The Transaction

5/17/2020

John 21:7 “Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him…and did cast himself into the sea.”

We all, every one of us, will face a time when we answer the call of God. Some will heed His call and some will not. It is an act of committing, or as I see it, releasing your will to Jesus. It is a transaction of trust and acceptance, and the most beautiful and transformative moment in life.

In John 20:29, Jesus is speaking to Thomas when He says, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (NIV) Thomas needed convincing and believed with proof. We also often need convincing, but believe through faith. This yielding to God’s call is the most profound moment of any life. It begins a journey that, like the Apostles, one cannot possibly comprehend. It is truly a journey walked in faith alone, and when we yield our will to Jesus, He will guide each and every step we take.

Chambers talks about the transaction this way: “Have you deliberately committed your will to Jesus Christ? It is a transaction of will, not of emotion: the emotion is simply the gilt-edge of the transaction." I love this way of looking at coming to Christ: emotion is part of it but not the whole, for the transaction must be a contract of the soul, and Jesus signed each of our contracts with His blood for all eternity as a binding covenant.

Have you made the transaction? Will you? It truly will be the most important one you will ever enter into.

Pity Party

5/16/2020

2 Peter 1:4 “Partakers of the divine nature.”

I did not read Chambers this morning as I am accustomed to doing. Instead, my husband and I got up early for our bi-weekly grocery shopping trip. Since he qualifies for special early hours, we try to go during those times. Sadly, because of my OCD, this simple act has become quite a lengthy process before, during, and after. I will not get into the details here, but suffice it to say, it is exhausting. Blast this Covid-19!

This afternoon, during my “decompression” time, my husband had a mishap while cleaning out the garage. Unfortunately, some of the non-perishables had not been brought inside yet and were a part of the minor calamity. Again, I will not go into detail here, but it was another stressor for yours truly. Yes, an OCD issue again. Ugh.

So, I have had a hard day; it was not akin to what any frontline worker, parent of young children, or many others are going through right now, but for me it was exhausting. This evening, as I sat down to write this daily entry, I picked up My Utmost and was duly adjusted in my attitude, wishing I had kept to my morning routine. This is what I read: “What does it matter if external circumstances are hard? Why should they not be? If we give way to self-pity and indulge in the luxury if misery, we banish God’s riches from our own lives and hinder others from entering into His provisions.” And so, I am duly admonished by Chambers’ words. I must ALWAYS turn to my God and realize His mighty power, grace, and majesty, especially in my time of struggle, for He will never leave me or forsake me. My life must always reflect that truth, particularly when I am at my weakest, for my strength comes from my God. We will all experience trying times, but it is how we lean into our relationship with God that matters.

“Be stamped with God’s nature, and His blessing will come through you all the time”

                                                                                                                                                Oswald Chambers

Spiritual Pluck

5/16/2020

Ephesians 1:18 “That ye may know what is the hope of His calling…”

“Remember what you have been saved for—that the Son of God might be manifested in your mortal flesh. Bend the whole energy of your powers to realize your election as a child of God: rise to the occasion every time.” ~ Oswald Chambers

As I said yesterday, Chambers is certainly challenging and NOT for the faint of heart. Today, he charges us to use every faculty in our power (body, mind, and spirit) in the service of our Lord. He asserts that if we continue to selfishly go our own way, it is a lie to use the word “sanctified”. Yup, he does not flinch with a challenge that makes you want to strip down your conscience to find truth; it is not without discomfort.

We will go through trials, as it is written in God’s Holy word, but how we move through the fire is important. Right now, we are all experiencing the same dreadful trial to different degrees, but how are we handling ourselves? Are we walking with God and turning to Him, or are we relying on ourselves and all the sound and fury that surrounds us? Are we rising to the occasion as sanctified sons and daughters, giving God the glory even through the darkest and scariest times? I must ask myself, is the love of God and the hope He brings manifested in me?

Chambers warns again whining and encourages all believers let God “find us full of spiritual pluck and athleticism, ready to face anything He brings.”

I will continue to ask God to help me to this end, so that my connection to Him helps to feed others souls. I am, as always, a work in progress.

Manifest

5/14/2020

2 Corinthians 4:1 “That life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”

The writing of Oswald Chambers challenges me every day, and today his words hit me right between my eyes. He asks, “Do I manifest the essential sweetness of the Son of God, or the essential irritation of ‘myself” apart from Him?’” Ouch! Translation in my head, “Does my lack of faith, attitude, and selfishness inhibit my showing love to others, especially those closest to me?” The truth is – and I am being totally honest here – most of the time, yes. Only when I am rightly aligned with the Holy Spirit and the will of my God do I truly love those around me the way He wants me to, without any guile, pretense, or need of payback. Oh, what a selfish creature I am!

Most of the time, the recipient of my lack in this area is my poor husband; he has DEFINITELY experienced an absence of essential holy sweetness. I guess you could say that is because I am totally myself around him, but that certainly is no excuse. If anything, he deserves more of that essential sweetness than anyone else in my life. Ugh! I have some work to do, but I can find my way through digging into God’s Holy Word and prayer. Chambers says, “There must be no debate. The moment you obey the light, the Son of God presses through you in that particular; but if you debate you grieve the Holy Spirit.” I must obey and not debate, for that is what a respectful and loving child should do. My Heavenly Father only wants the very best for me and from me, just like my earthly father did. Am I not a reflection of Him, after all? No matter what He expects of me, His grace is sufficient to carry me onward. Chambers charges me to, “…let the word of God always be living and active in you.”

Conscience

5/13/2020

Acts 24:16 “A conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.”

Conscience – noun

              an inner feeling or voice viewed as acting like a guide                      to the rightness or wrongness of one’s behavior                                                                                                   Oxford Dictionary

                                               

How is my conscience? Is there anything I am feeling guilty about? Am I walking in the will of God and following His commands? Is my spirit so aligned with His that my conscience recognizes when I am out of step with Him? Is it true for me that when I am in step, it is as comfortable and natural as a breath or a heartbeat?

In order to have the sensitivity of conscience that I need as a believer, I must focus on God and be obedient to Him above all else. No matter how the things of this world pull on me, if I am focused on my relationship with God, I will not be thrown about in a storm; the Captain will keep me on course, and my rudder will bring me to shore. The only survival tool of life is to be rightly related and focused on God always. It takes trust and faith in my Almighty Father who will never leave or forsake me. When I live in His grace, my conscience will be light and lifted by His Holy Spirit. I will turn my ears and my heart towards my God and not the din of this world, for He alone will make my path straight.

“If I am in the habit of steadily facing myself with God, my conscience will always introduce God’s perfect law, and indicate what I should do. The point is, will I obey?” ~ Oswald Chambers

Habits

5/12/2020

2 Peter 1:8 “For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful.”

Habits are interesting things: they can be positive or negative, and sometimes even neutral. Regular exercise is a positive habit, and smoking is a negative one. These are only two examples, of course; I could fill many pages with examples of good and bad habits. Often times a habit, especially a positive one, is consciously practiced until a behavior is formed and permanent. If this action does not take place, for some reason we feel its absence, and often times do not feel quite right until we are able get into the habit again.

What are spiritual habits, though? How do they help us or hurt us on our journey? Chambers is asking us to consider our spiritual habits today. Are we working hard to pray and spend time in God’s word? If so, does this give us a sense of extreme piety or spiritual superiority? Are our spiritual habits ridged, making us inflexible? Are we so deep into the doing, with the act so ingrained in our routines, we long for that connection when missed? Chambers says, “The right thing to do with habits is to lose them in the life of the Lord, until every habit is so practiced that there is no conscious habit at all.” He also advises not to let the habit become your focus, but to have it come from the guidance of God and strengthen your relationship with Him. After all, that is the ultimate goal. Be ready to spend time with God at any point of the day for you never know when He might call you into study or prayer.

What about love? Is it a habit? No, for if it is genuine, there is no habit visible; it happens without a conscious thought. That is the way the Author of Love intended it to be. Love and living a Spirit-filled life happen without thinking, and they become a way of being. Walking with God and doing His will becomes automatic because we are guided by the Holy Spirit. We are compelled to act, not out of practice or habit, but by our connection with the Savior.

If we are struggling in any area, Chambers advises us to, “Let God press through in that particular circumstance until you gain Him, and life becomes the simple life of a child.”  

All Four

5/11/2020

2 Peter 1:7 “Add to your brotherliness…love.”

There are four types of Christian love: Philia – brotherly love (friend), Storge – familial love (family), Eros – romantic love, and Agape – God’s love, which is love in its highest form. We, as humans, are designed to experience all of these types of love. Sadly, however, for many people this is not always the case. We live in a sinful and fallen world where bonds are broken far too easily, usually because of pride or selfishness. This was never God’s plan, but His creation entered into sin and severed connection with The Creator. Jesus became the bridge between God and people by His sacrifice.

In the past few months, there have been many examples of the first three kinds of love among all nations, for our common trauma has brought us together in ways that heretofore were lacking. During this pandemic, there has been a love revival.

Many people that I have spoken to are wondering where that fourth type of love currently is, for many feel God has turned His back on us. If He had, all the other forms would be lacking as well, for He alone is the Author of Love. I have been looking for the lessons He is trying to teach us all during this difficult time, and I truly feel that loving each other out loud is the most important one of all. God is there in every act of love done for another. We as believers have an even deeper call to show others love. So I ask myself, “How am I doing loving others out loud? Am I loving as Jesus did? Am I sharing with others how much God loves them?”

Chambers asks, “Am I prepared to be so identified with the Lord Jesus that His life and His sweetness are being poured out all the time?”

1 John 4:19 “We love because He first loved us.”

When Love Broke Thru - TobyMac

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_Ssl2MCy6I

Initiative

5/10/2020

2 Peter 1:5 “Add to your faith virtue…”

Initiative – noun

1.       the ability to initiate things independently

2.       the power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do

During this time of Covid-19, the news is full of people taking the lead, or initiative, on programs and processes to help those around them. Whether it is getting essential PPE to healthcare workers, supplying food to people who have been affected economically, cheering people who are stuck at home with a drive-by parade or a special curbside delivery, and a host of other wonderfully imaginative acts that are lifting spirits and showing love during this most difficult time. It is such an inspiring and uplifting thing to see. Yes, people young and old are acting to reach out and care for others.

I am thinking, especially on this Mother’s Day, of all the moms out there who are taking initiative during this unusual time. They not only have to work, teach, cook, clean, and try to keep their sanity, but they also have to reassure children who cannot possibly understand the gravity of the situation. They have to be, along with dads, the encouragers of their children’s souls. As mothers, we all want to protect our children, yet also give them strength to maneuver the world and wings to fly. Chambers says, “Add means to get into the habit of doing things, and in the beginning it is difficult. To take initiative is to make a beginning, to instruct yourself in the way you have to go.”

Dear ones, God will always guide you on your journey to action, all you must do is trust Him to direct your steps.

Ideal or Vision

5/9/2020

Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint.”

Ideal – adj.

                1.

Satisfying one’s conception of what is perfect; most suitable

                2.

Existing only in the imagination; desirable or perfect but not likely to become reality

Vision – noun

                The ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom

In today’s study, Chambers asks us to consider the difference between an ideal and a vision. As defined above, one is not a reality while the other involves having a plan. Most people who hold an ideal in some form or another do not usually act on it, because it regards a concept of perfection. We can say things like, “In an ideal world there would be no hunger.” A person with vision, however, can see the idea and the practical thinking behind it, then figure out a way to get closer to the ideal. These people are the ones with vision. Not all visionaries have the knowhow to apply their creative thinking to a functional plan, but those people often times get others on board to help with the process. Vision compels action. Chambers writes, “But whenever there is vision, there is also a life of rectitude because the vision imparts moral incentive.”

As believers, we need to be careful of living in ideals alone, without vision. When we become stagnant in our faith, we lose connection and hence vision. I know this happened to me during a time when I leaned too heavily on my own understanding; I was not faithfully seeking God through prayer and His word, and I became motionless. Chambers says, “If we are eating what we have out of our own hand, doing things on our own initiative without expecting God to come in, we are on a downward path, we have lost the vision.” When God gives you the vision, pray about it and act. Trust Him fully, and He will guide your steps.

Be Thou My Vision – 4Him

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIMhshpf0Y4