What a great reminder drawn from the disciples failure in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:40-46). God’s word to us is not to despair when we fail but to rest back in Christ and to strive forward to the next step with Him.
Total time in prayer this week so far: 3.5 hours
This is so true. I never desire to be someone substitute for actually hearing from God themselves. Yet, I find myself falling into this same trap even as a Pastor. How many books have I read, or podcasts listened to, or conferences attended in order hear from His servants ABOUT my Lord (even though they were good and helpful) in lieu of actually hearing FROM my Lord at the same time?
Are you hearing Him today? or are you choosing to close your ears?
Total time in prayer this week: 4 hours
At the end of a long week, I sat down to spend some time with the Lord and as I began to read, I was floored by this devotion.
“Stubbornness and self-will will always stab Jesus Christ. It may hurt no one else, but it wounds His Spirit.”
Those who know me, know that stubbornness and self-will are VERY apt words for describing my personality and I find myself VERY convicted this morning about how much I’ve indulged those attitudes and allowed them to betray Christ Spirit and love in me. They have affected every relationship around me and even I repent for the pain they’ve caused even to my Savior’s heart; I must also repent for the good they’ve driven me to…..
You see, Chambers IS right. If my righteous acts are motivated by a “self-willed determination to be godly” then they mean NOTHING! I think that’s what Paul truly means in 1 Corinthians 13, when he says:
“If I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but have not LOVE, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned but have not LOVE, I gain nothing.”
If what we do in our lives towards others and towards Jesus doesn’t come from a love-based oneness with Him, then it falls woefully short. It doesn’t matter how much we achieve or how much recognition we may garner, it means nothing if it doesn’t come from a loving personal relationship with our Savior. That’s a hard truth for a driven, strong-willed, overly ambitious Worship Pastor….
Great devotion today from utmost.org, but the most powerful part for me was in the second half:
“Keep your ENTIRE life open to Jesus Christ… do not pretend to be open to Christ”
That’s challenging and convicting and there are days when I feel like a fraud inside because I know the sin that so easily devours me; and I know the pride that drives me to draw life from my own works and ambitions instead of from my Redeemer and Sustainer: Jesus.
Is your life open to Him today?
Total time in prayer this week: 2.5 hours
We cannot experience the abundance of living IN Christ without first coming to end of ourselves. Chambers is SO right when he says, “It will not happen by STRIVING, but by YEILDING…” I have spent too many days striving in this life. Striving to be noticed, striving to be good, striving to be somehow deserving of grace, striving to take hold of God’s things…… O Lord, help me to yeild…..
My heart is heavy this morning because I have been SO guilty of trying to dictate to God the terms of my obedience to Him. I have made a vow to live my life for no one but my Lord but if I am to remain faithful to that and truly lose my life to Him, I must relinquish this illusion of control and simply obey.
What is calling you to obey today?
- Oswald Chambers — This stopped me dead in my tracks this morning. Thank you Lord for the joy of obedience!
For all the excuses I make for why I didn’t spend the time with God in prayer, or reading His Word, or praising Him; its good to be reminded that THERE IS ALWAYS plenty of time to worship Him! So take time today and spend it in relationship with your Creator, your Redeemer, and Sustainer!
Great devotion today on waiting on God. I’ve never been good at this, and if I was being honest its probably caused more hurt in the people and ministries around me than any other mistakes I’ve made. Remind me today, Lord, to wait on You!
Great devotional from Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost for His Highest”. I tend to hide behind irreverence and informality at times allowing it to hide the real cynicism that resides in my heart. Good reminder for today to rest not only in my relationship with God but also in His holiness and greatness. Check out the link to see it and follow the Read the Bible in a year plan!
