My group has met once so far. Everyone was so excited to be a part of this group. It definitely seems to be a Divine appointment! Bonding amongst group members has happened quickly. We are all excited to get the ball rolling and see how God is going to bring growth to each one of us! I know that I speak for everyone in my group when I say "thank you" to the Lead Team for being faithful and answering God's call in making this ministry available to all of us!
God Bless,
Suzette
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Monday, November 06, 2006
Intimacy with Christ
It was wonderful. I love that feeling when Jesus Christ is so incredibly present and talking and in fellowship with us. We easily filled up the time together, and had a wonderful discussion about prayer and accountability. I was able to share, with heartfelt tears, my Life Graph, and to open myself up to my precious sisters in Christ. I believe they are nervous yet excited about getting to share their Life Graphs. I can already feel an incredible bond in our intimate group and I am so excited to be a part of their lives. They are both completely committed to this group, ready to change and ready to grow closer to Christ. I could see Him working through them even in our short amount of time together. And He was alive and moving through me equally as much. What an incredible opportunity! I am so excited!!
With warmth in Him,
Mercedes
With warmth in Him,
Mercedes
Romans 8:28
My first meeting went well. My group seems to fit together well, we have myself a new father, we have a very young father with 3 children, a newly married man, a man who just got engaged the Saturday before our first meeting and a single new believer to soak it all in! We all seem to come from different walks of life but through the blood of Christ the paths don't seem that far apart. We had great conversation and all were open to discuss and share their insights. I could see in the eyes of the newer believer that he was truly witnessing something he had never seen before, and I think he was awed at the raw attempt we were making to build a real vulnerable community with other men. The answers were pretty standard Christian answers and we are no where near the point of asking ourselves to look beyond the answers we speak to the answers we live but I anticipate we will get there. I told my wife that it was good but I hope that we can get past sounding good and spewing out the endless knowledge that so many possess in this information saturated culture to the heart of who we are and the reality of how we live, and she told me with time it will come and I think she is right. So all in all it was a great first night, I saw eagerness to learn, I saw passion to connect, I saw much being held back but I could see that walls were already being broken, and I sensed that God has much in store for us.
Ryan M.
Ryan M.
Time with the King
My group has now met twice. The first week was great... we played "2 truths and a lie," and exchanged info and got to know each other a bit, and talkedabout prayer and accountability. The second week (on halloween), another woman joined our group, making a grand total now of 5 of us. I shared my"life graph" and am now looking forward to hearing theirs. The girls in my group are all very cool. I feel like so far God has showed me that He will work things out and that I just need to be real and honest and humble in leading this group. I desire to pray more for my girls and spend more time with God in the coming weeks.
Kirsten
Kirsten
Seeking His Instruction & Guidance
We had an inspiring time together discussing our purpose for being together and what each of us was hoping for as outcomes. Each of one is focused on growth and to some extent healing. We also spent time discussing prayer seeking to grow in our ability to be in prayer and fellowship with the Lord throughout the day consistent with Paul's instruction to pray without ceasing.
The amazing thing to me was at the end of our discussions I asked them what they were thinking in an open ended manner. I was a bit floored when the first response seemed off topic - we had been discussing prayer - but ended up being confession of sin. Then I asked the other thinking he might have some admonishment and encouragement but instead offered up the same struggle. Wow. My initial thoughts were to begin to offer my conclusions as to the way they should go. At the same time I sensed the Lord leading me to back off and instead suggest that we offer this up as a prayer to theLord seeking His instruction and guidance in the way they should each go. We had earlier gone over the passages that hinder prayer which included sin so maybe the Spirit had prompted them.
My prayer is that God drives them to repentance and instructs them clearly on how to move forward in their situations.
Blessings,
Michael
The amazing thing to me was at the end of our discussions I asked them what they were thinking in an open ended manner. I was a bit floored when the first response seemed off topic - we had been discussing prayer - but ended up being confession of sin. Then I asked the other thinking he might have some admonishment and encouragement but instead offered up the same struggle. Wow. My initial thoughts were to begin to offer my conclusions as to the way they should go. At the same time I sensed the Lord leading me to back off and instead suggest that we offer this up as a prayer to theLord seeking His instruction and guidance in the way they should each go. We had earlier gone over the passages that hinder prayer which included sin so maybe the Spirit had prompted them.
My prayer is that God drives them to repentance and instructs them clearly on how to move forward in their situations.
Blessings,
Michael
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Spiritual Deepening
My 2 girls have decided to continue our group for 8 more months, so Iwill not be able to take on another group this year. What a wonderful program this is. I have been so blessed and our groupis going to grow deeper in the Lord and our lives will be richer becauseof the accountability that we share with one another. I will be praying that God will bring you the leaders needed to grow this ministry. I will also be praying that God will expand your and Rob's time as you faithfully lead and organize this program.
Love,
ANN HERBERTS
Love,
ANN HERBERTS
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Joy in His work through you...
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3-6
PART 1 of 3 - The "Giant Killer"
As I read this verse here at 3:34 am in the morning (for whatever reason I just can't seem to sleep), I have this yearning desire to read my King's Word, reflect on it and share some thoughts on it. I haven't really blogged in about a month due to many things yet, there really is no excuse for not doing so. I can feel a desire in me to "step to a new level" but I feel my "fleshly" behaviors, aka, my imperfections keep me from pressing onward in deepening my relationship with my King. Of course this is a topic for another blog entry for which probably belongs in my Quest for Aslan blog so I may or may not pursue this aspect of my entry in there.
Reading this verse, the first thing I think of is how thankful I am for my one true discipler who discipled me AND for the people whom I have discipled. This has led me to an eye-opening realization in our spiritual transformation we all need a "Paul the Apostle" as a spiritual mentor, "Barnabas" as a faithful friend," and a "Timothy" to be our spiritual spark in our lives.
Why a "Paul?"
Firstly, my one true discipler, and my "Paul the Apostle," was the one who started it in all for me in my life. This man and brother in the Kingdom, felt led to "take me under his wing" and "show me the ropes" per se, helped develop my faith in Jesus and my pursuit of the deeper things of God. Although my body and mind did not want to have anything to do with this person, my heart and spirit was drawing me to grab onto this opportunity to be "mentored" or discipled by this "more experienced" believer in my life. I can tell you that I wanted to fight it but the Holy Spirit wanted me to do this and wouldn't allow me to miss this opportunity! You see, this person would become more experienced and mature believer that would be my "Giant "Killer" in my life. What I mean by this is that because of he, through observing his life on a consistent basis and by the pouring of his spiritual lifestyle aspects of his spiritual life, I was shown how to become equipped for Kingdom work and to LOVE JESUS WITH MY ALL MY HEART, SOUL, SPIRIT and MIND! Let me explain more clearly.
Like Our Father in Heaven
By having this "Giant Killer" in my life, I had someone to guide my pursuit of spiritual things, protect my heart and mind in my spiritual transformation and look to as love me almost as compassionately as Jesus would have if He were walking with me in the flesh! In other words, it's a relationship that is such that when you have a eye-opening revelation in any of the three previously mentioned things you can always look for this discipler to LISTEN, GUARD and LOVE me like our Father in heaven!
I remember an experience when I was hurting deeply because I was questioning what God was doing to me in my life at the time. The only person whom I knew could listen, guard and love me was this "Paul the Apostle" in my life, whose name ironically is Peter (a.k.a., "Pietros" in the Greek, which means rock). Although I could have chosen to meet with Peter "one-on-one" to discuss my struggles, I chose to bring this upto him in our weekly discipleship group meeting. I remember seeing the look in my fellow "disciplees'" faces having the expression their faces that can only leave them speechless, or a look that said, "Dude-- that's heavy and I don't know what to say." As a flood of tears rolled down my face and I wanted to run away from God, my "Giant Killer" listened to me by hearing me out, interceded by stepping in front of me by guiding me, and also spiritually loving on me and holding on to me like our Father in heaven to let me know that I would be loved unconditionally through this season of my life!
The "Giant Killer"
My friend, this "Giant Killer," or my discipler, would claim he was ill-equipped to LISTEN, GUARD and LOVE me as God did, I can tell you from hindsight and discipleship group experience that this was EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED IN MY LIFE TO SEE and a WAY FOR ME TO HAVE THE EMBODIMENT OF HAVING A PHYSICAL EXAMPLE of our heavenly Father in my life. Of course, my co-disciplees were able to witness this as well (this is a whole other discussion!). This is one of the most valuable and significant experiences in my pursuit of Jesus and why I am passionate about discipleship!
PART 1 of 3 - The "Giant Killer"
As I read this verse here at 3:34 am in the morning (for whatever reason I just can't seem to sleep), I have this yearning desire to read my King's Word, reflect on it and share some thoughts on it. I haven't really blogged in about a month due to many things yet, there really is no excuse for not doing so. I can feel a desire in me to "step to a new level" but I feel my "fleshly" behaviors, aka, my imperfections keep me from pressing onward in deepening my relationship with my King. Of course this is a topic for another blog entry for which probably belongs in my Quest for Aslan blog so I may or may not pursue this aspect of my entry in there.
Reading this verse, the first thing I think of is how thankful I am for my one true discipler who discipled me AND for the people whom I have discipled. This has led me to an eye-opening realization in our spiritual transformation we all need a "Paul the Apostle" as a spiritual mentor, "Barnabas" as a faithful friend," and a "Timothy" to be our spiritual spark in our lives.
Why a "Paul?"
Firstly, my one true discipler, and my "Paul the Apostle," was the one who started it in all for me in my life. This man and brother in the Kingdom, felt led to "take me under his wing" and "show me the ropes" per se, helped develop my faith in Jesus and my pursuit of the deeper things of God. Although my body and mind did not want to have anything to do with this person, my heart and spirit was drawing me to grab onto this opportunity to be "mentored" or discipled by this "more experienced" believer in my life. I can tell you that I wanted to fight it but the Holy Spirit wanted me to do this and wouldn't allow me to miss this opportunity! You see, this person would become more experienced and mature believer that would be my "Giant "Killer" in my life. What I mean by this is that because of he, through observing his life on a consistent basis and by the pouring of his spiritual lifestyle aspects of his spiritual life, I was shown how to become equipped for Kingdom work and to LOVE JESUS WITH MY ALL MY HEART, SOUL, SPIRIT and MIND! Let me explain more clearly.
Like Our Father in Heaven
By having this "Giant Killer" in my life, I had someone to guide my pursuit of spiritual things, protect my heart and mind in my spiritual transformation and look to as love me almost as compassionately as Jesus would have if He were walking with me in the flesh! In other words, it's a relationship that is such that when you have a eye-opening revelation in any of the three previously mentioned things you can always look for this discipler to LISTEN, GUARD and LOVE me like our Father in heaven!
I remember an experience when I was hurting deeply because I was questioning what God was doing to me in my life at the time. The only person whom I knew could listen, guard and love me was this "Paul the Apostle" in my life, whose name ironically is Peter (a.k.a., "Pietros" in the Greek, which means rock). Although I could have chosen to meet with Peter "one-on-one" to discuss my struggles, I chose to bring this upto him in our weekly discipleship group meeting. I remember seeing the look in my fellow "disciplees'" faces having the expression their faces that can only leave them speechless, or a look that said, "Dude-- that's heavy and I don't know what to say." As a flood of tears rolled down my face and I wanted to run away from God, my "Giant Killer" listened to me by hearing me out, interceded by stepping in front of me by guiding me, and also spiritually loving on me and holding on to me like our Father in heaven to let me know that I would be loved unconditionally through this season of my life!
The "Giant Killer"
My friend, this "Giant Killer," or my discipler, would claim he was ill-equipped to LISTEN, GUARD and LOVE me as God did, I can tell you from hindsight and discipleship group experience that this was EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED IN MY LIFE TO SEE and a WAY FOR ME TO HAVE THE EMBODIMENT OF HAVING A PHYSICAL EXAMPLE of our heavenly Father in my life. Of course, my co-disciplees were able to witness this as well (this is a whole other discussion!). This is one of the most valuable and significant experiences in my pursuit of Jesus and why I am passionate about discipleship!
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Instruction, Knowledge & Wisdom
Proverbs 23:6 - "Apply your heart to insruction and your ears to words of knowledge."
Proverbs 23:15 - "My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right."
The secular world today depends on the knowledge of it greatest thinkers, scientists, writers, politicians, musicians, artists and so forth-- no matter how eschew their thinking may be. For their ideas and statements they are seen as the leaders in "progressive thought" or "cultural pioneers." However, according to a Bible author, "...there is nothing new under the sun." All things that are of truth come from God. He is the Creator of it all. His wisdom is all over Scripture and can apply to all parts of our lives. Are we going to trust the man who was created or the Creator of man when it comes to wisdom and knowledge? We are intelligently designed by God and the purpose or our creation is to generate "good" in our lives that we may please God.
Proverbs 23:15 - "My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right."
The secular world today depends on the knowledge of it greatest thinkers, scientists, writers, politicians, musicians, artists and so forth-- no matter how eschew their thinking may be. For their ideas and statements they are seen as the leaders in "progressive thought" or "cultural pioneers." However, according to a Bible author, "...there is nothing new under the sun." All things that are of truth come from God. He is the Creator of it all. His wisdom is all over Scripture and can apply to all parts of our lives. Are we going to trust the man who was created or the Creator of man when it comes to wisdom and knowledge? We are intelligently designed by God and the purpose or our creation is to generate "good" in our lives that we may please God.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Echoes in Eternity
"...what is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then it vanishes." James 4:14b
The substance of life is filled by the actions and our motives. Things that inspire us that draw us into action. At times our lives come across moments that deteriorate our life substance, while at other times enhance our life substance. James makes the statement that our life on this plane is just a mere breath in eternity. As man pursues his significance in his culture/society he must realize that the memory of his legacy will fade.
In the movie "Gladiator," the slavemaster, Proximo, tells the hero, Maximus, "Life is but shadows and dust-- shadows and dust." But more importantly, the statement that bears the ultimate truth is when Maximus is about to go into battle and says to his men, "What we do in this lifetime will echo in eternity!"
You see, what we do in our earthly lives is what determine our destiny in eternity. We need to develop true substance within our lives. This true substance is determined by the "good" that we do along with the proper motive to do these "good" things. God created us in His image. With that being so we read in the Genesis account that everything God created was "good," therefore we too are "good." God generates good. With us being the image of God the reflection of His glory, we too are called to generate good. There are a multitude of ways for us to generate good, but it can be summarized by doing the following: 1) Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and 2) Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
With these as our compass we will be on the path to forming true substance in our lives!
The substance of life is filled by the actions and our motives. Things that inspire us that draw us into action. At times our lives come across moments that deteriorate our life substance, while at other times enhance our life substance. James makes the statement that our life on this plane is just a mere breath in eternity. As man pursues his significance in his culture/society he must realize that the memory of his legacy will fade.
In the movie "Gladiator," the slavemaster, Proximo, tells the hero, Maximus, "Life is but shadows and dust-- shadows and dust." But more importantly, the statement that bears the ultimate truth is when Maximus is about to go into battle and says to his men, "What we do in this lifetime will echo in eternity!"
You see, what we do in our earthly lives is what determine our destiny in eternity. We need to develop true substance within our lives. This true substance is determined by the "good" that we do along with the proper motive to do these "good" things. God created us in His image. With that being so we read in the Genesis account that everything God created was "good," therefore we too are "good." God generates good. With us being the image of God the reflection of His glory, we too are called to generate good. There are a multitude of ways for us to generate good, but it can be summarized by doing the following: 1) Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and 2) Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
With these as our compass we will be on the path to forming true substance in our lives!
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Overcoming Challenges
No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:5-9
Strength and courage. They are the characteristics that define the man of God. As Joshua was called to lead the Israelites in the passing of Moses a responsibility that was far larger than him beckoned. How was he to lead the people? How was he to provide for them? How was he to protect them? The LORD faithfully responds to Joshua, "Be strong and courageous." This kind of strength and courage however does not come from the self-generated means of physical training or intellect. It comes from faith and obedience in the Word of God. The result of this faith and obedience will be prosperity and success in God's eyes and "...the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:5-9
Strength and courage. They are the characteristics that define the man of God. As Joshua was called to lead the Israelites in the passing of Moses a responsibility that was far larger than him beckoned. How was he to lead the people? How was he to provide for them? How was he to protect them? The LORD faithfully responds to Joshua, "Be strong and courageous." This kind of strength and courage however does not come from the self-generated means of physical training or intellect. It comes from faith and obedience in the Word of God. The result of this faith and obedience will be prosperity and success in God's eyes and "...the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Thursday, January 05, 2006
The Conditions of Discipleship
"If any man come to Me, and hate not . . . he cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:26, also 27, 33
If the closest relationships of life clash with the claims of Jesus Christ, He says it must be instant obedience to Himself. Discipleship means personal, passionate devotion to a Person, Our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a difference between devotion to a Person and devotion to principles or to a cause. Our Lord never proclaimed a cause; He proclaimed personal devotion to Himself. To be a disciple is to be a devoted love-slave of the Lord Jesus. Many of us who call ourselves Christians are not devoted to Jesus Christ. No man on earth has this passionate love to the Lord Jesus unless the Holy Ghost has imparted it to him. We may admire Him, we may respect Him and reverence Him, but we cannot love Him. The only Lover of the Lord Jesus is the Holy Ghost, and He sheds abroad the very love of God in our hearts. Whenever the Holy Ghost sees a chance of glorifying Jesus, He will take your heart, your nerves, your whole personality, and simply make you blaze and glow with devotion to Jesus Christ.
The Christian life is stamped by 'moral spontaneous originality,' consequently the disciple is open to the same charge that Jesus Christ was, viz., that of inconsistency. But Jesus Christ was always consistent to God, and the Christian must be consistent to the life of the Son of God in him, not consistent to hard and fast creeds. Men pour them selves into creeds, and God has to blast them out of their prejudices before they can become devoted to Jesus Christ.
Oswald Chambers
If the closest relationships of life clash with the claims of Jesus Christ, He says it must be instant obedience to Himself. Discipleship means personal, passionate devotion to a Person, Our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a difference between devotion to a Person and devotion to principles or to a cause. Our Lord never proclaimed a cause; He proclaimed personal devotion to Himself. To be a disciple is to be a devoted love-slave of the Lord Jesus. Many of us who call ourselves Christians are not devoted to Jesus Christ. No man on earth has this passionate love to the Lord Jesus unless the Holy Ghost has imparted it to him. We may admire Him, we may respect Him and reverence Him, but we cannot love Him. The only Lover of the Lord Jesus is the Holy Ghost, and He sheds abroad the very love of God in our hearts. Whenever the Holy Ghost sees a chance of glorifying Jesus, He will take your heart, your nerves, your whole personality, and simply make you blaze and glow with devotion to Jesus Christ.
The Christian life is stamped by 'moral spontaneous originality,' consequently the disciple is open to the same charge that Jesus Christ was, viz., that of inconsistency. But Jesus Christ was always consistent to God, and the Christian must be consistent to the life of the Son of God in him, not consistent to hard and fast creeds. Men pour them selves into creeds, and God has to blast them out of their prejudices before they can become devoted to Jesus Christ.
Oswald Chambers
Discipleship Quotes to Consider...
"'Disciples' means not just head-learners, not just heart-learners, but life-learners. We have to discover, through prayer, study of the Scriptures, and above all devotion to Jesus Himself such as we express when we come to His table, how we in our generation can implement the decisive victory which He won." -- N.T. Wright, _Following Jesus_
"Disciple says we are people who spend our lives apprenticed to our Master, Jesus Christ. We are in a growing-learning relationship, always. A disciple is a learner but not in the academic setting of a school-room, rather at the work site of a craftsman. We do not acquire inofrmation about God but skills in faith." -- Eugene Petersen, _A Long Obedience in the Same Direction_
"Disciple says we are people who spend our lives apprenticed to our Master, Jesus Christ. We are in a growing-learning relationship, always. A disciple is a learner but not in the academic setting of a school-room, rather at the work site of a craftsman. We do not acquire inofrmation about God but skills in faith." -- Eugene Petersen, _A Long Obedience in the Same Direction_
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
My Utmost for His Highest...
My friends, Oswald Chambers is one of my favorite authors and his devotional classic, _My Utmost for His Highest_, is a long-standing literary work with deep wisdom. He sets the tone for the pursuit of God in his January 1 devotional that I would like to share with you. Keep in mind that Philippians 1:21 that follows says, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
My Utmost for His Highest - January 1
Title: Let Us Keep To The Point
Key Verse: My eager desire and hope being that I may never feel ashamed, but that now as ever I may do honour to Christ in my own person by fearless courage.
Click link below to study this verse: Philippians 1:20
http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=php+1:20
My Utmost for His Highest. "My eager desire and hope being that I may never feel ashamed." We shall all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus on the point He has asked us to yield to Him. Paul says - "My determination is to be my utmost for His Highest." To get there is a question of will, not of debate nor of reasoning, but a surrender of will, an absolute and irrevocable surrender on that point. An overweening consideration for ourselves is the thing that keeps us from that decision, though we put it that we are considering others. When we consider what it will cost others if we obey the call of Jesus, we tell God He does not know what our obedience will mean. Keep to the point; He does know. Shut out every other consideration and keep yourself before God for this one thing only - My Utmost for His Highest. I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and for Him alone.
My Undeterredness for His Holiness. "Whether that means life or death, no matter!" (v.21.) Paul is determined that nothing shall deter him from doing exactly what God wants. God's order has to work up to a crisis in our lives because we will not heed the gentler way. He brings us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him, and we begin to debate; then He produces a providential crisis where we have to decide - for or against, and from that point the "Great Divide" begins.
If the crisis has come to you on any line, surrender your will to Him absolutely and irrevocably.
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Taken from 'My Utmost for His Highest', by Oswald Chambers. © l935 by Dodd Mead & Co., renewed © 1963 by the Oswald Chambers Publications Assn., Ltd., and is used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Uhrichsville, Ohio.
All rights reserved.
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My Utmost for His Highest - January 1
Title: Let Us Keep To The Point
Key Verse: My eager desire and hope being that I may never feel ashamed, but that now as ever I may do honour to Christ in my own person by fearless courage.
Click link below to study this verse: Philippians 1:20
http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=php+1:20
My Utmost for His Highest. "My eager desire and hope being that I may never feel ashamed." We shall all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus on the point He has asked us to yield to Him. Paul says - "My determination is to be my utmost for His Highest." To get there is a question of will, not of debate nor of reasoning, but a surrender of will, an absolute and irrevocable surrender on that point. An overweening consideration for ourselves is the thing that keeps us from that decision, though we put it that we are considering others. When we consider what it will cost others if we obey the call of Jesus, we tell God He does not know what our obedience will mean. Keep to the point; He does know. Shut out every other consideration and keep yourself before God for this one thing only - My Utmost for His Highest. I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and for Him alone.
My Undeterredness for His Holiness. "Whether that means life or death, no matter!" (v.21.) Paul is determined that nothing shall deter him from doing exactly what God wants. God's order has to work up to a crisis in our lives because we will not heed the gentler way. He brings us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him, and we begin to debate; then He produces a providential crisis where we have to decide - for or against, and from that point the "Great Divide" begins.
If the crisis has come to you on any line, surrender your will to Him absolutely and irrevocably.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taken from 'My Utmost for His Highest', by Oswald Chambers. © l935 by Dodd Mead & Co., renewed © 1963 by the Oswald Chambers Publications Assn., Ltd., and is used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Uhrichsville, Ohio.
All rights reserved.
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