Individuality is the hard outer layer surrounding the inner spiritual life. Individuality shoves others aside, separating and isolating people. We see it as the primary characteristic of a child, and rightly so. When we confuse individuality with the spiritual life, we remain isolated. This shell of individuality is God’s created natural covering designed to protect the spiritual life. But our individuality must be yielded to God so that our spiritual life may be brought forth into fellowship with Him. Individuality counterfeits spirituality, just as lust counterfeits love. God designed human nature for Himself, but individuality corrupts that human nature for its own purposes.

 

The characteristics of individuality are independence and self-will. We hinder our spiritual growth more than any other way by continually asserting our individuality. If you say, “I can’t believe,” it is because your individuality is blocking the way; individuality can never believe. But our spirit cannot help believing. Watch yourself closely when the Spirit of God is at work in you. He pushes you to the limits of your individuality where a choice must be made. The choice is either to say, “I will not surrender,” or to surrender, breaking the hard shell of individuality, which allows the spiritual life to emerge.

 

The Holy Spirit narrows it down every time to one thing (see Matthew 5:23-24). It is your individuality that refuses to “be reconciled to your brother” (Matthew 5:24). God wants to bring you into union with Himself, but unless you are willing to give up your right to yourself, He cannot. “…let him deny himself…”— deny his independent right to himself. Then the real life-the spiritual life-is allowed the opportunity to grow.

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December 11 2015

Journal Entry for today-JDV

Good morning Lord and thank you for Chambers’ devotional on individuality. This lesson rings consistent and true to the teaching You have been giving Dave and me. Especially the line…”Surrender breaks the hard shell of individuality”. And the scripture for today says it specifically…”Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself…” —Matthew 16:24”. And then the conclusion of the lesson for me was the line from Oswald Chambers, “Our individuality must be brought into fellowship with Him”. Is this the lesson Lord? That our individuality must be brought into fellowship with You?

 

And God says…”When you surrender your right to yourself; your ideals, goals, hopes and dreams to Me, you are saying that You no longer are the God of your life. And when you do this, you are denying yourself so that you can come after Me. What occurs when you surrender yourself is as the song says, a glorious unfolding. When you seek Me first, I can make your paths straight. When you delight yourself in the Lord, I can give you the desires of your heart. When you surrender to become a believer, and continue to surrender as a daily, hourly and minute by minute process of living, your individuality is changed and you know you will never be alone, ever, again. Your ideals, goals, hopes and dreams are transformed and you are able embrace the uncertainty of this life with the certainty of My love. When that occurs, as a matter of course and daily living, you find you have discovered a wonderful new daily adventure;  living the abundant life.”