“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin”— they simply are! Think of the sea, the air, the sun, the stars, and the moon— all of these simply are as well— yet what a ministry and service they render on our behalf! So often we impair God’s designed influence, which He desires to exhibit through us, because of our own conscious efforts to be consistent and useful. Jesus said there is only one way to develop and grow spiritually, and that is through focusing and concentrating on God. In essence, Jesus was saying, “Do not worry about being of use to others; simply believe on Me.” In other words, pay attention to the Source, and out of you “will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). We cannot discover the source of our natural life through common sense and reasoning, and Jesus is teaching here that growth in our spiritual life comes not from focusing directly on it, but from concentrating on our Father in heaven. Our heavenly Father knows our circumstances, and if we will stay focused on Him, instead of our circumstances, we will grow spiritually— just as “the lilies of the field.”The people who influence us the most are not those who detain us with their continual talk, but those who live their lives like the stars in the sky and “the lilies of the field”— simply and unaffectedly. Those are the lives that mold and shape us.If you want to be of use to God, maintain the proper relationship with Jesus Christ by staying focused on Him, and He will make use of you every minute you live— yet you will be unaware, on the conscious level of your life, that you are being used of Him.

_______________________________________________________________

May 18 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, this devotional seems like it was written especially for us to reinforce the  most recent lessons you have been providing. If you want to be of use to God, maintain the proper relationship with Jesus Christ by staying focused on Him, and He will make use of you every minute you live— yet you will be unaware, on the conscious level of your life, that you are being used of Him. Lord this sounds like the message You have been giving us for some time; focus and be connected to Jesus, and within the abundant life, You will make use of us. And when You are using us we may not even be aware. Our circumstances may not change or they may remain difficult, we may not know our next steps, but You know and will guide and provide. When we are connected, all we need do is to live in our connection, being immediately unaware of the transformation(s) taking place.

 

And God says…”When you consciously and unconsciously understand that Jesus paid it all, there is nothing left for you to do except focus on Jesus, be connected, and live out an abundant life. I can and will then use you. And when you are of the most use to My Kingdom, you will not even be aware. When you focus on Jesus, and are connected to Me, you are part of the vine, and the fruit you bear does not manifest because you are doing heavy lifting and/or gritting your teeth so you can demonstrate the right discipline and self-control. You do not need to read your Bible, pray or study to get closer to Me. You add not one iota of justification or sanctification as a result of your self-discipline; your study, prayer and self-discipline. These disciplined actions occur as a result of your connection with Jesus. You can do nothing less. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own ways, means and self-control, and I will provide everything else you need. Acknowledge God in all your ways and I will make your paths straight. Do not worry about anything, but pray about everything, and you will experience a peace that passes all understanding.”

We have to develop godly habits to express what God’s grace has done in us. It is not just a question of being saved from hell, but of being saved so that “the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” And it is adversity that makes us exhibit His life in our mortal flesh. Is my life exhibiting the essence of the sweetness of the Son of God, or just the basic irritation of “myself” that I would have apart from Him? The only thing that will enable me to enjoy adversity is the acute sense of eagerness of allowing the life of the Son of God to evidence itself in me. No matter how difficult something may be, I must say, “Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this.” Instantly, the Son of God will move to the forefront of my life, and will manifest in my body that which glorifies Him.You must not debate. The moment you obey the light of God, His Son shines through you in that very adversity; but if you debate with God, you grieve His Spirit (see Ephesians 4:30). You must keep yourself in the proper condition to allow the life of the Son of God to be manifested in you, and you cannot keep yourself fit if you give way to self-pity. Our circumstances are the means God uses to exhibit just how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure His Son is. Discovering a new way of manifesting the Son of God should make our heart beat with renewed excitement. It is one thing to choose adversity, and quite another to enter into adversity through the orchestrating of our circumstances by God’s sovereignty. And if God puts you into adversity, He is adequately sufficient to “supply all your need” (Philippians 4:19).Keep your soul properly conditioned to manifest the life of the Son of God. Never live on your memories of past experiences, but let the Word of God always be living and active in you._________________________________________________________________ 

May 14 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, the most recent devotionals by Oswald Chambers seem to reflect a pattern of eager self-denial as a trait for demonstrating our membership and growth in the family of God. Chambers seems to be teaching that I must face (and embrace) adversity and difficult times. He says I must eagerly face difficult circumstances. And he says we must immediately obey when placed in adverse circumstances otherwise we grieve the Holy Spirit. Well Lord that does not seem to be the way that I roll. I have studied, obeyed, and prayed that my loved ones and I NOT encounter difficult times. I pray for healing, blessings and prosperity.  And while I understand the scripture in James that says I am not to get out of difficult circumstances too soon … (let them have their perfect result), I look to You for healing, blessings and prosperity. Is that wrong?  I want the abundant life You promised, the plans for good not evil, I want to be able to say to the mountain, jump into the sea and have it happen. Is this wrong?

And God says…”The abundant life becomes clear when you are not moved by your circumstances; good or difficult. When you surrender your life and are connected to Me you are molded in the image of Jesus over time. All things work for your good in this respect, and you are not moved by your changing circumstances, because when you are surrendered and connected to Me you know, really know, deep down that I am good all the time, and I love you beyond measure. When you acknowledge Me in all your ways, and give up your own ideas of healing, blessings, health and prosperity, I can make your paths straight. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and I will meet all your needs. Delight yourself in the Lord and I will give you the desires of your heart. You are not to necessarily embrace difficult times…but when you are surrendered, connected and curious about how I will respond to your needs you are transformed to a level of understanding and faith to supernaturally and joyously let Me be the God of your life.”

God’s commands to us are actually given to the life of His Son in us. Consequently, to our human nature in which God’s Son has been formed (see Galatians 4:19), His commands are difficult. But they become divinely easy once we obey. Conscience is that ability within me that attaches itself to the highest standard I know, and then continually reminds me of what that standard demands that I do. It is the eye of the soul which looks out either toward God or toward what we regard as the highest standard. This explains why conscience is different in different people. If I am in the habit of continually holding God’s standard in front of me, my conscience will always direct me to God’s perfect law and indicate what I should do. The question is, will I obey? I have to make an effort to keep my conscience so sensitive that I can live without any offense toward anyone. I should be living in such perfect harmony with God’s Son that the spirit of my mind is being renewed through every circumstance of life, and that I may be able to quickly “prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2 ; also see Ephesians 4:23).God always instructs us down to the last detail. Is my ear sensitive enough to hear even the softest whisper of the Spirit, so that I know what I should do? “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…” (Ephesians 4:30). He does not speak with a voice like thunder— His voice is so gentle that it is easy for us to ignore. And the only thing that keeps our conscience sensitive to Him is the habit of being open to God on the inside. When you begin to debate, stop immediately. Don’t ask, “Why can’t I do this?” You are on the wrong track. There is no debating possible once your conscience speaks. Whatever it is— drop it, and see that you keep your inner vision clear.

_______________________________________________________________

May 13 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, once again Chambers sets the bar very high….. I should be living in such perfect harmony with God’s Son that the spirit of my mind is being renewed through every circumstance of life, and that I may be able to quickly “prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2 ; also see Ephesians 4:23). …Of course I SHOULD be living in perfect harmony with God’s Son that my mind is being renewed through every circumstance of life, and I should be able to quickly prove what is good and acceptable and the perfect will of God. But that is not how it has been working (or not working) for me Lord. I have tried to be more disciplined, gritting my teeth and willing myself to higher standards. But that does not seem to work. And I wonder if it ever really works for anyone.

And God says…”Have you noticed that when you are surrendered and connected you are transformed, not out of self-discipline or your own “higher self”? Do you know that the very best you can do does not (and never will) measure up? Even if you were able to set your focus and discipline and for a while obey out of your strong sense of obedience, do you know it does not measure up? When you try to do the right things, you do not. Have you noticed how in trying to control your fears and lust that you just give them more strength and power? Have you noticed that whenever you promise yourself that you will “do better”; the results are at best short term? But when you surrender your self-discipline to Me, and seek our connection…. you are transformed.  Change does actually occur. And when you take over and demonstrate your humanity and lack of discipline, know and believe that my love, grace and mercy fills the gaps. Trust in Me with all your heart, do not rely on your own discipline or understanding and I will make your paths straight…..and you can live with a very clear conscience.”

When we first begin to form a habit, we are fully aware of it. There are times when we are aware of becoming virtuous and godly, but this awareness should only be a stage we quickly pass through as we grow spiritually. If we stop at this stage, we will develop a sense of spiritual pride. The right thing to do with godly habits is to immerse them in the life of the Lord until they become such a spontaneous expression of our lives that we are no longer aware of them. Our spiritual life continually causes us to focus our attention inwardly for the determined purpose of self-examination, because each of us has some qualities we have not yet added to our lives.Your god may be your little Christian habit— the habit of prayer or Bible reading at certain times of your day. Watch how your Father will upset your schedule if you begin to worship your habit instead of what the habit symbolizes. We say, “I can’t do that right now; this is my time alone with God.” No, this is your time alone with your habit. There is a quality that is still lacking in you. Identify your shortcoming and then look for opportunities to work into your life that missing quality.Love means that there are no visible habits— that your habits are so immersed in the Lord that you practice them without realizing it. If you are consciously aware of your own holiness, you place limitations on yourself from doing certain things— things God is not restricting you from at all. This means there is a missing quality that needs to be added to your life. The only supernatural life is the life the Lord Jesus lived, and He was at home with God anywhere. Is there someplace where you are not at home with God? Then allow God to work through whatever that particular circumstance may be until you increase in Him, adding His qualities. Your life will then become the simple life of a child.

______________________________________________________________

May 12 2015Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, I do not want to “sleepwalk” through any part of our relationship. I want to be aware and conscious of our connection. How can I do this? How can I be in the moment, in the Spirit, surrendered, connected, curious, expectant and obedient?

And God says…”Have you ever noticed that we are the most intimate and connected when you are in the most need? Your needs and circumstances drive you to Me. We have the most raw and engaging conversations when you are at your weakest; often your quiet and worship times become rudimentary places in your schedule when you are healthy, wealthy and wise in your own mind.  But when your peace meter is pegged out in the red, when you do not have the resources to face the challenges of the day, and when you feel adrift in the sea of humanity, historically that is when you and most of humanity, often seek a tighter, more connected relationship with Me. And that is just fine.” 

“The world is filled with trials and troubles, and consequently will remind you to be surrendered and connected to Me.  Do not try to get out of your troubles too early, let them have their perfect result. And remember to seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and I will give you everything else you require, including the desire to be surrendered and connected. Delight yourself in the Lord,  that is be surrendered, connected and curious and I will give you the desires of your heart. ”

 

Love is an indefinite thing to most of us; we don’t know what we mean when we talk about love. Love is the loftiest preference of one person for another, and spiritually Jesus demands that this sovereign preference be for Himself (see Luke 14:26). Initially, when “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5), it is easy to put Jesus first. But then we must practice the things mentioned in 2 Peter 1 to see them worked out in our lives.The first thing God does is forcibly remove any insincerity, pride, and vanity from my life. And the Holy Spirit reveals to me that God loved me not because I was lovable, but because it was His nature to do so. Now He commands me to show the same love to others by saying, “…love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). He is saying, “I will bring a number of people around you whom you cannot respect, but you must exhibit My love to them, just as I have exhibited it to you.” This kind of love is not a patronizing love for the unlovable— it is His love, and it will not be evidenced in us overnight. Some of us may have tried to force it, but we were soon tired and frustrated.“The Lord…is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish…” (2 Peter 3:9). I should look within and remember how wonderfully He has dealt with me. The knowledge that God has loved me beyond all limits will compel me to go into the world to love others in the same way. I may get irritated because I have to live with an unusually difficult person. But just think how disagreeable I have been with God! Am I prepared to be identified so closely with the Lord Jesus that His life and His sweetness will be continually poured out through Me? Neither natural love nor God’s divine love will remain and grow in me unless it is nurtured. Love is spontaneous, but it has to be maintained through discipline.

______________________________________________________________

May 11 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Love one another even as I have loved you…. Lord I am certain I cannot do this in my own strength. I frequently rationalize and justify my behavior and feelings for those that have not been so loveable. For those that have hurt me and mine, I often find very little love.  For those that seemingly want to hurt and destroy my family and or our country and way of life, I find little love or affection.  How can I honestly speak about love and loving one another when I often find myself silently cheering when a hater or destroyer gets their “just reward”?

And God says…”I loved you when you were not so loveable. I have asked you to love one other even as I have loved you. And I know you are unable to do this in your own strength and power. And when you know you do not love ….as I have loved you, simply surrender and seek your intimate connection with Me. My Spirit can and will transform your heart. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and everything you require will be provided…including the capacity to love the unlovable. When and as you surrender and live in connection with Me, you are transformed.”

Our Lord was not referring here to a cost which we have to count, but to a cost which He has already counted. The cost was those thirty years in Nazareth, those three years of popularity, scandal, and hatred, the unfathomable agony He experienced in Gethsemane, and the assault upon Him at Calvary— the central point upon which all of time and eternity turn. Jesus Christ has counted the cost. In the final analysis, people are not going to laugh at Him and say, “This man began to build and was not able to finish” (Luke 14:30).The conditions of discipleship given to us by our Lord in verses 26, 27, and 33 mean that the men and women He is going to use in His mighty building enterprises are those in whom He has done everything. “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple ” (Luke 14:26). This verse teaches us that the only men and women our Lord will use in His building enterprises are those who love Him personally, passionately, and with great devotion— those who have a love for Him that goes far beyond any of the closest relationships on earth. The conditions are strict, but they are glorious.

All that we build is going to be inspected by God. When God inspects us with His searching and refining fire, will He detect that we have built enterprises of our own on the foundation of Jesus? (see 1 Corinthians 3:10-15). We are living in a time of tremendous enterprises, a time when we are trying to work for God, and that is where the trap is. Profoundly speaking, we can never work for God. Jesus, as the Master Builder, takes us over so that He may direct and control us completely for His enterprises and His building plans; and no one has any right to demand where he will be put to work.

A spiritually-minded person will never come to you with the demand— “Believe this and that”; a spiritually-minded person will demand that you align your life with the standards of Jesus. We are not asked to believe the Bible, but to believe the One whom the Bible reveals (see John 5:39-40). We are called to present liberty for the conscience of others, not to bring them liberty for their thoughts and opinions. And if we ourselves are free with the liberty of Christ, others will be brought into that same liberty— the liberty that comes from realizing the absolute control and authority of Jesus Christ.Always measure your life solely by the standards of Jesus. Submit yourself to His yoke, and His alone; and always be careful never to place a yoke on others that is not of Jesus Christ. It takes God a long time to get us to stop thinking that unless everyone sees things exactly as we do, they must be wrong. That is never God’s view. There is only one true liberty— the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right.Don’t get impatient with others. Remember how God dealt with you— with patience and with gentleness. But never water down the truth of God. Let it have its way and never apologize for it. Jesus said, “Go…and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:19), not, “Make converts to your own thoughts and opinions.”

______________________________________________________

May 6 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, thank you for confirmation that relationship is what we are to seek from You and that the Holy Spirit deals with all of us differently.

And God says…”Sometimes My children get so wrapped up in church, or “spiritual” related activities that they forget that the main thing is the main thing; Jesus. For just a moment consider that your intimate relationship with Jesus is the main thing. And that sometimes you can be all caught up in helping others believe as you believe instead of finding connection and relationship. I may show you a truth, but that does not mean I need for you to make it your spiritual priority to show that truth to everyone. Simply show them Jesus by living in relationship with Me. You may not even be conscious of it.  Through your surrender and connection you will live in relationship and that will shine through….mostly when you are unaware.”

Beware of thinking that intercession means bringing our own personal sympathies and concerns into the presence of God, and then demanding that He do whatever we ask. Our ability to approach God is due entirely to the vicarious, or substitutionary, identification of our Lord with sin. We have “boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.”Spiritual stubbornness is the most effective hindrance to intercession, because it is based on a sympathetic “understanding” of things we see in ourselves and others that we think needs no atonement.

We have the idea that there are certain good and virtuous things in each of us that do not need to be based on the atonement by the Cross of Christ. Just the sluggishness and lack of interest produced by this kind of thinking makes us unable to intercede. We do not identify ourselves with God’s interests and concerns for others, and we get irritated with Him. Yet we are always ready with our own ideas, and our intercession becomes only the glorification of our own natural sympathies. We have to realize that the identification of Jesus with sin means a radical change of all of our sympathies and interests.

Vicarious intercession means that we deliberately substitute God’s interests in others for our natural sympathy with them. Am I stubborn or substituted? Am I spoiled or complete in my relationship to God? Am I irritable or spiritual? Am I determined to have my own way or determined to be identified with Him?

__________________________________________________________

May 4, 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, Dave and I agreed that we really did not grasp the significance or the issue of vicarious intercession as outlined by Oswald Chambers. Clearly, if we follow our own ideas, sympathies, or preconceived notions of what is good for others we will miss the mark. However You have also been teaching us that is the case for everything we examine, or act on in this life, is it not? You have been teaching us to surrender our own ideas, thoughts and actions on every topic to You. That we are not to use our own un-surrendered notions as the basis for anything we do or decide not to do. It is our understanding that You would have us live a life day by day, hour by hour and minute by minute that is concentrated and focused on being surrendered to You, connected to You,  and curious about how You will live through us and meet all our needs.  You have shown us that through this process of being surrendered and connected, we will receive the strength and power that allow us to be obedient. And when we are not obedient, You provide the love, grace and mercy to fill the gaps.

And God says…”Trust in Me with all your heart and do not rely on our own ways and means and I will make your paths straight. Delight yourself in the Lord and I will give you the desires of your heart. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus and I will provide everything else you need for this life…..”

“When you are surrendered to Me it means you trust Me to meet your needs. You trust Me to be the God of your life. When you give up (surrender) your own notions of what you and others need for your lives, and trust Me with the ways and means, you are living a life of faith. You understand that My ways are not your ways, and while you may not understand the outcomes, you do trust Me to be God in your life and in the lives of others.”

 

Love is not premeditated– it is spontaneous; that is, it bursts forth in extraordinary ways. There is nothing of precise certainty in Paul’s description of love. We cannot predetermine our thoughts and actions by saying, “Now I will never think any evil thoughts, and I will believe everything that Jesus would have me to believe.” No, the characteristic of love is spontaneity. We don’t deliberately set the statements of Jesus before us as our standard, but when His Spirit is having His way with us, we live according to His standard without even realizing it. And when we look back, we are amazed at how unconcerned we have been over our emotions, which is the very evidence that real spontaneous love was there. The nature of everything involved in the life of God in us is only discerned when we have been through it and it is in our past.The fountains from which love flows are in God, not in us. It is absurd to think that the love of God is naturally in our hearts, as a result of our own nature. His love is there only because it “has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit…” (Romans 5:5).If we try to prove to God how much we love Him, it is a sure sign that we really don’t love Him. The evidence of our love for Him is the absolute spontaneity of our love, which flows naturally from His nature within us. And when we look back, we will not be able to determine why we did certain things, but we can know that we did them according to the spontaneous nature of His love in us. The life of God exhibits itself in this spontaneous way because the fountains of His love are in the Holy Spirit.

____________________________________________________________

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

April 30 2015

Good morning Lord and thank you for this devotional and Spirit filled direction this morning. Both Dave and I could feel your presence as we explored the notion of being connected to You and feeling the connection and a love that can overwhelm. It occurred to me that I have been feeling connected as I seek you in the morning, but I have been seeking connection as I search for answers to particular questions about my life and particular needs and circumstances. I have spent very little time seeking connection for the sake of being connected to You and Your love.  Going forward it is my intention to consciously seek Your love just for the sake of being intimately connected, and try not to just seek our relationship for the sake of guidance, blessings or rescue.

And God says…”That is a noble undertaking, however you must know that I use your circumstances and needs to help mold and shape you. I use your trials to your benefit; (don’t try to get out of your trials too early, let them have their perfect result). As you have learned, I want a relationship with you, and given the sacrifice of Jesus have chosen to use your life landscape as a vehicle for our communication. However, it is a powerful relationship that can be based on  love and respect with no regard for wants and or needs. When you simply “know” and trust that I am your God and will work ALL THINGS for your good, you can find peace and joy in our simple relationship of love. When you delight yourself in the Lord, be certain that I will give you the desires of your heart; even when (or especially when) you are not seeking the desires of your heart.”