When a person is born again, there is a period of time when he does not have the same vitality in his thinking or reasoning that he previously had. We must learn to express this new life within us, which comes by forming the mind of Christ (see Philippians 2:5). Luke 21:19 means that we take possession of our souls through patience. But many of us prefer to stay at the entrance to the Christian life, instead of going on to create and build our soul in accordance with the new life God has placed within us. We fail because we are ignorant of the way God has made us, and we blame things on the devil that are actually the result of our own undisciplined natures. Just think what we could be when we are awakened to the truth!
There are certain things in life that we need not pray about— moods, for instance. We will never get rid of moodiness by praying, but we will by kicking it out of our lives. Moods nearly always are rooted in some physical circumstance, not in our true inner self. It is a continual struggle not to listen to the moods which arise as a result of our physical condition, but we must never submit to them for a second. We have to pick ourselves up by the back of the neck and shake ourselves; then we will find that we can do what we believed we were unable to do. The problem that most of us are cursed with is simply that we won’t. The Christian life is one of spiritual courage and determination lived out in our flesh.
Lord, thank you for the message and music today. Today my goal is to let go and let You have my day. You gave me your love and grace and I know that you’re not leaving. I will not try so hard this day. I will simply trust and rest in You.
And God says…”Remember the old hymn that says…”Jesus paid it all?” Just recall that verse. Your debt; past, present and future has been paid. It is for you to simply trust and rest in Me. And like this new song says, don’t try so hard. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, don’t rely on your own devices, and I will make your paths straight. Delight yourself in the Lord and I will give you the desires of your heart…..trust, rest and be connected this day….and remember, Don’t try so hard”.
. . . you may be partakers of the divine nature . . . —2 Peter 1:4
We are made “partakers of the divine nature,” receiving and sharing God’s own nature through His promises. Then we have to work that divine nature into our human nature by developing godly habits. The first habit to develop is the habit of recognizing God’s provision for us. We say, however, “Oh, I can’t afford it.” One of the worst lies is wrapped up in that statement. We talk as if our heavenly Father has cut us off without a penny! We think it is a sign of true humility to say at the end of the day, “Well, I just barely got by today, but it was a severe struggle.” And yet all of Almighty God is ours in the Lord Jesus! And He will reach to the last grain of sand and the remotest star to bless us if we will only obey Him. Does it really matter that our circumstances are difficult? Why shouldn’t they be! If we give way to self-pity and indulge in the luxury of misery, we remove God’s riches from our lives and hinder others from entering into His provision. No sin is worse than the sin of self-pity, because it removes God from the throne of our lives, replacing Him with our own self-interests. It causes us to open our mouths only to complain, and we simply become spiritual sponges— always absorbing, never giving, and never being satisfied. And there is nothing lovely or generous about our lives.
Before God becomes satisfied with us, He will take everything of our so-called wealth, until we learn that He is our Source; as the psalmist said, “All my springs are in You” (Psalm 87:7). If the majesty, grace, and power of God are not being exhibited in us, God holds us responsible. “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you . . . may have an abundance . . .” (2 Corinthians 9:8)— then learn to lavish the grace of God on others, generously giving of yourself. Be marked and identified with God’s nature, and His blessing will flow through you all the time.
Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord
Recognizing your provision for us … in everything. That is the first step. I love it when I am able to recognize your provision in a seemingly difficult situation. It makes it so much easier to find you and your purpose when I am living in expectancy and gratitude and curiosity. When I am not in that kind of mindset, and some circumstance jumps up … I tend to fight it and try to conquer it naturally. And it’s really hard to get supernatural results with natural methods. So I wind up stressed out and causing pain for myself and others…… Not a good plan. Well, it’s not planned. That’s the point. Those pesky circumstances just sneak up and jump on me. It seems my best plan is to do my best to stay grateful, expecting, and curious about what You are going to bring next and how you are going to work all these messy circumstances for good (Romans 8:28) Then when a nasty circumstance surprises me, I’ll have the right mental context to allow your supernatural light to shine thru me to the world that is watching. … And if I stumble away from that space … I know it’s the place I need to get back to … and it’s good to know that I am always welcome there.
. . . that you may know what is the hope of His calling . . . —Ephesians 1:18
Remember that you have been saved so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in your body (see 2 Corinthians 4:10). Direct the total energy of your powers so that you may achieve everything your election as a child of God provides; rise every time to whatever occasion may come your way.
You did not do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must do something to exhibit it. You must “work out your own salvation” which God has worked in you already (Philippians 2:12). Are your speech, your thinking, and your emotions evidence that you are working it “out”? If you are still the same miserable, grouchy person, set on having your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved and sanctified you.
God is the Master Designer, and He allows adversities into your life to see if you can jump over them properly—”By my God I can leap over a wall” (Psalm 18:29). God will never shield you from the requirements of being His son or daughter. First Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you . . . .” Rise to the occasion—do what the trial demands of you. It does not matter how much it hurts as long as it gives God the opportunity to manifest the life of Jesus in your body.
May God not find complaints in us anymore, but spiritual vitality—a readiness to face anything He brings our way. The only proper goal of life is that we manifest the Son of God; and when this occurs, all of our dictating of our demands to God disappears. Our Lord never dictated demands to His Father, and neither are we to make demands on God. We are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants. Once we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine with which to feed and nourish others.
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May 15, 2013
Lord, I want to live like that. And when I read a devotional like this one I am reminded how far I need to grow. But You also remind me of how far I have traveled. Perhaps I am not the same person I was before.
And God says…”You are being transformed into My likeness, and while you would like that to take place in a flash, and in some ways that has occurred, you are being transformed over time. You are being shaped by trials, circumstance and the sandpaper of daily life. Count it all good as you encounter various trials, knowing that I love you so much I would not allow you to miss being transformed. Rejoice and know I am with you this day. Delight yourself in the Lord, and receive the desires of your heart.”
Note: When I saw today’s devo from My Utmost, I knew immediately that this was the song. For the story that makes it real check out Laura Story’s bio here:
. . . that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body —2 Corinthians 4:10
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.
Journal DJR
Good morning Lord,
I dont know that it could be called a “habit” yet … but it’s getting there. I find that if I am dialed in to You, having worshipped, and rehearsed the many blessings and your awesome ways … then when some circumstance jumps up unexpectedly … I do better at responding with, “Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this.” When this is my response, then your response is indeed … “Instantly, the Son of God will move to the forefront of my life, and will manifest in my body that which glorifies Him.”
So, like Laura Story says in her bio, “I wouldn’t have signed up for it” …. but there are blessings in the adversities, when I respond this way … heading into the storm rather than running from it.
Lord, help me today to remember your blessings and to remember that you are a “Blesser” by nature. And to live expectantly, expecting blessings to come thru all circumstances. Help me live in that place and if I start to debate about my circumstances, remind me quickly how foolish that is. And get quickly on the track of expectation and curiosity about how you are going to bring the blessing out of these circumstances.
… strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men —Acts 24:16
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.
Lord, when I read a devotional like this I am reminded that my conscience is constantly telling me that I am following my own path, chasing my own needs and desires; provision, safety, health, and my own sense of happiness. How can I train myself to trust You for these things?
And God says…”You cannot train yourself, you can however, surrender yourself and your wants and needs to Me…this and every morning. Trust in Me with all your heart. Do not trust your own instincts or inclinations. And remember that you become like Christ by faith through grace. May your personal failures today, guide you to the grace of God that will also reinforce your faith as you grasp My perfect plan for my imperfect children. Delight yourself in the Lord, your LifeSong will sing, and you will be blessed, this and every day.”
Add means that we have to do something. We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We cannot save nor sanctify ourselves— God does that. But God will not give us good habits or character, and He will not force us to walk correctly before Him. We have to do all that ourselves. We must “work out” our “own salvation” which God has worked in us (Philippians 2:12). Add means that we must get into the habit of doing things, and in the initial stages that is difficult. To take the initiative is to make a beginning— to instruct yourself in the way you must go.
Beware of the tendency to ask the way when you know it perfectly well. Take the initiative— stop hesitating— take the first step. Be determined to act immediately in faith on what God says to you when He speaks, and never reconsider or change your initial decisions. If you hesitate when God tells you to do something, you are being careless, spurning the grace in which you stand. Take the initiative yourself, make a decision of your will right now, and make it impossible to go back. Burn your bridges behind you, saying, “I will write that letter,” or “I will pay that debt”; and then do it! Make it irrevocable.
We have to get into the habit of carefully listening to God about everything, forming the habit of finding out what He says and heeding it. If, when a crisis comes, we instinctively turn to God, we will know that the habit has been formed in us. We have to take the initiative where we are, not where we have not yet been.
Where there is no revelation [or prophetic vision], the people cast off restraint . . . —Proverbs 29:18
There is a difference between holding on to a principle and having a vision. A principle does not come from moral inspiration, but a vision does. People who are totally consumed with idealistic principles rarely do anything. A person’s own idea of God and His attributes may actually be used to justify and rationalize his deliberate neglect of his duty. Jonah tried to excuse his disobedience by saying to God, “. . . I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm” (Jonah 4:2). I too may have the right idea of God and His attributes, but that may be the very reason why I do not do my duty. But wherever there is vision, there is also a life of honesty and integrity, because the vision gives me the moral incentive.
Our own idealistic principles may actually lull us into ruin. Examine yourself spiritually to see if you have vision, or only principles.
Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?
“Where there is no revelation [or prophetic vision]. . . .” Once we lose sight of God, we begin to be reckless. We cast off certain restraints from activities we know are wrong. We set prayer aside as well and cease having God’s vision in the little things of life. We simply begin to act on our own initiative. If we are eating only out of our own hand, and doing things solely on our own initiative without expecting God to come in, we are on a downward path. We have lost the vision. Is our attitude today an attitude that flows from our vision of God? Are we expecting God to do greater things than He has ever done before? Is there a freshness and a vitality in our spiritual outlook?
Lord, I am convicted by the devotional, knowing I am not always seeking You and Your path…I often strike out on my own and seek my own way….and ways and means. Help me find You and Your ways and means this day. Show me how to stay connected to You as my day unfolds and tries to overwhelm me.
And God says…”You live in this world, but you do not have to be overwhelmed or caught up in it. Take each step of your day, knowing I am here, with you in all you say and do. I will prepare the day before you, I will strengthen you, and I will rescue you when and if you need rescuing. I know the plan I have for you, a plan for good. Trust in Me, acknowledge Me, and know your paths are laid out and prepared by Me. Delight yourself in the Lord, and receive the desires of your heart, this and every day. Give me your burdens, trust and believe in Me and just like a little child, go through your day without a care in the world, knowing that I love you immeasurably and have your world and life in the palm of my hand”
Because you have kept My command to persevere . . . —Revelation 3:10
Perseverance means more than endurance— more than simply holding on until the end. A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, but our Lord continues to stretch and strain, and every once in a while the saint says, “I can’t take any more.” Yet God pays no attention; He goes on stretching until His purpose is in sight, and then He lets the arrow fly. Entrust yourself to God’s hands. Is there something in your life for which you need perseverance right now? Maintain your intimate relationship with Jesus Christ through the perseverance of faith. Proclaim as Job did, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).
Faith is not some weak and pitiful emotion, but is strong and vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. And even though you cannot see Him right now and cannot understand what He is doing, you know Him. Disaster occurs in your life when you lack the mental composure that comes from establishing yourself on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the supreme effort of your life— throwing yourself with abandon and total confidence upon God.
God ventured His all in Jesus Christ to save us, and now He wants us to venture our all with total abandoned confidence in Him. There are areas in our lives where that faith has not worked in us as yet— places still untouched by the life of God. There were none of those places in Jesus Christ’s life, and there are to be none in ours. Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life, that they may know You . . .” (John 17:3). The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we will take this view, life will become one great romance— a glorious opportunity of seeing wonderful things all the time. God is disciplining us to get us into this central place of power.
Lord, thank you for the devotional and music; it is a very good way to start my day; proclaiming that whatever comes my way, I will trust You. Reminders like this in the morning are great ways to start my day, being reminded that whenever I am intimately connected to you, I need not be shaken, and I will not be moved. Thank you for the reminder Lord.
And God says…”Recall the days and weeks when you thought you could not go on, but you did. Recall the times when you had no idea which way to turn, so you turned to Me. Recall your fear and anxiety that turned to overwhelming joy when you observed what I can and will do in your life. Trust in Me, and know that I will only allow the fire to touch you enough to strengthen and purify you. I am the refiner of your life. And recall this…if I loved you enough to give my life why would I not give you every good thing that is good for your life now? Celebrate your circumstances, recall my love and trust in Me. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it . . . —Luke 14:28
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.
Lord, I would like to “Live like that”: Be totally focused on You. But I find I am so easily distracted by my desires, trials and circumstances. And even if I find myself “in the good fight” taking the high road (which I do not always take) I find myself often wounded and off track…simply focused on righting myself or getting treatment for my wounds. How can I stay focused on You all the time and learn some of these lessons once and for all?
And God says…”You think it is a race and you are running out of time as you get older. You think and feel like you should have learned a number of lessons years ago. But that is not how it works. You cannot learn to be less human, or less worldly, you can only surrender. You cannot save yourself, or improve yourself, or even learn lesson after lesson to become a stronger and more mature believer. You can only surrender, and let Jesus live through you. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own devices, and I will make your paths straight. Seek first the Kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and everything else you need will be provided. Now go out into your day, focused on Jesus, trusting that He will open doors, heal your wounds and make a way when it appears there is no way. Be happy and know that I came to give you life and life more abundantly.”
. . . it has not yet been revealed what we shall be . . . —1 John 3:2
Our natural inclination is to be so precise—trying always to forecast accurately what will happen next—that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We think that we must reach some predetermined goal, but that is not the nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty. Consequently, we do not put down roots. Our common sense says, “Well, what if I were in that circumstance?” We cannot presume to see ourselves in any circumstance in which we have never been.Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life—gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. When we become simply a promoter or a defender of a particular belief, something within us dies. That is not believing God—it is only believing our belief about Him. Jesus said, “. . . unless you . . . become as little children . . .” (Matthew 18:3). The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, “. . . believe also in Me” (John 14:1), not, “Believe certain things about Me”. Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in—but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful to Him._________________________________________________________April 29, 2013
Journal Entry for Today-JDV
Lord, if there is a road I should walk, help me find it. If there is a way I should go, help me go there. I bring you doubt and You give me faith, I bring you disobedience and You give me grace, mercy and love. Lord, whatever, wherever, and whenever it is in my life, please help me find it.
And God says… “Simply surrender and be connected with Jesus and I can lead you. Trust in Me with all your heart and do not rely on your own devices and I will make your paths straight. Seek first the Kingdom of God which is Jesus and everything else shall be added to you. Delight yourself in the Lord and I will give you the desires of your heart. Bring Me your empty hands and let me fill them. Bring Me your empty heart and let Me fill it with the never ending love of a God willing to give Himself for you.”
This CO2- (Church Of 2) is where two guys meet each day to tighten up our Connections with Jesus. We start by placing the daily “My Utmost For His Highest” in this WordPress blog. Then we prayerfully select some matching worship music and usually pick out a few lyrics that fit especially well. Then we just start praying and editing and Bolding and adding comments and see where the Spirit takes us.
It’s been a blessing for both of us.
If you’d like to start a CO2, we’d be glad to help you and your partner get started. Also click the link below to see how others are doing CO2.Odds Monkey
Steve Harvey Introduces Jesus To A Secular Audience
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