In the Bible clouds are always associated with God. Clouds are the sorrows, sufferings, or providential circumstances, within or without our personal lives, which actually seem to contradict the sovereignty of God. Yet it is through these very clouds that the Spirit of God is teaching us how to walk by faith. If there were never any clouds in our lives, we would have no faith. “The clouds are the dust of His feet” (Nahum 1:3). They are a sign that God is there. What a revelation it is to know that sorrow, bereavement, and suffering are actually the clouds that come along with God! God cannot come near us without clouds— He does not come in clear-shining brightness.It is not true to say that God wants to teach us something in our trials. Through every cloud He brings our way, He wants us to unlearn something. His purpose in using the cloud is to simplify our beliefs until our relationship with Him is exactly like that of a child— a relationship simply between God and our own souls, and where other people are but shadows. Until other people become shadows to us, clouds and darkness will be ours every once in a while. Is our relationship with God becoming more simple than it has ever been?

There is a connection between the strange providential circumstances allowed by God and what we know of Him, and we have to learn to interpret the mysteries of life in the light of our knowledge of God. Until we can come face to face with the deepest, darkest fact of life without damaging our view of God’s character, we do not yet know Him.

“…they were fearful as they entered the cloud” (Luke 9:34). Is there anyone except Jesus in your cloud? If so, it will only get darker until you get to the place where there is “no one anymore, but only Jesus …” (Mark 9:8; also see Mark 2:7).

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July 29 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, this devotional reminds me of what C.S. Lewis wrote in The Problem of Pain “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” It is true, whenever we are up against it, and/or have nowhere else to turn, we turn to You Lord. When all our options are gone, we seek Your answers. And it seems as if You use these kinds of circumstances to show us your love, grace and mercy; AND to show us that even though the outcomes may not have changed, our fears are/were unfounded. Thank You God for using my circumstances to help me love You as a child.

And God says…”Like most humans, you first want to be right, appear to be right, seek pleasure and avoid pain. You want to choose the easy route and avoid pain, however, when you avoid pain and difficulties you are also avoiding the growth and opportunity that can come from your trials. Do not try to get out of your trials too early, let them have their perfect result. And part of that perfect result is allowing Me to demonstrate that your fears are not justified. Trust in Me with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding and I will make your paths straight.”

“Over and over again you are learning the way to deal with life and the storms of life; surrender your worries, circumstances, trials, hopes and dreams to Me. Seek connection and allow the Holy Spirit to live through you as you remain curious about My response(s) to your trials. And when I do provide answers and opportunities, allow the Holy Spirit inside of you guide you to and through obedience. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and I will provide everything else you need, including the understanding, strength, power and humility to be obedient inside your trials and the outcomes.”                                

 

The golden rule to follow to obtain spiritual understanding is not one of intellectual pursuit, but one of obedience. If a person wants scientific knowledge, then intellectual curiosity must be his guide. But if he desires knowledge and insight into the teachings of Jesus Christ, he can only obtain it through obedience. If spiritual things seem dark and hidden to me, then I can be sure that there is a point of disobedience somewhere in my life. Intellectual darkness is the result of ignorance, but spiritual darkness is the result of something that I do not intend to obey.No one ever receives a word from God without instantly being put to the test regarding it. We disobey and then wonder why we are not growing spiritually. Jesus said, “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24). He is saying, in essence, “Don’t say another word to me; first be obedient by making things right.” The teachings of Jesus hit us where we live. We cannot stand as impostors before Him for even one second. He instructs us down to the very last detail. The Spirit of God uncovers our spirit of self-vindication and makes us sensitive to things that we have never even thought of before.When Jesus drives something home to you through His Word, don’t try to evade it. If you do, you will become a religious impostor. Examine the things you tend simply to shrug your shoulders about, and where you have refused to be obedient, and you will know why you are not growing spiritually. As Jesus said, “First…go….” Even at the risk of being thought of as fanatical, you must obey what God tells you.

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July 27 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, once again it seems like Chambers is using his place to teach and leverage scripture to get his students to be and do what he believes. This line he writes; “No one ever receives a word from God without instantly being put to the test regarding it” seems at odds with your teaching. You already know that I do not have the capacity to “pass the test” daily. You already know my condition. I try to do the right thing, to instantly obey, and then I don’t. You already know that when I want to do the right thing, I do not. You already know that with the best of intentions, my faith often fails me. And then I remember that Paul said the same thing. Who will save me from this predicament? I want to obey, I want to do the right thing, but it seems I am at war within myself. Who will save me from this dilemma? Thanks be to God Jesus Christ has already saved me from this circumstance. (Romans 7:21-25)

And God says…”Since the beginning of time, humans have thought they could improve on the plans I have made for you. From the Garden to the present, history is full of examples of where and how good Christians have tried to remind other Christians about how to live and how to grow and prosper. Many times you confuse cultural imperatives with spiritual directives. And good teachers will try to leverage their experiences to help others “get it” more quickly. Of course you are supposed to be immediately obedient, of course you should have volumes of faith, of course you are to love your neighbor, of course you are to reject and deny your father and mother and entire family in favor of Me. But it takes what it takes for you to “get it”. It takes time, difficult circumstances and My grace. It takes enough failure in your own power for you to surrender, be connected, curious and obedient. “

“Apart from Me you can do nothing. But do not worry about anything, pray about everything. And I will give you the grace, faith and peace that passes all understanding as you surrender, and are connected and curious.”

The characteristic of a disciple is not that he does good things, but that he is good in his motives, having been made good by the supernatural grace of God. The only thing that exceeds right-doing is right-being. Jesus Christ came to place within anyone who would let Him a new heredity that would have a righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus is saying, “If you are My disciple, you must be right not only in your actions, but also in your motives, your aspirations, and in the deep recesses of the thoughts of your mind.” Your motives must be so pure that God Almighty can see nothing to rebuke. Who can stand in the eternal light of God and have nothing for Him to rebuke? Only the Son of God, and Jesus Christ claims that through His redemption He can place within anyone His own nature and make that person as pure and as simple as a child. The purity that God demands is impossible unless I can be remade within, and that is exactly what Jesus has undertaken to do through His redemption.No one can make himself pure by obeying laws. Jesus Christ does not give us rules and regulations— He gives us His teachings which are truths that can only be interpreted by His nature which He places within us. The great wonder of Jesus Christ’s salvation is that He changes our heredity. He does not change human nature— He changes its source, and thereby its motives as well.

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July 24 2015

Good morning Lord. Thank You for reminding us that You have made us flawless through Christ Jesus. Please help us be men after Your own heart this day as we seek to surrender our hopes, dreams, rights and wrongs to You. Thank You for the intimate connection and reassurance of Your grace. We believe that we walk in your light this day, and when we do not “feel” surrendered and connected, we ask that You remind us again that Your grace and love fill the gaps of our humanity. We believe Lord and thank you for helping us with our unbelief. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The Death Side. In sanctification God has to deal with us on the death side as well as on the life side. Sanctification requires our coming to the place of death, but many of us spend so much time there that we become morbid. There is always a tremendous battle before sanctification is realized— something within us pushing with resentment against the demands of Christ. When the Holy Spirit begins to show us what sanctification means, the struggle starts immediately. Jesus said, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate…his own life…he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26).In the process of sanctification, the Spirit of God will strip me down until there is nothing left but myself, and that is the place of death. Am I willing to be myself and nothing more? Am I willing to have no friends, no father, no brother, and no self-interest— simply to be ready for death? That is the condition required for sanctification. No wonder Jesus said, “I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). This is where the battle comes, and where so many of us falter. We refuse to be identified with the death of Jesus Christ on this point. We say, “But this is so strict. Surely He does not require that of me.” Our Lord is strict, and He does require that of us.Am I willing to reduce myself down to simply “me”? Am I determined enough to strip myself of all that my friends think of me, and all that I think of myself? Am I willing and determined to hand over my simple naked self to God? Once I am, He will immediately sanctify me completely, and my life will be free from being determined and persistent toward anything except God (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

When I pray, “Lord, show me what sanctification means for me,” He will show me. It means being made one with Jesus. Sanctification is not something Jesus puts in me— it is Himself in me (see 1 Corinthians 1:30).

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July 22 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, when I first read this devotional, I immediately started to reject Chambers polarizing position; Chambers writes…”Am I willing to have no friends, no father, no brother, and no self-interest— simply to be ready for death? We say, “But this is so strict. Surely He does not require that of me.” Our Lord is strict, and He does require that of us.“ Then I read in Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

So which is it Lord? Are You that strict? Do I give up my friends, family and my self interest in order to be sanctified? Or is it as you say in Matthew; if I keep company with You will I learn to live freely and lightly?

And God says…”The easy part of being sanctified is the actual living it out once you have surrendered and are connected, allowing the Holy Spirit to live through you. The hard part is to put away your human priorities of family, work, church duties, service activities, chasing wealth and any and everything else that can and does get in the way of your surrender to Me.”

“Before you know it you are involved in so many things every morning, you have not found time to consciously surrender and be connected with Me, allowing the Holy Spirit to take over your living. You get so caught up in chasing your goals, executing on objectives, and making a way for you and your family, that our relationship comes second, or third in your life. And as you chase your life goals and objectives, you ask Me to bless them. That cannot result in living an abundant life. I cannot always bless your ways, as your ways are not My ways.”

“Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and I will provide everything else you need, including an abundant life. Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways and I will make your paths straight. I began the good work in you, and it is My role and opportunity to finish the work that I began. Surrender, be connected daily, and watch your transformation. Wait on Me, be curious, and you can walk and not get weary. You will rise up with the wings of eagles.”

 

Beware of thinking of our Lord as only a teacher. If Jesus Christ is only a teacher, then all He can do is frustrate me by setting a standard before me I cannot attain. What is the point of presenting me with such a lofty ideal if I cannot possibly come close to reaching it?

I would be happier if I never knew it. What good is there in telling me to be what I can never be— to be “pure in heart” (Matthew 5:8), to do more than my duty, or to be completely devoted to God? I must know Jesus Christ as my Savior before His teaching has any meaning for me other than that of a lofty ideal which only leads to despair. But when I am born again by the Spirit of God, I know that Jesus Christ did not come only to teach— He came to make me what He teaches I should be. The redemption means that Jesus Christ can place within anyone the same nature that ruled His own life, and all the standards God gives us are based on that nature.

The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount produces a sense of despair in the natural man— exactly what Jesus means for it to do. As long as we have some self-righteous idea that we can carry out our Lord’s teaching, God will allow us to continue until we expose our own ignorance by stumbling over some obstacle in our way. Only then are we willing to come to Him as paupers and receive from Him. “Blessed are the poor in spirit….” This is the first principle in the kingdom of God.

The underlying foundation of Jesus Christ’s kingdom is poverty, not possessions; not making decisions for Jesus, but having such a sense of absolute futility that we finally admit, “Lord, I cannot even begin to do it.” Then Jesus says, “Blessed are you…” (Matthew 5:11). This is the doorway to the kingdom, and yet it takes us so long to believe that we are actually poor! The knowledge of our own poverty is what brings us to the proper place where Jesus Christ accomplishes His work.

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July 21 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, this devotional really strikes home with me. Most of my early Christian life was spent wondering how all those people in church were able to always “color inside the lines” except me? I would leave church depressed when the preacher would focus on sin management and how “good Christians” didn’t do this and wouldn’t do that. I thought I was the only one in the congregation that was not able to stay on the path. I sure would have appreciated a bit more transparency. So now I understand that we will always fail without You living through us, and that our very best service, in our own power, counts for nothing.

And God says…”As Chambers said in the devotional, Jesus is not to be considered a good teacher; He is to be considered your life. Chambers said it well…”Jesus Christ can place within anyone the same nature that ruled His own life, and all the standards God gives us are based on that nature.” Jesus gave you insurmountable standards, NOT so you would give up on becoming a “Christ like disciple”, but so that you would quit trying to achieve the standard on your own power. And recall it is not a partnership. It is not a 1940s movie entitled “God is my co-pilot”. Becoming the man or woman that Christ describes is only possible when you are surrendered to His power, and connected via the Holy Spirit. Then you can do all things through this power of Christ Jesus. And when you are not surrendered and connected to Jesus, My grace is sufficient for you and fills the gap. Seek first the Kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and everything else you require, including the power to live to the impossible standards set by Jesus, will be provided.”

There is no thrill for us in walking, yet it is the test for all of our steady and enduring qualities. To “walk and not faint” is the highest stretch possible as a measure of strength. The word walk is used in the Bible to express the character of a person— “…John…looking at Jesus as He walked…said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God!’ ” (John 1:35-36). There is nothing abstract or obscure in the Bible; everything is vivid and real. God does not say, “Be spiritual,” but He says, “Walk before Me…” (Genesis 17:1).When we are in an unhealthy condition either physically or emotionally, we always look for thrills in life. In our physical life this leads to our efforts to counterfeit the work of the Holy Spirit; in our emotional life it leads to obsessions and to the destruction of our morality; and in our spiritual life, if we insist on pursuing only thrills, on mounting up “with wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31), it will result in the destruction of our spirituality.

Having the reality of God’s presence is not dependent on our being in a particular circumstance or place, but is only dependent on our determination to keep the Lord before us continually. Our problems arise when we refuse to place our trust in the reality of His presence. The experience the psalmist speaks of— “We will not fear, even though…” (Psalm 46:2)— will be ours once we are grounded on the truth of the reality of God’s presence, not just a simple awareness of it, but an understanding of the reality of it. Then we will exclaim, “He has been here all the time!” At critical moments in our lives it is necessary to ask God for guidance, but it should be unnecessary to be constantly saying, “Oh, Lord, direct me in this, and in that.” Of course He will, and in fact, He is doing it already! If our everyday decisions are not according to His will, He will press through them, bringing restraint to our spirit. Then we must be quiet and wait for the direction of His presence.

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July 20, 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, Chambers tells us in this devotional that to walk with You is a statement about our daily connection with You…”To “walk and not faint” is the highest stretch possible as a measure of strength. The word walk is used in the Bible to express the character of a person—“. In the language of our day, we use the terms, “surrender and connection”. We have believed and are operating on the notions that; to be surrendered and connected is in fact keeping the Lord before us in all things. Is it the same Lord?

And God says…”Indeed the meaning is the same. However, keeping the Lord before you is often difficult because of the many distractions; spouses, children, family, church service, work, friends, recreational activities, education, hobbies, entertainment. And I could go on and on and on. Your distractions get especially cumbersome when you are well funded and very busy with work trying to sustain and increase your levels of earnings. Humans too often believe that stored income equals security; when in fact true peace and security can only come from Me.”

“However, those that wait upon the Lord…are surrendered, connected and curious are in fact walking with the Lord, and can be confident that their strength will rise, and they will rise up with the wings of eagles. You will walk and not grow weary.”

“How can you do this day after day after day? How can you “walk” or be surrendered, connected, and curious about what I will do in your life every day? I can create needs, or allow your needs to become intensified. I can use your circumstances to bring you into surrender and connection. And, or, you can choose to be surrendered, connected and curious by simply seeking Me and placing the Lord in front of you every day, hour and minute.  But you can be certain I will finish the work I began in you.”

“Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and I will provide everything else you need, including your desire and opportunity to walk with Me every day, I will also provide the grace to cover you when you do not. Acknowledge Me in all your ways, and I will make your paths straight. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart; you will rise up as if you are flying on the wings of eagles.”

 

Paul was a scholar and an orator of the highest degree; he was not speaking here out of a deep sense of humility, but was saying that when he preached the gospel, he would veil the power of God if he impressed people with the excellency of his speech. Belief in Jesus is a miracle produced only by the effectiveness of redemption, not by impressive speech, nor by wooing and persuading, but only by the sheer unaided power of God. The creative power of redemption comes through the preaching of the gospel, but never because of the personality of the preacher.Real and effective fasting by a preacher is not fasting from food, but fasting from eloquence, from impressive diction, and from everything else that might hinder the gospel of God being presented. The preacher is there as the representative of God— “…as though God were pleading through us…” (2 Corinthians 5:20). He is there to present the gospel of God. If it is only because of my preaching that people desire to be better, they will never get close to Jesus Christ. Anything that flatters me in my preaching of the gospel will result in making me a traitor to Jesus, and I prevent the creative power of His redemption from doing its work.“And I, if I am lifted up…, will draw all peoples to Myself” (John 12:32).

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July 17 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, I get this devotional; that we should not try to use elaborate music, words, or anything else when we talk about You to others.  We should simply allow you to show through our lives. Is this the message for me today?

And God says…”Yes that is the message for today, however, how you allow Me to show through you is another issue altogether. Allowing Me to live and show through you starts with a surrender of your own talent and skills, and does not begin and or end with a special time or day for telling others about Me.  Sharing your faith is less a revival, invitation song or a time to share the four spiritual laws than it is a time to simply live out your life surrendered, and connected to Me. Some of your most powerful words and “silent” testimony will come when you are not even aware of it, when you live your life out in a surrendered and connected state; when you are simply living your life. Seek first the kingdom of God, and everything else will be provided, including your life testimony. Acknowledge Me in all your ways and I will make your paths straight. And when you are surrendered and connected with Me, they will always see Me in you.”

 

Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct in this passage for those people who have His Spirit. He urges us to keep our minds filled with the concept of God’s control over everything, which means that a disciple must maintain an attitude of perfect trust and an eagerness to ask and to seek.Fill your mind with the thought that God is there. And once your mind is truly filled with that thought, when you experience difficulties it will be as easy as breathing for you to remember, “My heavenly Father knows all about this!” This will be no effort at all, but will be a natural thing for you when difficulties and uncertainties arise. Before you formed this concept of divine control so powerfully in your mind, you used to go from person to person seeking help, but now you go to God about it. Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct for those people who have His Spirit, and it works on the following principle: God is my Father, He loves me, and I will never think of anything that He will forget, so why should I worry?

Jesus said there are times when God cannot lift the darkness from you, but you should trust Him. At times God will appear like an unkind friend, but He is not; He will appear like an unnatural father, but He is not; He will appear like an unjust judge, but He is not. Keep the thought that the mind of God is behind all things strong and growing. Not even the smallest detail of life happens unless God’s will is behind it. Therefore, you can rest in perfect confidence in Him. Prayer is not only asking, but is an attitude of the mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural. “Ask, and it will be given to you…” (Matthew 7:7).

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July 16 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, thank you for this reminder of your faithfulness. I asked myself the other night why I continue to worry about certain difficulties, when I have been schooled to read and believe the scriptures about Your faithfulness? When the storm clouds of life overtake me, I try to remember all the times You have swooped in to calm the seas and deliver me. And You have done this time after time after time. So then when new difficulties arise, why must I see and fear the storm instead of remembering Your promises and all the times You have rescued me? Why do I focus so much on the train barreling down the track instead of Your faithfulness and promises?

And God says…”Your senses and environment are constantly bombarded with information and images about how the world avoids pain and can increase your pleasure. And combined with your human desire to seek pleasure, and avoid uncertainly and pain, your natural inclination is to focus on the trial, difficulty and or pain or potential pain that accompanies troubles in your life. This is a natural response. But I have given you the Holy Spirit and He will lead you to a supernatural response. You can allow the Holy Spirit to lead you and provide the peace that passes all understanding by consciously surrendering your life and circumstances to Me and trusting Me to make certain that all things are worked out for your good. When you seek Me first, your natural responses of fear, anxiety and pain are overwhelmed by My reassurance and you simply “know” that I will work all things out for your good. Seek first the kingdom of God and everything else you require will be provided. Acknowledge Me in all your ways, do not rely on your own understanding….or senses and I will make your paths straight. Simply get in the habit of surrendering your fears, anxiety, hurt and pain to Me, be connected to Jesus, and watch with wonder and eager anticipation as I transform you and create the good that I promised.”