John 13:37 (Amplified Bible)
Peter said to Him, Lord, why cannot I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.
There are times when we need nothing more than to just be still and know that God is God. Things are so busy in our lives, we don't get what we want out of it, and God seems to be a million miles away. It is important during these times in our lives to stay focused, and don't "run ahead" of God or what He has for us. God may be trying to teach us things during times like this, such as "sanctification", which is to be set apart from sin and to be made holy, or He may be trying to teach us what service is all about. If there is any trace at all of doubt in this process then we need to just stop and wait. There are times when we can see clearly what God's will is, but never just jump on a feeling, wait for God to lead at His timing. His timing may not always be our timing, but His is always better and will have more peace and stability to it. ALWAYS, no matter what, wait for God to lead.
Peter made the mistake of doing things without waiting for God. He tried to predict when the tests of life would come, but they came when he least expected it. Peter told Jesus, "I will lay down my life for your sake"....but Jesus told him, "The rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times" John 13:38.God knew Peter's character, even more so than Peter knew himself. "Natural devotion may be enough to attract us to Jesus, to make us feel His irresistible charm, but it will never make us disciples. Natural devotion will deny Jesus, always falling short of what it means to truly follow Him."
(My Utmost for His Highest- Oswald Chambers)
In this day and age of hurry, hurry, hurry and "instant" everything, it is imperative that we slow down and "be still and know that He is God". It is easy for us to get a feeling and rush ahead of God, so sure that it is His will, only to fumble and mess it all up and eventually realize that maybe it was His will, but not at that time, or maybe it was not His will, but something we wanted. The most important thing we need to do is slow down, not go on feelings, but wait for God to show us and lead us in the way He wants us to go.
(Kandi Pierre)
Monday, January 4, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
My Utmost for His Highest
Psalm 97:2 (Amplified)
Clouds and darkness are round about Him (as at Sinai) ; righteousness and justice are the foundation for His throne.
For someone who does not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, the things of God may seem simple, but when one does find that and becomes baptized by the Holy Spirit, they find that "clouds and darkness surround them". It is only through reading and studying God;s word that we come to realization of this. The only way to be able to read the Bible and have true understanding of it, is through the Holy Spirit. If we have never had the experience of coming outside of our "casual", everyday self, and getting rid of all the extra baggage when approaching God, with the true realization of who He truly is, than it can become questionable if we have ever stood in His presence. The people who approach God as no big deal, or with no fear or reverence for Him, are those who have never truly met Jesus Christ. Only when one comes to the amazing awareness and awe of who Christ is, and the realization of what He has done and does do for us, only then can the "darkness" of realizing WHO He is come.
Jesus said, "The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life." (John 6:63) At first His words to us are just "clouds and darkness", but then through the Holy Spirit revealing them to us, they become "light and life". Jesus uses different circumstances in life to bring out new meanings to "old" verses. God speaks to us, not through dreams and visions, but through His Holy Word. When a mere human finally gets to God and begins to understand, it is by one of the most simplest of ways.........words.
(My Utmost for His Highest- Oswald Chambers)
That is why is it soooooo important for us to first have a relationship with God, and then continue to read and study His words. It is through His words that He will reveal to us what we need at that time. If we do not take the time to daily read what He has written to us, how then will we have any clue as to what He wants us to do??? It is time to get serious about this, the flippant and ignorant person will not take heed, but the one who wants to walk with God, and the one who wants to do His will, will strive to take this to heart and begin to pursue a closer walk with their Creator!!
(Kandi Pierre)
Clouds and darkness are round about Him (as at Sinai) ; righteousness and justice are the foundation for His throne.
For someone who does not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, the things of God may seem simple, but when one does find that and becomes baptized by the Holy Spirit, they find that "clouds and darkness surround them". It is only through reading and studying God;s word that we come to realization of this. The only way to be able to read the Bible and have true understanding of it, is through the Holy Spirit. If we have never had the experience of coming outside of our "casual", everyday self, and getting rid of all the extra baggage when approaching God, with the true realization of who He truly is, than it can become questionable if we have ever stood in His presence. The people who approach God as no big deal, or with no fear or reverence for Him, are those who have never truly met Jesus Christ. Only when one comes to the amazing awareness and awe of who Christ is, and the realization of what He has done and does do for us, only then can the "darkness" of realizing WHO He is come.
Jesus said, "The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life." (John 6:63) At first His words to us are just "clouds and darkness", but then through the Holy Spirit revealing them to us, they become "light and life". Jesus uses different circumstances in life to bring out new meanings to "old" verses. God speaks to us, not through dreams and visions, but through His Holy Word. When a mere human finally gets to God and begins to understand, it is by one of the most simplest of ways.........words.
(My Utmost for His Highest- Oswald Chambers)
That is why is it soooooo important for us to first have a relationship with God, and then continue to read and study His words. It is through His words that He will reveal to us what we need at that time. If we do not take the time to daily read what He has written to us, how then will we have any clue as to what He wants us to do??? It is time to get serious about this, the flippant and ignorant person will not take heed, but the one who wants to walk with God, and the one who wants to do His will, will strive to take this to heart and begin to pursue a closer walk with their Creator!!
(Kandi Pierre)
My Utmost for His Highest
Hebrews 11:8 (Amplified)
(urged on) by faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go.
Have you ever stepped out in faith like this? One of the hardest questions is "what do you expect to do?" I don't have the answer to that. But I do know that God has everything in control and He knows what He is doing. I need to be constantly examining my attitude toward God to see if I am willing to "go out" in every area of my life, and I need to trust God 100%. When I do this, it keeps me in wonder, never knowing what God will do next. This gives me new opportunities each day to "go out" and build confidence in God." Do not worry about your life....nor your body!" Luke 12;22. This is telling me not to worry about the things that concerned me and made me worry before I ever "went out".
Don't ever ask God what He is going to do, He is not going to tell you. Instead He will reveal to you WHO He is. Do you believe that God is a miracle working God? Will you "go out" in total and complete surrender to Him to the point that you are never surprised by anything He does?
I must believe that God is always the God that I know Him to be when I am nearest to Him. I need to realize how unnecessary and how disrespectful worry truly is!! I must let the attitude of my life be a constant willingness to "go out" in total dependence upon God. In doing this, my life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm that will be satisfying to Jesus. I must learn to "go out" through my own convictions, creeds, or experiences until I come to the point in faith where there is nothing between me and God!!!
(My Utmost for His Highest-Oswald Chambers)
(urged on) by faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go.
Have you ever stepped out in faith like this? One of the hardest questions is "what do you expect to do?" I don't have the answer to that. But I do know that God has everything in control and He knows what He is doing. I need to be constantly examining my attitude toward God to see if I am willing to "go out" in every area of my life, and I need to trust God 100%. When I do this, it keeps me in wonder, never knowing what God will do next. This gives me new opportunities each day to "go out" and build confidence in God." Do not worry about your life....nor your body!" Luke 12;22. This is telling me not to worry about the things that concerned me and made me worry before I ever "went out".
Don't ever ask God what He is going to do, He is not going to tell you. Instead He will reveal to you WHO He is. Do you believe that God is a miracle working God? Will you "go out" in total and complete surrender to Him to the point that you are never surprised by anything He does?
I must believe that God is always the God that I know Him to be when I am nearest to Him. I need to realize how unnecessary and how disrespectful worry truly is!! I must let the attitude of my life be a constant willingness to "go out" in total dependence upon God. In doing this, my life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm that will be satisfying to Jesus. I must learn to "go out" through my own convictions, creeds, or experiences until I come to the point in faith where there is nothing between me and God!!!
(My Utmost for His Highest-Oswald Chambers)
Friday, January 1, 2010
My Utmost for His Highest
Philippians 1:20 (Amplified)
This in keeping with my own eager desire and persistent expectation and hope, that I shall not disgrace myself nor be put to shame in anything; but that with the utmost freedom of speech and unfailing courage, now as always, Christ will be magnified and get glory and praise in this body of mine and be boldly exalted in my person, whether through life or through death.
* We must yield all areas of our lived to Jesus, as He asks us to.
*My #1 purpose needs to be my utmost for His Highest, my very best for His glory! In order to achieve that, is not up to debate or my own reasoning, but by sheer determination and will. I must surrender my will completely to His. I need to lay aside all excuses and selfishness. God knows exactly what it will cost us for our undying obedience to Him. I need to stay focused, not let anything distract me from the most important thing, and that being--- "My Utmost for His Highest". I must be steadfast and completely determined to be completely and totally, all the way, with all that I am, for Him and Him only. "Whether it is life or death", makes no difference. I must stay determined, as Paul did, that absolutely nothing will stop me from doing what God wants. In order for me to get to this place, a "crisis" must occur that will bring me to a place where I will have to decide "for" or "against", the things of God. That moment will become a crossroads in my life. If a crisis has already occurred, it is time to surrender my will to Jesus completely and totally.
It is time to get serious for God and His will for my life. Life is too short for what ifs, excuses and nonsense. I am engaged in a war for my family and the best position I can possibly have is one with God leading the way, my will completely surrendered to His, and going forth with My Utmost for His Highest!!!!
(My Utmost for His Highest- Oswald Chambers)
This in keeping with my own eager desire and persistent expectation and hope, that I shall not disgrace myself nor be put to shame in anything; but that with the utmost freedom of speech and unfailing courage, now as always, Christ will be magnified and get glory and praise in this body of mine and be boldly exalted in my person, whether through life or through death.
* We must yield all areas of our lived to Jesus, as He asks us to.
*My #1 purpose needs to be my utmost for His Highest, my very best for His glory! In order to achieve that, is not up to debate or my own reasoning, but by sheer determination and will. I must surrender my will completely to His. I need to lay aside all excuses and selfishness. God knows exactly what it will cost us for our undying obedience to Him. I need to stay focused, not let anything distract me from the most important thing, and that being--- "My Utmost for His Highest". I must be steadfast and completely determined to be completely and totally, all the way, with all that I am, for Him and Him only. "Whether it is life or death", makes no difference. I must stay determined, as Paul did, that absolutely nothing will stop me from doing what God wants. In order for me to get to this place, a "crisis" must occur that will bring me to a place where I will have to decide "for" or "against", the things of God. That moment will become a crossroads in my life. If a crisis has already occurred, it is time to surrender my will to Jesus completely and totally.
It is time to get serious for God and His will for my life. Life is too short for what ifs, excuses and nonsense. I am engaged in a war for my family and the best position I can possibly have is one with God leading the way, my will completely surrendered to His, and going forth with My Utmost for His Highest!!!!
(My Utmost for His Highest- Oswald Chambers)
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