What You Need Is Just A Closer Walk With Jesus

My Utmost For His Highest

Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You now?" —John 13:37

 

“At first you may see clearly what God’s will is— the severance of a friendship, the breaking off of a business relationship, or something else you feel is distinctly God’s will for you to do. But never act on the impulse of that feeling. If you do, you will cause difficult situations to arise which will take years to untangle. Wait for God’s timing and He will do it without any heartache or disappointment. When it is a question of the providential will of God, wait for God to move. Peter did not wait for God. He predicted in his own mind where the test would come, and it came where he did not expect it. “I will lay down my life for Your sake.” Peter’s statement was honest but ignorant. “Jesus answered him, ‘…the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times’ ” (John 13:38). This was said with a deeper knowledge of Peter than Peter had of himself. He could not follow Jesus because he did not know himself or his own capabilities well enough. 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.”  CHAMBERS

 

“It is not by might nor by power but by My Spirit, says the Lord God.”  (Zechariah 4:6) Trying to do anything God directed in the power of our flesh always leads to failure.  Knowing what to do and when to do it, requires spiritual discernment.  Spiritual discernment only comes through relationship with the Father as we are connected by the Son and empowered by the Spirit and the Word.  There were seven men, sons of a Jewish priest,  that tried to drive out evil spirits in the name of Jesus who were not following Jesus.  The demon said “Paul I know, and Jesus I know, but who are you.”  All seven men were beaten and they fled for their lives. (Acts 19:13-16)  You may not be trying to drive out demons, but you may be trying to live the Christian life without the power to live that life.  As a Christian you have the capacity to live in the power of the Spirit, but instead you choose to live your life in your own wisdom and strength.  If you try to do that, if you are doing that, you are in trouble because it is an impossible path you are following.  All too often, we decide, apart from God’s leading, what is best and then we ask God to bless it and act on that decision.  Jesus always acted within the context of the Father’s will, not His own.  We ask WWJD?  Jesus looked to Father, Jesus was one with the Father, Jesus obeyed the Father.  That is not what Jesus would do, that is what Jesus did.  We focus on His actions when we should be focused on the reason for those actions .. Jesus acted out of an intimate relationship and dependence upon the Creator God, every time. So WYGD (What You Gonna Do?)  ELGIN

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

 

Charley Elgin