What To Do Before You Pray

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘God always hears the prayers of His Son, and if the Son of God has been formed in me (see Galatians 4:19) the Father will always hear my prayers. But I must see to it that the Son of God is exhibited in my human flesh. “. . . your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit . . . ” (1 Corinthians 6:19), that is, your body is the Bethlehem of God’s Son. Is the Son of God being given His opportunity to work in me? Is the direct simplicity of His life being worked out in me exactly as it was worked out in His life while here on earth? When I come into contact with the everyday occurrences of life as an ordinary human being, is the prayer of God’s eternal Son to His Father being prayed in me?’ CHAMBERS

 

Do you think about your spiritual condition during the day? I mean do you think about the fact that when you sin .. by action or by thought .. that you have placed a barrier between you and God?  Did you know that not treating your spouse the way God says you should places a barrier between you and God?  1 Peter 3:7  “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” What?!?!?!  You mean that I don’t treat my wife like the Bible says to, I am sinning?  That’s right … James 4:17 “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”  The principle here is that we can’t just live our lives the way we want and then expect God to look past our sin.  He won’t do that … He can’t do that … He is holy … The point is that we must examine our hearts before we pray … Confess our sins .. 1 John 1:9 … and then approach the throne of grace with clean hands and pure hearts ….

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Putting First Things First

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘Do I find myself continually saying in amazement to the commonsense part of my life, “Why did you want me to turn here or to go over there? ’Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’ ” (Luke 2:49). Whatever our circumstances may be, that holy, innocent, and eternal Child must be in contact with His Father. Am I simple enough to identify myself with my Lord in this way? Is God’s will being fulfilled in that His Son has been formed in me (see Galatians 4:19), or have I carefully pushed Him to one side? Oh, the noisy outcry of today! Why does everyone seem to be crying out so loudly? People today are crying out for the Son of God to be put to death. There is no room here for God’s Son right now— no room for quiet, holy fellowship and oneness with the Father.’ CHAMBERS

 

Jesus was compelled to do his Father’s will. His concern for his earthly family was second to doing what the Father called him to.  As I read this I was reminded of the life that we have been called to.  Following God does not mean that you stop caring about other things .. it means that you have placed things in godly order.  First things first.  It is one thing to do something because you are so focused on yourself … it is another because you are so focused on God.  Do you say “no” to God because there are things that have taken His place in your life?  … The challenge for us is to not think that making God second to other things is reasonable .. and even preferred … There are a number of examples in the Bible that address this problem.  The principle at work is addressed in Matthew 6:24   “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”  We think .. we convince ourselves …. that we can love God and other things equally .. but God says you can’t.  By the way, He designed us .. He has some insight into our nature and tendencies.

 

Ok  here is a revelation (just kidding), God revealed what He revealed on the Bible for the purpose of sharing eternal truths with us.  He did not waste words.  If you read something in the Bible, it is there because we need to know about it.  His Word is Truth.  Truth does not change … not in time .. not in geography … not in culture … You can deny truth, but when you walk off the cliff … I promise, something bad is going to happen .. whether you want to believe it or not.  What is it that you have put ahead of God?  What truth are you denying? It’s time to get things in perspective .. get your priorities in order … and get about your Father’s business …

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Complete, Entire, Absolute ... Being Like Jesus ... No Middle Ground

My Utmost For His Highest

 

'We too often think of the Cross of Christ as something we have to get through, yet we get through for the purpose of getting into it. The Cross represents only one thing for us— complete, entire, absolute identification with the Lord Jesus Christ— and there is nothing in which this identification is more real to us than in prayer.' CHAMBERS

 

Matye 16:24 Haitian Creole Version (HCV)

 

24 ¶ Apre sa, Jezi di disip li yo: Si yon moun vle mache dèyè m', se pou li bliye tèt li. Se pou l' chaje kwa l' sou zepòl li, epi swiv mwen.

 

Matthew 16:24 New International Version (NIV)

 

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

 

It is the same in Haiti and in the U.S.  we must be willing to lay our lives down ... Offer ourselves as sacrifices .. If we are going to follow Jesus ... It is more than words ... Writing BLOGS. .. . Posting on Facebook, that is not enough. It is living a life that shows Jesus to others. Not just what we say .. But how we live ....

 

"I have decided to follow Jesus .. The world behind me .. the cross before me ... No turning back"

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

The Problem With Cutting Your Own Path

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘If we are in fellowship and oneness with God and recognize that He is taking us into His purposes, then we will no longer strive to find out what His purposes are. As we grow in the Christian life, it becomes simpler to us, because we are less inclined to say, “I wonder why God allowed this or that?” And we begin to see that the compelling purpose of God lies behind everything in life, and that God is divinely shaping us into oneness with that purpose. A Christian is someone who trusts in the knowledge and the wisdom of God, not in his own abilities. If we have a purpose of our own, it destroys the simplicity and the calm, relaxed pace which should be characteristic of the children of God.’ CHAMBERS

 

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  (Ephesians 2:10)

 

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

 

“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,”(Ephesians 1:11)

 

God has a plan and He has a purpose.  Our challenge is to follow Him and not cut our own path.  Think of it this way.  There is a program called rails to trails where old rail lines are being converted to bike and hiking trails.  There are hundreds of miles of these things in the U.S.  OK, so you are walking on this path enjoying nature when off to the side of the trail you hear hacking and cursing.  Alarmed you go to see what the problem is.  There in the middle of a thicket of brambles is a man with a machete.  His clothes are torn, his arms bleeding from the thorns.  You ask, “Is there some way I can help you?  Is there a problem?”  He answers, “No I got this.  I am making a path so I can walk on it and enjoy nature.”  You say “Did you know that 20 yards that way there is already a path .. it has been built for exactly that purpose.” He responds … with a sympathetic look in his eyes, “That may be fine for you, but I think I know what I am doing.  Thanks anyway.”  And begins hacking at the brambles.

 

That is how it is with us and our plans.  We know God has a plan already but we choose to struggle to cut our own path.  We choose the difficult road rather than the one that is God designed that brings simplicity, calm, and relaxed pace which could be  characteristic of your life.  Sounds simple in the reading … but another story in the doing.  In order to live that kind of life you have to give up control to God … so what are you going to do .. continue hacking in the brambles or go to the path that God has already made for you?  The choice really is yours.

 

"Jesus, Hold My Hand"

 

“As I travel through this pilgrim land  I have a Friend who walks with me.  He'll lead me safely through this sinking sand It is the Christ at Calvary. This would be my prayer dear Lord each day  To help me do the best I can.  For I need Thy light to guide me day and night  Blessed Jesus hold my hand.

 

Jesus, hold my hand for I need You every hour  Through this pilgrim land protect me, me by Thy power.  Hear my feeble plea, oh Lord, look down on me Hear my feeble plea  O Lord look down on me  When I kneel in prayer I hope to meet you there Blessed Jesus hold my hand

 

Let me travel in the light divine That I may see the blessed way.  Keep me that I may be wholly Thine and sing redemption's song someday”

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

It Wasn't Me, It Was Him!

My Utmost For His Highest

‘[…]  Do you say, “But He has been unwise to choose me, because there is nothing good in me and I have no value”? That is exactly why He chose you. As long as you think that you are of value to Him He cannot choose you, because you have purposes of your own to serve. But if you will allow Him to take you to the end of your own self-sufficiency, then He can choose you to go with Him “to Jerusalem” (Luke 18:31). And that will mean the fulfillment of purposes which He does not discuss with you. We tend to say that because a person has natural ability, he will make a good Christian. It is not a matter of our equipment, but a matter of our poverty; not of what we bring with us, but of what God puts into us; not a matter of natural virtues, of strength of character, of knowledge, or of experience— all of that is of no avail in this concern. The only thing of value is being taken into the compelling purpose of God and being made His friends (see 1 Corinthians 1:26-31).’ CHAMBERS

 

I met with the board of Christ for All church (Pasto Marc’s church) in Jacmel this past week, at their request.  They wanted to talk to me about the partnership that has developed between us over the past three years.  More specifically, they wanted to thank me, personally, for helping to hold their church together when they found themselves facing a very difficult problem and for being an encouragement to them as they reach out to the lost.  The problem the addressed had threatened to unhinge the congregation.  It was at that point that I interrupted.  I told them that there was really only one thing they could thank me for .. one thing for which I could take credit .. that one thing being I said  “yes” to God when He said “go”.  I told them that everything else is to be credited to God.  He is the one who saves.  He is the one who knits us together.  He is the one who gives purpose.  He is the one who gives opportunity.  He is the one who gives us our capacity to do whatever it is that He calls us to do. Is that humility, perhaps, if humility means that you realize that everything you are that has value is because of God.

 

It is so easy to focus on the called and not on the caller.  It is so easy for the called to begin to think that it is they who have accomplished whatever it is that they have accomplished.  It’s all God, friends.  When you consider what God has called you to do … and if He has .. you know it .. you may resist it, you may deny it .. but in your heart you know it … remember that all He asks of you is to say yes at every step … why does He choose to do things this way? Perhaps because He created us in His image and likeness, but He did not give us the power … we need Him for that.  That being said .. do not be afraid to say “yes” He is faithful and what He calls you to do .. He will make provision for.  You can count on it!

 

“Hey, I'm yours Lord  Everything I've got  Everything I am  Everything I'm not.

 I'm yours Lord  Try me now and see  See if I can be  Completely yours.

 My life and my love  You hold in your hand  And I'll gladly devote  And enjoy your command.

 Now, I know it's not much  Your gift to repay  But it’s all that I got  And it's all I can say. I'm yours Lord”

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

What To Do When Victory Is Inconceivable

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world’ —John 16:33

 

‘The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different. […] If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come. […] God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. […] when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Our temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can “be of good cheer” even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.’ CHAMBERS

 

Victory in the face of enormous adversity is “insanely impossible” for us on our own. But not for God.  Oh Christian .. what can I say that will encourage you to draw closer to God.  There is nothing that can cross your path that is greater than the God you serve.  All you have to do is trust Him!

 

“Come, every soul by sin oppressed;  There’s mercy with the Lord,  And He will surely give you rest By trusting in His Word. Yes, Jesus is the truth, the way,  That leads you into rest; Believe in Him without delay And you are fully blessed. Only trust Him, only trust Him,  Only trust Him now; He will save you, He will save you, He will save you now”

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

What Is Your "If Only..."?

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘He comes where He commands us to leave. If you stayed home when God told you to go because you were so concerned about your own people there, then you actually robbed them of the teaching of Jesus Christ Himself. When you obeyed and left all the consequences to God, the Lord went into your city to teach, but as long as you were disobedient, you blocked His way. Watch where you begin to debate with Him and put what you call your duty into competition with His commands. If you say, “I know that He told me to go, but my duty is here,” it simply means that you do not believe that Jesus means what He says.’ CHAMBERS

 

I have met many people over the past 11 years where God has spoken to them while they were on a missions trip or after they returned .. it is clear to me that He has.  It is something in  their eyes .. in the tone of their voice … It was not emotion .. although there are times when people respond to an event emotionally … that fire is like the magicians fire .. there and gone .. soon they are focused on the passion of their heart which is not missions.  But there have been those to whom God has spoken ... saying … “I have called you to a new life … you must leave your old one”  And there is the problem … leaving the old life.  When you say no .. not now .. you really are saying “I don’t trust you, God, enough to do what you are asking me.   My devotion is here … you are asking me to leave what is known and go travel to the unknown.”

 

And so most of those people would say “I would join God where He is at work … If only..”  What is your “if only”? I have been told that if you pen sheep up for a time and then take the pen down, the sheep will not stray beyond where the fence used to be.  That is like us.  There is really nothing that is stopping us from going, only the doubt in our minds and the devotions in our hearts that are greater than the devotion we have for God.  What is God saying or has He said to you? Hearing His voice brings you to a crisis of belief and it requires faith and action to be obedient to it.  So what are you waiting for …

 

“I have decide to follow Jesus … the cross before me ..the world behind me .. no turning back, no turning back .. though none go with me, still I will follow … “ can I hear an Amen?

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)