November 17: The Eternal Goal
Today's Reading: http://www.myutmost.org/11/1117.html
Dear Jesus, "My goal is God Himself...At any cost, dear Lord, by any road." I wish I knew where that quote came from because I can think of no better prayer or creed for all of us. To adopt that philosophy of life automatically leads us to the place where we strive for instant obedience to Your will which places us smack dab in the middle of the road to happiness. So why, Lord, do we fight You so much over Your will for us?
I felt so ashamed as the truth of Chamber's words stabbed my heart: Your revelation of Yourself to me is determined by my character, not by Your character. Please clarify this reality to the children of my heart, also. There are two who are particularly unhappy right now and as I was praying for them this morning (even before I read "My Utmost") I realized that they are desperately seeking happiness by trying to fulfill their own desires. Suddenly, Your lesson of the Beautitudes flashed through my mind: HAPPY are the poor in spirit...those who mourn...the meek...those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...the merciful...the pure in heart....the peacemakers...the persecuted...the insulted...the accused. These two are not ready to believe the paradoxes of the Sermon on the Mount because they are not ready to step out in obedience to Your directives. Because of this they are miserable!!! Jesus, please help them come to the end of themselves SOON and try it Your way. I know that it makes no sense to them right now, but I have tasted the joys of stepping blindly through that door, and I want them to know that ecstasy, too.
Please teach all of us more about the sacrifice of obedience and remind us that each resulting joy is a direct result of our choice to obey. As we willfully prepare our hearts, make the Bible come alive to us as we read Your Word. Teach us the particulars of how to obey and how to walk our daily roads. Most importantly, teach us how to incorporate Your presence into every moment of our days. You are awesome, Jesus!!
Dear Jesus, "My goal is God Himself...At any cost, dear Lord, by any road." I wish I knew where that quote came from because I can think of no better prayer or creed for all of us. To adopt that philosophy of life automatically leads us to the place where we strive for instant obedience to Your will which places us smack dab in the middle of the road to happiness. So why, Lord, do we fight You so much over Your will for us?
I felt so ashamed as the truth of Chamber's words stabbed my heart: Your revelation of Yourself to me is determined by my character, not by Your character. Please clarify this reality to the children of my heart, also. There are two who are particularly unhappy right now and as I was praying for them this morning (even before I read "My Utmost") I realized that they are desperately seeking happiness by trying to fulfill their own desires. Suddenly, Your lesson of the Beautitudes flashed through my mind: HAPPY are the poor in spirit...those who mourn...the meek...those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...the merciful...the pure in heart....the peacemakers...the persecuted...the insulted...the accused. These two are not ready to believe the paradoxes of the Sermon on the Mount because they are not ready to step out in obedience to Your directives. Because of this they are miserable!!! Jesus, please help them come to the end of themselves SOON and try it Your way. I know that it makes no sense to them right now, but I have tasted the joys of stepping blindly through that door, and I want them to know that ecstasy, too.
Please teach all of us more about the sacrifice of obedience and remind us that each resulting joy is a direct result of our choice to obey. As we willfully prepare our hearts, make the Bible come alive to us as we read Your Word. Teach us the particulars of how to obey and how to walk our daily roads. Most importantly, teach us how to incorporate Your presence into every moment of our days. You are awesome, Jesus!!
posted by Jane at 4:52 AM
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