January 31: Do You See Your Calling?

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0131.html I can think of no more difficult challenge than to strive to become unconscious of myself. Of course, that is impossible if that level of humility is attempted from my own efforts, because the self analysis of checking to see if I was thinking about myself would mean that I was doing just that. (Confusing, huh?) The only way would be to think so much about the Reality of God that I would simply forget to think about anything personal.

January 30: The Dilemma of Obedience

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0130.html

Stacie's post on yesterday's reading is a perfect introduction to today's devotion. If we aren't in the HABIT of listening, it is so easy to hear things wrong.

One of the hardest things for me is to obey God's direction when I know it is going to inconvenience or hurt someone that I love.

January 29: But It Is Hardly Credible That One Could Be So Positively Ignorant!!

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0129.html

The critical assessment for all we do: Am I doing this IN LOVE?

January 28: But it is Hardly Credible That One Could So Persecute Jesus!

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0128.html

Okay, the bottom line....who do I choose to protect from persecution? Jesus or myself? The answer to that question proves who I love the most.

January 27: Look Again and Think

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0127.html

A legalist approach will not work when trying to balance living by faith and using the common sense that God gave you. The only way to live in EXACTLY the spot where God wants you is to stay in close contact with Him every day!!!

January 26: Look Again and Consecrate

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0126.html

Yes, it is an impertinence! Yet we all do it....we think we know better than Jesus Christ what is best for us! And then we marvel that we are such malcontents. We should tremble at our audacity!

January 25: Leave Room for God

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0125.html

We are so silly to think that God will conform to our comfort zone and allow Himself to be confined to the box we think He should stay in. He will always surprise us and come into our lives in whatever way He likes. That is our blessing!!!

January 24: The Overmastering Direction

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0124.html

If we examine ourselves closely do we find that our whole life is overmastered by Jesus? Do we have no end, no aim, and no purpose but His?

January 24: The Overmastering Direction

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0124.html

If we examine ourselves closely do we find that our whole life is overmastered by Jesus? Do we have no end, no aim, and no purpose but His?

January 23: Transformed by Insight

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0123.html

Which "good" thing are we allowing to rob us of God's best?

January 22: What Am I Looking At?

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0122.html

Are you hurt? Ashamed? Frustrated? Angry? Overwelmed? Rebellious?

For just this moment, CHOOSE to put all that aside and just LOOK TO GOD. You don't have to say or promise anything. Just sit still, be quiet, and LOOK TO GOD.

You'll be amazed at the results.

January 21: Recall What God Remembers

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0121.html

"If I find He is not what He used to be to me....." It's at that place that we find ourselves in the most ironic situation. We have the freedom, a marvelous gift from God, to CHOOSE. Even after we have been close to Him, God never forces us to maintain that relationship, and we can choose to let other things in life become more important again. The irony is that we will NEVER again be as happy as we were at the peak of that wonderful intimacy with our Creator until we climb back to that point and choose to forge ahead with Him.

January 20: Are You Fresh for Everything?

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0120.html

January 19: Vision and Darkness

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0119.html

Chambers refers us to Isaiah 59:10-11. In my Bible I have written this note beside these verses: "Amazing!! A striking word picture telling us to WAIT, no matter how long, until God lights the way. If we try to find the way ourselves, we will be miserable!"

So you won't have to look them up, here are those verses:

v. 10 Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant?
Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on his God.
v. 11 But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with
flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have
set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: You will
lie down in torment.

January 18: It Is the Lord

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0118.html

Ever notice how we all long to be lazy, yet feel bored and unsettled when we are? Ever notice how we complain about our responsibilities and work, yet to do a job well is the only thing that really makes us feel good about ourselves?

It's the same in our relationship with God. Although we pray and pray for Him to answer our every need and "slake our thirst," we will never have true peace and contentment until we focus on "satisfying Him."

January 17: The Vocation of the Natural Life

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0117.html

Hmmm. It makes me realize I need to take frequent inventory of my service to get an accurate gauge of my level of devotion. In other words, could a jury convict me of being a radical Christian by the evidence of my actions?

January 16: The Voice of the Nature of God

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0116.html

This is an interesting bit of history. Four years ago, I wrote a note in the margin of my personal My Utmost book to comment on this statement: "As long as I consider my personal temperament and think about what I am fitted for, I shall never hear the call of God." Here is that note:

We are soon to move into our new home in Oakwood and I've been complaining
for months about how I won't fit in there. Lord, help me totally grasp the fact that my affinities don't matter -- that I must do the work You ask me to do, and there only will I find the joy and peace I crave.

Hindsight reveals the many ways God has used this move. I hope I have learned this lesson for good and won't complain so much ever again!!

January 15: Do You Walk in White?

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0115.html

January 14: Called of God

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0114.html

January 13: Have You Ever Been Alone with God?

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0113.html

January 12: Have You Ever Been Alone with God?

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0112.html

January 11: What My Obedience to God Costs Other People

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0111.html

January 10: The Opened Sight

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0110.html

January 9: Intercessory Introspection

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0109.html

January 8: Does My Sacrifice Live?

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0108.html

January 7: Intimate with Jesus

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0107.html

January 6: Worship

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0106.html

January 5: The Afterwards of the Life of Power

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0105.html

January 4: Why Cannot I Follow Thee Now?

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0104.html

January 3: Clouds and Darkness

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0103.html

January 2: Will You Go Without Knowing?

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0102.html

January 1: Let Us Keep to the Point

Today in My Utmost for His Highest: http://www.myutmost.org/01/0101.html