I want to share some from Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest" for today:
A simple statement of Jesus is always a puzzle to us because we will not be simple. How can we maintain the simplicity of Jesus so that we may understand Him? By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, and obeying Him as He brings us the truth of His Word, life will become amazingly simple. Jesus asks us to consider that “if God so clothes the grass of the field . . .” how “much more” will He clothe you, if you keep your relationship right with Him? Every time we lose ground in our fellowship with God, it is because we have disrespectfully thought that we knew better than Jesus Christ. We have allowed “the cares of this world” to enter in (Matthew 13:22), while forgetting the “much more” of our heavenly Father.
“Look at the birds of the air . . .” (Matthew 6:26). Their function is to obey the instincts God placed within them, and God watches over them. Jesus said that if you have the right relationship with Him and will obey His Spirit within you, then God will care for your “feathers” too.
“Consider the lilies of the field . . .” (Matthew 6:28). They grow where they are planted. Many of us refuse to grow where God plants us. Therefore, we don’t take root anywhere. Jesus said if we would obey the life of God within us, He would look after all other things. Did Jesus Christ lie to us? Are we experiencing the “much more” He promised? If we are not, it is because we are not obeying the life God has given us and have cluttered our minds with confusing thoughts and worries. How much time have we wasted asking God senseless questions while we should be absolutely free to concentrate on our service to Him? Consecration is the act of continually separating myself from everything except that which God has appointed me to do. It is not a one-time experience but an ongoing process. Am I continually separating myself and looking to God every day of my life?
The reason that I wanted to share this today is because I have been asked so often, by believers who KNOW that God answers prayer that is according to His Word and that He has given US authority in the Name of Jesus, why it seems that prayers go unanswered. The answer is very "simple" and is found above! We try to make things so complicated sometimes when Jesus Himself said "...only believe" (Mark 5:36)! The problem is that so many believers do NOT separate themselves from the world and worldly thinking long enough to develop their faith. Remember, faith comes by hearing (and hearing and hearing) the Word of God (Romans 10:17)! Take the time to grow YOUR faith and you will see your prayers answered every time and all the time! The you can give HIM all the glory! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "Where We Belong":
Shalom in Him!
