I really like today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers!
The Cross in Prayer
In that day you will ask in My name… —John 16:26
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.
“Your Father knows the things you have need of before you
ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). Then why should we ask? The point of prayer is not to
get answers from God, but to have perfect and complete oneness with Him. If we
pray only because we want answers, we will become irritated and angry with God.
We receive an answer every time we pray, but it does not always come in the way
we expect, and our spiritual irritation shows our refusal to identify ourselves
truly with our Lord in prayer. We are not here to prove that God answers
prayer, but to be living trophies of God’s grace.
“…I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you;
for the Father Himself loves you…” (John 16:26-27). Have you reached such a
level of intimacy with God that the only thing that can account for your prayer
life is that it has become one with the prayer life of Jesus Christ? Has our
Lord exchanged your life with His vital life? If so, then “in that day” you
will be so closely identified with Jesus that there will be no distinction.
When prayer seems to be unanswered, beware of trying to
place the blame on someone else. That is always a trap of Satan. When you seem
to have no answer, there is always a reason— God uses these times to give you
deep personal instruction, and it is not for anyone else but you.
We KNOW that we are growing up IN HIM when we simply desire to fellowship with HIM every day, and NOT only when we need something! He WILL lead and guide and direct you according to His perfect will and His perfect plans for YOU! But, making the choice to really pay attention, listen and then DO what He has called us to do is REAL communion with Him! Make intimate fellowship with the Living God your #1 priority each and every day! HE will always come through! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Ready or Not?":Shalom in Him!
