September 29 / One Minute Devotionals

The Awareness of the Call by Oswald Chambers

The Awareness of the Call

September 29, 2016

…for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! —1 Corinthians 9:16

We are inclined to forget the deeply spiritual and supernatural touch of God. If you are able to tell exactly where you were when you received the call of God and can explain all about it, I question whether you have truly been called. The call of God does not come like that; it is much more supernatural. The realization of the call in a person’s life may come like a clap of thunder or it may dawn gradually. But however quickly or slowly this awareness comes, it is always accompanied with an undercurrent of the supernatural— something that is inexpressible and produces a “glow.” At any moment the sudden awareness of this incalculable, supernatural, surprising call that has taken hold of your life may break through— “I chose you…” (John 15:16). The call of God has nothing to do with salvation and sanctification. You are not called to preach the gospel because you are sanctified; the call to preach the gospel is infinitely different. Paul describes it as a compulsion that was placed upon him.

If you have ignored, and thereby removed, the great supernatural call of God in your life, take a review of your circumstances. See where you have put your own ideas of service or your particular abilities ahead of the call of God. Paul said, “…woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” He had become aware of the call of God, and his compulsion to “preach the gospel” was so strong that nothing else was any longer even a competitor for his strength.

If a man or woman is called of God, it doesn’t matter how difficult the circumstances may be. God orchestrates every force at work for His purpose in the end. If you will agree with God’s purpose, He will bring not only your conscious level but also all the deeper levels of your life, which you yourself cannot reach, into perfect harmony.

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

If a man cannot prove his religion in the valley, it is not worth anything.  Shade of His Hand, 1200 L

Prayer - A Holy Occupation by Oswald Chambers

Oswald Chambers: Prayer - A Holy Occupation

Day 24 of 30 Over and over again God has to teach us how to stand and endure, watching actively and wondering. It is always a wonder when God answers prayer. We hear people say, “We must not say it is wonderful that God answers prayer”; but it is wonderful. It is so wonderful that a great many people believe it impossible. Listen! “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do.” Isn’t that wonderful? It is so wonderful that I do not suppose more than half of us really believe it. “Everyone who asks receives.” Isn’t that wonderful? It is so wonderful that many of us have never even asked God to give us the Holy Spirit because we don’t believe He will. “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” Isn’t that wonderful? It is tremendously wonderful. Reflection Question: What keeps me from exercising the wonderful privilege of prayer? Quotation taken from If You Will Ask, © Discovery House Publishers Habakkuk 2:1 Habakkuk 2:1 KJV 1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

Joy - Strength in the Lord by Oswald Chambers

Oswald Chambers: Joy - Strength In The Lord

Day 9 of 30 The Scriptures are full of admonitions to rejoice, to praise God, to sing aloud for joy; but only when one has a cause to rejoice, to praise, and to sing aloud can these things truly be done from the heart. In the physical realm the average sick man does not take a very bright view of life, and with the sick in soul true brightness and cheer are an impossibility. Until the soul is cured there is always an underlying dread and fear which steals away the gladness and unspeakable joy which God desires for all His children. Only when God takes a life in hand can there come deliverance from discouragement. Living in the peace and joy of God’s forgiveness and favor is the only thing that will bring cheerfulness. Reflection Questions: What is my reason for rejoicing? From what sickness—physical or spiritual—have I been cured? From what discouragement have I been delivered? From what fear have I been freed? Quotations taken from Workmen of God, © Discovery House Publishers Psalms 18:2-3 Psalms 18:2-3 NKJV 2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I will call upon the Lord , who is worthy to be praised;

The Value of Obedience by Charles Stanley

John 14:23

Despite his years of fishing experience, Peter returned from a night’s work with nothing to show for it. The Lord’s request to let the nets down one more time perhaps struck him as unreasonable—after all, Peter and his partners were the professionals. Nevertheless, he complied, and his obedience blessed many.

Scripture demonstrates that divine plans often defy human logic. For instance, who would design a battle strategy that involved only marching and shouting? God told Joshua to conquer Jericho that way, and doing so proved successful (Josh. 6:1-5).

Moses is another example. When he felt unsure about his leadership potential, the Lord gave reassurance in an unusual way—by telling him to throw down his walking stick. When Moses obeyed, God powerfully confirmed His choice of a leader (Ex. 4:1-3).

Our Father may ask us to do something that seems illogical—perhaps to accept more responsibility when we were hoping to reduce our workload, to leave a position that He provided just recently, or to take on an assignment for which we feel ill-equipped. His plan might feel unrealistic in view of our age, stage of life, or health concerns. We must press forward in obedience, regardless of how impractical the request may appear.

To grasp the importance of obeying, think about children receiving instructions from parents or teachers. Careful listening is needed for the task to be done safely and properly. Some steps may seem pointless, but the rationale often becomes clear later. Always make obeying God your priority.

So Be It / Day 26

So Be It

Day 26 of 50 It’s a reality that when we pray we often pray in our hour(s) of need.  Jesus did.  Look at how Jesus prayed in that moment.  He prayed with the purpose of His life in mind.  He says, “it is for this very reason I came to this hour…”  Then because He knew His purpose, He was able to pray, “Father, glorify your name!”  He was able to surrender to His Father in prayer because he was fully aware of His purpose.  Do you know your purpose when you pray?  Can you surrender to the Father in prayer or do you simply ask Him to surrender to your requests? Jesus, help me to pray like you.  Give me a clearer sense of my purpose so that when I make my petitions known, I am doing so out of the purpose you have called me to.  I want to surrender to the Father.  In your name I pray, So Be It. John 12:27-28 John 12:27-28 KJV 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

Our Greatest Need by Billy Graham

Day By Day With Billy Graham

Day 274 of 366 Our Greatest Need Not long ago I visited the dean of a great American university. We looked out the window of his office and watched hundreds of students walking to their classes. I asked the dean, "What is the greatest problem at this university?" He thought a moment and answered, "Emptiness." So many people today are bored, lonely, searching for something. You can see it in their faces. One girl home from college told her wealthy father, "Father, I want something but I don't know what it is." That's true of many people; we want something to meet the deepest problems of our lives, but we haven't found it. David said, "I have found it. I shall not want." The Apostle Paul expressed it, "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content." You don't have to give up on life, to throw up your hands and cry, "It's no use." . . . You can have God's peace, God's joy, God's happiness, God's security; and yours can become the most thrilling life in the world. Daily Prayer Lord Jesus, You quench the thirst and longing of my soul. Praise Your blessed name. Psalms 143:6 Psalms 143:6 KJV 6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

21 Days of Prayer / Day 17

21 Days Of Prayer

Day 17 of 21 Health Thank You for good health today that I am strong and full of strength. God wants us to be healthy so that we can be strong to do all the things he has planned for our lives. The Bible tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit we are not our own. We were bought by the blood of Jesus that was shed for us on the cross. Imagine if a good friend gave you the keys to their multimillion dollar house to use for the day. How would you treat that house? You would be very careful to make sure you left it in the same condition it was given to you if not better. God wants us to do the same and take care of the bodies He has given us to use here on earth. Where do you need God’s help today to show Him that honor? Maybe it’s making better choices about what you eat. Maybe you need His help to overcome an addiction to food, drugs, alcohol or nicotine. God gives us the power to make wise choices today so that we can be healthy and do more for Him tomorrow. If you are sick in your body because of situations out of your control, God can give you the strength and healing you need today as well. Let’s thank Him by faith for good health. Prayer - God, today I thank You that you are helping me make healthy choices. I confess that I have made some poor choices regarding my body. Thank You for Your grace and mercy today that covers me and heals me. Help me to remember today that my body is not my own and that Your Holy Spirit is living in me. By the power of Your Spirit, make me strong, heal me, and protect me in Jesus’ name, Amen! Isaiah 53:5 KJV 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Ephesians 5:18 KJV 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

September 29 / Morning by Charles Spurgeon

September 29

Morning...

Leviticus 13:13

Behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague.

Strange enough this regulation appears, yet there was wisdom in it, for the throwing out of the disease proved that the constitution was sound. This morning it may be well for us to see the typical teaching of so singular a rule. We, too, are lepers, and may read the law of leper as applicable to ourselves. When a man sees himself to be altogether lost and ruined, covered all over with the defilement of sin, and no part free from pollution; when he disclaims all righteousness of his own, and pleads guilty before the Lord, then is he clean through the blood of Jesus, and the grace of God. Hidden, unfelt, unconfessed iniquity is the true leprosy, but when sin is seen and felt it has received its death blow, and the Lord looks with eyes of mercy upon the soul afflicted with it. Nothing is more deadly than self-righteousness, or more hopeful than contrition. We must confess that we are "nothing else but sin," for no confession short of this will be the whole truth, and if the Holy Spirit be at work with us, convi ncing us of sin, there will be no difficulty about making such an acknowledgment-it will spring spontaneously from our lips. What comfort does the text afford to those under a deep sense of sin! Sin mourned and confessed, however black and foul, shall never shut a man out from the Lord Jesus. Whosoever cometh unto Him, He will in no wise cast out. Though dishonest as the thief, though unchaste as the woman who was a sinner, though fierce as Saul of Tarsus, though cruel as Manasseh, though rebellious as the prodigal, the great heart of love will look upon the man who feels himself to have no soundness in him, and will pronounce him clean, when he trusts in Jesus crucified. Come to Him, then, poor heavy-laden sinner,

Come needy, come guilty, come loathsome and bare;

You can't come too filthy-come just as you are.

September 29 / Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman

I will give myself unto prayer (Ps. 109:4).

We are often in a religious hurry in our devotions. How much time do we spend in them daily? Can it not be easily reckoned in minutes? Who ever knew an eminently holy man who did not spend much of his time in prayer? Did ever a man exhibit much of the spirit of prayer, who did not devote much time in his closet?

Whitefield says, "Whole days and weeks have I spent prostrate on the ground, in silent or vocal prayer." "Fall upon your knees and grow there," is the language of another, who knew whereof he affirmed.

It has been said that no great work in literature or science was ever wrought by a man who did not love solitude. We may lay it down as an elemental principle of religion, that no large growth in holiness was ever gained by one who did not take time to be often, and long, alone with God.
--The Still Hour

'Come, come,' He saith, 'O soul oppressed and weary,
Come to the shadows of my desert rest;
Come walk with Me far from life's babbling discords,
And peace shall breathe like music in thy breast.'

Making the First Thing the First Thing by Adrian Rogers

September 29

Making the First Thing the First Thing

“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse Thou me from secret faults.” - Psalm 19:12

I believe in church attendance, but if your relationship with the Lord and with others is suffering, then you need to stay at home and get on your face before God.

Sometimes a businessman will get very prosperous in his business--and at first it seems a good thing. He tells his wife, “Honey, you know how I couldn’t give you much when we got married? Well, now I can.” But soon the pursuit of a nice home and nice things consume him. A sadness descends upon his wife and children, and they lament, “Oh, Daddy....Oh, Husband...what we would give to just have you spend time with us.”

What tragedy it would be if what you do for Jesus keeps you from Jesus. Stop the cycle today. If you know you’re a workaholic, stop it. If you know your walk is far from God, get it right.

NIV 365 / If We Confess

The NIV 365-Day Devotional Reading Plan

Day 273 of 365 If We Confess *What does it mean to confess your sins to God? *What happens when you confess your sins to God? When John was writing these verses, there were people claiming that they didn't sin. We know this can't be true. Everyone sins. If we refuse to admit that we have sinned, that means that God's truth is not in us. In fact, God's truth cannot enter into us until we admit that we have sinned and that we need to be saved. The Greek word that John used in this verse that is translated "confess" goes beyond admitting sins. We must also agree with God that we were wrong. This means that we need to confess our sins to God while agreeing that we need his forgiveness. When we do this, when we sincerely confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us. He will make us pure again. There is nothing that we could possibly do to separate ourselves from the love of God. Prayer Dear God, we confess that we have sinned. Please forgive us of our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Thank you for your faithfulness and your mercy. Amen. Taken from Once a Day At the Table 1 John 1:8-9 1 John 1:8-9 KJV 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Streams in the Desert by David Jeremiah

Thursday, September 29

Streams in the Desert 

He found him in a desert land and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. 
Deuteronomy 32:10 

Recommended Reading Deuteronomy 32:7-12

Earlier this year, a television crew from Animal Planet was filming a scene on a deserted island in the South Pacific. Suddenly the crew spotted a man yelling and waving his arms. He was a genuine castaway, a stranded fisherman, suffering dehydration and sunstroke. The man had given up hope, said his prayers, and was prepared to die. The crew rescued him—and made a television program about the adventure.

None of us like to be cast into a desert place in life, but the Lord knows how to rescue us. He finds us where we are. He encircles us. He instructs us, and He keeps us as the apple of His eye.

If you’re in a desert place, don’t give up your hope. Desert places can become places of deliverance, and God can even turn spiritual deserts into times of refreshment. Isaiah 35 says, “…the desert shall rejoice and blossom… for waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert” (verses 1, 6).

Jesus often meets us in the desert places of life.

If He be the Source of our mercies they can never fail us. No heat, no drought can parch that river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God.
Mrs. Lettie B. Cowman

Within a Stone's Throw / Our Daily Bread

Within a Stone’s Throw September 29, 2016

Read: John 7:53-8:11 Bible in a Year: Isaiah 7-8; Ephesians 2 Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.—John 8:7 As a group of religious leaders herded an adulterous woman toward Jesus, they couldn’t know they were carrying her within a stone’s throw of grace. Their hope was to discredit Him. If He told them to let the woman go, they could claim He was breaking Mosaic law. But if He condemned her to death, the crowds following Him would have dismissed His words of mercy and grace. But Jesus turned the tables on the accusers. Scripture says that rather than answering them directly, He started writing on the ground. When the leaders continued to question Him, He invited any of them who had never sinned to throw the first stone, and then He started writing on the ground again. The next time He looked up, all the accusers were gone. Now the only person who could have thrown a stone—the only sinless one—looked at the woman and gave her mercy. “ ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin’ ” (John 8:11). Whether today finds you needing forgiveness for judging others or desiring assurance that no sin is beyond His grace, be encouraged by this: No one is throwing stones today; go and be changed by God’s mercy. —Randy Kilgore Father, cleanse me of my judging nature and free me from the bonds of sin. Let me taste Your mercy and then help me to live a changed life. Tell us your story of how the Lord has shown grace to you at odb.org/story. We serve a Savior who is eager to forgive. INSIGHT: In today’s reading, a dramatic scene unfolds. As Jesus taught in the temple courts a woman caught in the act of adultery was brought to Him. The legalists wanted to test His response to this flagrant act of sin. They knew the law demanded the death penalty and wanted to place Christ in a double bind between merciful forgiveness and literal obedience to the law. When confronted with this guilty woman, Jesus did the unexpected: He knelt and wrote something in the sand. His statement—“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone” (John 8:7)—turned the tide of public opinion. The sinful heart of the accusers caused them to leave one by one.