My Devotional Today
This is just an example of how I interact with my Oswald Chambers devotional (My Utmost For His Highest) with one very good online lady friend. We read the same devotional and then share our thoughts via text.
I don’t know how you do your devotional reading, but I have enjoyed this process with my friend. It’s interesting to see how we respond to the same piece of writing.
I write my own thoughts on what I am reading through, as I go, in brackets, in italics, as the thoughts come to me. My friend goes through a similar process and then we send the piece to each other to read.
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest, January 21, 2015
Recall What God Remembers
“Thus says the Lord: ‘I remember . . . the kindness of your youth . . .’ ” Jeremiah 2:2
Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me? (I don’t think I know how to be kind to God?????) Does everything in my life fill His heart with gladness, or do I constantly complain because things don’t seem to be going my way? ( I DO complain, but then I look for the blessing. Does that count?) A person who has forgotten what God treasures will not be filled with joy. (I DO experience joy. It was not always so. In fact, I wondered WHERE the joy was. I saw it in a missionary friend, and I mourned deeply that I did not know it for myself at that time, but now I know. It is in the simple things that God blesses us with)
It is wonderful to remember that Jesus Christ has needs which we can meet- “Give Me a drink” (John 4:7). (Hmmmm……I’ve been taught that God does not “need” anything from us. He is self sufficient. Jesus, on the other hand, was in the flesh and had needs. I don’t imagine He has needs in His new and glorified body? So I don’t know about that statement.) How much kindness have I shown Him in the past week? (Hmmmm…..they do say that what you have done to others you have done to Jesus, as in the scripture, “I was hungry and you fed Me”, but all I can think of is relating to the people around me, like the Altzheimers lady this morning. I smile at her and touch her and encourage her, because I want her to feel and know love) Has my life been a good reflection on His reputation? (I don’t think I can know that until I get there before Him. Also, I don’t worry about His reputation. I don’t think He is threatened in any way by what any of us think of Him. I do try to make others aware of His goodness and His blessing though)
God is saying to His people, “You are not in love with Me now, but I remember a time when you were.” He says, “I remember . . . the love of your betrothal . . .” (Jeremiah 2:2). (We do go through stages where it seems we lose our first love but I think we also go through stages where we fall deeper in love with Him) Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? (I think I had quite the wrong ideas about Him in the beginning. Yes, I was thrilled. I went around telling everyone about Him and sharing my new faith to the point where it sometimes tended to ostracize people and we lost friends, my husband and I. We were eager beavers, on fire for evangelism, but we got a lot wrong as well as some things right) Does He ever find me pondering the time when I cared only for Him? ( I think maybe I have done more actual worship then than I do these days. That may be something for me to consider. I need to set aside private worship time other than just on Sunday or in ministry activity) Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him? (No, I don’t believe I have chosen man’s wisdom over God’s) Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might lead me? (I trust Him as completely as I can. I trust Him with my life. I trust His plans and purpose for me rather than my own) Or am I watching to see how much respect I get as I measure how much service I should give Him? (No, not at all. I’m not looking for respect from Him, though I might be guilty of wanting that from other people, unfortunately)
As I recall what God remembers about me, I may also begin to realize that He is not what He used to be to me. (I don’t feel that way. He is my reason for living and my joy in life) When this happens, I should allow the shame and humiliation it creates in my life, because it will bring godly sorrow, and “godly sorrow produces repentance . . .” (2 Corinthians 7:10). (I still find the need for repentance in my life for other reasons, as God’s Spirit does the work in me to show me where I need to grow and change. That is a lifelong process and I am very thankful for God’s patience with me, for His mercies, which are renewed daily and for that matchless grace extended toward me, His rather imperfect child)
Just one way to think about doing a devotional with someone online….hope you find it encouraging in some small way.
AJ ❤
Ann’s Corner Pics
Ann's Corner 
Recent Comments