Discovering Divine Design

[Turbopun]

November 14, 2008

Discovering Divine Design - by Oswald Chambers

As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me . . . —Genesis 24:27

We should be so one with God that we don’t need to ask continually for guidance. Sanctification means that we are made the children of God. A child’s life is normally obedient, until he chooses disobedience. But as soon as he chooses to disobey, an inherent inner conflict is produced. On the spiritual level, inner conflict is the warning of the Spirit of God. When He warns us in this way, we must stop at once and be renewed in the spirit of our mind to discern God’s will (see Romans 12:2 ). If we are born again by the Spirit of God, our devotion to Him is hindered, or even stopped, by continually asking Him to guide us here and there. ". . . the Lord led me . . ." and on looking back we see the presence of an amazing design. If we are born of God we will see His guiding hand and give Him the credit.

We can all see God in exceptional things, but it requires the growth of spiritual discipline to see God in every detail. Never believe that the so-called random events of life are anything less than God’s appointed order. Be ready to discover His divine designs anywhere and everywhere.

Beware of being obsessed with consistency to your own convictions instead of being devoted to God. If you are a saint and say, "I will never do this or that," in all probability this will be exactly what God will require of you. There was never a more inconsistent being on this earth than our Lord, but He was never inconsistent with His Father. The important consistency in a saint is not to a principle but to the divine life. It is the divine life that continually makes more and more discoveries about the divine mind. It is easier to be an excessive fanatic than it is to be consistently faithful, because God causes an amazing humbling of our religious conceit when we are faithful to Him.

 

[Coconut]

I love this message, because I know its raw truth. In my walk with God, I have discovered that the minute I start looking at myself, i`m sunk. It doesnt matter what it entails, my convictions, my beliefs, my desire to do good etc...they all share the same folly, that little word "my" Discouragement comes fast and furious with a saint, the minute he starts placing any faith in his own abilities, unless he is adept at deluding himself. You can say oh "I" done everything right today..."I" have followed my convictions, "I" have lived up to what "I" believe ..."I" have preached Christ...keep up with the "I" and you`ll soon find yourself falling flat on your face. Why? God does`nt want us to place any faith in ourselves, and of a truth, He will not allow us to, if we are indeed following Him. Take a look at Peter, walking on water, with Christ standing right there in front of him... the second he took his eyes off Christ, and put them on what he was doing (and he was doing something pretty amazing) ...there went his feet! Does God allow us to trip over our own feet, I think He sure does...how else are going to learn to let HIM lead?

As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me . . . —Genesis 24:27

 

[Turbopun]

I must second everything you just said. I recently have gotten back on track with the Lord and relying on him. However, I have noticed over the past few days that I have done the very thing that you are talking about. A sense of pride that I didn't see until I read your response. I now see that I have placed faith in my ability to do good / respond to convictions.

Wow... this faith thing is hard sometimes.

 

[Coconut]

I know that no man has ever encountered Christ, without feeling his own unworthiness. Look at the scripture, every time a man encountered God, you more or less read the same cry "woe is me for I am nothing!"
Do you know that saying "the road to hell is paved with good intentions"?
It is a literal truth. Not a literal hell, but one of the mind and soul, where
the best of our intentions can only produce torment. This is because we, by our own ability, can only fail to please God. Take the best of your abilities, or accomplishments and show them to God, see if you can boast? I cant. I find myself looking like the toddler who is given a crayon, and a picture to color, and then says look what "I" have done. I cant color inside "Gods lines", because I simply dont have the ability to, no matter how much I live and learn. I have learned to accept this deep sense of despair with myself...and even to be content with this feeling of despair, it is after all my reality...I am only an empty clay vessel...my only hope is Christ in me, and what He chooses to do with me and thru me. If Christ be in me...then theres nothing I cannot do...faith is only the reality of me, encountering the reality of Christ, and asking now who you going to put your trust in? For myself the answer is easy, I am sand, and He is a Rock.

 

[jiggyfly]

I love this message, because I know its raw truth. In my walk with God, I have discovered that the minute I start looking at myself, i`m sunk. It doesnt matter what it entails, my convictions, my beliefs, my desire to do good etc...they all share the same folly, that little word "my" Discouragement comes fast and furious with a saint, the minute he starts placing any faith in his own abilities, unless he is adept at deluding himself. You can say oh "I" done everything right today..."I" have followed my convictions, "I" have lived up to what "I" believe ..."I" have preached Christ...keep up with the "I" and you`ll soon find yourself falling flat on your face. Why? God does`nt want us to place any faith in ourselves, and of a truth, He will not allow us to, if we are indeed following Him. Take a look at Peter, walking on water, with Christ standing right there in front of him... the second he took his eyes off Christ, and put them on what he was doing (and he was doing something pretty amazing) ...there went his feet! Does God allow us to trip over our own feet, I think He sure does...how else are going to learn to let HIM lead?

As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me . . . —Genesis 24:27

Hallelujah! The scriptures are full of many examples of this very thing. I think it is worth mentioning that it doesn't matter what becomes the focus when we first take our eyes off of Christ, especially ministry. The fact is once we take our eyes off of Christ, very little time passes before our focus becomes self. Just look at Martha, she invited Jesus and His disciples over to her house, then she begins to focus on all things that she thinks need to be done for her guests. Then look at her response, "Lord doesn't it bother you that Mary has left me to do everything? Tell her to get up and help me!

 

[Coconut]

amen Brother. It seems to me, even when we finally get this truth, it doesnt end the struggle. Paul got it, and in his letter to the Romans (ch7) he proves it, yet he calls himself a wretched man because of the continuing struggle, or the war of the mind against the flesh as he calls it. We still have to live with self, and self is constantly seeking to be the focus and center of our attention...some of us might talk better...but do any of us walk a better walk ...I mean really? What man or woman who is entirely honest can say they never take their eyes off Christ, and allow themselves to wallow in self pity...or some other wretched thought...or take their eyes off Christ long enough to do some good deed, and accept the credit for our supposed goodness...its like that old saying, 'a man that claims himself to be humble, has already shown he is not by the boasting of his humility'