July 17
Today's Reading: My Utmost for His Highest
1 Corinthians 2:4
"My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom..."
The Miracle of Belief:
When God Draws the Heart
I do not tell you of myself to lift myself; I am always pointing to Him. He is the power of life. He is the power of my life. He is the One.
Belief in God—and belief in the power of the blood of Christ to save your soul from eternal damnation—is a miracle of God that requires the choice of man.
God initiates the first contact. He draws the heart, He reveals truth, He gives the gift.
It is man’s part to respond to God’s contact, to come when God draws his heart, to believe when God reveals the truth, and to receive the gift of eternal light.
God makes all things possible, but it is our response that seals our fate. We can choose not to respond. Rejection of salvation is eternal. Choosing Jesus as your Savior is eternal.
We are not guaranteed a tomorrow.
I am here to represent the Lord. The presentation of the gospel of Christ is the reason for the message. The feeding of the spirit is the daily bread offered here.
The eloquence of the message is the least of my concerns. I want only to present it in such a manner as to reach people’s hearts where they are in life today—to reach souls for Christ, to give you information to feed your belief and help you grow in your walk with the Lord, to give you the tools you need to climb the steps of growth and deepen your understanding of the Word.
As I learn, I am passing on the information I discern so that you won’t have to read the deep and sometimes sharp words of Chambers yourself, but can gather the information here in a simpler, more common everyday tone. Chambers is keen, insightful, rich in word and deed. The Lord is opening up the Scriptures and their meanings as I walk through this book.
I have learned many truths, and my life has changed as I applied them. I laid down burdens—my sin, self, will—then all of my concerns, worries, and fears masquerading as worries. Also the rights to myself and my ego. I am totally dependent on God. That is the way He likes it. I rather like it myself.
It is a choice I have made, and I share this to say… He opened my eyes and I believed. I chose. I acted. I accepted. I turned. I bowed. I yielded. He keeps me. He gives me what I need. He guides the ship. There is inner peace as the storms of life rage around me—because He is at the helm. I am no longer a slave to sin. I no longer strive. I do not fear. I have no worries, no burdens to bear. He carries me.
God is calling all people to Him. He is breathing on the world at large, gathering souls—making belief possible by drawing all hearts to believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light. All who believe in Him and accept the fact that He died on the Cross of Calvary to reconcile you to God, to save your soul, to forgive you of your sins, and wash your slate clean. It is a gift. Accept it.
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If you choose to believe, let this prayer lead you to salvation:
Father in heaven, I believe Jesus is the Son of God. He died for my sins. I accept Jesus as my Savior. Lord Jesus, forgive me of my sins, come into my life and make me whole. Wash my sins away and save me. Send the Holy Spirit to live in my heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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God is extending an open invitation to all believers to walk a deeper walk with Him. Lord, open the doors of their hearts, soften and draw them to You. Open their eyes so they see Your truth. Breathe on them, pour Your grace on all. Help them see You. Help them see their need to answer the call to yield control of their lives to You—to yield to Your sovereign reign on the throne of their life. To put themselves under Your loving control so that they may be sanctified and healed—freed from striving, freed from slavery to sin, self, and will.
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If you choose to yield to God, let this prayer be your beginning of surrender:
Lord, soften my heart and open my eyes. I choose You, Lord. I give over control of my life—my will, sin, and self—to Your loving control. You and You alone have my best interests at heart. You will guide me with love beyond my understanding. I ask You to take Your rightful place in my life. I yield to You—Your control and Your guidance. Transform me, teach me, heal me, carry me. Father, I give You my trust; give me Your strength and Your faith. Help me loosen and release my grip on the controls of my life and give it all to You. I bow and yield all to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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God is here. He wants you to know it. He wants you to turn to Him for everything in your life. Look to Him daily to guide your decisions and your next steps in life. Do not let fear or worry govern, nor emotions. Look to Him for His will and His peace in your life. Keep your focus on Him alone. Do not let the circumstances that surround your life dictate how you walk, but let the faith and truth of knowing that He has you in the palm of His hand determine your stance. Know that He is in the circumstances that surround you in life. He is in your days and nights—your entire life.
Lean your whole self against His mighty strength and let Him support, carry, strengthen, and provide you with faith and trust in Him alone for all your needs. His will is always good and perfect. His presence guides your every step. Your fellowship with Him grows through obedience. Trusting Him removes fear. Walking with Him brings joy. Life becomes steady and peaceful when you trust Him fully and obey Him completely.
Focus on Him and do not lose sight of Him. Stay with Him. Stay in complete surrender to Him and let Him take care of everything. He is your refuge in times of trouble. He is your anchor in the storms of life. As long as you cling to Him and trust solely in Him, you will have no worries, no fears. He is everything the Bible says He is. He is everything you need and now have. It all changed when you gave Him your trust and surrendered control. He took it from there. He is the captain of the ship. Rest in that knowledge. He is in control. Go to Him for everything. That is the only way—be honest in your relationship with Him and trust Him for everything—for there truly is no other way to live this life with Jesus but to trust and obey.
Believe that He loves you with an everlasting love. And trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge His sovereignty in your life, and He will direct your path.
Prayer
Father, Thank You for our many blessings.You see all and know all.
We give You our trust; we give You our lives.
You are a forgiving God, a God full of love.
You are our Father in heaven—hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.
Forgive us our sins.
We ask that You lead and guide us in all our ways
and that Your will be done in our lives.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
~ Quil
Scripture References
1 Corinthians 2:4 — Not persuasive words, but God’s power.
John 6:44 — No one comes unless the Father draws him.
Ephesians 2:8 — Faith is the gift of God.
Romans 10:9–10 — Believe and confess unto salvation.
John 12:32 — Christ draws all people to Himself.
Romans 8:14 — Led by the Spirit.
Proverbs 3:5–6 — Trust in the Lord; He directs your path.
Psalm 46:1 — God is our refuge and strength.
Psalm 37:5 — Commit your way to the Lord; He will act.
Isaiah 41:10 — Fear not; I will uphold you.
Matthew 11:28–30 — Come to Me… I will give you rest.
Romans 8:1–2 — No condemnation; freedom from sin.
Jeremiah 31:3 — I have loved you with an everlasting love.
Psalm 55:22 — Cast your burden on the Lord.
Psalm 121:3–8 — He keeps your life.
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