The Quill and Me—Devotional Blog•Oswald Chambers Reflections  
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Aug 6
Today's Reading: My Utmost for His Highest
John 16:26
"In that day you will ask in My name . . ."

A Season of Learning

When Prayer Seems to be Unanswered

The Cross of Christ... what does it represent to you personally? 

Chambers tells us that the Cross represents only one thing for us—identification with the Lord, Jesus Christ. And this identification becomes real to us in prayer. 

Jesus spent time in prayer with the Father unceasingly. He was one with the Father. 

We are to become one with Christ in prayer. 

The reason we pray should not be to get answers from God. It is a time of connection with Him. Chambers asks a piercing question: has our prayer life become one with the prayer life of Jesus Christ—so intimate with God? Has the Lord's life become our life, is our life hidden in His life? Chambers says it should be such that there is no distinction between His prayer life with the Father, and our prayer life with Him; they should mirror one with the other. 

Although prayer should be a relationship with Christ, not an answer session with God, we tend to pray for answers anyway. Chambers says we get answers to all of our prayers, but they may not come as we expect them to. If we pray only to receive answers, we will end up getting irritated with God. Being upset with God shows we are not aligned with the purpose of prayer and that we are not identifying ourselves with the Lord in prayer.  

There is always a reason behind what seems like unanswered prayer. When this is the case, do not fall into the enemy's trap of trying to place blame on someone else. It will be something in our own life that has caused this. We look to God for the reason, and He will give us instruction meant only for us. 

This is a season of learning.

Another of Chambers' aptly phrased messages: We are not here to prove that God answers prayer, but to be living trophies of God's grace. 

Breath Prayer

Lord, teach me,

Your grace is sufficient for me. 

Selah,

He is still working on me, 

~ Quil

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Scripture References

• John 16:26–27 — “In that day ye shall ask in my name… for the Father himself loveth you.” (Directly tied to Chambers’ reading; intimacy with Christ in prayer.)

• Matthew 6:8 — “Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” (Prayer is communion, not transaction.)

• Romans 8:26–27 — “The Spirit itself maketh intercession for us… according to the will of God.” (Prayer aligns us with Christ’s life, not just our requests.)

• Colossians 3:3 — “Your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Identification with Christ; our life hidden in His life.)

• Philippians 4:6–7 — “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer… and the peace of God… shall keep your hearts.” (Prayer brings peace, not irritation when answers differ.)

• James 1:5 — “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God… and it shall be given him.” (God uses prayer as instruction, not blame.)

• 2 Corinthians 12:9 — “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (Matches the breath prayer — grace is enough.)

• Psalm 66:18–19 — “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. But verily God hath heard me.” (Reminds us that God does hear — silence is not rejection.)