The Quill and Me—Devotional Blog•Oswald Chambers Reflections  
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Aug 18
Today's Reading: My Utmost for His Highest
Luke 18:23
"When he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich"

Devotion: Love for Jesus Alone

The rich man loved his wealth so much that Jesus' words, "sell all that you have," hit him with deep discouragement, and he went away from Jesus struck speechless with sorrow.

Jesus demands that we give it all up for Him. All of it. Everything that we are. Everything that we have. Everything we cling to and depend on. Everything that we own. Everything that has a grip on us has to go. He wants us just as we were when we were born, stripped down to only our very soul, standing naked and without before Him. 

Our free will—it will cling to its freedom. It will fight this battle with or without you. 

But if we truly mean what we say, we must follow Him in whatever way He leads.

I was sixty‑eight, and Jesus had already stripped my life down to its bare frame. "Every branch that bears fruit He prunes…" (John 15:2) I was in a quiet place with no family nearby, no support system to lean on. I had lost my main support — my mom — and even my animals were gone. Everything felt like it was unraveling, and my life was spiraling out of control. "Whom the Lord loves He disciplines…" (Hebrews 12:6) There was nowhere left to turn but to the Lord. And in that emptied, desolate place, He positioned me to finally see surrender — after all of this had already taken place in my life. "I count all things loss… that I may gain Christ." (Philippians 3:8)

After realizing I hated myself, after giving Him that burden, He led me to write, to work through Chambers' book which is all about surrender starting on page one. And in April, after reading and writing about surrender for four months without even realizing it, He opened my spiritual eyes.

When I was struck with the insight that surrender was what I needed... I did not think twice about it. I was convinced immediately that this was the key to the hidden place I had been longing for all my life. Although I did not know what I was searching for, when it found me, I knew in an instant—this was it. 

I immediately set my heart to reach that place. I needed a posture of humility, a bowing of my will. There were no questions, I did not try to find out anything else about surrender because I was convinced this was what I wanted no matter what. I had lived long enough and discovered enough along the way to know what I did not want... I just did not question it. I bowed my will, my self to the Lord and submitted my ways to Him, my life to Him. I was an open book. I was destitute in my soul. 

By this time, although I had no silver or gold, I had already lost nearly every earthly thing of value in my life. And my heart was simply grateful to the Lord that He opened my eyes to the hidden way—the narrow gate.

I have not been disappointed or discouraged. With my spiritual eyes opened, enlightenment has filled my mind, my heart, and my soul. It is a beautiful way, though a difficult way. And the difficulties will be different for each one of us. But the Lord is always here to help us. 

Romans 5:5—"...God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit..."

The Holy Spirit fills you with love for Jesus Christ Himself. You do not have to manufacture it, it is poured into you. 

Grace is there to support you. There simply is no other way. It took me a lifetime to find it. I have been undone with joy at the way He has changed my life. I cry with release and with healing. I have peace that surpasses human understanding, I am resting in His righteous right hand. I have come a very long way since April, and I have so far to go. But I am determined that I am staying, hidden under the shadow of His wings.

Stripped bare.

Honesty and humility.

Bowing of the will.

Giving of the self.

An open heart.

Holy Spirit takes the throne.

We are healed from within.

New life revealed.

New inner world.

Sorrows turn to joy.

River of Grace flows.

Love so tender—heals the brokenhearted.

Love for Him supplied by the Holy Spirit.

No other love.

No other life.

Found with Him hidden inside. 

Love for Jesus alone.

The sweetest place I have ever known.

Breath Prayer

All or none, 

You alone.

Selah,

~ Quil

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Scripture References

These two are Chambers’ anchor verses.

Luke 18:23—“When he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.”

Luke 18:22—“Sell all that you have… and come, follow Me.”

Surrender & Stripping Away Self

John 15:2—“Every branch that bears fruit He prunes…”
Hebrews 12:6—“Whom the Lord loves He disciplines…” 
Philippians 3:8—“I count all things loss… that I may gain Christ.” 

Matthew 16:24—“If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself…”

Matthew 7:14—“For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life…”

Galatians 2:20—“I have been crucified with Christ… it is no longer I who live…”

Romans 12:1—“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice…”

The Battle of the Will

Romans 7:18—“For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.”

Philippians 2:13—“For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work…”

The Holy Spirit Gives Love for Jesus

Romans 5:5—“…God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit…”

John 14:26—“The Helper, the Holy Spirit… will teach you all things…”

Healing, Joy, and Inner Transformation

Psalm 34:18—“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted…”

Psalm 51:10—“Create in me a clean heart, O God…”

Isaiah 61:3—“…the oil of joy for mourning…”

2 Corinthians 5:17—“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…”

Philippians 4:7—“The peace of God… will guard your hearts and minds…”

Devotion to Jesus Himself

John 21:17—“Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

Psalm 73:25—“Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You.”

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