The Quill and Me—Devotional Blog•Oswald Chambers Reflections  
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Aug 21
Today's Reading: My Utmost for His Highest
Matthew 5:3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit . . ."

The Quiet Work of God

Today’s message from Chambers feels like it was written about my life. August 21 — The Ministry of the Unnoticed — rests on the verse, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” and reminds me that true spiritual character is quiet and unseen. Chambers says that conscious influence is pride, and that the moment I wonder whether I am useful to God, I lose His gentle touch. Jesus works in the ordinary places, in the unnoticed moments, and that is where He has been shaping me.

The Lord has breathed on this ministry. In just eight months, it has received over 5,400 views, and more than 750 of those have come in the last fourteen days alone. That is not normal for a quiet devotional blog like this one. It is supernatural. I have not promoted this work, yet people from all over the world are reading it. And I ask—why? Why would anyone care what I say? And then I remember: it is not me. It is Him. He is reaching out, drawing souls, touching lives, and using this ministry for His own purposes.

As I work through this book, I am witnessing what God is doing in my life. He is shaping me as I learn more about surrender. As I walk through these pages, as I live out this surrendered life, as I tell my truths and grow in my walk with the Lord, I see His hand everywhere. I am a pauper. I never expected my words to be read by the world. Yet the world has become my witness, because the Lord Himself is bringing people here to read what I write. I am accountable to you—to tell the truth, to testify to what He does with a surrendered pauper.

I look at the numbers and see them climbing, but they do not puff me up with pride. They make me cry. Because I am just a nobody whom God pulled out of the mire of a life marked by great loss and heartache. He has been working on me for such a long time, and for nearly sixty‑eight years I had no idea He was even there most of the time.

I finally recognized Him as Someone important in my life when He lifted my fifty‑year burden as if it were nothing. That moment made me notice Him. It cracked open my heart just enough to let Him in. I have been trying to make Him my first priority ever since.

He is the reason I come to my desk and write. He meets me here. He helps me write. He reminds me of things, heals another corner of my heart, and creates another crack in the armor I built around myself. He is my refuge. I come here because this is my hiding place—under the shadow of His wings I do hide.

This is my comfort zone. In the quiet time I spend at my desk, going over my devotionals, I learn something new every day. He is here with me. He teaches me as I open my mind and heart to Him, as I work through this book, as I read the Scriptures, as I heal and learn—He meets me here.

I try to stay here often. All the noise of the world fades when my mind is fully on the devotional and on Him. I can hear Him, sense Him, feel His nearness. I experience daily amazement as He reveals new things to me. He continues to draw out memories of His presence in my life—times when I did not understand what was happening, but now I can clearly see His hand.

I am a product of the quiet work of God—a hidden life, a hidden purpose, sheltered under the shadow of His wings.

He is the reason I am here today. He never let go of me. He brought me to this day. He did this. He has made my life what it is. Once He had me where I needed to be, He opened my spiritual eyes so I could finally see Him. He gave me access to the elusive surrender—and that was the key to opening the narrow gate and gaining access to Him in my life.

Now that I have found Him—I will never let Him go.

Breath Prayer

Jesus is Lord of my life and I will never let Him go

Selah, ~ Quil

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Scripture References

Matthew 5:3 — Blessed are the poor in spirit…This is the anchor verse.

Verses About the Quiet, Unnoticed Work of God

Isaiah 30:15 — In quietness and trust shall be your strength. 
Zechariah 4:10 — Do not despise the day of small things.
1 Kings 19:12 — The still small voice.
Colossians 3:3 — Your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Verses About Being Under His Wings 

Psalm 91:4 — He will cover you with His feathers… under His wings you will find refuge. 
Psalm 17:8 — Hide me in the shadow of Your wings. 
Ruth 2:12 — You have come to take refuge under His wings.

Verses About God’s Nearness in the Ordinary

Psalm 73:28 — As for me, the nearness of God is my good. 
James 4:8 — Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. 
Isaiah 41:10 — I am with you… I will uphold you.

Verses About Surrender and the Narrow Gate

Matthew 7:14 — Narrow is the gate… and few find it. 
Luke 9:23 — Take up your cross daily. 
Romans 12:1 — Present your bodies as a living sacrifice. 
Galatians 2:20 — It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

Verses About God Never Letting Go

Deuteronomy 31:6 — He will never leave you nor forsake you. 
Psalm 139:10 — Your right hand will hold me fast. 
Isaiah 46:4 — I have made you, and I will carry you… I will sustain you and rescue you.

Verses About God Working Through Your Life

Philippians 1:6 — He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion. 
Ephesians 2:10 — We are His workmanship. 
Psalm 138:8 — The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.

Verses About Being a Pauper, Poor in Spirit

Isaiah 66:2 — I look to the one who is humble and contrite in spirit. 
Psalm 34:18 — The Lord is near to the brokenhearted. 
Psalm 40:2 — He lifted me out of the miry clay.

Verses About God Drawing People 

John 12:32 — I will draw all people to Myself. 
John 6:44 — No one comes unless the Father draws him. 
Isaiah 55:11 — My word will accomplish what I desire.