Living Simply - Yet Focused

I recently read this devotion from Oswald Chambers in his book My Utmost for His Highest (a fabulous daily devotional). It was a good reminder for someone like me that strives to live in the center of God's will and to do His work that the most important thing I need to do is spend quality time with Him.

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin" - they simply are! Think of the sea, the air, the sun, the stars, and the moon - all of these simply are as well - yet what a ministry and service they render on our behalf! So often we impair God's designed influence, which He desires to exhibit through us, becuase of our own conscious effort to be consistent and useful. Jesus said there is only one way to develop and grow spiritually, and that is through focusing and concentrating on God. In essence, Jesus was saying, "Do not worry about being of use to others; simply believe on Me." In other words, pay attention to the Source, and out of you "will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38). We cannot discover the source of our natural life through common sense and reasoning, and Jesus is teaching here that growth in our spiritual life comes not from focusing directly on it, but from concentrating on our Father in heaven. Our heavenly Father knows our circumstances, and if we will stay focused on Him, instead of our circumstances, we will grow spiritually - just as "the lilies of the field."

The people who influence us the most are not those who detain us with their continual talk, but those who live their lives like the stars in the sky and "the lilies of the field" - simply and unaffectedly. Those are the lives that mold and shape us.

If you want to be of use to God, maintain the proper relationship with Jesus Christ by staying focused on Him, and He will make use of you every minute you live - yet you will be unaware, on the conscious level of your life, that you are being used of Him."


I think the last line is worth repeating: If you want to be of use to God (which we do, right?), maintain the proper relationship with Jesus Christ by staying focused on Him (how awesome that Jesus Christ wants a relationship with us!), and He will make use of you every minute you live - yet you will be unaware, on the conscious level of your life, that you are being used of Him.

Isn't that amazing! I so desire for my entire life to be a reflection of Him, like a shining light that is unaware of its brightness. We've met people like that haven't we? People that draw us in with warmth and love yet are completely unaware they have that affect. These people are close to God. These people spend time in fellowship with Him, study His Word, and submit to His will. May we all strive to continuoulsy move towards Christ and experience His Love Undeniable!