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Thanks for the accountability and interest in what God's doing in my life!

from Chamber's 'Utmost for His Highest'

from the 25th devotional reading, 'The Test of Self-interest'

As soon as you begin to live the life of faith in God, fascinating and luxurious prospects will open up before you, and these things are yours by right; but if you are living the life of faith you will exercise your right to waive your rights, and let God choose for you.

...if you are [living the life of faith], you will joyfully waive your right and leave God to choose for you. This is the discipline by means of which the natural is transformed into the spiritual by obedience to the voice of God.

Many of us do not go on spiritually because we prefer to choose what is right instead of relying on God to choose for us.

Chambers, Oswald: My Utmost for His Highest : Selections for the Year. Grand Rapids, MI : Discovery House Publishers, 1993, c1935, S. May 25

I am black, but comely.

BEHOLD, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.--Thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.

I am a sinful man, O Lord.--Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair.

I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.--Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

When I would do good, evil is present with me.--Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing.--Ye are complete in him.--Perfect in Christ Jesus.

Ye are washed, ...ye are sanctified, ...ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.--That ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

CANT. 1. 5. Ps. 51. 5.--Eze. 16. 14. Lu. 5. 8.--Ca. 4. 1. Job 42. 6.--Ca. 4. 7. Ro. 7. 21. Mat. 9. 2. Ro. 7. 18.-- Col. 2. 10; 1. 28.  Co. 6. 11. 1 Pe. 2. 9.

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us.

HE brought me up...out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.--The Son of God,...loved me, and gave himself for me.--He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?--God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.--Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

      God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

ISA. 63. 7. Ps. 40. 2.--Ga. 2. 20.--Ro. 8. 32.-- Ro. 5. 8. 2 Co. 1. 22.--Ep. 1. 14. Ep. 2. 4-6.

In every thing ye are enriched by him.

WHEN we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.--He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

      In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.

      Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.--To will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.--Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

      If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.--Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.

1 COR. 1. 5. Ro. 5. 6.--Ro. 8. 32. Col. 2. 9, 10. John 15. 4, 5.--Ro. 7. 18.-- Ep. 4. 7. John 15. 7.--Col. 3. 16.

As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

WE . . . rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also.--I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.--Believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

      In a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.--Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

      Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?--God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in allthings, may abound to every good work.

2 COR. 6. 10. Ro. 5. 2, 3.--2 Co. 7. 4.-- 1 Pe. 1. 8. 2 Co. 8. 2.--Ep. 3. 8, 9. Ja. 2. 5.-- 2 Co. 9. 8.

He ever liveth to make intercession.

WHO is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, . . . who also maketh intercession for us.--Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.

      If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.--There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

      Seeing . . . that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.--Through him we . . . have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

My Faith Has Found a Resting Place:

My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.

Refrain

I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.