OC January 5th

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The verse in todays devotional “My utmost for His highest” by Oswald chambers:

“And Jesus replied, ‘You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.’” John 13:36

Chambers talks about the stages of following Jesus. The first external following of Jesus when the attraction of Jesus is upon you and you don’t need the Holy Spirit to follow. See Peter’s life. The first following when he laid down his nets and followed Jesus. The second after Jesus gives him the Holy Spirit. A quote from the devotional:

“All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to ‘receive the Holy Spirit.’ ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’ - the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Resolutions ending in denial or failure - fitting for this time of year. We set out goals for ourselves that WE are resolved to conquer. I can honestly say I have never had any success apart from Jesus. When I try so hard it never seems to go the way I want it. When I surrender - letting the Invasion occur - and ask for His guidance and will to take over, peace and joy are experienced. But be careful - His path may be different than the course you were setting. There can be only one driver of the bus. 

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