Week 31 – Celebrating 100 Years of Oswald Chambers
SCRIPTURE: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
OSWALD: “An average view of the Christian life is that it means deliverance from trouble. It is deliverance in trouble, which is very different….
God does not give us overcoming life: He gives us life as we overcome. The strain is the strength. If there is no strain, there is no strength. Are you asking God to give you life and liberty and joy? He cannot, unless you will accept the strain. Immediately you face the strain, you will get the strength.” (My Utmost for His Highest – August 2nd)
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TODAY’S GUEST: I’m honored to have my friend, Hannah Keeley, share her heart in today’s blog. Be sure to learn how to connect with Hannah at the end of this post – she’s amazing!
How It Spoke to Hannah…
I love how Oswald puts it: “An average view of the Christian life is that it means deliverance from trouble. It is deliverance in trouble, which is very different.”
One thing is certain, you and I were not created to be average. We are created by an abundant, all-powerful God who never does anything “average.” We were created to soar, not to crawl. We were meant to be victors, not victims.
We have the water-walking, mountain-moving power of God within us, so why on earth would we ever want to just be average?
The average person gripes and complains and begs for God to come to the rescue from a situation. The over-comer knows that God is already at work, growing us in ways we could never imagine.
Sure, none of us want to go through difficult times. If it were up to us, most of us would be content with a comfy sofa, a remote control, and some chocolate ice cream. But God didn’t put us here to be comfortable. He put us here to change the world.
God knows what He designed us to do, and it’s not to stay comfortable.
Just like that lump of coal would never become a diamond until it is put under pressure, God uses pressure to turn us into the world changers He created us to be. He never said it would be easy, but He did promise to give us strength to persevere and overcome.
But here’s the deal, God’s strength is only activated when we quit cowering in the corner and take a step forward. And as soon as we take that step, His strength meets us right where we are.
It’s not about tomorrow or yesterday or next month. It’s about right now, this very moment. Instead of running in fear, remember…
God does not give us overcoming life: He gives us life as we overcome. - Oswald Chambers Click To TweetFor “the strain is the strength,” Oswald says. “If there is no strain, there is no strength.”
I can honestly say that it was only in the strain that I truly realized the “big-ness” of God.
He became more than a cross I wore around my neck or a bumper sticker on my car. He became my all-in-all.
When we have nothing else on which to plant our feet, that’s when we come to know God best.
More About Hannah
Hannah Keeley is the producer and host of the national television series, “Hannah, Help Me!,” now seen by millions on networks worldwide. In this reality series, she spends two days with overwhelmed moms, helping them develop the skills to improve their lives. She is also the author of Hannah Keeley’s Total Mom Makeover and Crazy Mama, founder of Hannah Keeley Ministries, creator of Mom Mastery University, and the mother of seven rambunctious kiddos!
Learn more at www.HannahHelpMe.com and be sure to follow her amazingness on FACEBOOK.
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I’d love to hear from you…What is God using to stretch you right now?