Anyone who has known me for very long knows that I love the devotional, 
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. I have read it daily for about 7 or 8 years. Mine is a marked up, page bent copy that is priceless to me. The daily devotions have dates and years next to things that God has used to speak to me in those times. I am grateful for Oswald’s work and amazed how it spans so many years.
For those who are interested, here are some Oswald facts:
Oswald Chambers was known for startling his audiences. It was hard to ignore his points or his messages and he often used humor to drive home a sensitive point. He became a Christian at age fifteen, and was a member of the Rye Lane Baptist Church. This marked a time in his life where the was rapid spiritual growth and an intense struggle to find God’s will and way for his life.
He was not famous during his lifetime, dying at the age of 43, from complications following an emergency appendectomy. At the time he had three books in print that were circulated just between a small circle of Christians in Britian. He was a gifted artist and musician, trained at London’s Royal Academy of Art. During the last decade of his life he was a traveling speaker.
He was married to Biddy Hobbs for 7 years before the Lord took him home. During those years his wife took verbatim shorthand notes of his lectures and sermons. After his death, she spent the rest of her life publishing her husband’s spoken words, His best know book, My Utmost for His Highest.
The quotes below are taken from some of Oswald’s sermons or writtings that most of us have not seen before. I attained them from the new book, The Quotable Oswald Chambers. I hope you enjoy them today.
On another note: I am amazed at a wife who took notes on everything her husband said, and then later turned that around into such HUGE Kingdom impact. And, amazed that God allowed such a gifted man to die so young. Being God knew Oswald’s days, perhaps the rush of spiritual insight and growth at such a young age was also part of the plan. There was a short time to use this man, and this man listened and obeyed. The fruit still remains.
That inspires me!
Here are some of Oswald’s thoughts on purpose……
“Our lives mean much more than we can tell; they fulfill some purpose of God about which we know nothing; our part is to trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean to our own understanding. Earthly wisdom can never come near the threshold of the Divine; if we stop short of the Divine we stop short of God’s purpose for our lives.” from Bring Sons Unto Glory pg. 236
“Nothing can hinder God’s purpose in a personal life but the person himself.” from Disciples Indeed, pg 394
Today we hold conferences and conventions and give reports and make our programs. None of these things were in the life of Jeus, and yet every minute of His life He realized that He was fulfilling the purpose of His Father. How did He do it? By maintaing the one relationship and it is that one relationship He insists on in His disciples, and it is the one we have lost in the rubbish of modern civilization. from The Highest Good page 548
Proverbs 3:4-5 is one scripture that I have to constantly remind myself of. It’s also the one I share the most. There is so much we do not understand. I guess that’s why He told us not to lean on it. It’s not important that we understand why! We just need to keep our eyes on Him. Bottom line is, He knows me, He made me, He has a purpose for ME! I need Him to set my path straight. I certinly do not want to get in His way and prevent anything He has planned for me. I take one day at a time Trusting in Him so He will allow me to Rest in His Peace. Simple, Right!