Oswald Chambers

If we rely on the Holy Spirit, we shall find that our prayers become more and more inarticulate; and when they are inarticulate, reverence grows deeper and deeper.

The entrance into the Kingdom is through the panging pains of repentance crashing into a man's respectable goodness; then the Holy Ghost, who produces these agonies begins the formation of the Son God in the life.

A private relationship of worshiping God is the greatest essential element of spiritual fitness.

Earnestness is not by any means everything; it is very often a subtle form of pious pride because it is obsessed with the method and not with the Master.

The dearest friend on earth is a mere shadow compared to Jesus Christ.

The Transformative Power of Obedience

Obedience to God's will is presented as the key to understanding and spiritual growth. Chambers writes, 'The golden rule for understanding spiritually is not intellect, but obedience.' He argues that intellectual curiosity alone cannot lead to spiritual insight; instead, it is through obedience that one gains True understanding of Jesus' teachings. When faced with spiritual darkness or confusion, it often indicates an area of disobedience. Chambers encourages believers to address any unresolved issues, as obedience leads to spiritual clarity and progress.

The agony in Gethsemane is the agony of the Son of God in fulfilling His destiny as the Saviour of the world.

The Cross was a superb triumph in which the foundations of hell were shaken.

Our Lord's Cross is the gateway into His life: His Resurrection means that He has power now to convey His life to me.

The Cross is the point where God and sinful man merge with a crash and the way to life is opened - but the crash is on the heart of God.

Eternal life is not a gift from God, eternal life is the gift of God.

My determination is to be my utmost for His Highest.

Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One Who is leading.

Salvation is easy because it cost God so much, but the manifestation of it in my life is difficult.

If you want to know whether God is the God you have faith to believe Him to be, then go through your Jordan alone.

Simplicity is the secret of seeing things clearly.

The kingdom of God cometh not with observation, for lo the kingdom of God is within you.

Absolute Surrender to God's Will

Oswald Chambers emphasizes the necessity of yielding completely to Jesus Christ. True devotion requires an 'absolute and irrevocable surrender' of our will to God. This surrender is not about debating or reasoning but about a decisive act of will. Chambers states, 'My determination is to be my utmost for His Highest.' This means prioritizing God's call over personal considerations, even when it involves significant sacrifices. For instance, when we worry about the impact of our obedience on others, we are essentially doubting God's wisdom. Chambers encourages readers to 'shut out every other consideration and keep yourself before God for this one thing only - My Utmost for His Highest.'

The Centrality of the Cross

Chambers asserts that the Cross of Jesus is the pivotal point of both time and eternity, revealing God's judgment on sin and His plan for redemption. He writes, 'The Cross is the point where God and sinful man merge with a crash and the way to life is opened.' The Cross is not merely a symbol of martyrdom but a triumphant act that reestablished humanity's relationship with God. This idea highlights the transformative power of the Cross, which allows individuals to enter into communion with God and experience eternal life.

Whole-hearted Devotion to God

Chambers emphasizes that our primary aim in any work or situation is to pour out whole-hearted devotion to God. He asserts that we should not judge where we should be placed or have preconceived notions about what God is preparing us for. Instead, we should trust that 'God engineers everything' and focus on serving Him with all our might in whatever task we find ourselves. This approach encourages a mindset of dedication and trust in God's plan, regardless of our personal ambitions or expectations. Chambers encapsulates this idea with the quote, 'Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.'

The Role of Temptation in Spiritual Growth

Chambers redefines the concept of temptation, stating that it is not sin but an essential part of spiritual growth. He explains, 'Temptation is not sin; it is the thing we are bound to meet if we are men.' This idea highlights that facing and overcoming temptation is a necessary process for developing a full and robust spiritual life. For example, a person might be tempted to take a shortcut to achieve a good end, but resisting this temptation and choosing the righteous path strengthens their spiritual resolve and aligns them more closely with God's will.

The Importance of Cultivating Love and Grace

Chambers emphasizes that growth in grace halts the moment we become offended or 'huffed.' He points out that living with difficult people can be a test of our grace, reminding us of how disagreeable we have been to God. Chambers asks, 'Am I prepared to be so identified with the Lord Jesus that His life and His sweetness are being poured out all the time?' This idea underscores the necessity of maintaining love through discipline, as both natural and divine love require cultivation to endure. For instance, he notes that love is spontaneous but must be maintained by discipline, suggesting that our spiritual life should be so ingrained that it becomes second nature.

The temper of mind is tremendous in its effects, it is the enemy that penetrates right into the soul and distracts the mind from God.

The Necessity of Concentration on Jesus

Chambers underscores the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ for effective ministry. He points out that the disciples' failure to cast out a demon was due to their lack of concentration on Jesus. He states, 'This kind can come forth by nothing but by concentration and redoubled concentration on Him.' This idea is further elaborated by explaining that True service to God requires eliminating anything that stands between oneself and Jesus, facing challenges head-on, and maintaining a direct connection with Him.

Replenish Your Spiritual Supply

Regularly engage in personal spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, and reading scripture to ensure you are spiritually nourished and can continue to serve others effectively.

Embrace Your Current Role

Focus on serving God with all your might in whatever task or situation you find yourself, trusting that He has placed you there for a purpose.

Cultivate Continuous Abiding

Make a conscious effort to maintain a constant relationship with God. This means integrating prayer, scripture reading, and spiritual reflection into your daily routine to stay connected to Christ.

Embrace Humiliation

Recognize that spiritual growth often happens in the mundane and challenging moments. Embrace these times as opportunities to demonstrate faithfulness and grow closer to God.

To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth.

The one thing that keeps us from the possibility of worrying is bringing God in as the greatest factor in all our calculations.

Sanctification means the impartation of the Holy qualities of Jesus Christ.

It is not so True that 'prayer changes things' as that prayer changes me and I change things.

The circumstances of a saint's life are ordained of God. In the life of a saint there is no such thing as chance.

The battle is lost or won in the secret places of the will before God, never first in the external world.

It is the agony of God and Man in one, face to face with sin.

The Cross is the point where God and sinful man merge with a crash and the way to life is opened.

Have I made this decision about sin - that it must be killed right out in me?

Cast thy burden upon the Lord.

My yoke is easy, get alongside Me and we will pull together.

Trust entirely in God, and when He brings you to the venture, see that you take it.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.

Never court anything other than the approval of God, go 'without the camp, bearing His reproach.

We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God.

The only possibility of understanding the teaching of Jesus is by the light of the Spirit of God on the inside.

Freshness does not come from obedience but from the Holy Spirit; obedience keeps us in the light as God is in the light.

We are not told to walk in the light of conscience or of a sense of duty, but to walk in the light as God is in the light.

The only thing that will enable me to enjoy the disagreeable is the keen enthusiasm of letting the life of the Son of God manifest itself in me.

Resting in the Lord is not dependent on your external circumstances at all, but on your relationship with God Himself.

The point of prayer is not to get answers from God, but to have perfect and complete oneness with Him.

Sanctification means being made one with Jesus so that the nature that controlled Him will control us.

The agony in Gethsemane is the agony of the Son of God in fulfilling His destiny as the Saviour of the world.

The Cross was a superb triumph in which the foundations of hell were shaken.

Our Lord's Cross is the gateway into His life: His Resurrection means that He has power now to convey His life to me.

The Cross is the point where God and sinful man merge with a crash and the way to life is opened - but the crash is on the heart of God.

Eternal life is not a gift from God, eternal life is the gift of God.

My determination is to be my utmost for His Highest.

Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One Who is leading.

Salvation is easy because it cost God so much, but the manifestation of it in my life is difficult.

If you want to know whether God is the God you have faith to believe Him to be, then go through your Jordan alone.

Simplicity is the secret of seeing things clearly.

The kingdom of God cometh not with observation, for lo the kingdom of God is within you.

The temper of mind is tremendous in its effects, it is the enemy that penetrates right into the soul and distracts the mind from God.

To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth.

The one thing that keeps us from the possibility of worrying is bringing God in as the greatest factor in all our calculations.

Sanctification means the impartation of the Holy qualities of Jesus Christ.

It is not so True that 'prayer changes things' as that prayer changes me and I change things.

The circumstances of a saint's life are ordained of God. In the life of a saint there is no such thing as chance.

The battle is lost or won in the secret places of the will before God, never first in the external world.

It is the agony of God and Man in one, face to face with sin.

The Cross is the point where God and sinful man merge with a crash and the way to life is opened.

Have I made this decision about sin - that it must be killed right out in me?

Cast thy burden upon the Lord.

My yoke is easy, get alongside Me and we will pull together.

Trust entirely in God, and when He brings you to the venture, see that you take it.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.

Never court anything other than the approval of God, go 'without the camp, bearing His reproach.

We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God.

The only possibility of understanding the teaching of Jesus is by the light of the Spirit of God on the inside.

Freshness does not come from obedience but from the Holy Spirit; obedience keeps us in the light as God is in the light.

We are not told to walk in the light of conscience or of a sense of duty, but to walk in the light as God is in the light.

The only thing that will enable me to enjoy the disagreeable is the keen enthusiasm of letting the life of the Son of God manifest itself in me.