My Utmost for His Highest - May 22nd - Now This Explains It

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. - John 17:21

    If you are going through a solitary way, read John 17, it will explain exactly why you are where you are--Jesus has prayed that you may be one with the Father as He is. Are you helping God to answer that prayer, or have you some other end for your life? Since you became a disciple you cannot be as independent as you used to be.

    The purpose of God is not to answer our prayers, but by our prayers we come to discern the mind of God, and this revealed in John 17. There is one prayer God must answer, and that is the prayer of Jesus--"that they may be one, even as We are One. (John 17:22)" Are we as close to Jesus Christ as that?
    

    God is not concerned about our plans; He does not say--Do you want to go through this bereavement; this upset? He allows these things for His own purpose. The things we are going through are either making us sweeter, better, nobler men, and women; or they are making us more captious* and fault-finding, more insistent upon our own way. the things that happen either make us fiends, or they make us saints; it depends entirely upon the relationship we are in to God. If we say--"Thy will be done, (Matthew 26:42)" we get the consolation of John 17, the consolation of knowing that our Father is working according to His own wisdom. When we understand what God is after we will not get mean and cynical. Jesus has prayed nothing less for us than absolute oneness with Himself as He was one with the Father. Some of us are far off it, and yet God will not leave us alone until we are one with Him, because Jesus has prayed that we may be.

- From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition.

Mom's thoughts

*captious - fond of taking exception or raising objections

My thoughts

Very interesting thoughts here -- praying is to discern the mind of God and God does not consult us but allow things to occur in our lives for His purpose. -- I must remember always my purpose and it is to be one with God, not to have a happy, carefree life.