Devotions for a Deeper Life Quotes

“The secret of a holy life is not in imitating Jesus, but in letting the perfections of Jesus be manifested in our mortal flesh.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“JANUARY 13 SUGGESTED READING: GALATIANS 1:15–24 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood (Gal. 1:16). When God told Paul to do something for Him, the apostle did not consult with “flesh and blood.” In other words, he did not ask for a human opinion about God’s will for him. Do you? Some people have told us, “Well, I was ready to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit; but not now.” Why? Because they went to their minister and asked his opinion, even though he is not filled with the Spirit. There is no way he can give guidance in an area he doesn’t know anything about. Speak with God. Wait for Him. Take His way. Confer not with “flesh and blood.” There are some dear people on a foreign field who have no business being there. They should be at home. The reason they went to the mission field is because they listened to the passionate appeal of human pleas. God did not send them. They consulted with “flesh and blood.” Listen to God, not to the selfish voice of “flesh and blood.” PRAYER THOUGHT: Forgive me, Lord, for my tendency to let human voices crowd out the still, small voice of the Spirit of God.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“When you begin to walk with God, He may permit you to walk by sight more than by faith. But after a while, He will begin removing the visible symbols and let you tremble. When that happens, you can be sure that He is about to teach you how to walk by faith.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life: A Daily Devotional

“Do you realize that after eminent success in God’s work, there is more need for prayer than when we are at the foothills of a struggle for survival? The moments of victory and success are more dangerous than moments of darkness and depression.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“The gentleness of a mother is harsh compared with the gentleness of God.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“Too many disciples have faith in their faith, or in their joy in the Lord; and when a spiritual storm comes, they have neither faith nor joy. Only one thing can endure, and that is love for God. If such love is not there, we will not recognize the loving voice of God when He cries out to us that He is “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble … be still, and know that I am God …” (Ps. 46:1, 10a).”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“So many people believe in their beliefs, have faith in their faith, and are confident in their confidence. All of this is of no avail. It is our confidence in God that abides, faith in God that remains, and belief in God that lasts.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“It is not obedience to a standard that matters to God, but the fulfillment of the highest standard by the Spirit that is within. Holiness and purity are not obedience to an actual law, but the unconscious natural characteristics of the indwelling Holy Spirit. No one can imitate either. This is why so many who have never experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit are so stern and unchristlike, and such sticklers for obeying the letter of the truth. These carnal Christians are not spiritual in God’s sight.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“The Lord Himself is the one standard of conduct and character in the New Testament. People do not object to a man or a woman becoming outwardly holy, but they do object to his or her becoming a personal devotee of Jesus Christ.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“Holiness is the remaking of our inward and hidden desires and affections, when the Holy Spirit of God dwells in our mortal bodies.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“PRAYER THOUGHT: Through Your mercy and grace, Lord, I truly and completely yield myself to You.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“Eternal life is to know Christ eternally; not eternal existence, but eternal knowledge of God; deeper depths and grander heights forever!”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“The peace of God is not the peace of stoicism or passivity. It is the most intense activity.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“JUNE 19 SUGGESTED READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 6:1–10 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. … Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? (1 Cor. 6:6–7). I hope every Christian worker will listen carefully when I say that in dealing with a backslider you will be exhausted to the last drop of your energy. When we work with other cases, God seems to supply grace at the very moment we need Him. But we need to remember that, if we need to rely on the Holy Spirit in the other cases of dealing with sinners, we need Him ten thousand times more to deal with backsliders. Intercessory prayer for a backslider is a most instructive, but a most trying, act. It teaches a Christian that prayer is not only making petitions, but is breathing a holy atmosphere. The two must go together. You need to be bathed moment by moment in the limpid life of God as you pray for a backslider. If ever you need “the wisdom that cometh from above,” it is in the moment of dealing with a backslider. You will wonder, How am I going to awaken this soul? How am I going to sting into action this backslidden heart? How am I going to make this person go back to God? You cannot. But the Spirit of God is ready to accomplish the miracle, if you will open the way for Him. PRAYER THOUGHT: Dear Lord, teach me how to deal with a backslider. Help me to be alert to the spiritual needs of the wayward soul.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“JUNE 16 SUGGESTED READING: EPHESIANS 5:1–15 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward (Isa. 1:4). Be careful about how you guide your Christian life. You must do more than follow the ordinary standards of the world. It is very tempting to follow the world’s standards in your business and to say, “Oh, well, they all do it. I must do the same.” But if that standard conflicts in the tiniest degree with the clear standard of God, beware! It is an attempt to make a judicious blend of corrupting worldliness and godliness. Compromising Christians spread their disease quicker than any other kind. One backslider exerts an influence over the community that is tenfold worse than the influence of a hundred sinners who have never been saved. PRAYER THOUGHT: If my conduct has provoked You, Lord, I pray that You will reveal my fault and forgive me.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“MAY 19 SUGGESTED READING: MATTHEW 19:16–22 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me (Matt. 19:21). The Lord Jesus Christ exercised a great fascination over people. Multitudes were attracted to Him, until He turned and withered their enthusiasm. The rich young ruler came to Jesus, fascinated; but when Jesus spoke, He said something that withered the young man’s enthusiasm. Jesus merely asked him to become totally His! The Lord Jesus Christ is the enemy of every love, every relationship, and every aim that does not aid the eternal sanctification of the soul. Everything counts as naught until the Lord gets us absolutely remade from the inside—until the disposition of holiness is planted within us. PRAYER THOUGHT: I yearn to be holy. Holiness of heart and life is my inward craving.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“PRAYER THOUGHT: To You I cling, Lord Jesus. You are my only hope of salvation.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“May God stop the preachers with moral measuring rods. Down with them! We need broken-hearted preachers with an awful conviction of sin, preachers who cry, “My God! My God! Against Thee, Thee only have I sinned!”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“APRIL 25 SUGGESTED READING: 2 THES SALONIANS 2:1–12 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thess. 2:11–12). May God grant that we may get rooted and grounded in spiritual truth. Of those who will not accept the truth, the Bible says: “God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” God has done this very thing. Those who love not the truth as it is in Christ, and everybody who is living for Christ by “experiences,” will be void of God’s guiding voice. May God bring us to that glorious rest in Him and to that simplicity of faith. Satan can imitate the Holy Spirit in everything but one. Experiences? The Devil will give you thousands of them. But he can never produce the result the Holy Spirit produces—a holy character that glorifies Jesus. I have made my choice forever, I will walk with Christ my Lord; Naught from Him my soul can sever, While I’m trusting in His word. I the lonely way have taken, Rough and toilsome though it be, And although despised, forsaken, Jesus, I’ll go through with Thee. PRAYER THOUGHT: Yes, I have made my choice forever. To God be all the praise!”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“APRIL 7 SUGGESTED READING: MATTHEW 4:5–7 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin (Heb. 4:14–15). Jesus was tempted to amaze humanity, daze people’s senses, and overrule the natural laws of earth. Satan knew the power of the miraculous to gain the attention of human beings. Anything supernatural instantly sways us. But our Lord did not need to prove that He was the Son of God. He vehemently opposed giving “signs” to convince His critics of His mission on earth (see Matt. 12:38–39). Jesus Christ could command forces that other men knew nothing about. To dazzle humanity by miracles would have been as easy for Him as breathing; but He restrained His miracle-working power. Many modern Christians say, “If God would only perform signs and wonders, we would have a sweeping awakening.” There are actually people who promote this concept. They seek supernatural gifts, with a desire to do “signs and wonders” among us; they seek to “amaze humanity” with their power. In spite of all the warnings of Scripture, God’s people are so easily led astray by signs and supernatural wonders. We must beware! PRAYER THOUGHT: Spare me, Lord, from the onslaughts of Satan and of all earthly cults deceived by him.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“APRIL 4 SUGGESTED READING: ACTS 5:17–32 … We ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29b). You know exactly in what respects you have refused to obey the Lord and persisted in having your own way. When He said, “Drink with Me,” you responded, “No, Lord, I want to have the pattern and imprint of my church. I want to go their way. I want to live as they live and adhere to their decisions in my life.” Instead of having fellowship with Him, you have preferred the fellowship of other Christians. The Lord stands beside you very patiently, but in judgment as you refuse Him and obey others. Do you want to know Paul’s attitude about what other Christians thought of him? He said, “With me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment …” (1 Cor. 4:3a). Is this true with you, brother and sister? If the Christian crowd you mingle with judge you, so what? Are they your god, or is the crucified Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? We are called to faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ. Any movement or person that contradicts Jesus, God will blast to pieces. PRAYER THOUGHT: Deliver me from obeying other people instead of You.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“MARCH 26 SUGGESTED READING: JUDE 21 – 25 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps (1 Pet. 2:21). Do you suffer on account of somebody else or for somebody else? In your agonizing prayers before the Lord on behalf of what you consider a “distressing situation,” are you longing for release because the “distressing situation” hurts and discomforts you? If so, you are not having fellowship with His suffering. But if your soul, out of love, longs and bears in a voluntary and vicarious way for others, then you are having fellowship with Jesus in His sufferings. When your Christian work seemingly is in ruins and you wail before God, is it because the work of your hands is in ruins? Are you tempted to say, “I thought this was to be my life work; now it is broken and blighted and shattered”? If so, you do not know what fellowship with His sufferings means. But when you see people defiling the work of God, making His house of worship a place for worldly business for the engendering of false affections and pursuits, and you agonize before the Lord with tears, then you are learning to have fellowship with our Lord in His sufferings. PRAYER THOUGHT: Oh, to be like You—in suffering!”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“MARCH 10 SUGGESTED READING: ISAIAH 30:18–21 … This is the way, walk ye in it … (Isa. 30:21). We cannot grow into entire sanctification; but after we attain this experience, we must grow into all the fullness of Christ. We are not saved and filled with the Holy Spirit to do any special work, but simply to let God work through us. Oh, we are so desperately concerned about erecting the scaffolding in our lives to build a great work! When God begins to remove it—the scaffolding of our works, etc.—we begin to totter. And when our scaffolding falls, and we are sitting among the ruins, the Holy Spirit whispers, “That was not my staff, upon which you should rest. So I am removing it. You are the work I am after, not your little works. I want you where I can work through you.” For God’s sake, let Him do what He likes with you. PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me, God, never to hesitate to embark on the path of duty You set before me to journey.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life

“MARCH 6 SUGGESTED READING: ISAIAH 45:1–15 Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour (Isa. 45:15). There is an aspect of God’s nature that can be expounded in no other term than astonishing. It is probably best explained by saying that the sovereign will of God is really His free will; yet this presents a mystery so deep to His children that the Bible must say that we serve “a God that hideth Himself.” This hiding of God’s face toward us is not on account of our sin or backsliding. God is simply working His sovereign will, trusting that His children will love Him, even when they do not understand His ways—as in the case of Job. In this respect, one application of the Beatitudes is rarely explained by preachers. In Matthew 5:7, we read, “Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.” As children of God we should, when God is putting us through strange and mysterious circumstances, convey a merciful impression to the minds of others regarding their attitude toward God! It is a real danger, and perilous to their souls, to allow people to sympathize so much with us in our suffering that they have resentful thoughts of God. PRAYER THOUGHT: I accept what You permit to come into my life, heavenly Father, as Your will for me.”
― Oswald Chambers, Devotions for a Deeper Life