This is a picture of my copy of My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers. This poor little book in a mess. I’ve been reading this very copy daily for over 20 years! The cover falls off and large chunks of the book slide out of I don’t hold it just right. I love this book and I’ve wrung so much out of it!
I know it sounds strange, but this beat up old book really inspires me. I look at it and think, “I want to be like this book.”
Let me explain:
This book gets read. It doesn’t just sit on the shelf looking pretty. It has a message and that message is heard and makes an impact. You’ve heard the saying, “You may be the only Bible the some people will ever read.” Well, I want to be a book that God’s message can be communicated through.
I catch something new every time I read through it. Chambers is deep and that’s one of the things that keeps me coming back to this book. One of my greatest fears is becoming stale and irrelevant. I long to be a deep well that others can draw from.
It’s old but powerful. This one is much like the second one. I know I’m not really old, but I’m at the halfway point in my life and I think often about how aging will effect the impact I’m able to make on the world around me. I long to hold onto my zeal for Jesus and to keep my vision strong.
It’s spent. Seriously, look at that thing. I really don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to go without buying a new one. I’ve brought it everywhere with me for the last 20+ years. I’ve read it over and over. I don’t want to reach the end of my life wishing I’d been spent more for the cause of Christ. I want God to wring every last bit out of me for His glory.
I love how Paul puts it in 2nd Corinthians 12:15, “I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you.”
Lord, spend me to the last ounce of all I have and am. Amen.
Another edition of Tozer Tuesdays, prayers from his book The Pursuit of God They have profoundly impacted me and I hope they challenge and move you as you pray them too.
Lord, make me childlike. Deliver me from the urge to compete with another for place or prestige or position. I would be simple and artless as a little child. Deliver me from pose and pretense. Forgive me for thinking of myself. Help me to forget myself and find my true peace in beholding Thee. That Thou may answer this prayer I humble myself before Thee. Lay upon me Thy easy yoke of self-forgetfulness that though it I may find rest.
“After I had come to Ireland I daily used to feed cattle, and prayed frequently during the day; the love of God and the fear of Him increased more and more and faith became stronger, and the spirit was stirred; so that in one day I said about a hundred prayers, and in the night nearly the same; so that I used even to remain in the woods and in the mountains; before daylight I used to rise to prayer, through snow, through frost, through rain, and felt no harm; nor was there any slothfulness in me, and I now perceive, because the spirit was then fervent within me.”
Wow! Patrick was a man of prayer!
This is incredibly convicting for me. I’ve woken up very early many mornings to simply roll over and hit the snooze button. So many opportunities to pray wasted.
Patrick recognized the connection between prayer, the awareness of God’s love, and a fervent spirit, and he gave himself to seeking God.
How about you? What can you learn about your prayer life from St. Patrick’s example?
A couple of weeks ago, I made a list of some of my favorite things. At the top of that list was this book, The Pursuit of God, by A.W. Tozer. It has had a massive impact on my walk with Jesus. It’s caused me to see God, prayer, and my life in such a different way. I read much of this book on my knees and in tears. I only wish I would have found it 10 years before I did!
Well, today I want to give one of you a copy. I know it will be a huge blessing to you as you read it!
All you have to do is leave a comment below with the name of a book (besides the Bible) that’s had a major impact on you, and click that retweet button on the left.
On Friday, my son and I will randomly draw a winner (like we did here) and we’ll announce the winner here on the blog. You may want to subscribe to the blog so that you don’t miss it if you’re the winner.
You’re going to love the book and I’ll be praying that it’s a major blessing to you!
They have profoundly impacted me and I hope they challenge and move you as you pray them too.
excerpt from St. Patrick’s Confessions:
