A Compelling Testimony: Maintaining a Disciplined Walk, Christlike Character, and Godly Relationships as God's Servant

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A Compe l l i ng Tes t imony

8. Set a bare minimum to spend at least once each year to go on your own personal retreat for the express purpose of being silent in solitude before the Lord. Plan this as you would for any special trip, outing, or vacation. Make the goal of this time to be a “Listening Retreat,” one which you wait before the Lord and listen to his word to you.

9. Incorporate listening into your prayer life, for guidance, insight, words from him for yourself and others.

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O my soul, wouldst thou have thy life glorified, beautified, transfigured to the eyes of men? Get thee up into the secret place of God’s pavilion, where the fires of love are burning. Thy life shall shine gloriously to the dwellers on the plain. Thy prayers shall be luminous; they shall light thy face like the face of Moses when he wist not that it shone. Thy words shall be burning; they will kindle many a heart journeying on the road to Emmaus. Thy path shall be lambent; when thou hast prayed in Elijah’s solitude thou shalt have Elijah’s chariot of fire.

~ George Matheson, from S. G. Hardman. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour . Originally published: Chicago: Revell, c1990. (May 21). Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1998.

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Phil. 2.5-8 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, [8] he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

III. The Discipline of Submission

If we are serious about growing in the likeness of Christ and so fulfilling God’s great goal for our lives, we will need to say, “God, I want Your will for my life. I will seek my own will no longer. I will rationalize my sin no more. I will study Your Word and learn what pleases You. Then, by the power of Your indwelling Holy Spirit, I will obey, whatever it costs me.” And obeying God will cost us. It may cost money, comforts, or material possessions. It may cost friends – people who decide that being with us is too convicting, so they drop us like a hot rock. It may cost time – the time it takes to minister to the needs of others when we prefer to be doing something for ourselves. But the cost won’t matter, because we want to be like Jesus, and He was submissive to His Father in Heaven.

~ Richard L. Strauss. Growing More Like Jesus . Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, Inc., 1991. p. 25.