Oswald and me. What informs you?

Over the years, actually over the decades with good regularity, I have read a daily meditation composed from talks given by a Scotsman almost 100 years ago. His name is Oswald Chambers. The collection is titled "My Utmost for His Highest." 

For instance, here's today's offering.  August 2.

The Teaching of Adversity

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16.33)

The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling…” (Psalm 91.1, 10) — the place where you are at one with God.

If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He is saying, “There is nothing for you to fear.” The same people who refused to talk about their adversities before they were saved often complain and worry after being born again because they have the wrong idea of what it means to live the life of a saint.
God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get the strength. Overcome your own timidity and take the first step. Then God will give you nourishment— “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life…” (Revelation 2.7). If you completely give of yourself physically, you become exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Our temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can “be of good cheer” even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.

Back in the 1970s, I would read it in a small book. Then in the 1990s, I got a larger book.  And since about 2004, I've read it online. And that has allowed me the privilege to share the daily reading much more easily with others on social media and such. Like here on Blogger. 

I read other things most days also, like the Bible, The Real Connection, the NY Times (more than Wordle), ESPN information, and Facebook (is that the same as Oswald? I think not!).  I'm constantly curating my own news of the world and trying to make sense of it, and of my life and then when needful to dispense what I've learned to others. 

Perhaps you feel this way also. 

Perhaps the use of My Utmost would help you. Mac Harnden was a brother in the Lord in Lawrence, Kansas, who in 1974 gave me my first Oswald book and I've never been able to thank him enough.  Give it a try. Most days I agree with most everything Oswald said. I think your faith will grow over time. That's not a bad thing, is it?