Craig T. Owens

This is a weekly series with things I’m reading and pondering from Oswald Chambers. You can read the original seed thought here, or type “Thursdays With Oswald” in the search box to read more entries.

Engineered Circumstances

     The time a Christian gives to prayer and communion with God is not meant for his natural life, but meant to nourish the life of the Son of God in him. God engineers the circumstances of His saints in order that that Spirit may use them as the praying-house of the Son of God. … Prayer not so much alters things as alters the man who prays, and he alters things. … The essential meaning of prayer is that it nourishes the life of the Son of God in me and enables Him to manifest Himself in my mortal flesh.

From Biblical Ethics

In every situation, I must believe that God has directed my steps. But even though I know that, it still doesn’t mean that I will grow as a result of it. God does engineer my circumstances—and sometimes makes those circumstances seem “impossible”—so that I will pray. It’s only prayer that will make the impossible possible.

“If your prayers aren’t impossible to you, they are insulting to God. Why? Because they don’t require divine intervention.” —Mark Batterson