Attaining That Which is Best
Wade E Taylor

“Yes, I long to come to know Him; that is, the power of His resurrection, and so to share with Him His sufferings as to be continuously transformed by His death, in the hope of attaining, in some measure, the resurrection that lifts me out from among the dead.”  Philippians 3:10-11  Williams

We must guard our spirit concerning things that can hinder the “quality” of our spiritual life.  When we neglect to value and maintain His presence in our daily lives, we will lose our interest in personally knowing the Lord.  Our understanding of spiritual principles will become clouded and deteriorate, and we will be robbed of His best in our spiritual experience.

These hindrances and negative things, if not dealt with, will gradually eat away the progress that we have made toward spirituality.  As a result, any spiritual sensitivity that has developed within us will become dull, and we will begin to feel that the Lord is far away and no longer interested in us.

If we are sincere in our desire for His best, all attachments that are not compatible with His will and purpose for us, or do not enhance His workings within us, must be brought to the cross and left there.

Only then will we be established on a firm foundation, and be able to cultivate an active, abiding friendship with the Lord.  As we continue in our times of communion with the Lord, our perception and understanding of spiritual things will increase.  We will have a progressively increasing desire and capacity to respond to and value His abiding presence and workings within our lives.

Consider the working of the Lord within David's life, in preparing him to become King over Israel in Saul's stead.  A short time after he had been anointed by Samuel to be King, David was brought into the palace to wait upon Saul.  During this time, he often thought about the throne, and all that he would be able to accomplish when it was his.

Then, Saul threw a javelin at David and ordered him killed.  He fled into the wilderness with Saul's army close behind, and hid in the back of a cave.  In the darkness of this cave, all of his dreams and ideas concerning the throne lost their significance.

As these former things, which had meant much to him, began to die, David fully submitted his life to the Lord, and as never before began to look to the Lord Himself, apart from what the Lord could do for him.  In the intense pressure of his present circumstance, and with a new vision and understanding of eternal values, David expressed his inner being to the Lord:

“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in His temple.”  Psalm 27:4

David had been reduced to “one desire.”  Now, the Lord was first in His life.  The “throne” that came before him in the darkness of the cave was the eternal throne of the King of all kings.  The throne of Israel no longer mattered.

David was prepared by the Lord for the throne of Israel, while hiding in the back of a cave.  Now, the Lord could trust him in places of pressure.  He would not fail the Lord, as Saul had.  Our “cave” will be quite different.  Therefore, it is important that we recognize the place of His dealings and rightly respond.

We also are to cultivate this “single eye” toward the Lord in our spiritual life and walk, that we may be ready and available to the Lord for His purposes. We do not necessarily need to know what these purposes are, in order to do this.

“Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.”  Matthew 18:3

As we acknowledge our insufficiency to the Lord, we recognize that we cannot fulfill His will for our lives with our own ability.  Some of us may have a radiant personality and much ability, but others do not.  In a sense, we are much better off, if we do not, as it will be easier for us to “lean” upon the Lord.

While Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus, Martha protested that she was not helping to prepare a meal for Jesus.  Jesus said to Martha:

“You are anxious and worried about a multitude of things; and yet only one thing is needful.  Mary has chosen the good portion and she shall not be deprived of it.”  Luke 10:41-42  Weymouth

We should focus our lives on the single fact that the Lord has something specific in mind for us.  Just as Mary sat at His feet in anticipation, we are to wait upon Him for the outworking of the circumstances that will bring His purpose into operation within our life experience.  “One thing is needful, and Mary has chosen the good portion.”

We must forget the past - both our successes and our failures, and begin to “reach forth” to Jesus.  This means that I am to make an effort.  I will wait upon the Lord in faith, and in expectancy.  I will make room for the Lord to bring into my life circumstances, that which He has for me, and then obediently cooperate with whatever He may do.

“Have you not known? Have you not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faints not, neither is weary? there is no searching of His understanding.  He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength.”  Isaiah 40:28-29

No matter how good my intentions may be today, in a short time, I will become tired, discouraged, and worn down.  Then, I will begin to doubt everything that I am enthusiastic about today.  But, the Word tells us that He gives “power to the faint, to them that have no might.”

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

Our devotional life is not arbitrary, nor is it just something we should do.  It is much more than this.  It includes our fellowship and communion with the Lord, but also within it, is the creation of renewed life, vision, and a spiritual strength that is birthed into all that He has for us.  I may not see what it is, but I believe it.

I am determined to wait upon Him for its realization in my life experience.  Do not let the enemy rob you, come to this singleness of vision.

“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after.”  Psalm 27:4a

And then, begin to do it.