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If God has looked in your heart and has seen that you are sincerely hungry to belong deeply to Him, He will place you on a sacred journey. He will draw you into a life of Calvary love and of Calvary humility that many people will not understand. He will often place requests of obedience from you – requests that will separate you from even most of the “Christian crowd.” In fact, many of your Christian brothers and sisters will seem to get by with countless choices, priorities, and attitudes that your Heavenly Father does not allow in your life. Quietly, He will remind you that you, too, can “take the back door.” Your choices can be made as casually as many others. But as He reminds you of your freedom, you will hear His voice break from sadness. He’s lonely – so very lonely – to have a company of followers who truly want only “His highest” for their lives. Yet, the choice is not one of “Heaven or Hell.” It will always remain a choice of intimacy, not eternity.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch on you with His jealous love. He will love you enough to rebuke you for little words, actions, and feelings that are wasting your time, corroding your spirit, or tarnishing your effectiveness. But as you look around you, once again it will seem that other Christians remain laughingly deaf to these promptings. You must remember: The longer we push away His soft, gentle promptings, the softer they become. Many around you will glibly say that “God is not speaking that.” Refuse to judge or criticize them. But just remember that the depth of your hearing will always depend on the depth of your listening.

So along this sacred journey, amke up your mind that your God is infinitely Sovereign and that He is the sole proprietor of the keys to the inner sanctuary of your heart. Thus, He has the right to ask of you what He pleases. He may not explain to you a thousand things that will puzzle your reasoning in His dealings with you. But God is taking you at your word.

You have quietly told Him that you wanted to be more than “just another follower.” You have sincerely wanted to give yourself to Him in a way far beyond the self-centered and the religious superficiality of the day. Thus, from His adoring Father’s heart, He delights now to wrap you up in His jealous love. That is why others will say and do many things that will not be allowed by you. Welcome these moments as indications of His favor – not of His demands.

Settle it forever that you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit and make your decisions of character only with Him. He will have the privilege of tying your tongue, chaining your hand, or closing your eyes. He will ask you neither to react nor to compromise yourself – no matter what others do. For “they” will never be your Master. You will one day stand before Christ and Christ alone in judgment. And on that day, you will be eternally grateful that you pursued the road less traveled, not the one of cheap compromise and convenience.

One day soon you will come to realize that this divine romance is so priceless that all your sacrifices pale small in comparison to the dividends. For in your secret heart of hearts, you are so possessed by the Living God that you’ve become quietly pleased over this personal, private, jealous guardianship He has placed over your life.

And in that moment, my friend, your heart will have found the vestibule of heaven. That is why for all eternity you must remember the cry of those who hearts long to follow Him closely and to please Him deeply. It’s five words will echo throughout all eternity:

“Others May; I May Not.”

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- G.D. Watson with edits by Josh Mayo