Devotional Time with God

Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful. Then you will say to the Lord, You are my fortress, my place of safety; you are my God, and I trust you.

Psalm 91:1-2

There’s a lot of places I can hide in this world.  I’m so tiny compared to this planet earth. I can go to some corner of the neighborhood and hide.  I’ve never tried to get lost, but if I want to I probably can.

But is that the kind of hiding that’s beneficial for me?  I don’t want to be lost. I want to be found!  There are times when I’m in trouble that I have to be under God’s shadow, under His protection, under His glory.

I want to hide under God’s refuge – for my own safety!

In this world, especially when dealing with other people, being happy is so hard to establish.  It’s even harder to keep. The normal thing that happens are disappointment, sadness, pain, and anguish.  Joy and happiness are so few.  Sometimes I had to dig deep to find it.  By my own strength, the joy that I felt were fleeting and inconsistent.  Eventually, I’ll just feel worn down, emotionally, physically, and yes, even spiritually.

Thankfully, the more consistent and powerful joy is available, and all I have to do is tap in to God’s promises:

The joy of the Lord is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10

He is my strength. He is the source of my happiness. My life’s challenges can only be solved by knowing He’s with me.  I need to have the desire to work hard, but I also need to have a joyful attitude! The hope that’s in God drives me every day of my life.

The love of God gives me joy!

Therefore,  there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1

In Christ, I am forgiven. That’s the promise that God gave me when I confess my sins and give my life to Jesus.  God chooses to look at Christ instead of my sins.  I don’t have to feel guilty anymore, for my guilt has been paid for by Jesus’ blood.

When I walk with Christ, God will always be with me.  I shall fear nothing, not even death (Psalm 23:1-4).  I’m not alone.  God will be there.  He will give me peace that only comes from the grace of God.  I don’t deserve it, but I have it, as long as I take Jesus as my personal Lord and savior!  I’m no longer in control, I take on Jesus’ yoke because He makes things easier (Matthew 11:28-30).  He makes all things bearable.  He makes all things good.

I will always seek God, to walk with Him, to be in His refuge, and to have His forever-peace.

I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t like the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid.

John 14:27

I love how God tells me that all I have to do is ask for wisdom:

If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking.

James 1:5

What’s even better is that there’s no stupid question. There’s no dumb request. God can take it and He won’t laugh at me, or scold me.  He takes everything I ask of Him with consideration.  He will either say: yes, no, or wait.  But He will provide an answer.

I must believe it, though. I have to have faith that God is answering me.  I can ask repeatedly and He’ll answer just as well.  There is one request that I can definitely ask all the time: wisdom.

Wisdom is good for me. Wisdom is what God wants me to have.  God wants me to keep learning – from mistakes, from knowledge, and from His words on the Bible.  God blesses me if I ask for wisdom:

God blesses everyone who has wisdom and common sense.

Proverbs 3:13

That is the question I need to ask myself with every thought that comes across my mind. I don’t always think about good thoughts. There are plenty of temptations and evil thoughts that I’m bombarded with, either on the movies, or the people around me.  But I have to find that peace that only comes from knowing God and His word.  I can no longer be influenced by this world:

Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.

Romans 12:2

I have to know Jesus. I have to know what He has to say (and do) about everything in my life – from what I eat, speak, think, or look at. I have to constantly test what I’ve encountered:

Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise. You know the teachings I gave you, and you know what you heard me say and saw me do. So follow my example. And God, who gives peace, will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9

I must look for what is pure, noble, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Another words, a higher standard!  My mind has to be filled with God’s standard of living. My thoughts will shape my mind, and my mind will shape my character.

And my character needs to be like Jesus!

The Scriptures ask, “Has anyone ever known the thoughts of the Lord or given him advice?”  But we understand what Christ is thinking.

1 Corinthians 2:16

We live in this world, but we don’t act like its people or fight our battles with the weapons of this world. Instead, we use God’s power that can destroy fortresses. We destroy arguments and every bit of pride that keeps anyone from knowing God. We capture people’s thoughts and make them obey Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

The world’s media bombard us with junk, every day. They made us selfish, arrogant, scared, worry, and hateful.  It’s a nasty world. It’s an unforgiving world.

I can’t fix my mind on this world!

I have a perfect God. I have an awesome model for peace: Jesus. If I want calm and love, I have to fix my thoughts on Jesus.  He’s the perfect peace.  Trusting God is my first priority.

I can’t let my imagination wander anywhere else, except to heaven – towards God.

Don’t ever think that you are wise enough, but respect the Lord and stay away from evil. This will make you healthy, and you will feel strong.

Proverbs 3:7-8

I’m not that smart. In fact, I can do some stupid things. Like forgetting where I put my keys, or eating way too much junk food.  I do all the dumb things because I always think about pleasing myself. I always feel I deserve rewards.

The problem is I look for worldly rewards. Those don’t last long. What does last is the heavenly rewards. Only God can provide that. I have to respect God’s guidance and will, in order for me to get that reward. I have to look for Him.

I have to rely on God!  For He will help me finish this race called life. It’s all temporary here on this earth.  I’m looking forward to finishing with Jesus!

God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6

God’s Spirit doesn’t make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control.

2 Timothy 1:7

This was an opportune moment for me. As I wrote this, at 1:16AM, I had been tossing and turning on my bed, thinking about my future. Thinking about my faith.  Thinking about existence itself.  Earlier this morning, I was reading the debate between an Atheist (the science guy) and a man of faith (a creationist).  Both presented their reasons for believing what they believe, both had compelling arguments.  But I was more taken by the science guy because he had more courage to have the argument at the creation museum and came prepared with plenty of evidence.  Since his argument is based on science, it was also well accepted, so many of the media/blogs/social-media were basically on his side.

I found myself persuaded in the science direction.

But, then Pastor Rick wrote in this daily devotion:

We all go through moments of doubt, when the things we know are true and believe in seem to leave us with more questions than answers. There are times in our lives when we get afraid. There are times when we look at the future and are filled with worry…

The courage to face a fear head on doesn’t come from within, it comes from God above. The ability to keep going when times get hard comes from trusting in God, not in ourselves.

This hit me. Direct to my heart. It awoke my spirit.

I had been using my own mind to grasp the reality of this life.  The science guy thinks humans came from something and then became nothing!  Where’s the hope in that? What’s the purpose of this life, other than survival and every person for himself?

I refuse to believe we’re a “cosmic accident”.  I was created from nothing, and I will become something. That’s hope. That’s a promise from God that I hold on to.

I put my trust in God, for He’s my future. There’s more to this life than just the mere existence. I’m looking forward to heaven. I’m looking forward to be with God.  I look to God for everything, because He gives me strength and takes away my fears.