Devotional Time with God

 Remember this saying, “A few seeds make a small harvest, but a lot of seeds make a big harvest.”

2 Corinthians 9:6

Society will tell me to look after myself, not worry about the others.  The world will say take what’s mine, and that’s usually everything that I can see. The world will tell me to be on the top of the food chain, because it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there.

It’s a good thing the Bible is so anti-world view!

God tells me to give.  God tells me to be a blessing to others.  God tells me to be generous to others. It’s not up to me to accumulate everything for myself.  It’s up to God to give me everything that I need – to advance His kingdom on this world.  Others must see who God is, and He is a generous and giving God.

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.

But he replied, “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am.

2 Corinthians 12:9

The Lord gives strength to those who are weary.Even young people get tired, then stumble and fall. But those who trust the Lord will find new strength. They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired.

Isaiah 40:29-31

Christ gives me the strength to face anything.

Philippians 4:13

Many times I’ve wondered, how am I going to go through this problem at work? When am I going to resolve these marriage issues? How am I suppose to be a good dad and husband? How can I help when I need help myself?  These are my moments of weakness. My self-doubt. My pity-party.  There were times that I felt I couldn’t do anything, at all!

But the bible teaches one important lesson:  Go with Christ!  When I go through trouble, with Jesus, I’m safe!  I’m able! I will reach my goal.  I will have confidence.  That is His promise. That’s what I’m holding on to!

Jesus is the source of my strength.  I shall depend on Him in all the things I do, because I can’t do it all by myself!

Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.

2 Corinthians 5:17

God promised me a new life.  The old person that I was, I must leave behind. Everything is new. I’m a new person.  I get a new start. Sin no more, for sin brings shame, guilt, and eventually, death.  I want Jesus in my life so I may live a new life – with Him on my side.

My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9

In weakness, I’m made strong by God. That is so mind boggling!  How can it be? This world always puts up the strong, the beautiful, the powerful.  Yet, God only wants to use the weak.  Why?

Simply because He wants me to lean on Him. He wants me to depend on Him. I need to have a humble heart. I need to have a compassionate heart. When I’m strong and powerful, I become prideful.  I wouldn’t need anyone else. I may even feel like God! There is only one God – and I’m not it.

I’m weak, and He is strong. I’m weak and useable. This is the essence of servanthood. This is what God wants me to be – and He’ll bless me abundantly because of it!

It’s so wonderful to see my daughter grows, from a tiny baby into the active kid that she is now. I went through her cute, cuddly, crying, or cranky moments. Throughout all of them, I never stopped loving her. I never stopped to deny her to love me back. I never abandoned her.

I’m always there for her.  I know this because she trusts me, completely. She knows she can depend on me. I can’t be that far away from her. I will always take care of her.

Drawing from this experience, I know God wants me to be close to Him. I know God wants me to trust him, completely. I know God loves me, no matter what. In turn, I’ll love Him back.  That’s how I make God smile, as He takes pleasure in my devotion to Him, no matter where I am, no matter what the circumstances might be.

So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

2 Corinthians 5: 9

Things that are seen don’t last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. That’s why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen.

2 Corinthians 4:18

My kid asked, if this world is not perfect, then why does God put us here?  Why not make us and put us directly in heaven?  My answer is our purpose. It’s related to our own free will. Since I, a human being, tend to want whatever’s best for me, I won’t be living out my purpose, which is to worship God. I have to do it willingly – because I want to!  That’s why life in this world is tough, because it goes against my programming. It goes against the purpose that God has planned for me. I’m to learn how to live out my purpose in life, according to God’s will. I’m to treat life on earth as a temporary assignment, to learn to find God’s values, not mine.

I remember that song from Carrie Underwood, “Temporary Home”, that sings about that we’re just passing through and we don’t belong here.  We’re longing for that special place and I know it’s called heaven.

My light and momentary troubles are achieving for me an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

This world is a temporary assignment.  Therefore, all of my troubles in this world is temporary.  I look forward to heaven when I’ll be with Jesus, for that is my true reward and troubles will be no more.

My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19)

I am being transformed into Christ’s likeness with ever increasing glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

When Jesus saved me, I am being transformed into His likeness. I am becoming holy. Not only in my spirit and mind, but also my body.  God will resurrect my body when I die, so I won’t abuse it.  I need to take care of this one while I’m on this earth, so I may serve Him well.

I am being transformed into Christ’s likeness with ever increasing glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

The Word of God is at work in me. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

When I follow Jesus, I love myself less, and love God more. I am changing my life to become more like His: blameless, patient, loving, holy.  I use the scripture to make that transformation happen.  I become like Jesus to glorify His name, for He is good and worthy to be praised.