Devotional Time with God

In my life, I’ve seen my fair share of the “wilderness”.  It’s not always easy living.  The elements are not always hospitable.  Like the Israelites, I’m wandering around the desert, searching for the promise land.  Like them, I don’t always like it.  I grumble.  I veer off course once in a while, thinking I know what I’m doing.  I let my misguided judgment take over the decisions in life.  I don’t always consult God first.

This has some profound effect on how I deal with my family.  My attitude in the workplace can be self-centered.  Sometimes, I can forget that I’m in this world to spread the Good News and be God’s witness (Acts 1:8).  I’m not here for myself – I’m here for others, as well.

But I know God’s character:  He’s faithful.  God provides for me.  He wants me to put my trust in Him that everything shall pass.  It may take a while to mold my character.  It may take a while for me to realize that my pain is to be used for God’s glory.

God has a plan for me.   He wants me out of the wilderness.

Today I am giving you the laws and teachings of the LORD your God. Always obey them, and the LORD will make Israel the most famous and important nation on earth, and he will bless you in many ways. The LORD will make your businesses and your farms successful. You will have many children. You will harvest large crops, and your herds of cattle and flocks of sheep and goats will produce many young. You will have plenty of bread to eat. The LORD will make you successful in your daily work. The LORD will help you defeat your enemies and make them scatter in all directions. The LORD your God is giving you the land, and he will make sure you are successful in everything you do. Your harvests will be so large that your storehouses will be full. If you follow and obey the LORD, he will make you his own special people, just as he promised.

Deuteronomy 28:1-9

God commands me to teach my child to love God will all our heart, soul, and strength.   It’s something that I must do for God, for it is good for me, as well as my children.

Just as God has a purpose for me, I must intentionally raise my children to have a purpose, in God.

God’s way fit in every home, every parent, and every child.

It’s not easy being a parent.  God is here to help.  By loving Him first, nothing is as tough as it seems.

How can I stay righteous? That word has been abused many times by secular people who want to point out the hypocritical ways of religious folks. Being righteous is a natural result when my center of the universe is God. In Deuteronomy 18:17-19 (Message):

And God said to me, “They’re right; they’ve spoken the truth. I’ll raise up for them a prophet like you from their kinsmen. I’ll tell him what to say and he will pass on to them everything I command him. And anyone who won’t listen to my words spoken by him, I will personally hold responsible.

Like the prophets, God will speak the right words through me and will make His words come true. It is important that I must follow God’s instructions: to love by forgiving and comforting others. The actions I do today will have repercussions in the future, so I must be careful with what I say (and do).  The motives of my heart must be right.  I must let God be the guiding star in the night.