Devotional Time with God

Children, you belong to God, and you have defeated these enemies. God’s Spirit is in you and is more powerful than the one that is in the world.

1 John 4:4

With the Holy Spirit, God promised that I’ll have the strength to deal with life on this earth. Things are not going to be easy for Christians and it will not be all good, all the time. There’ll be trouble and the Holy Spirit will guide me.

I’ll always ask for the annointing of the Holy Spirit, because then I’ll receive the fruit of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”. (Galatians 5:22-23)

I often wake up in the middle of the night, wondering what my purpose is in life.  I wondered what’s the point of each day, struggling with others, going through each day. I wondered where it all leads until the day I die.

I consulted the bible, and God showed me. In Galatians 1:16, I’m told to be a witness for Jesus in this world.  My faithfulness will be tested and only God will be there to help me understand Him.  All I have to do is focus on Him.

I just need to share the good news. God will take care of changing the hearts and minds.

God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.

Galatians 5:22-23

I’ve worked all my life to achieve the level of “joy” that is both fulfilling and sustainable. Can I really be happy all the time?  Can I really be joyful in other days other than Christmas?

Apparently, the bible says I can!  I have to know God and His spirit will give me that joy, peace, and happiness. Knowing God is knowing how to live life according to His design. I’m meant to be with the creator of this universe. Thus, I can only live under God’s rule.  I can only live by His purpose. I have to live up to my purpose, as He made me to be.  It’s extraordinary for me to know God’s with me – and He always want to be with me.

It’s a joy to know you, God!

I’m crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. (Galatians 2:20)

I count myself dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:1-14)

I am a new creation in Christ; the old life is gone, a new life has begun. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I’ve let my sins and past mistakes die.  My old self is no more.  I’m now a living as embodiment of Jesus, who takes over my life.

It’s quite a task to keep my body healthy and trim.  I have to watch my weight and fat, by balancing my food intake and keeping up enough exercise.  If there’s one thing that I like, it’s eating.  I’m blessed to have a “skinny gene”.  My father is thin.  My grandfather was tall and thin.  My metabolism is still working, I eat a lot and still manage to be relatively skinny.

However, I can’t be abusing this anymore.  I do feel an imbalance in emotions.  I sometimes feel sluggish after a big meal. My wife notices my belly is starting to swell.  I notice I get tired and sleepy playing catch with my daughter.

I am what I eat.

The bible  tells me, in Galatians 5:22-23, to have one the fruit of the spirit: Self-Control. I have to watch what I eat. I have to cut down on my indulgences.

In 1 Corinthians 6:12-20,

1. God expects me to manage my body.
2. I am God’s property.
3. My body will be resurrected when I die.
4. I am connected with the body of Christ.
5. The Holy Spirit lives in body.
6. Jesus bought my body on the cross.

My body is valuable. God tells me my body is a temple. Being good steward of what God has given me, I have to take care of my body.

To be a Christian, I have to be like Jesus Christ.  To be like Jesus, I have to love like Him. He’s kind and gentle with others, believers and non-believers alike.  Even to those who mocked and beat Him!

It’s tough to love others, especially when they don’t love me back.  But it is commanded (Galatians 5:14).  It’s what God’s love is all about.  God uses others to mold my character and to test my faith.

How I behave around others is important too:

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive  so that you will have the right response for everyone.

Colossians 4:5-6

It’s all about love – loving God, and loving others.

Back in the 80’s when I was growing up, there’s always a group of people who could influence my way of doing things.  They were, unfortunately, my high-school friends.  The Church didn’t have a strong influence.  In fact, it was quite passive.  In addition, the media on TV and radio has a strong influence, they were coolest thing to see and hear.  In today’s fast paced and Internet-connected society, it’s quick & easy to pass around information.  I obtained ideas, opinions, and commentaries faster today than I ever did back then.  Those are the strong influencers now.

My character was molded by someone else.

But it’s time to turn to creator, who molded me from his own image (Genesis 1:27), to set me back on track to the Heaven.  It’s time to develop convictions (Romans 12:2) that deeply motivates me to do the right thing for God and for love.  It’s time to develop Christ-like character, and develop habits that bring fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Beautiful Lord, Wonderful savior
I know for sure all of my days are held in your hands
Crafted into your perfect plans

You gently called me into your presence
Guiding me by Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord to live all of my life
Through your eyes

I’m captured by your holy calling
Set me apart. I know you’re drawing me to yourself
lead me, Lord. I pray

Oh Take me, mold me, use me, fill me
I give my life to the potter’s hand

Oh Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the potter’s hand

You gently call me into your presence
Guiding me by your holy spirit
Teach me dear lord to live all of my life through your eyes

I’m captured by your holy calling
Set me apart. I know you’re drawing me to yourself
lead me, Lord. I pray

Oh Take me, mold me, use me, fill me
I give my life to the potter’s hand

Oh Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the potter’s hand

Hillsong Australia, “Potter’s Hand”

Since this blog is devoted to God, the answer is pretty simple:

I must please God!

But more often, I struggle with that simple objective.  I struggle because I also live with thousands of other people in this world!   The truth of the matter is, those people have some influence over my life.  They can (and sometimes will) dictate what I do and say.

It doesn’t this way.  People matter, yes, but they must not be above God.  God’s approval must be above people’s opinions.  God is the ruler of my life.   He’s the provider and protector of me.

It doesn’t matter what people say.  It matters what God says.

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10

Greg Laurie, one of my favorite Christian pastor and teacher, wrote a devotional about the fruit of the spirit.  It’s a well known passage among Christians.  The passage is in Galatians 5:22 and it’s one of verse that’s difficult to apply in my life.  Essentially, the fruit of the spirit ought to be automatic if I’m a true follower of Christ.  But sometimes, I fall short.  I quote Pastor Greg:

Instead of love, is there hatred, bitterness, or even prejudice in your life? Instead of joy, is there constant gloom? Instead of peace, is there turmoil? Instead of gentleness, is there a short temper? Instead of faith, is there endless worry? Instead of meekness, is there pride and arrogance? Instead of self-control, are you a victim of your own passions?

But here’s the kicker:

If so, then either you don’t know God at all or a recommitment to Christ would be in order.

If I fall short, I need to recommit to Jesus!  I thought once I’m saved, I’m done.  Apparently, it’s not enough!  My salvation must bear fruit.  Otherwise, I’m not truly saved.

I need to evaluate my heart.  Not just in the physical sense, but in an emotional sense.  I have to do this daily to make it effective.  Here are my confession:

Am I Hurting?

I sometimes think about the past, and wondered what if I should have done things differently.  I should have taken better care of my body so I don’t feel so frail in this old age.  I should have studied more, so I could get better grades and not disappoint my parents.

Am I Exhausted?

I thought about my past mistakes that led me into sleepless nights worrying.  I’d wake up tired in the morning.  When I just didn’t take care of myself, my mind started to entertain the thought that this life is just hopeless and pointless.  Low energy = Low self-esteem.

Am I Angry?

Commuting to work an hour each weekday is enough to give myself a chance to get angry on a daily basis.  Interaction with friends, family, and co-workers is enough to make me mad (and go mad).  There are situations that I’m just helpless, like the politics in this country (and my workplace too)!  Those things make me angry.

Do I Resent Anybody?

I sometimes wonder about the friends I made, and how they don’t want to be in touch anymore.  I sometimes wonder why family behaves badly.  When people takes me for granted, I’m just full of resentment.

Am I Tense?

The thoughts of not being in control will cause me to stress.  When I’m stressed, I get tense.  I’d repeat the negative thoughts, over and over, until it becomes a full blown worry.

When my heart is showing the full ugliness of my feelings, this is when I need to the H.E.A.R.T check. I ask myself those questions and do something to remove the bad elements in my heart.

When I can answer the above questions, my burdens will be lifted.

…Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23