Devotional Time with God

I’m reminded of the small fruit tree in my backyard.  It was placed there because a gardener said in order for the tree to bear fruit, it has to be under the sun.  The more sun it gets, the more fruit it bears.  I’m part of a tree of life, God’s perfect life.  I’m just a vine, a branch, but I have the potential to bear a lot of fruit (John 15:5).  I will bear fruit if I’m constantly under Son of God’s light.  Jesus is my nourishment. Jesus is the reason I grow.

One way Jesus taught me to be fruitful is to show mercy and grace, like what He did to me.  My life is not safe unless I give it to Him.  As part of God’s family, we are commanded to love one another.  Therefore, I must show that same grace and mercy to others (Matthew 5:7).

Thank God for His mercy!

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 have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.

John 16:33

Jesus has died for my sins. But he was raised from the dead 3 days later!  God has defeated death and hell.  Nothing can separate me from my God.  He’s in my heart to give me peace in times of trouble.  He’s given me 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and nth chances, because He wants me to succeed!

While living on this earth, I’ll suffer.  But I won’t suffer alone.  I have God on my side. He’s all the encouragement that I need. He loves me so much, He won’t let me down – at least not for long.

Yet some people accepted him and put their faith in him. So he gave them the right to be the children of God. They were not God’s children by nature or because of any human desires. God himself was the one who made them his children.

John 1:12-13

God says I’m His son.  I have the same privileges as Jesus when He said “Abba Father” in the Garden of Getshemane. I’m forever grateful that He is my protector and provider.  My future is in good hands!

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Until we all believe that Jesus Christ is our personal savior, none of us are safe.  I proclaim that Jesus is the savior of my life. I confess my sins, daily, and walk towards becoming more and more like Jesus.  For He is perfect, and I am not.  That is a worthwhile transformation for my life!

Heaven is my reward.  Jesus is the one and only way!

To fulfill my purpose, I must avoid two traps:

1. Being envious of other people
2. Trying to please everyone

I know I’ve been guilty of both. I look at someone, my family or friend, and thought, why can’t I have what they have?  Why can’t I have more children? Why can’t I have a more discipline parent? Why can’t I be as outgoing as him?

Also, as an introvert, I always thought what I do is never enough, and I always end up keeping things to myself.  When I speak up, I tend to offend someone – or at least got the vibe I have offended them. So I clam up when someone said something incorrect. I did what everyone else is doing because it would make it look acceptable.

The good news is that these traps are avoidable.  I have God to guide me. He’s the one I have to concentrate on. He’s the one I have to please. I only have to compare myself with precious Jesus, because He is the king of my life.  Jesus shows me how to love. Jesus is the symbol of sacrifice.  He wasn’t out to please everyone, as it clearly shown when people mocked and killed Him on the cross.

So I must focus on Jesus. God will ask me, what have I done with His Son? I will please only God.  I will only keep Him as my #1!

If the Son gives you freedom, you are free!

John 8:36

I’ve felt that awful feeling of being afraid, many times. All sorts of fear, too.  But at my age, the one fear that still lingers is death.  Where will I go after I close my eyes for the last time? What will I feel?  Will my doubts be confirmed? Will I be able to be see Jesus since I’ve accepted Him as my Lord and Savior?

Of course, God has promised that I’ll be with Him because He gave His son for me. The bible says so:

But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful. But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood, we will also be kept safe from God’s anger. Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by his Son’s life.

Romans 5:8-10

It’s a beautiful picture of sacrifice and love.

So how do I know how I’ll be there with God?  In John 3:16, it’s simply accepting Jesus as my personal savior. When I’ve truly accepted Jesus, His grace and love pour out of me – and consequently, I will no longer be afraid.

The greatest way to show love for friends is to die for them.

John 15:13

I am a friend of God.  God is my friend. He longs for that relationship, that fellowship with me.

And He also gives His life to me, so I can be free.

It’s the ultimate sacrifice.  The price of love, Jesus’ way.  What a friendship.  I have a place in heaven because He gave His life for me.

For this, I’m extremely grateful and content.

There is one thing that keeps me awake at night:  Unfinished business.  Things I have not wrapped up. Problems I have not solved. People I have not reconciled. Or tasks I have not completed.  It doesn’t have to be multiple issues either – one problem is enough to keep me awake at night.

I do this because I have a sense of responsibility. I have a standard to keep.  I try not to procrastinate.  I genuinely care what happens tomorrow, so I have to clean up what I did today.  There are certain things that’s beyond my control, I get that, but those that are in my grasp, I have to get a handle of it and resolve it before the night’s end.

I imagine myself, although not as bold, as Jesus praying at the garden of Gethsemane, until He sweats of blood (Luke 22:44). That must’ve been one agonizing prayer, and why not – it’s the salvation of all human kind!  Then when Jesus was at the cross, His last words were “It is finished!” (John 19:30) For Jesus, it was death as the final rest, for all of His tasks on earth. Of course, my end of day’s rest is not as dramatic, but I can symbolize my sleep as a point when I can say it is finished – no more probem, no more conflict, no more things to do.  Tomorrow will be a good day!

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 1

Blessed is me who will not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.  But my delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His word I will meditate each day and night.  I shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season. Whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever I do shall prosper.

I shall not be like the ungodly, which are nothing but like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. The ungodly shall perish.

Lord Jesus, I pray right now to ask for your forgiveness if I’ve neglected to read your word and obey what it says. I thank you for your grace and mercy. I thank you for the constantly speaking to me, reminding me to follow you, so I may not stumble, nor perish.  Bring on the river, the fresh water for my soul and spirit.  I want to grow in your great beauty and majesty.  I want to be where you are – that is my reward in heaven. I shall hang on to your words, God, as you said in the scripture John 8:31-32, your truths will set me free, indeed.  Amen.