Devotional Time with God

Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

Matthew 13:18-23

As part of my daily devotional, I need to make sure I’m ready to receive God’s words.  I need to make sure the ground is prepared.  I need to make sure my heart is open.  It’s easy to simply listen, or read, but not really take in anything out of what I just heard or seen.

So, I need to create a space that I can comfortably sit down and meditate on the word of Christ. I want to let God’s words be an adventure, to excite me in the morning, and prepare me for the “battles” in life. I pray that God guide me along the way.

Be with me, Lord Jesus, and lead me with your word.  Open the eyes of my heart, so I may see you. Talk to me. Guide me. Lead me on the correct path. Plant your seed on my heart, so I may grow to be the man that I ought to be.  Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

Lately, I’ve been enjoying taking walks with my friends and co-workers, just talking about kids, work, or life in general.  It gives me a chance to get to know each other.

Sometimes I take long walks to gather my thoughts.  Sometimes to clear my frustration. This is also the perfect time to talk to Jesus about my troubles.  In Matthew 28:20, Jesus said He’ll be with me, always.  I believe that.  I walk with Jesus and tell him all of my hurts and hang-ups.

I’m so glad I have a devoted companion that will walk me through to the end.

My heart is a complex organ. Yet, it’s the easiest to describe. It’s where my life mostly resides. It has my life, my desires, and my needs. It’s the other center of gravity, next to my mind.

It’s also fragile. I can feed it a bunch of junk and it’ll just stop loving my body. Or, I can feed it love and the goodness of God, it’ll provide me a steady and healthy life.

I need to guard it, carefully. God wants me to guard it carefully.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

I’ve been trained and raised as a self-sufficient person. My parents and teachers have done a great job instilling the necessary skills to survive in this world.  But the result does lead to a life of selfishness and disobedience.  For a long time, I thought I could do everything myself.  For a while, I didn’t need God.

Now, God is in my life.  I am dependent on God’s power to guide and nourish my life. My goals and decisions are based on His principles.  I must put Him first in these areas.

• Financial
• Interests
• Relationships
• Schedule
• Troubles

I have learned that trusting Him in these areas will lead me to a more fulfilling and worry-free life.  He has my firsts.

Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and favor with men.

Luke 2:52

Jesus led with the example. As a man, He’s telling me, to grow mentally and intellectually. I must have learning goals. I must know what I need to do to increase my knowledge. Not just for myself, but for the good of the Lord.

Then physically I need to grow in physical health.  As the old saying goes, Men sana in corpore sano: In a healthy body there can be a healthy mind. I must take care of my body. Lose weight, lower blood pressure, avoid diabetes, avoid having a stroke. I must get in shape.

Also, I need to take care of my finances. This goes on without saying, as we need money to survive in this world. However, money doesn’t have to be the master of my life.  The bible said in Matthew 6:24, I can’t serve two masters.  Also in 1 Chronicles 29:9, I give my offering willingly to the Lord, when the leaders asked for the rebuilding of the house of the Lord.  Money is a tool to be used.  But first I need to create wealth – not take wealth.

Last, but not least, I must have a healthy relationship with others. Building a strong character means getting along with people. Being a leader means having a follower and be liked & loved. I must be kind to others and help whoever I can.

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

I need to develop my spiritual habits, such as prayer, mediation, bible study, service, or evangelism.  However, I was surprised to see that being “simple” is also a spiritual habit that I must have.  There is a list of references that points simplicity as biblical, and I can apply some for my life.

In 2 Corinthians 1:12, Paul wrote that we must oppose to wordly wisdom.  This world has so many contradictions and “gray” areas, in terms of morality and conduct.  But I know my direction comes from the bible, and it can be as simple as black and white.  I must seek the simplicity and sincerity of God’s wisdom.

Jesus said I must have the attitude of a little child when seeking the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:2-3) A child is simple and straight to the point.  A way to God is simple and straight to the point.

I must give freely and simply. (Romans 12:8)   I must cheer for all acts of kindness.

In Proverbs 21:11, God promised to make the simple as wise.  I need to make myself less complicated.  I need to have an instructable heart, mind, and spirit to receive the knowledge. 

Lord, thank you for your saving grace. I come to you now with a child-like attitude, longing for your help and safety.  I don’t need this complicated world.  There’s only one way and that’s your way, God.  Guide me to you and steer me on. By your grace, Amen.

Living in Southern California, it’s easy to get caught up in a self-worth race.  Looking around, people have bigger houses, bigger yards, bigger cars – and undoubtedly, bigger bank accounts.  Looking rich is looking good.  Even a dish washer in a restaurant drives a Lexus!

This obsession to have more is unhealthy.  All of this “stuff” that I have is merely on loan.  My God, the master of the universe, is the owner (Luke 16:12).  I don’t take my possessions to heaven.

I need to be different from this world.  I need to be transformed (Romans 12:2).  My thinking about money is to be directed towards bringing people to God.  It’s the way to store up my “treasures” in heaven (Matthew 6:20-21).

I need to be investing for eternity.

When my toddler got her first illustrated bible from the church, I thought it would make a good introduction for her.  I would read chapter by chapter each day (short ones), and she would get excited about looking at the pictures of Moses, Noah’s Ark, Jesus and His disciples.

When I get to the section called “The True King”, it illustrated a donkey and Jesus riding it during Passover Feast.  It’s outlined in the books of Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:29-42, and John 12:12-19.  The picture of the donkey is cute and we got a kick out of looking at it.  I said to myself, that’s odd why they would focus on this donkey.

As it turns out, the donkey (and the subsequent Jesus arrival to Jerusalem on it) was prophesied earlier in Isaiah 21:7.  Jesus had fulfilled that prophecy.

The Bible confirmed Jesus is the one true king, as shown by God’s vision.

The bible warns me of false prophets (Matthew 24:11). They typically show up in a nice package, claiming to care about the people, but their actions dp otherwise! A wolf in sheep clothing, as the saying goes. The politicians offer free healthcare, doing good to the planet – but turn around pocket more taxes and making people depend on the government more.

Salvation is trusting Jesus and depending on Him.

When I wake up in the early morning, I always find myself feeling physically hungry for food, like a piece bacon, pancake, chicken nugget, or orange juice.  I need food to keep my energy up to cope through the day.

Similarly, this is exactly what my morning devotionals should start:  Hungry for God’s sustenance.  It includes the “pure milk of the word” (1 Peter 2:2) and daily “bread” (Matthew 6:11).  The word of God is my spiritual food for the day.  It will keep going strong, to cope with the stress of the day.

I’m leaving the tough decisions to God.  I’m giving all of my troubles on His feet.  I’m going to enjoy the feast that God has laid out in front of me, and enjoy His generous provision.

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

John 6:25-29