Devotional Time with God

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

That is the question I need to ask myself with every thought that comes across my mind. I don’t always think about good thoughts. There are plenty of temptations and evil thoughts that I’m bombarded with, either on the movies, or the people around me.  But I have to find that peace that only comes from knowing God and His word.  I can no longer be influenced by this world:

Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.

Romans 12:2

I have to know Jesus. I have to know what He has to say (and do) about everything in my life – from what I eat, speak, think, or look at. I have to constantly test what I’ve encountered:

Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise. You know the teachings I gave you, and you know what you heard me say and saw me do. So follow my example. And God, who gives peace, will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9

I must look for what is pure, noble, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Another words, a higher standard!  My mind has to be filled with God’s standard of living. My thoughts will shape my mind, and my mind will shape my character.

And my character needs to be like Jesus!

The Scriptures ask, “Has anyone ever known the thoughts of the Lord or given him advice?”  But we understand what Christ is thinking.

1 Corinthians 2:16

Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That’s the most sensible way to serve God.

Romans 12:1

God wants the best from us. God wants us to offer ourselves, as a living sacrifice, to serve God’s purposes.  It doesn’t mean I have to kill or mutilate myself, but keep myself holy and pure – for some day, when I die, God will ask what have I done with what He’s given me, I can answer: “For your glory, God”

My life was bought at a price: Jesus’ life.  It’s expensive. I can’t waste it!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8: 28

My daughter asked me, several times, why do we make mistakes? I told her this world is not perfect. Then she asked, why not, God is perfect, why can’t He make us perfect? I had to think about that for a while, and my answer was because God gave us free will – if we’re perfect then we’ll all be robots. Just something manufactured. Not something we willingly give to God, such as our love and devotion.

With that said, living in this un-perfect world means I’ll have difficulties. I can’t escape it.  However, God made it clear that He’ll be with me.  He’ll suffer with me. He wants to see me grow in character and show my true devotion.

I will give thanks to God, in ALL circumstances, for I know everything is for His glory!

I sometimes confuse that I have to work hard for my salvation. I thought I have to attend church, do good deeds, give donations, to buy my way to heaven.

I got it backwards!

It turns out Jesus died for me and that’s the simple grace for my salvation. The love for another, the good deeds, the attendance in fellowship with other believers, are the results of my belief in God.

Not only I believe in my salvation, I also belong in God’s family. It’s only natural.

In the same way, we are many, but in Christ we are all one body. Each one is a part of that body, and each part belongs to all the other parts.

Romans 12:5

Surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes.

Romans 6: 13

Surrender does give me the negative connotation that I have to give up and stop trying. But it’s only negative because it depends WHO I’m giving up to.  To God, giving up means stop trying to control my own life and trust that He’s in control.  I have to stop trying to be the boss of my life.  I have to stop trying to control the people around me. I can only influence, but tell them what to do.

In the book “What On Earth Am I Here For?”, in chapter 10, Pastor Rick Warren mentioned:

Sometimes it takes years, but eventually you discover that the greatest hindrance to God’s blessing in your life is not others, it is yourself — your self-will, stubborn pride, and personal ambition.¹

I’m always in the way. I’m always the stubborn one and eventually becomes a stumbling block to my own spiritual growth.  I need to remove that block and let God be the one in control.

I’ll surrender to God because He will make it worthwhile and sweet.

1. Warren, Rick (2012-10-23). The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 107). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. [↩]

Everything comes from the Lord. All things were made because of him and will return to him. Praise the Lord forever! Amen.

Romans 11:36

It’s as simple as that: God gets all the credit!  Just as He should be, because He created everything in this universe. From the tiny molecules to the biggest star.  What more can I say?

I praise Him in the morning when I wake up, for the breath that I take, for the strength that I have, for the life that I’ve lived. I thank God for my family and good friends.

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.

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.

1 Corinthians 10:11

It’s indeed wise to learn from the experience of others. The Bible is filled with advice and stories, that are not only true, it’s also enriching and enable me not to stumble.  It’s a guide that leads me to righteousness.  It’s a source of hope.

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Romans 15:4

There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

He is able to keep me from falling. (Jude 1:24)

Greater is he that is in me, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

Jesus is my Lord and Savior.  He saved me from sin. When I trip and fall, He catches me and sets me back up again.  I’m striving to be like Jesus, who is blameless, and separate myself from the ways of this world.