Devotional Time with God

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.

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”

My parents are hot tempered.  I could recall they yelled at each other a lot when I was just a kid.  Now I have my own family, I felt ashamed that I’m also doing it to my wife, in front of my own daughter.  My parents gave me the “DNA” of bad temper and stubbornness.

Then, there are circumstances that drive me to do the things I do.  For a long time, my parents are “hands off” parents, and trusted me at the very young age to grow up by myself.  It was a teenager’s dream!  I learned from my friends, my sisters, and my uncles/aunts.  The influence from my uncle led me to a bad relationship.  The influences from my friends were into procrastination and sometimes college drinking binges.  With my sisters, I just did all I could to be not like them!

I chose to follow my friends more  because they were more fun.  Peer pressure was a big influence in my life.  I chose to accept that my temper was hereditary and there was nothing I could do about it.  I chose to go with the moment, and followed fads or whatever was “cool” at the time.

The choices that I made had painful consequences.  I became distant from my parents.  I viewed relationships as something I must control myself.  I often refused to know other people’s feelings.  I was selfish.  I paid for it in spades: lost relationships, lost time, and lost opportunities.

But I now know it doesn’t have to be this way.  For God’s promises:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:1-2

The key is Jesus!  Put my faith in Him, I will be transformed.  I don’t have to be of this world.  I need to be part of God’s plan in heaven.  I don’t have to be stuck with my bad choices.  Jesus paid for my sins.  With His grace and mercy, I’m forgiven.  Now I have to let His will be done.  God’s perfect character must shine in me, so I don’t have to show my defects.

As part of the 8-week study of the book Life’s Healing Choices by John Baker of Saddleback Church, I’m going to dig deeper into it and apply them to my life.

I sometimes wonder why I make bad choices.  I’ve always known I’m capable of making the wrong choice, but why do I keep making them?  The apostle Paul said it best here:

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.

Romans 7:15-17

It’s the sin living in me.  I’m sinful by nature.

I’ve always known that eating a lot of sweets and caffeine are bad for me.  I’ve always known pleasuring myself leads to all sorts of bad thoughts.  I’ve always known indulging myself with gadgets will lead to overspending.

I used to do all that when I was single all the way to my late 20’s.  I used to think it didn’t hurt anyone.  That was my addiction: over-indulgence.  I was a spoiled kid and I absolutely needed the stuff I want, right there and then.

But now I’m married with a daughter to support.  I can’t be reckless anymore.  I can’t abuse my body as I used to.  I have to set a good example, not only for myself, but to everyone around me.

I have to make the reality choice:  I’m not in control.  I must let God take over.  My sinful nature always get the better of me, and it’s time God has it.  Whenever the thoughts of over-indulging returns, I’ll always run to God and let Him give me the strength to overcome it.

It’s easy to do whatever I want.  Everything is permissible.  God gave us free will.

But, is it beneficial?  Is it right?  Is it according to God’s laws and commands?

Raising a child with a sense of personal integrity is a tough thing to do nowadays.  This world has turned sarcastic and cynical.  The world is teaching kids to speak with a double meanings.  The society doesn’t have a clear standard on what’s right and what’s wrong.  The world teaches there’s really no one to trust – not even God!

I must teach my child to speak carefully.  Listen more, speak less.  When she does speak, she must choose her words carefully.  Always to build.  Always in kindness.  Always thinking.

From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive. Kind words are like honey — sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

Proverbs 16:23-24

God gave us an instruction manual to follow: the Bible.  We can live our lives with God’s integrity, if I just read it constantly and abide by it.  I have to plant His words in my heart so my private life reflects my public life.

I have to run back to God.  The same goes for child.

There’s a lot of competition in this world.  Product ads on TV, magazines, or billboards always say that we don’t have enough.  They always say we are not good enough.  There’s an inflated standard that we are deceptively told to aspire to.

Being better than we are is a good goal, especially for my child.  I want her to be better than me.  I want her to be more successful than me.  However, all of that improvement has to be for something greater than herself.  It has to be for God and others.

I have to show her to develop her gifts.  I need to help her discover her gifts.  I have to give her all of the opportunities.  She will not be successful in everything, but she will shine in some things.  Those will be God’s given talent.  Those will be her purpose and ministry.  As she develop her talent and confidence, she’ll be capable to take on mountains!

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

Romans 1:11-12

Jesus saves.  He saves me, and He wants saves the world.  This means He wants to save my child, too.  We’re all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

However, God values our free-will.  He won’t force me, and my child, to accept Jesus.  We must choose to have that personal relationship with Him.  Just like me, I want my child to have her sins removed and have an eternal home in heaven.

Everyone’s precious in God’s eyes.

Lord, thank you for my daughter.  Thank you for the precious gift you’ve given me.  Not only you sent us Jesus to die on the cross to save us, you gave us a child to love.  I want to bring her to you.  To know you, like I know you.  To have you as her personal savior.  To have you a compass for life, as she navigates in this ever increasingly troubled world.  We have our sights set on the reward in heaven.  Please guide us, increase our love, and steady our faith.  Amen.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Romans 3:23

None of us are perfect.  Especially in parenting.

I have to live up to God’s standards because He’s perfect.  It means I have to raise my child to His standards also.  I make mistakes all the time.  I don’t have all of the answers.  I don’t know it all.  As a man, I must be more sensitive to this fact.  Men seldom apologize for their mistakes.

My child doesn’t always behave properly.  She doesn’t always do what I say, nor what’s expected of her.

Boundaries are needed, both for parents and children.  My child has boundaries she never crosses (age appropriate), such as lying, stealing, drugs, sex, etc.  My boundaries must also be clear and consistent: no anger, no abuse, etc.  I must be predictable.

It’s human nature to please self.  It’s in my nature to defend my child, even if she’s wrong.  Sometimes, I have to stop defending her as a victim.  My child can be wrong.  She must suffer the consequences if she’s wrong.

With our lack of perfection, it’s good to know that God has our backs.  In all of this, prayer is my best defense.  In all of things, bring it to God.  I fall short, but God picks me up, and lets me continue on my way to perfection.

Parenting is a job made from heaven.    I’m her guardian and it’s my job to raise her to be a Godly person.  God gave me my child so I can raise her  up for God’s eternal purpose.

There are dangerous and unacceptable views of this world.  Those thoughts, attitudes, and works are going against God’s principles and laws.  The world’s view is not what I want my child to see.  If she’s to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit, she’ll need to follow God.

The only thing acceptable in this house is what’s acceptable to God.  He is perfect.  I want His standards in this family.

I must raise my child to have eternity in mind.

Do not love the world, nor the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 2:15