Devotional Time with God

Also known as self-discipline, it’s an aspect of life that I’ve always struggled with.  By nature, I’m selfish, emotional, and reckless.  Those bad traits have driven me to look for things that offered instant gratification, such as buy useless gadgets, watch pornography, eat junk food, etc.  I used to think it was a struggle that no one could understand.  The bible proves that it’s a very common problem:

But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions).

James 1:14

This world is inherently evil.  Sin lurks in every corner.  Satan has dominion over this earth and it shows by the kinds of temptations available everywhere.

But God is good.  He gives me the strength to bear these temptations.  He gives me the wisdom to know when to say NO to evil.  He gives me grace to forgive me when I fall flat on my face after tripping from sin.  God knows how weak I am.  I’m holding on to His promise of hope that I can handle this:

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

If I had to look back in my teenage and college years, I could use a lot of self-control and discipline.  I wouldn’t have wasted a lot of my life on stupid decisions.  However, God calls me and constant me reminds me to keep my eye on Jesus.  He is my prize, my end-game, my eternal salvation.

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14

How can I stay focused on God’s presence, especially when he feels distant?

The Purpose Driven Life, p. 113

I have been in that dark moment when God seemed to have been missing from my life. I’m not just talking about when I haven’t been serious with God. It also happened after I had accepted Christ into my life and pledged myself to be His servant. As a young believer (in my early 30’s), I had everything. I could afford a big wedding. I had a great job in a booming dot.com era. I had bought a house that I previously thought I couldn’t afford. I got to work from home, with flexible hours. Everything was working great, until everything started to fall apart – dot.com bust, got laid-off work, uncertain about my house payments. My future seemed bleak. For over 5 months I was looking for resolution from God, but He wasn’t giving me a clear way out.

Then I realized this had to be one of God’s answer: wait. God always has one of the three answers: Go (yes), No, and Slow (wait). I knew God would save me; He is a loving God. I knew God was in control; He is a powerful God. Even though God told me to wait, He took care of us in our time of need. He provided us with the basic necessities and a supportive group of friends and family.

As stated in my previous devotional blog entries, I finally got another job, got my green card, and eventually moved to a bigger and better things in my life. God told me to wait because He had something else planned for my life. I am not suppose to question God’s timing (although He does allow me to complain about it to Him). I must stay focus on God’s unchanging nature and His promises.

The following bible translation of sums up what I have to do with my pursuit of a “comfortable life”:

Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote,

God is there, ready to help;
I’m fearless no matter what.
Who or what can get to me?

Hebrews 13:5-6 (Message)