Devotional Time with God

My life before Jesus was a mess. It was a hodge-podge of goals, unfulfilled priorities, and all sorts of different directions.  I didn’t have deep meaningful relationships that could last for a long time.  I basically wandered around in the desert for more than 20 years!  I basically blamed it on my youthful pursuits and peer pressures.

Before I got married, I realized I could not make the same mistakes in my previous relationship.  If this marriage is to work, I need to be very serious with God first.  I need to re-commit my life to Him.

I needed to be born again for the 2nd time. I was pressured to go to church when I was a teenager, but now I want to go by (and for) myself!  I need to be a spiritual leader and be the strong in faith, because both my wife and daughter will look up to me for spiritual and moral support.

The difference in my life was dramatic.  I could see how much better I would be when dealing with problems if I knew how to be patient. I could deal with people better when I knew serving others was the key to good relationships.  I’m less angry now because of God’s grace and Jesus’ sacrifice.

My priorities have changed. I set my sights on eternal rewards and I’m now at peace with myself.

In the past few years, after listening to God’s word about restoring relationships, I have been making the conscious effort of ensuring my relationships with family, friends, and others intact. It’s much easier to speak of the Gospel when I’m at peace with people – and myself.

If people don’t like me, I just have one question for them: If God loves me and I have no quarrel with you, then what’s the problem?

Focus on the relationships is always the key.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Having a close relationship to God involves in continuous communication with Him. It may sound like one way, or just talking in my head – but I know God is listening. The words that I speak or think must be of thanksgiving to Him. The motive of my prayer is to honor God, not to control Him.

Lord, reveal your will to me as I enter into this close relationship with you. Guide me. Purify me. Protect me. Let my focus be on you – always!

To be a Christian, I have to be like Jesus Christ.  To be like Jesus, I have to love like Him. He’s kind and gentle with others, believers and non-believers alike.  Even to those who mocked and beat Him!

It’s tough to love others, especially when they don’t love me back.  But it is commanded (Galatians 5:14).  It’s what God’s love is all about.  God uses others to mold my character and to test my faith.

How I behave around others is important too:

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive  so that you will have the right response for everyone.

Colossians 4:5-6

It’s all about love – loving God, and loving others.

In this gift giving season, people use material things as a token of appreciation to each other.  Most are genuine, but some are just plain fake.  No wonder the line in the store for returns is always long after December 25.

Today’s devotional from Pastor Rick is about encouragement.  If given from the heart and with sincerity, this is an easy gift.  It’s also a useful gift that will build character and relationship.  Best of all, it’s a gift that I can keep giving, just like the way God has given to me on a daily basis.  God doesn’t hold back His love.  I have to do the same.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 9:15

I hate some aspects of my past.  It was full of hurt and guilt.  I wish I can just forget them, but they surface once in a while to bug me.  I would wake up from a nightmare of failing my college exams.  I would end up thinking my life went nowhere because of previous failed relationships.  My past can sometimes slow me down.

I must not let guilt from the past destroy my confidence.  I need to look in the future with the confidence that I’ve learned a lot from my mistakes.  The lessons learned is a building block for better knowledge.

I must not let guilt ruin my relationships.  I have to know that my past is forgiven, thanks to God’s grace and mercy.

Our God, you bless everyone whose sins you forgive and wipe away.

Psalm 32:1

I must not be stuck in the past.  My past is just that… the past.  The Navy Seal has this saying, “The only easy day was yesterday”.   I must keep saying that.  My past gives me perspective, and it must not dictate my future.  I have to move on.

At Saddleback Church, we’re starting a new series called 40 Days of Love.  It’s a study of how we, as Christians, must learn to love, in any situation, at any time.  Key verse is:

Let everything you do, be done in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

The bible says, EVERYTHING.  In any event.  With anyone.  Even when I don’t feel like it.   In fact, when I’m not feeling particularly loving is when I’m suppose to ask God for guidance and correction.  God loves me for who I am.  He loves everybody, even the ones who have gone astray.  God is love and He makes me as His image, so it’s only natural that I’m also loving.  The practice of love is to prepare for heaven.

So why is it sometimes difficult for me to love others?  My ego and pride have a lot to do with it.  People have a tendency to be un-loving.  That’s the problem.  What must I do to overcome this?  First I have to know what love is.

1. Love is a choice and commitment.
2. Love is action, not just emotion.
3. Love is a skill I can learn.

Knowing this, then I must become good with love and improve my relationship with others.  It can be done.

1. I must commit to growing spiritually.  Maturity is key.
2. I can learn from how Jesus loves.  He’s the perfect role model for love.
3. I must practice the skill.   It’s not easy, but I can try, daily.
4. I have to develop the habit.   In this 40 days study, I can learn to be good in love.
5. I must trust God to help.  God’s love is abundant and everlasting, and I must let His love flow through me.

I’m ready, God, to love this world and all of its shortcomings.   Please help me!

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation – the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ, for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Phillipians 1:9-11