Devotional Nugget #15: Making God our #1 priority

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Proverbs 91:1

I’m guilty. I’m guilty of not spending enough time with God despite having all the time on my hands lately. And every night after the day comes to a close, I promise to do better the next day, but I do the same thing again when He blesses me with a brand-new one. I finally decided that I had enough and made the decision to start spending time with Him like the old days no matter how busy I might get. 

God loves when we spend time with Him. It doesn’t matter if we can recite the entire Bible, it doesn’t matter if we sing worship songs during the day, if we’re not spending time with God, we’re spiritually dead. When Jesus was here on earth, He always made time to spend with God no matter what (Matthew 14:23). 

We live in a world where work reigns supreme where we’re conditioned by the system that causes us to forsake the One Who give us the job in the first place. We become so busy and tangle up in duties that we eventually begin to see spending time with God too much of a task. We live in a world where work, hobbies, social media, sleep, fitness obsession etc. has replaced the Lord as our first love (Matthew 22:37).

Here are a few benefits of spending time with God:

* When we spend time with Him, we grow closer to Him. We come to truly know Who He is, and we come to love Him with all our hearts and soul.  Just as we spend time interacting with someone to know them better, we should do the same when it comes to working on our relationship with God (John 3:16).

* One of the best parts in spending time with God is that you experience glorious transformation. When people see you, they’ll know that you’ve been in Jesus’ presence base on your behavioral actions (2 Corinthians 3:18).

* Spending time with our Maker gives us a sense of renewal: spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Consider this time alone with God as a retreat. Pray, sing to Him, study, and rest be it relaxing or sleeping (Isaiah 40:31).

* Keeping Him at the forefront of our mind during the day draws us even closer to Him. Make Him a part of your daily life. That’s why sometimes we feel as if He has forsaken us for we don’t spend time in His precious presence (Revelation 3:20).

At the moment, I spend time with God by just talking to Him, praying, reading devotionals, studying the Word, and listening to spiritual music. I also tend to seek Him out, no matter the situation.

Application

Is your love for God the same as it was before?

Is the fire still burning passionately or diminishing?

How can you develop love for someone you know little about and spend little time with?

When was the last time you really took the time to sit and just spend time with God? He values our moments with Him. No matter how busy we get, we should always make time for Him, no excuses, for He doesn’t use the “I’m busy” card when we come to Him.

God just wants us to have a relationship with Him; never become too busy for Him. 

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Devotional Nugget #14: Omakase

For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.

Ecclesiastes 9:1

I love learning new and exotic words so when I came across the Japanese word omakase, I immediately loved the translation of it: “I will leave it up to you.” Omasake is the Japanese tradition in letting the chef choose your order. 

We can say the same when it comes to going to God with our prayers: “I will leave it up to You.” That is why when we pray, we ask for His will to be done (Matthew 6:10). 

2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to take every thought captive. Before we truly begin to talk ourselves into doubt thus allowing us to spiral down a hole of anxiety, we need to take those thoughts captive. Over the years when I handed my worries and burdens off to God, I saw His hand in everything when I did not attempt to take it back. I saw His hand in health challenges, finances, job transitions, and even where my family was concerned. We should never be afraid to approach God in prayer for we’re His servants, and we’re accepted by Him (Isaiah 41:9-10). Faith unfolds when we leave everything in God’s hands and by witnessing His hand in all things (Isaiah 66:2). 

Truly learn to trust the Father, so when you put your problems in His hand, you won’t be tempted to steal it back. 

Application

Whatever it is that you’re holding tightly onto, put it in God’s hand, leave it up to Him and watch Him work. Share with God what’s on your heart daily for He loves and values hearing from us.

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Devotional Nugget #13: When I am afraid…

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Psalm 56:3

Over the past few weeks, the Covid-19 has been shoved in our faces at full blast. Instead of trusting God, people have been constantly turning to the media for comfort and advice which only increased panicking, fear, and anxiety which eventually led people to panic buy hand sanitizer, Lysol, and toilet paper.

“We mustn’t give in to panic,”

Emmanuel Macron (Current French President)

No matter what we’re facing, God is our source of protection. When we allow fear to control us, it takes root and gives birth to darkness that then manifests within us. This is a powerful weapon that the enemy can use against us to render us helpless. But God is even greater and much more powerful! 

The Bible is filled with a lot of comforting scriptures to help us quell our fear. These are a few of my favorites:

Psalm 91                Isaiah 41:10             Psalm 23

Psalm 56:3             2 Timothy 1:7         Deuteronomy 31:6

You can choose to guard your heart and you can choose to not allow fear to control your life. Choose God and allow Him to reign in your fears. Use this time to draw closer to God and to allow peace to embrace you through the Holy Spirit. 

Application

Trust. Have faith. Eradicate fear. Pray. Justin Bieber said a lovely prayer after closing off an Instagram Live last Thursday by praying with his fans. I’ll leave it here:

“God, we thank You so much for this day. I thank You so much that You have everything in control. You know the beginning from the end and You’re not surprised by this whole thing that’s happening. God, we know that these things don’t come from You, that these things are unexplainable, but God, we trust You in these times, and we just ask God that You would make this go away as soon as possible, God. We just thank You so much for who You are, and we just ask that You would give us more answers. In Your name, we pray. Amen.”

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Devotional Nugget #12: here’s to new beginnings!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17

When the Lord gave me the word “new” for 2020 late last year, I already started to associate little events that will eventually lead to many new things. God led me to open a new blog (Gratitude is an attitude), I’m in the process of opening a new email account, and He’s continuing to show me new things every day. He has also made something new out of something old at my current job… I’ll leave this for a future post. Even the blog is moving onto newer things.

And this is a new post. 😀

Every time a new year comes around, we look forward to making new goals or resolutions. The beginning of the year is spanking fresh and it inspires and ignites us to look ahead to newer things in store than the previous year. It reminds me of being a new creature in Christ. When we come to Him, the way we think is different, the way we perceive things are no longer our wishes, and we see the true meaning of love through the eyes of Christ. Our future assurance is in Him. In Him Who is the holder of keys to eternal life. 

When we become new creatures in Christ, we no longer live for ourselves and our lives are no longer worldly (John 3:3; Ephesians 2:1-3). That doesn’t mean that evil and sin won’t be present. They’re still going to be present, but because we’re new creatures in Christ, we see them from a new perspective that they no longer hold sway over us. 

The newness is a continuing condition.

Our new spiritual perception of life, in general, is now a constant reality for we now live for eternity. This is the transformation that is identified as the faith that produces works in James 2:14-26.

What I love about God is that He takes the old and changes it. When we’re baptized, it symbolizes leaving that old person buried in the watery grave for when we come up out of the water, we’re a new creature in Christ (Romans 6:4). Being a new creature in Him now, we start all over again for we’re washed clean in the Lamb’s blood, our sins are forgiven (Romans 8:1).

See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:19

Are you ready for God to do a new thing in your life? If you haven’t repented as yet, now is the time to do so. Come as you are before the Lord’s throne and seek Him before it’s too late. Salvation was lovingly purchased for us, and He’s waiting, longing to welcome you into His fold. While the lights are still on, come home today. 

Application

New. It’s a little word with so much power in it. Apply it to the area of your life that you need to bring to God, today, and watch Him work. 

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Devotional Nugget #11: A lesson in restoration

For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.

2 Corinthians 13:9

2019 flew by so quickly! At the beginning of the year, God provided me with the word “restoration” and He showed me the power of restoration in several areas of my life for NOTHING is too hard for Him. He restored health, family, peace, joy, and even finance! I am very thankful for what He has done and what He is going to do in all departments of my life. Proverbs 18:10 and Psalm 91 are my go-to’s for every situation and I’ll continue to claim God’s promises through them.

Related: He restoreth my soul

Sin corrupts, blinds and cripples us, but God wants to restore us spiritually, mentally, and physically. He wants to give us the gift of peace and joy. He wants our lives to be filled with purpose. Being in a relationship with Him can restore what sin stole for He is our sole source of restoration.

Reflection

God can take something old and make it new and shiny. Nothing is ever too hard for God so don’t give up on praying. Make it a daily routine and trust God.

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Devotional Nugget #10: Did you spend time with God this morning?

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Psalm 5:3

What do you do when you wake up first thing in the morning? Do you pick up your phone to check your missed calls and messages? Look at Twitter, Facebook or Instagram? Read the newspaper? Catch up with your favorite celebrity? Make the first cup of coffee? Or do you spend quiet time with God first? 

I get that we’re busybodies, but worship should be the most important part of our mornings. When we spend time in prayer with God, it prepares us to meet the demands of the day, brings us closer to our Maker and gets us in the habit of praying throughout the day. It also keeps temptation away.

Honoring God with our lips is one thing, but putting words into action is another.

This applies to me as well. I’ve been lacking in spending quiet time with God lately during the day while I’m at work. I do read my morning devotion, meditate on a scripture or two and pray before work begins, but I lapse during the day at times. I’ve prayed about getting into the proper habit of spending more quiet time with Jesus. I don’t want to be far away from God; I want to be closer to Him. The excuse of being busy to find the time to sit quietly with Him reminds me of ‘The Prayerless Poem’.

When we’re distracted by the world, we cannot hear God’s voice. Be still and set your mind on God in the morning. Even Jesus needed quiet time with the Father (Mark 1:35-37; Luke 5:15-16). What finer example do we need? We were created to worship the Creator (Isaiah 43:7). And when we spend quiet time with Him through prayer, singing praises, meditating on scripture or simply talking to Him, we’ll find a purpose to live, rejoice, and enjoy. 

Reflection

Spending quiet time with God transforms our way of thinking for we must remove ourselves from the world. If we can make time for our favorite TV shows and social media, we can very well make time for God.

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Devotional Nugget #9: Tame the tongue 😛

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 

James 3:10-11

When words tumble from our mouths, do they edify and build up one another (Ephesians 4:29) or do they maliciously and intentionally harm (Proverbs 26:28)? If the battle over the tongue is something that we continually lose every day, then we need to examine ourselves closely.

When you open your mouth to speak, the listener/s should benefit from the conversation. Out of the same mouth should never come both blessing and cursing (James 3:11) for when you curse someone, you’re cursing God’s creation. Get rid of all “bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice.” (Ephesians 4:31). Before responding to someone with malice in our hearts or in anger, we should put ourselves in their place and ask, Would I want someone to respond to me in this way? Regardless of how the person is acting, we have to always behave and respond in a Christlike manner.

Never speak with the intention to hurt someone. It’s not easy taming the tongue on our own and that’s why we have the perfect Helper in the Holy Spirit so rely on Him.

Bring the chains
                                        Your lips of tragedy

                            Depeche Mode

Bind your lips with chains by meditating on these scriptures:

Job 15:3;6

Psalm 34:13; Psalm 141:3

Proverbs 10:19; 21:23

Ephesians 4:29

Colossians 4:6

James 1:26

1 Peter 3:10

Reflection

What do you find most challenging in taming your tongue?

Call on Jesus to help you to be mindful of the words you use and meditate on scriptures concerning the tongue. 

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Devotional Nugget #8: Cleaning out the temple🧹

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

1 Corinthians 6:19

Matthew 21:12-16.

Mark 11:15-19.

Luke 19:45-48.

John 2:13-17.

When I read those accounts of Jesus Christ cleansing the temple of desecration, it made me pause and analyze the physical temple which is my body. What should’ve taken place in the court of the Gentiles – the merchants and moneychangers misusing the temple as a marketplace that it actually started to resemble a thieves’ den – was taking place in a house of prayer. After cleansing the temple, Jesus shows the proper use of it by healing the lame and the blind and by teaching. 

The world and its ways have crept into the house of God. It has also crept into the Lord’s living temple which is our bodies. Over the years, we’ve taken in so many unclean things through various forms of unfiltered entertainment, that we still revert to the old ways sometimes despite being a new creature in Christ. Just think about it.

Every sin that is committed by us in the sanctuary is the Holy of Holies where God dwells.

God created our bodies, Jesus redeemed them through His unblemished blood and the Holy Spirit dwells within. So, yes, this makes our body the temple of God.

With the Holy Spirit residing in us, we are led to honor and glorify God with our bodies. Take a moment to reflect on what you’ve been allowing inside God’s temple. Does it need cleansing? We can start by getting “rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” and by being “kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32).

Let us go into this new week cleansing the filth from God’s temple.

Reflection

Our bodies belong to the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:13). It is a member of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:15) and it is where the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

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Devotional Nugget #7: Please no man!

Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 

knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3:22-24 (ESV)

Hello, my name is People Pleaser. I am eager to do your bidding for saying yes to everything makes me feel accepted. I’ll even pretend to agree with you even though I have opinions of my own. I’ll eat Italian and tell you I enjoy it, even though I dislike Italian food. Why do I apologize often? I fear being blamed constantly by others so I often apologize for being me.

I could never say no even though I’m overburdened with too much to do. I…

“The art of pleasing is the art of deceiving.”

French Proverb

Trying to please people can lead to anxiety pangs that forces you to think that you’re not good enough. Don’t ever try to live for the acceptance of others for your heavenly Father has already accepted you (Ephesians 1:3-6). God created us for His glory, not for our own or others, but for His. So instead of trying to please everyone, strive to please God (1 Thessalonians 2:4) for trying to please everyone is an impossible mission.

Reflection

In EVERY situation, learn to trust the Lord. Strive to do your best and let God do the rest. Let us now say with Peter, “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29).

As for me, I live to please God, to walk in His ways daily and since it’s my goal to walk in His ways, I don’t worry about whether people like me or not, for I did not come here to be liked.

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Devotional Nugget #6: Choose wisely which master to serve.

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Matthew 6:24

Last Thursday, my BFF Tammy and I met to have a day to ourselves and it was one of the best days I’ve had in a long time! We bought some fun stuff before sitting down to have a nice chat. We found ourselves reminiscing, talking about our writing, and the Industry from a Biblical perspective which led us to discuss serving two masters.

The Bible makes it clear: WE CANNOT SERVE TWO MASTERS! There is a reason why the world is filled with hatred, greed, and jealousy. Why there are so many robberies and frauds taking place. Why our entertainment (magazines, TV shows, books, commercials, etc.) are filled with blaspheming products that are not of God (gambling, drug overdose, nudity, etc.). Why professing Christian actors play ungodly roles in movies. Why professing Christian musicians neglect to drop God’s Name from their lips. Why preachers thirst after riches. For the mammon (money, wealth, and material things) makes them compromise their relationship with God. And when you serve mammon, you do not serve God, but Satan, thus you’ll do ANYTHING for it.

So you go to church
Read the holy word
In the scheme of life
It’s all absurd

Want your pot of gold
Need the Midas touch
Bet you sell your soul
‘Cause your God is such
You don’t care
You kill for the money

You do anything for money

Money, Michael Jackson

Don’t get caught up in all that glitters for what does it profit a man to gain the world, but lose his soul (Mark 8:36)? The world may look good dangling before our eyes, but the lust of this world cannot satisfy us like Christ can. God is our Sustainer and He doesn’t want us to worry (Philippians 4:6-7). Rather, we should learn to be content in whatever state we’re in (Philippians 4:11). When we’re content, we do not lust after mammon in any form, for we’ll be putting our trust in God for our provisions (Proverbs 3:5-8; Matthew 6:31-34).

We’re to be set apart from the world (1 John 2:15-16) and not conform to it (Romans 12:2) for the enticing, sparkly, glittery, shiny things of this world is deceitful (Mark 4:19). 

Reflection

Are you storing up treasures on earth or in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21)? Be honest with yourself during your self-evaluation for God doesn’t do compromises.