Devotion #9

BECAUSE IT IS OUR PRIVILEGE AS
CHRISTIANS




Today i will talk about the SECOND POINT!
What Happens when we have a quiet time?

A. It is A Time of Devotion

The first privilege is to give and not to get. As we enter into God's presence, we return to give God glory and praise. Many times it is a place we go to and ask of God whether for our personal purposes or the agenda's of "God's family", our tribe.... The emphasis is often Ego-Centric. Rev Edmund Chan shared recently that it is time the church return to a Theo-Centric approach.

Let us return to the devotion of God because He deserves our devotion. For the word of God says "Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only." May we go to our quiet times each day out of a Love for God and not a sense of duty. For He deserves our devotion and He desires our devotion too. For the Father seek true worshipers who worship in spirit and truth.

B. It is A Trust in His Direction

You see, God often guides us in our lives and ways as we come before Him. King's David's life as we can see from scripture was one that constantly sought God's direction ("Show me Your ways, O Lord...Ps 25:4-5"). Our time in God is a good time where we can received guidance from the Lord.

Furthermore, many of us know we should emulate Jesus. Do you know that Jesus very often retreated to a quiet place that He may be refreshed physically and spiritually. He often "Plugged Into" the Father in these times to lay hold of the Father and His will.

In fact, being in touch with the Lord daily will allow us to see many of our problems, questions or opportunities from the right perspective. Only in our daily communion with God can He be able to guide our lives much more powerfully.

C. It is A Touch of His Delight

As we soak in the wonderful presence of the Lord, something is transformed from the inside of our spirit. There is an overflow of peace and joy in our hearts.

This is the fruit of intimacy, as intimacy will always bring delight. Because as we draw nearer to God, His joy in us will overflow from Him and pour into our lives. This love will overran our troubled hearts and stubborn minds, strengthening our hope in Him. That is why time with God is liken to our relationship with God, sometimes even to that of a Husband & Wife. The reality is this, the more we love someone wouldn't we want to be closer and willingly give more time to spend with them.

D. It Is A Transformation, Divine

The last privilege from having a good quiet time with God is that it grows our spiritual lives and we become more and more like Him.

Truth be told that we were "Created in His image, fashioned after Him" and as Jesus enters our hearts, we are transformed more and more like Him. This happens by the washing through the Word of our minds and the renewal by the Holy Spirit in our hearts. As we learn to walk daily with Christ, we begin to grow in thinking more and more like Jesus as we yield our lives to Him. Because the more you are with a person, the more you become like Him.

Our ultimate goal is to be just like Jesus.

Let me end with a quote again, "We are shaped and fashioned by what we love."

You see, i have a grandma. She is over 70 years old and once when she was young, she literally paved the streets of Singapore. Having a hard life and being widowed was not an easy thing to go thru. Life was full of troubles and hardship were everywhere. As she grew, she decided that the only thing important to her were family and money.

So true of many we know and maybe even in subtle ways a reflection of us. Unfortunately, she has been repeatedly disappointed by the family around her and even with much money, she wasn't happy as worries set in. You see when she decided to make "Family & Money" her king, her life was fashion around these and that desire to possess both controlled her.

Recently she had a heart attack, and i had the opportunity to spend an extended time with her. We talked and shared. She shared she was worried about me, how eve and me were coping with me so long not working. I shared that God was my help and walked thru extended on what Jesus has done and become to me in my life.

I shared of how i changed from the son who broke my parents heart to one who was a bridge now for them. How though i was an A level failure, God turn it around and brought me to succeed in my work all along. Finally i shared how once i led a life loving myself to one in constant surrender, without fear or anxiety in God's promises. This all because i was transform daily in Christ and in His hope. I could see her wavering and my prayer is that she will know Christ and be an "AH SAM" (Actively, Happy Serving Ah Ma) for Christ.

It is my prayer that you too will enjoy the privilege of fellowship with the Lord. Just as we are shaped and fashioned by what we love, may the Holy Spirit transform your spirit, heart and mind as we yield to Him. Amen.

LOL Ps DiE