Daily Devos

I feel like starting an online journal for my daily devotional time with God. What better way to store your "life bytes" than on an internet. I hope the message from God inspires and encourage you as well. I'm following the " Our daily Bread" devotional book.

Hmmm. Let's see what's in store.

Scripture of the day : Philippians 3:12-21 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, 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, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained. 17Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

I always use the SOAP method when reading the bible.

S is for scripture: The scripture that spoke to me was the first verse, which is Phillipians 3:12. O is for observation: Based on that verse, somehow it rings a bell deep in my heart. "God doesn't calls the qualified, he qualifies the called" (often seen on Wilson's pm) basically wraps up the whole meaning of that verse. It's really not about how much you have, how good you are, how perfect is your will, and etc but when God calls you and you press onwards to him is what makes the difference. If God only calls the qualified, even the best preacher, priest or pope won't even be under God's will . He's interested in those who will sacrifice,have a heart for him, and pressing onwards to the goal. The verse continues on till verse 21 which can be best describe as a "race" . Whenever people think of the word "race" it's always the 100 m sprint whereby the fastest runners in the world competes for the title. However, a christian life isn't a 100 m sprint but rather a marathon. I myself think marathons are boring and i bet none of us even bother remembering the marathon race winners. Did you know that Bruce Fordyce won 9 times of the world's longest marathon in between 1981-1990 straight. Really a big wow! I think i can understand why our lives should be a marathon. It is because you need endurance and strength to complete the race. As christians, it's not so much about how fast you get to the other end but rather actually finishing the process. I don't think i ever will competet in a marathon but i know a marathon that i have to complete is this Christian life. Marathons has temptations just like what we face. Imagine all the thoughts that can come into one's mind while running. " You're too slow, you will never make it, Might as well just give up and rest in your bed, Hey that's the water station ! Go and take a rest!" All the thoughts will definitely come into your mind while you are running for hours and hours. I don't think in a 100 m race you will face those thoughts. Hence, in a Christian marathon race, we do face temptations and it is very easy to give up along the way but apostle Paul encourages to press on forward and see the goal and prize at the end. I like what Pastor Joyce Meyer asked during one of her videos. She asked " Are you willing to sacrifice 1 years of your life to reap 5 years of freedom?" How true isn't it? If we give up during the marathons, we will only feel the guilts and regrets in years to come. It is better to sacrifice the things that are witholding you from running the marathon and reap the freedom at the end. A is for Application: Overall, the main application is my life is to make sure i'm running the right track and to stick to God. How easy is for us to take shortcuts and deviate from the main track during the race. I have to rely on God and make sure i'm focus on teh goal and prize from HIM and not be discourage or tempted along the way. I must learn to see the bigger vision. P is for prayer: Lors Jesus, i thank you that God you're indeed a good God that qualifies the called. I pray that you enlarge my vision and keep me focused on you. I pray that you give me strength and focus to complete this life's marathon well and not fall into temptations along the way. Thank you God. Amen Hmmmm P/s: Isn't it strange that the bible mention about race/marathons? I wonder whether there was any major running events thousand of years ago? haha.