Spiritual Malnutrition

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Mark 1:35

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed.

Luke 22:39-41

What do you think would happen to your body if you only ate one meal a week? You would probably be very weak and sick because your body would not get the nutrition it needs to keep its natural defense system in tact. Your body would be left vulnerable and the slightest virus could result in a total body breakdown.

Many of us suffer from spiritual malnutrition. We come to church once a week and think that we will be equipped to fight Satan's schemes and tactics. But no matter how incredible the pastor's message is, it will not sustain you. True spiritual health requires regular spiritual meals. You must spend time with God, regularly dining on his Word—the Bible—and enjoying his company through prayer.

Even Jesus, the Son of God spent time alone with God. Jesus spent most of his public ministry teaching and talking about God's truth, letting God work through him. But he knew that was not enough. Jesus knew he needed regular time with God and that regular meals would re-energize him to carry out his demanding schedule.

Jesus knew he couldn't be a successful servant of God if he starved himself spiritually. And we need to realize that same truth today. God gave us his word so that we could be equipped for the different situations in our lives. Whether we are struggling with temptation or encouraging others through our faith, we need to feed on God's Word everyday so that we can be spiritually strong and healthy and carry out the tasks God has placed in our lives.

So make a commitment today to open the Word of God daily this week!

A Prayer for Today

Lord, I want to develop a strong, intimate relationship with you. Help me to be consistent in opening your Word so that I will be equipped to handle spiritual attacks and able to encourage others in their faith. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Making Wise, Not Just Right Choices

Scripture

"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:8-9)

Observation

Those in the army know first hand about a command from a superior officer. It overrides your personal choice. If you are commanded to line up outside your barracks in two minutes, you might be tired, and you may not have brushed your teeth yet, but those choices are trumped by a greater choice ... the choice to obey. I might have a choice when it comes to choosing between two equal options. But between brushing my teeth or obeying my company commander? These are not equal options.

Obeying his command or taking time to brush my teeth first ... that is really no choice at all. The choice has been made by the one I am called to obey.

Choice is enacted when there is an option between two somewhat equal options, not between a low option and an extraordinarily high one. Where there is that much disparity, "choice" is removed and wisdom dictates my move. Not choice. When choice is dictating, then I am wrestling with two equal options.

God speaks to Joshua as he would a military man... "Have I not commanded you...?"
These are not two equal options. Joshua had only one choice in this situation, and that we to obey God. Choice is between two equal options. Wisdom is when we see the huge difference and move quickly to obey. To not do so bring consequences that are so disparate to the crime.

In other words, if a soldier said to the officer, "I decided, I had to make a choice between your command and brushing my teeth, so I chose to brush my teeth."
Not a wise choice.

Death or life? Not a choice.
Bright future or dark? Not a choice. They are not equal.
Heaven or hell? Not a choice. Not equal.
God's blessings or Satan's deception? No choice. Not equal.

Application

I must make the commands of Jesus so great that it so unbalances the options that there really is no choice at all. It leaves me only with wisdom. Wisdom comes when we see the difference and recognize the huge disparity between what my flesh wants to do and what God is commanding.
The bigger the difference, the easier the choice, and greater the wisdom will be deposited to your account. The smaller you make the difference, the harder the choice, and you will experience a loss of wisdom.

I must see the ways of God so high and so far removed from earthly things that obeying Him is an automatic response of wisdom.
It is no choice at all!

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I so desire to be a man of wisdom, and I know the only way to that end is to first increase your worth so far above all else, that your commands becomes a joy I revel in rather than a choice I wrestle with. Your love for me is higher than the heavens are above the earth. I have no choice but to serve You, and therein lies the beginnings of wisdom.

Final Note
This Sunday, I begin a new series DISCOVERING GOD'S WILL.
It is about making the right decisions to ensure we are in the right directions in life.
It takes wisdom in making those right choices.
The series will equip you with the wisdom that you will need to make those choices.

Life Hypnosis

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. "Who touched me?" Jesus asked. Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.

Luke 8:42-45; 47

If you've ever driven for a long period of time, you have probably experienced road hypnosis. It happens when the rhythm of the car and the monotony of your surroundings lull you into a blank state subconsciously. You can still navigate the road, yet you can't recall what vehicles were around you, what exits you passed, or any of the other essentials to driving.

Many of us suffer from a similar condition called life hypnosis. This happens when we become so consumed by our busy schedules that we ignore our surroundings, or when our thoughts lull us into a blank state where we walk right past people without ever noticing them or their needs.

Jesus had a very busy schedule. He was a carpenter and a ministry leader. He could have easily passed over crowds of people to attend to his own private agenda, yet he made time to interact with the masses. He never let his own agenda keep him from noticing and meeting the needs of the people around him.

Somehow I find the weeks getting busier and busier. There is always so much to do, I often find myself in danger of life hypnosis. But I refuse to live a life at such a low plane! So last week I made a special trip to the post office to send a dear one overseas a pair of glasses that he needed. I called my adoptive mother in Alor Setar every other day to see how she was doing. Yesterday, I visited the husband of one of the members of my church who has since passed away and the man received the Lord! And last night I caught a movie with my family.

God has specifically placed people in your path so that you could meet their needs. He wants to bless them through you, and then bless you in the process. Don't let the busyness of life distract you from adding a personal touch to the needs of the people around you. Instead, follow Jesus' example and exchange your agenda for the agenda of God.

A Prayer for Today

Lord, if I have been guilty of allowing the distractions of life to keep from noticing the needs of those around me, please forgive me. You have placed me in the path of others so that I can meet their needs. I want to exchange my agenda for yours. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Who Do You Talk To About Your Pain?

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Isaiah 53:3

No one is exempt from suffering. It's just a matter of when and how. But no other area of life causes us to consider God like suffering. When we are in the midst of unbearable circumstances, it seems like God is so far away from us. Yet, he is usually the first person we call on to relieve us from the hurt and the pain.

While suffering commonly causes us to look for someone greater, it can also cause us to retreat. We often withdraw from others and try to fight their suffering in isolation. But God never intended for us to do that. It may not seem like God cares about your suffering, but he does. God cared enough about your suffering that he allowed his son to take on the ultimate suffering.

Some of us may be experiencing physical or emotional pain right now, but nothing compares to the pain of being rejected to the point of murder. Jesus experienced pain like none of us can imagine. He actually became sin and had to endure being separated from God during that time. This week is traditionally known as Passion Week because it is the week Jesus was crucified for us.

Jesus knows first-hand what it's like to suffer alone. He does not want you to experience that. He died so that we will never have to be separated from God. If you are experiencing any type of suffering, talk to Jesus about your pain. No one can understand what you are going through like Jesus. Speak honestly with him and allow him to heal you from the inside out.

A Prayer for Today

Lord, thank you for enduring the ultimate suffering so that I don't have to suffer alone. I know that there is no pain that I can experience that you can't heal. I find comfort in the fact that you are always listening whenever I need you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Refusing To Compartmentalize Life

"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.

Mark 6:3

There is no doubt that Jesus was a phenomenal teacher. Anyone can look at his life and tell that he was good at his job. But a lot of times people overlook the fact that Jesus had another regular job that had nothing to do with the ministry. He was a carpenter, working in the rough and tough world of construction.

Jesus spent a great deal of time in the workplace, and people were always watching him. They were upset with him because he wouldn't act the way they wanted him to act. But Jesus always handled the pressures and problems of the workplace without compromising.

Isn't it amazing how a person can be a character-compromising employee one minute and an angelic church attendee the next? Unlike Jesus, a lot of us cannot resist the urge to compartmentalize our lives. We think that we can have our faith world over here and our work world over there. We divide our lives into pieces and then make choices in one piece that don't affect our other pieces.

Compartmentalization is especially common in the workplace. We pull into the parking lot and leave our cars and biblical principles right there until the end of the day. Meanwhile, an abundance of unethical decisions and compromising choices are being made in the adjacent building. But God never intended our lives to be compartmentalized. So let's take our cue from Jesus and live out our faith in every area of our lives because that is what it means to have a heart loyal to the Lord.

A Prayer for Today

Lord, thank you for your example of integrity. There will always be times when I will be pressured to compartmentalize my life, but I pray that you will remind me of Jesus' example and help me to lie out my faith in every area of my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Sundays with the Son

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.

Luke 4:16

Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people.

Luke 4:31

Jesus made it a habit to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath to worship God. That was the custom of the day, and Jesus participated in it. Jesus understood that the true purpose of the Sabbath was more than just a day of rest. It was also intended to be a day to focus on God.

In our busy schedules, God can get pushed to the back. With deadlines and opportunities coming at us at incredible rates, it takes intentional effort to bring God back to the forefront of our minds. By having a day to slow down, we can remove many of the distractions that keep us from focusing on God.

The Sabbath is a great time to examine our priorities and see if our commitments line up. If we are doing this on a weekly basis, we can catch bad commitments before they cause too much chaos in our lives. And we can also make sure we are saying yes to God's priorities in every area of our lives.

When God created the Sabbath, he actually called it holy. Usually when God calls something holy, it's a pretty big deal. God created us and wired us for rest and worship. It is so easy to get caught up in a demanding lifestyle, but don't get so consumed that you forget to honor God's command. The Sabbath was created to help us. It was set apart for God's creation to rest and remember God. See you in church Sunday!

A Prayer for Today

Lord, sometimes life's demands can have me going full throttle, and I forget to spend time with you. Help me to examine my commitments and weed out those things that get in the way of my rest and worship. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Toxic Relationships

When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, "Come back once more; he has told me everything." So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. Having put him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him.

Judges 16:18-19

We have relationships with our friends, co-workers, spouses, and family members that add meaning to our lives. God created us to be relational creatures. But he also knew the power of relationships, so he gave us examples of right and wrong relationships throughout the Bible. And few of those relationships show the danger of unhealthy relationships like Samson and Delilah.

Samson knew that he was not supposed to have a relationship with Delilah, but he was drawn to her because he found her exciting, and he knew that he could have fun with her. God appointed Samson to help deliver his nation from the Delilah's nation, but Samson's idea of "fun" caused him to sin against God and put his entire nation in danger.

Often times we find ourselves in toxic relationships because they are fun and exciting at first. But if we continue in relational sin, we will fall just like Samson did. Since relationships are so important to our lives, we must choose them wisely. Our closest relationships should be with people that share our values and encourage us to be better Christ-followers.

God created relationships for us to enjoy. He never intended for us to be bound by unhealthy relationships that drain the life out of us and rob us of our joy. Don't allow yourself to hold on to relationships that will keep you away from God. Instead, focus on those relationships that you will be able to enjoy free of guilt, shame, and sin.

A Prayer for Today

Lord, thank you for the great loving relationships in my life. Help me to get rid of all the toxic relationships in my life, and place good people in path who share my values and will encourage me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

He Helps Like No Other

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:15-16

It is human nature for us to gravitate toward people we can relate to. Think about most of your friends. You all share the same perspective of life and can identify with each other's experiences. Whether it's connecting with the depths of our pain or celebrating in our success, we value the ability of others to understand what we are going through.

No matter how great your friends are, none of them can understand you better than Jesus can. He has the ultimate ability to relate to us on all cylinders because lived a life full of the same experiences that we face today, yet he did it perfectly.

Christ's experiences allow us to share a deep connection with him. He understands our battles with temptation as well as our frustrations with isolation. We don't have to deal with the issues of life alone because Jesus is able to sympathize with our weaknesses.

Don't get flustered about your flaws or hammered about your hang-ups. Once we confess our struggles to Jesus, he will unload his strength and grace in our lives. Our connection with him gives us the confidence we need to know that he can relate to all of our struggles.

A Prayer for Today

Lord, I am so thankful that you fully understand the struggles that I deal with in life. I place all of my sins at your feet knowing that I have total access to your grace. Help me to accept your forgiveness and live in confidence that you sympathize with my weaknesses. Today Lord, let this prayer mean loads to someone out there who is calling on you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Answers Before The Questions

Scripture

"But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague" (Numbers 11:33).

Observation

People began to complain. Their boredom demanded something different, something tastier, something more filling. No more ikan bilis with porridge. We're done with just salted crackers from the sky.

"We want steak! Real stuff!"

So they got it. A tasty self-centre cut of Quail steak. And while the meat was still in their teeth, God let their demands have its way. You see, we cannot make decisions in selfishness and not think that egotism won't demand payment!

David talks about this event in Psalms 106:15 where we find these haunting words: "And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul" (KJV).

Application

I want to be sure about what I ask for. I might get it! And if it is the wrong thing, I can get my desire but lose my soul. Luke 9:25 reminds us of this: "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?"

I have to process deeply those desires that come into my heart. At the moment, they sound so good. But I have found that the decisions I make are predicated by the maturity I have in Christ at the time.

If I am immature, my decisions will follow suit. If my perspective is selfish and fearful, my decisions will be the same, no matter how sincere I think my heart is! If I am selfish, my decisions can be religious but full of flesh and self serving.

And here is where the odourless gas of pride is inhaled. When I think that the way I feel is the right way to feel, and in fact, the only way to feel , then I become strongly opinionated and "determined." But being sincere about something doesn't make it right.

So what's the answer?

The wisest answers will not come after the questions. It comes before them.

If I wait for the event or the crossroad before I consider the answer, it's already too late. The maturity of my walk with Jesus before I hit the crossroads that will determine the decisions I make at it.

This is why my daily devotions with Christ is so critical to everything, absolutely everything else! I must grow and prepare my life and mind so that when the questions arrive, I will have the wisdom for the answer. I might not have all the answers, but I will have the necessary inner ingredients in order to formulate the answer and make the decision necessary to bring glory to Christ.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for helping me to grow in You and to gain the wisdom necessary for godly decisions before they are required. I am finding that the best answers are gained before the questions, and the best decisions are made before they are posed. Please continued to build Your wisdom in me long before it is required! IN Jesus' Name, Amen.

Today's Mercies For Today's Troubles

Dear Thea

We talked at length a couple of weeks ago when you were overwhelmed about the new transitions that you needed to sail through. We spoke about resting in the Lord and all that it means. I thought today I would just pen down our thoughts so that others can benefit from them as well.

Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:34

To trust the Lord today includes trusting him to give you tomorrow's trust when tomorrow comes. Often we feel like our reservoir of strength for today is not going to last for another day. The fact is, it won't. Today's resources are for today, and part of the resources is the confidence that new resources will be given tomorrow.

The basis of this assurance is the wonderful teaching of the Bible that God assigns only as much trouble to each day as that day can bear. God will not let his children be tested in any given day beyond what his mercy for the day will sustain (1 Cor 10:13)

With every day's measure of pain and pressure, he gives new mercies. This is the point of Lamentations 3:22-23, "The LORD's lovingkindness indeed never ceases, for the compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is his faithfulness."

God's mercies are new every morning because each day has enough mercy in it only for that day. This is why we tend to despair, Thea, when we think that we may have to bear tomorrow's load on today's resources. God wants us to know that we won't. Today's mercies are for today's troubles. Tomorrow's mercies are for tomorrow's troubles.

Sometimes we wonder if we will have the mercy to stand in terrible testings and transitions. Yes, we will. Peter says, "If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." (1 Peter 4:14). When the reviling comes, the Spirit of glory comes. It happened for Stephen as he was stoned (Acts 7:55-60). It will happened for you and me. When the Spirit and glory are needed, they will come.

The manna in the wilderness was given one day at a time. There was no storing up. That is why we must so depend on God's mercy, Thea. You do not receive today the strength to bear tomorrow's burdens. You are given mercies today for today's troubles. Tomorrow the mercies will be new.

So just keep resting in the Lord for tomorrow while you embrace his strength and mercies for today. Our God is faithful!

Standing with you,

Pa.

Devotion That Releases His Presence

Scripture

Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. At the Lord's command they encamped, and at the Lord's command they set out. They obeyed the Lord's order... (Numbers 9:22).

Observation

It wasn't the weather. It wasn't the money. It wasn't the terrain nor was it the deadlines that dictated the schedule and movement of the Isrealites.

It was instead the presence of the Lord.

Last Sunday, I opened the Word to Rev 2 - the church that had so much going but had lost her devotion to the Lord. The result? The Lord removed from that house the lampstand which represented his presence.

The absence of devotion removes the presence of God in our midst.

Application

I am still learning all of the ramifications of this, but one thing I do know ... if the hand of God is not there, if His presence is not seen, everything gets harder - we then start to strive; we get frustrated and drained.

We can have great technology, great innovation, super ideas and wonderfully talented people, but it will be the Presence of God that will make all the difference in the world.

So what is the Presence of God? What do we mean by "The Hand of God?" How is it recognized?

It is not always some empirical, scientifically provable fact. It can be more intuitive. You notice it by the marks of His presence ... like a wonderful sense of unity, a joy, a desire to see God move, a freshness in worship and a receptivity in hearts. It is seen in the unity between co laborers in the ministry, a willing heartedness, and the fruit of salvations and lives being changed.

His absence will deliver the opposite of this. A cynicism, doubt, "what's in it for me," and an unwillingness to change.

I long for the Presence of God. I can have the funds, the staff and gifted church volunteers, the energy ... but until He gives His blessing and hand, we will be running uphill and against the wind.

Prayer

Dear Father, I continue to pray for your presence to be on the ministry and my life. I know that without you, I can do nothing. I will fry my engines and be gone. So keep your hand on my life and the ministry of Agape I pray. Teach me to know how to posture myself and my heart such that devotion for You is always growing in my life. In Jesus Name, Amen