Duty or Delight? - Week 3

When you are so down to the mouth, it's really comforting and encouraging when you are reminded of God's character and of who He really is in your life. If you will agree, it is really when we have adversities in our life that we come to know Him more in a very personal way. 


Since week 3 of my D or D journey, I have started praying the same prayer Paul had for the Ephesians. 


"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints..." - Ephesians 1:17-18


Are you always amazed of God's faithfulness? I am. Everyday. Every end of the day, I would just look back and wonder how I survived that day without grumbling. I can't help but praise God and thank Him for His faithfulness that no matter what, He will sustain me. But what amazes me more? - God's faithfulness even if we grumble or disobey Him. I'm just glad that He is not like us. He always keeps His promises even if we are unfaithful to Him. Remember the story of Israel? 


I remembered one blog that I read saying that I am not that powerful to influence how another person would behave. Well, it's true. We never have the power to change or transform a person. Only God could do that. And we could only be transformed through His Son, Jesus Christ. Why do we need Jesus? Because God knows that no matter what, we will continue to disobey Him. There's nothing we can do to live up to His standard and that's why He made a way for us. I'm just glad that God made a new covenant. How about you?


I want to share these verses to you: Ezekiel 36:26, Psalm 86:11, Jeremiah 32:39. I hope you'll look them up. They all have one thing in common - heart. Do you know why God said in Prov 4:23 that above all things, we should guard our heart? Because He also said that the heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). That's why it is important that we always walk in God's protection. It is only in Him that we will have the strength to truly guard our heart. But what if you're heart right now is shattered? I suggest you look up those verses. God can give you a new heart. Isn't that amazing?


Because God always protects us, He will always hold us together even if we really wanted to just give up. He will never let go. Jesus is described as the chief cornerstone because He is the foundation of the church. He unites us all. He is the Rock that will never be destroyed by any force. Are you standing on the strongest Rock? If not, you might want to throw that rock. It's never too late.


One of the things I really struggle with is memorizing verses in the Bible. It's really good that we have a weapon that we could use to defend when the enemy attacks us. Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit. In John 14:26, Jesus said, "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." The Holy Spirit will always remind us even the verses that we thought we don't know to overcome any temptation. 


If you will be asked what is your greatest inheritance, what would your answer be? How about God? The one who chose you before the creation of the world, who redeemed you by sacrificing His Son, who remains faithful, who transforms and protects you, who strengthens you. God is my greatest inheritance and no one could ever take that from me.

i picked up this rock at english bay so that i will be reminded 

WHO I am standing on

Duty or Delight? - Week 2

Week 2 was a less painful week. God has slowly been changing my mind and heart on how I see things. It was a sweet week! I got refreshed with God's Word and He gave me a 'kilig' feeling for the past days. I remembered the words of my friend and I re-phrase it - God just knows how to make you 'kilig' especially at your brokenness. :)


I was made to reflect this week on the Body and Blood of Jesus. As the author Tammie Head says, "Eat more Bread, Drink more Blood".  


Are you familiar with the story of the Israelites and on how they were freed by God from Egypt? Do you know what one of their problems was? Dissatisfaction. God promised them a land that would be full of riches but they couldn't wait. In the middle of their journey, they kept on complaining. Can you relate to them? I can. At some point, we all want to be free from something that we've been struggling but we are not willing to go through the process of pain. We want to be satisfied instantly. Who doesn't?


I've been reminded this week of Jesus being the Bread of Life (John 6:35). I understood why Tammie said eat more Bread. Because only Jesus can give us the bread that will never make us hungry. It is only in Jesus that we will be satisfied no matter what circumstance we are in. 


And what's another good news? That no matter what, God accepts us because we've been covered by the Blood of Jesus. I'm guilty of feeling 'guilty' when I feel that what I do for God is never enough. I realized that I was trying to do a performance in front of God which He really doesn't need. What God wants is a heart that delights in Him. It doesn't matter what is our position when we pray, either we sit or stand or kneel. It doesn't matter how we worship Him, either we lift our hands or we just close our eyes. Our heart is what matters to Him. It  doesn't matter if our past if so messed up. If we accept Jesus in our life, His Blood has covered those already. And when the Father looks at us, He accepts us through Jesus. Isn't God amazing? :)


I learned two things: 
Guilt leads to Performance
Conviction leads to Repentance


Which one is yours?


I pray that I will fully enjoy the rights and blessings of redemption that God has offered to us through Jesus Christ. And I pray, that it will be your prayer too.


As I ended week 2, I celebrated the Body and Blood of Jesus through a personal communion. It was actually my first time to do this. I should be doing more of this. You should too. :)

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding." -- Ephesians 1: 7-8