This is my first step forward.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
Psalms 34:19 KJV

We do good things, away from the wrongs, yet a lot of challenges come our way. Problems arise as we journey in this life. And they are inevitable. We don't understand most of the time on why these things happen. Some people get stuck in their problems and ended up being miserable. They might say "Ginawa ko naman lahat ng makakabuti sa kanila. Bakit sinisisi pa nila ako?" or can be "Lahat na binigay ko, eto pa mangyayari sa'kin? Ano bang nagawa kong mali?"

Before we say those things, believe that God recognizes all the good and excellent deeds you made. Look at how we are loved by God and let us understand things happen for a reason. Don't listen to the people who mocks us on what we are doing. Please God not the people.

Soon we will be out of that situation without even noticing because God has already saved us and won the battle for us.

But wait there's more! After overcoming these problems, we have become better, we learned something and we improved.

God teaches how to be righteous. God prevents us to get harmed. God molds character.

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21 KJV

Did you ever say to yourself, "I don't want to do it! If I do it it will just waste my time!"?

Just today, I was to go somewhere He wanted me to go to. But I keep telling myself, "I don't want to go there! I want to go home early so I could have more 'me' time."

But then I just prayed and asked Him for what good is it to go. I decided to still go though I am feeling unsure.

And there I was, having that joy for a simple goodness of giving my time for the work of the Lord.

So if you feel like you are getting a lot of lies, temptations, wrong ideas inside your head, telling you things, fight them! Fight them by obeying God! What good is it to feed the evil inside your head, making it happy? It's never comparable to do the work of the Lord because serving Him is really rewarding!

And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
2 Samuel 23:4 KJV

This is part of David's prayer in which He recognize our Lord to be his source of hope and solution during his days of trouble.

Desperate... Hopeless... Nowhere to run... Nothing to do... Everything doesn't seem right... Everything seems wrong...

Unending expenses, debts, wrong relationships, broken families, failed examinations, brokenness, emptiness and a whole lot of this world's issues are keeping us down everyday!

But there is hope in Him! He will bring mornings to our evenings, light to our darkness, rainbows to our rains, and solutions to our problems. For He is our God and He will not let us stay in whatever difficult situation we are facing.

Believe in Him! Believe in His power! He will lift us up because He loves us and He delights in us!

2 Samuel 17-18

In these 2 chapters, all the attempts to the life of David was not succesful. And God took away Ahitophel and Absalom - his own son, to save the king and continue his purpose.

We are so fond of the people who come into our lives. They bring happiness to us and make us feel good about ourselves. We don't even notice that their influences can change us.

Yes some people bring goodness and adds value to our character but some leads us to someone we should not be. And in the end they break us, wound us, hurt us or even destroy us.

The good news is, our God doesn't want us to be broken anymore! He will remove anyone in our paths that will hinder us to be happy fully, to have that joy that we truly deserve. He will not let us be swayed by these people and help us get back on our feet, to get back to our purpose!

We may not understand at first because it could be painful that the ones He'll remove has already been part of us, but sooner or later we will realize that it is for our own good.

So be open to whatever comes and let God!

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5 KJV

Decisions are really hard to make especially if the outcome will affect our future or our loved ones.

Sometimes when we decide from our own basis, knowledge and understanding, we end up failing. We often get hurt. That's why we don't want to experience unwanted results again and tend to pressure or exhaust ourselves into thinking if the decision we make will result to a good outcome.

Let us surrender this things to Him and recognize that He is a big help to our situation. Because his understanding is more than ours and his plans for us is not to harm us, He will guide us to the good outcome that we need and deserve.

Don't rush! Trust even in His own right timing!

And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
Exodus 33:14 KJV

Sometimes the hustle and bustle of our lives becomes more and more challenging and tiring that we want to give up.

We forgot we already have someone who can lift up our burdens just by His majestic presence. The one who gives joy, peace, strength, comfort and rest -our God!

Seek His presence! Feel His embrace! By then you will find all the rest and comfort you need to replenish and strengthen you as you move forward with your life.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...
Genesis 1:26 KJV


"Ang hirap maging mabait... Haha!" I remembered a friend saying this as she strives to do her best at work, moving away from her normal routine.

But being "mabait" is how we ought to be. It is our design. We are created in God's likeness.

The ways of the world have been changing who we truly are. We feel that it is our normal function - to get angry when someone provokes us, to take revenge when someone hurts us, to cheat, to get even, to take advantage, etc.

But we are not created to do those things. We are made to be kind, wise, excellent, forgiving, faithful, fair, just, good, gentle, loving and righteous like our creator.

So it's not so hard to be kind, because it is who we really are. We may find it difficult to do at first because we got so used to do those as the world had influenced us but always go back to your original design, the original you.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:10 KJV

Depression awareness month is over but it's still not over for most of those who are suffering from it. Depression like other diseases can also cause death. They say that it doesn't have a cure or is hard to cure because it keeps in coming back.

There are many reasons why people experience depression. It can be caused by trauma or bad experiences, self pity, feeling unworthy, identity crisis, family problems and a whole lot more. But the root of these reasons is the plan of our enemy. As much as God knows our weaknesses, so as the enemy. The enemy uses these weaknesses to penetrate our lives, little by little, step by step, entering our soul, aiming to destroy us, our spirit. The enemy's goal is for us to die with his deceiving tactics for us not to recognizing what our Lord offers.

Depression is difficult but we can overcome it. It can be cured. Let us be open to others and seek help. Don't let yourself rot just keeping it inside. Because when you are alone the enemy will attack you hard, stealing your true self, killing your soul and spirit, and destroying your life that you may want to end it.  Our Lord had given us this life and from Him we can take as much strength, courage, love and all that we need to cure this disease. Pray. Talk to Him. The Lord is patiently waiting for you to take back that life that the enemy is taking away from you. After all, He is our healer!

And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
1 Samuel 16:23 KJV

Saul was then sent the evil spirit. But when David came into his life, played his harp, it went away from Him. Saul searched for a person that can help him take away the evil spirit upon him and found a person favored by God.

Oftentimes we fail to obey God, sinned against Him and suffer its consequences. Part of Romans 6:23 says for the wages of sin is death and this is what happened to Saul. The sin he had done brought the evil spirit unto him. Most of us sin against God and suffer from it until death comes. What Saul did is to seek help and reachout to God's favor. Matthew 6:33 says seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you. And Saul was cleansed and healed by doing so. God provided these to Saul through David.

I've sinned so much before and the enemy almost got me. I was emotionally and spiritually dead. I asked God for His healing at that moment but most of the time I neglected His instruments including my sister. But that doesn't stop God, because I asked for healing, because He knew I was broken. And a David came to my life who brought me closer to God, my friend Philip.

Although we have sinned against God and suffered from it we should continuously seek Him, repent and be open, for He will answer us and provide us the cleansing and healing that we need to restart our lives. He will send that one David to make sure He gives us provision and take away the evil spirit in us that causes us to sin and suffer. And if some Saul comes in to our lives, be that David that God provides!

And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord ? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
1 Samuel 15:22 KJV

Even though Saul gave the best offering to the Lord it did not matter. For what matters to the Lord is his obedience.

A small act of disobedience is still disobedience and it could not be repaid or replaced by anything.

In a relationship, with our parents, when we obey them, it brings them honor, appreciation and love. Their authority is also acknowledged and that it brings them delight of feeling valuable knowing that they are important to us. Because obeying or following them is leaning towards our own good, as parents thwy don't want us to be harmed by our own actions because they already know what would happen in those situations that they had gone through. If we disobey our parents it is a sign of dishonor and disrespect that no material thing can replace. It's as if the damage has been done and there is no turning back. No gift can satisfy.

Same with our relationship with God. What He only wants is everything good for us because He loves us so. Obedience to Him is so important because it qualifies us to honor Him and acknowledge Him as our authority. It's a way of giving back to Him on what He has done for us. If we sacrifice things for Him then that is also a sign of love but if we use these to compensate our disobedience then it is all nonsense.

I pray to God to have absolute obedience. It is difficult because of the adjustments and unknowns ahead. But faith is there. If letting Him drive my life bring Him Joy and pleases Him then I will obey to show my love and appreciation for all the things He has done.

For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.  Only fear the Lord , and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
1 Samuel 12:22‭, ‬24 KJV
http://bible.com/1/1sa.12.22-24.KJV

Our God is for us. He will not do us harm. He created us and so he delighted in us. He reminds us these and how He did small and great things for us. But He asks only for us to fear Him and serve Him with all our hearts.

Serving Him is my purpose. Jesus once said that if we follow Him it will not be easy and it will be full of suffering. But I still choose to serve with all of my heart. It is not only I who needs help, love and blessings. But the people around me as well. Though my body becomes weak at times, adversaries come and go, and temptations are all over my surroundings and even in my head, I will do what is righteous and bring God's miracle to everyone, to whom He had entrusted to me.

I will not stop until I served my purpose on earth because of the fear I have in Him - the fear out of love, the fear of making Him sad, the fear of making Him mad at me. He is my father and I don't want Him to feel these. I am glad and joyful that I live now for the Kingdom of God and not of this world. I aim for eternity and not for temporal. And even though I face all these things, I know I can conquer them all because He is with me. He blesses me and gives me favor even the smallest so how can I not do His will for me?

God bless us all and may everyone find this devotion as inspiration to keep on serving the Lord

But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord , but rebel against the commandment of the Lord , then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers.
1 Samuel 12:15 KJV
http://bible.com/1/1sa.12.15.KJV

God was not accepted as the King at that time. They worshipped man-made gods. And because worshipping these gods is a sin, Israel was defeated by their enemies. They recognized their mistakes and promised to serve if God will deliver those enemies unto their hands. And God did as they say but still they asked for another thing from Him, to give them a king. And God did as they say once again and appointed Saul to be their King.

The Lord reminded them of obedience to the one He had appointed. Israel asked and God gave it to them. One condition for it was obedience.

Often we ask God for what we want - our dreams, plans and needs. But we stay disobedient and end up disappointed. We experience failure. But it is the consequence of our actions that we are reaping just like the numerous defeats of Israel because they chose to disobey. When we ask Him for our heart's desire He also asks us for our faithfulness so we will obey His commands and instructions. God wants what is the best for us so following and obeying His commands will not lead us to failure or anything negative, but it will lead us to our answered prayers.

And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
1 Samuel 9:21 KJV
http://bible.com/1/1sa.9.21.KJV

Saul looked upon himself and his family lowly and considered themselves with no worth. He was confused why Samuel spoke to him as if he and his family was of great importance. He di not know that God had chosen him to be king.

How Saul was at these times was also how we were even once in our lives. We are given opportunities that we may seem not for us. We look upon ourselves lowly and with no worth. We often think that we are not deserving for such blessings that come our way. But God knows who we are and what we are capable of. God appoints us to something we think we are not worthy of but the truth is we are meant to be there.

My life is a rollercoaster. A lot of things come in my way especially at work. There are opportunities for growth. My manager once asked me if I could apply for a managerial position. But I did not take it. I believe I am not worthy of the position yet because I still lack a lot of things I suppose. I trust that I cannot handle being a manager without understanding the role and experiencing leadership face to face. Bottomline, I was afraid. I am not confident with what I can do and offer for the role. I'm afraid to fail.

But God is confident in me. This kind of opportunity that He is giving me is not an accident. He believes that I am worthy for the position that is why it is being offered to me. But I missed the chance. But even so, I will strive hard to learn more about this role while I do my best in being the light in my company. I believe that God will open another opportunity in my life that I wouldn't have to miss again for that next time will be different. I believe so that is why I encountered this verse. This verse is now my equipment when that day comes.

Have you experienced being pruned? What resulted from the pruning?

If I would describe my entire career as a scrum master, everyday is pruning. I felt pain each day because I'm made to do things outside what I'm used to. Before, I do not talk to a lot of people but because of the role I was obliged to. I was forced to understand different personalities and be the better person even when things get difficult. Why? It's because I am made to bridge the gap, not push people farther away from each other.

When things don't go the way you want to, trust God. He knows what he's doing. He knows what He wants for you. Though pruning may be equivalent to pain in our language, without it, we can't grow. If God didn't push me to my limits and talked to people, I don't think I'll be a different person from two years ago. Yeah, right now, I didn't expect that I'd be this contented with myself.

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is  Mine.
Exodus 19:5 NKJV

I will obey only the voice that comes from you for I know I am yours alone and I am of great value to you.

Our Lord God requires us to only hear Him and obey only Him, no one else, so that he keeps His promises for he values us so much. All of which is because of His great love.

Just this night I felt like a puppet being manipulated to force someone to take a big risk and decision in her life. After my talk with this friend of mine, my heart was so hurt. I felt like I shouldn't have done it. I don't want to hurt my coach but I also don't want to hurt my friends. I exist to help. I exist to do God's mission. I exist to be a blessing. I exist not to be a burden to anyone but to be of light to them, because I am an extension of Jesus' light for He is the light.

I should now recognize whose voice should I obey. I should not make the devil happy. And always, I should remember to have the fruits of the Holy Spirit! I should forgive my coach and also myself. I'm glad that the Holy Spirit helped me realize all this. God is really merciful and faithful. I won't let Him down this time and fight the evil in ways I can.

But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
James 3:14 NKJV

I will not choose to sin anymore and move away from it for I am greatly aware that it will lead me to destruction.

This chapter reminds us of the difference of what is right and wrong and its effects on us and the people around us. So let us not let ourselves be envious and selfish for it will only lead us to sin again and later on be dead.

I asked God today to bless our presentations for our business and also asked Him to let me understand His Word. I asked Him to tell me what to do and guide me today. And so I came across this verse and was captured by it. This was His message to me. A reminder of what I should do today. No lies and no boasting against the truth. He wants me to be honest and don't think of myself. He wants me to change my mindset that this is not just for me and not just for the sake of advancing more than my business partners. I was confident and was thinking of my benefits but He reminded me to humble down and seek wisdom as I present to them later.

I know now my place in sharing the business and will choose the right thing to say and do.

Lord, thank you for a great reminder before I go through my presentations today. Lead me Lord not to tell lies and not to boast. Lead me Lord to wash away my selfishness and envy. Take care of my heart and always remind me of humbling myself before the people I serve and care for. Lord bless me as I present later that what I say is of benefit to my prospects and that I will do them no harm for what I will speak of is only of truth. Lord bless them as well that they may find good opportunity in what I will present. Open their heart and minds that they may know the benefits of our products and business. Lord I offer them to you and everything I will do today is for your glory. I will not let myself be in the way for this life is yours and for your will I shall live. I love you Lord and glorify you in Jesus' name. Amen.

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:26 NKJV

Not by words, not by just going to church, but by my actions, my faith in You will show.

We are reminded that faith without action defeats the fact that you truly believe. One cannot survive without the other one. When a body is without spirit it is dead and so faith without action is also dead. When you pray to be successful and know that God will answer you but you don't work or start to achieve your goal what would you expect? When you say you have God in your life but you always waste your time on worldy things like playing games, social media, drunkeness, partying and never spent time hearing or reading the Word. When you believe that God loves the people around you but you disapprove of them and disrepect them. When you say you have faith in God but you blame him on the pain and sufferings you undergo.

I find myself a lot in my above statements and felt guilty about those things previously. I find it hard at first to have faith and show it in my actions. I tried to test that in my tithes. I tried to also pray for others' healing. I took risks and challenges, moving away from my comfort zone. Take opportunities and face each day with all that I can. I did it while trusting in God that He really cares for me and will not bring me harm. And He did not fail me. He provided all things for me even the smallest desire in my heart He had given. He wanted me to be faithful to Him and He wants me to show it in my actions.

I should not stop seeking God in being faithful to Him. I will not just say that I have faith in God and do or attend church activities, but I will do it with all my heart and show it to Him by extending my hand to people and do my part in fulfilling my purpose, while obeying and pleasing Him.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
James 1:5‭-‬6 NKJV

Just trust without doubt!

Asking God wisdom and other things without faith is impossible. If ever we pray for something to happen, God gladly answers our prayers when He sees your sincerity and good intention. But if you lack trust in Him, your sincerity and good intention is not enough. How can God give you what you need if you don't believe that He can't give it to you?

From my early days as a Christian there were times that I doubt. I am afraid to give tithes thinking that I won't survive for the rest of the month. I was also afraid of what will happen to me if I followed my heart in making decisions. I missed opportunites back then. And I hesitated obeying God because I was in doubt that if I do obey I may not be happy and that I may not be able to enjoy or have fun anymore. But I was wrong. I tried to offer everything to Him and the results were amazing. I never got empty-handed and he even provided me with food to eat. He made a way for me to get away from people who will cause me to sin. He gave me joy and peace inside my heart. He was the one who helped me make my faith in Him grow stronger.

Moving forward, on whatever endeavour I go through, I should lift them all to the Lord and trust in Him that He may do what is right and is good for me and the people around me. I believe that sooner, my faith in Him will be solid and firm.

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord , Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”
Hebrews 12:5‭-‬6 NKJV

Like our Fathers discipline us and guide us, God also does the same, all for our good and for our great future.

As a child of God, one should not wonder why God corrects our old ways. Showing to us the effects of doing what is not right is His way of teaching us a lesson. He lets us feel pain and suffering if that is what we need in order for us to be disciplined. He also shows us the effects of doing what is right, rewarding us in unexpected and numerous ways, by our obedience. Just like our biological Fathers do to make us better, stronger and be sensitive to others, God also does the same but out of more love and of more value. For we are created by Him, we belong to Him and most of all we are loved by Him - with the unconditional, unceasing and most powerful love there is that no man can give.

My Father gave me anything I wanted since when I was a child. He didn't want me to get upset nor cry. He makes me happy when I come home from school or from work tired and exhausted. He spend late nights washing our dishes, cleaning our house, but wakes early in the morning to go to his job and most especially to wake me up. My Father was sweet, loving and perseverant. And when he was gone I felt so lonely and guilty at the same time. Because when he was still with me all I did was to show him how irritated I was with how my life was going on. Not a single day I did not yell at him. I disrepected him for so many times. My heart had grown far from him so much I did not notice he was already hurt by my actions and attitude towards him. But it was too late when I realize all my wrong doings. He passed away so sudden I never get the chance to change and show him how much I loved him.

I should not disrespect God and be patient with Him. I should nourish our relationship with each other. I should value all the things God is giving me may it be trials or blessings. I would not let Him feel hurt and pain because of my actions and attitude. I should obey his commandments because it is for my good. And I should love Him wholeheartedly with all that I am.

And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
Hebrews 11:39‭-‬40 NKJV

They will not receive the promise until they are with us.

All those who suffered and died but still walked by faith were brought to their situations to set as good examples to us - that no matter how hard they are going through at that moment in their lives, they held on to God. Although, God's promise has not been given to them yet, this verse assures them and us that He will, at the right time, when all of us are together.

God continues to inspire me everyday. He keeps me pushing forward and never gets me discouraged although I tend to. As I read the testimonies from Abraham to Joseph and the others, staying faithful to our God although they were not perfect, that they are poor, not skilled or talented, builds up my confidence and determination to go on. There are a lot of struggles that keeps on bringing negativity, sadness and bad influences that may make me down but God is there to make me stronger and stronger in faith that I may overcome these things.

I should not stop seeking God everyday, for in it I find courage although I'm afraid, strength although I'm weak and confidence although I have no trust in myself. If God does not answer our prayers now and makes His promises true at this time of you life, then I should say that we must be patient. For at the right time, He will reward us with everlasting gifts.

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Hebrews 10:26 NKJV

Once we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior and still commit sins intentionally, there will be no sacrifices to be made for your salvation anymore.

This is a reminder that when we have received Jesus, our sins were forgiven and our past mistakes were forgotten. It was because of the sacrifice Jesus made to save us from our sins. But since we know of these things we ought not to commit sins anymore for we know the truth and we must obey.

Powerful verse it is. I felt the fear of Lord again and was reminded of the truth. It was a great struggle to change and stop committing sins because I was so used to doing them. But because of the truth and the journey of becoming mature in Spirit, the Lord helps me to discern what is right and wrong through the Holy Spirit. And by this, I was able to resist most of the enemy attacks.

Upto now I'm having difficulties in resisting attacks like laziness to seek God and do what I have to do, giving time to social media and games than giving more time to pray and communicate with God, and thinking of fleshly desires of lust and plots of anger towards other people. I know in my heart God is not pleased with me still fighting these things but I try my best not to dwell in them and stop myself whenever I encounter them. I should be strong and be firm in my faith, guarding my heart in all kinds of situations. Because I made a decision to receive and accept Jesus, whatever sins I do today will no longer be  taken away by any sacrifices. I will instill in my heart and mind this powerful fear I only have for the Lord.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11