Christianity is not a theory or speculation, but a life; not a philosophy of life, but a living presence.

I don’t deserve God, I know. God is a consuming fire, I fear. God loves me, I cannot fathom it. God is gracious, I am thankful. God is the creator, I can see. God is the great I AM, for this I will eternally glorify him.

I am a creature, who is weak. I am a sinner, who thinks he doesn’t need God. I am a student; an employee, a member of society, member of a family, a member of the church, and a servant of an almighty God. Yes “I am” too, but I am all these things as a sinner. By Gods grace, that as all changed (and is changing). “I am” no longer, but I am Christ. He clothes me in righteousness; he fills me with his Spirit. I live for Him, and I die for Him. He gives me new eyes, so I can see; new hears, so I can hear; a new heart, so I understand; His Spirit, so I can fight.

I asked myself this week, why we cannot understand all these things? Why do we find sleep more important then reading the Word of God? Fitting into a peer group more important then His glory? Money more important then trusting Him. Pride more important then humility. We may find work more important then family, and praising the Rockies more then praising Him (at least till they start losing again).

Devotions. That is the answer. I cannot explain God grace; it is totally and absolutely amazing. In spite of me rejecting Him so many times in my life He continues to be gracious -- each and every time he leads me back to the pasture. He does this through the working of the Word, and the power of prayer. When daily meditation is missing, my walk with God is lacking. The less I turn to His Word and constant prayer, the more I turn to the world and the things of it. It is astonishing to see the effect, and power that daily devotions have had in my life, and how God has chosen to work through that. Along with the Lord’s Day it is the very center point of a Christians walk with God. How difficult is it to set a half hour apart for the sake of His glory and our salvation, which he works through the word and prayer? That is 1/48th of my day, less then I spend on any other major activity.

~Johan