Writing devotionals for As 1 has been an incredibly humbling experience. I’ve written the thirteen (fourteen including this one) devotionals not to try and think of ways to positively impact the people who read it (though of course that would be a great effect!), but to reflect on the things I’ve struggled with spiritually over the week and express how God and His Word always provides an answer, wrapped in the form of a devotional.

I say it was humbling because every time I found that the solutions to my problems, as varied and diverse as they were, all shared foundational common grounds such as the following:

1. Trusting in God was and will always be essential, which in turn requires patience. We live in a world where we want things instantly to us, so striving to not just face my problems, but on a grander scale to solidify my relationship with God required that I work (and will always need to work) on my patience.
2. Idolatry always played some sort of role in my problems. Writing these devotionals helped me realize that idolatry isn’t just worshipping pagan gods, but worshipping anything over God. Many times I’ve found that the problem was only a problem because of the wrong motives. Over time I’ve also found that while my mind may have thought that I was worshipping God first and foremost, my heart, my actions, and how I invested my time weren’t conveying that very well.
3. God’s Word always provided insight, even it’s not as explicit as I’d like it to be. Occasionally I would do a bit of pre-devotional research just to make sure I stayed as theologically consistent as I could, and this required that I no longer just read the Bible, but to analyze the relevant passages more deeply. This, in turn, helped me develop a deeper appreciation and sincerity for God’s Word.

I’ve found the experience to not only be humbling, but supplementary to my relationship with God as well. That’s not to say I haven’t had my ups and downs, but committing to just write (although in the later half I’ve had Pastor Hong cover for me quite a bit, sorry PH!) about my spiritual life has helped me keep my relationship with God in check, to not neglect it amidst school and so many things going on that make it so easy to not focus on what matters most:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:1 – 2

Thank you Pastor Hong for giving me this opportunity, and would highly recommend anyone who’s played with the thought of writing devotionals to give it a shot!

– Solomon