Putting God First Above TV And Games

Do you love God enough to read the Bible daily, pray often, and do His will? Or does watching TV mean more to you? Please know that Satan’s ploy is to lure people into watching as much TV as they can. That way the Bible isn’t read and God’s will is not done. This is a big issue and must be addressed. For that reason, we will begin this devotional with a survey.

Did you check the box next to watching TV? How about playing games on your phone or TV, Praying, or Reading the Bible? And if your answers were yes only for watching TV and playing games on your phone or TV, then you are not alone. The majority of people are also in this category, for it is generally a few days during the week that people pray, and only a few days during the month that people read the Bible. This is even among those that call themselves Christians if you were to ask them. So, if we were to get the results of this survey, we’d most likely get the following answers, even among Christians that answer. Watched TV? ✔️ Played games on your phone or TV? ✔️ Prayed? ✖️ Read the Bible? ✖️. Were these your answers as well? If you so, please repent and get right with God, starting today. You are wasting your life watching useless TV and playing games that will not help you out in the long run. Now, if your answers were yes on 1 through 4, then again, you could be doing much more for God. Because of the little time you are giving to God, this isn’t happening. Think about it. If God is important to you, then why do you spend most of your day doing your own things and leaving out doing God’s will? This is something each of you will have to answer, for you will be accountable to God for your choices, one day in judgment, lest you repent.

Now, for those of you that answered Yes to only prayer and reading the Bible, praise God, for you are unique in the eyes of God. Unique being the elect of God, for you would rather spend your time learning from God in the Bible, praying, and then getting up and doing as He commands. If this is you, then I can guess to say that there is more joy in your life, for God’s presence is nearer to you. I can also guess to say that more people are being loved, because of your example of Christ in their lives. I can also guess to say that you are either active in your church, holding or attending Bible studies, small groups, witnessing, going to prisons, and more, all for the glory of God. How would I know this, because God has given me over to the same sort of desires. Because TV and video games are unimportant now, the Bible is being read and studied each day. I have much more time to seek God throughout the day in prayer. And I am always ready to go out and be a witness for Jesus on the streets, while also writing daily devotionals for people, in order to help them grow in the Lord. All this is done in order to put the Lord first in my life. I’ve also different than other people in the world now, in order to be a standout for God. You may think that I am lifted up in pride because of this, but that is not the case. In all that I do, I glorify in Jesus, my Savior, and give God the glory. Really, if you say you believe in Jesus, then you would also walk in your faith, for you would no longer hear the gospel message alone, but do something great for God

The following verses will help you understand what has been taught, while helping you apply these principles in your everyday life…

¹Matthew 6:31-34 (KJV)
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

¹Romans 12:1-3 (KJV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that people will not only make room for You in their everyday life, but long to do Your will above all else. There was a time that I fit You in my day, along with my own desires, but really Your will was not performed. Sure, I got some things out of the Bible and prayer, but really I was not made alive yet. It was then that You put it on my heart to put aside things in my life that do not glorify You. So You helped me give up watching the shows of this world, while helping me stop video games. Surely, the things that I was giving my eyes over to was not for You and was only leading me away from You, while giving me impure thoughts in the meantime. Looking back, I do not miss the action-packed movies on TV, and even the comedy shows, for they were always so crude and dishonored You through making killing and immodesty seem ok. So thank You, Lord, for delivering me from my video game and movie collection addiction. I used to think that having the best movies and games on Steam was going to make me happy, but again, it only led to much guilt and shame, because of how it made me feel on the inside. Those games often made me get angry and I would even blow up at those I love, while also giving me over to impure thoughts. Only You could change a person like this. So thank You again for freeing me from the bondage of sin. In Your presence, I’ve found freedom from the addiction of TV, movies, and video games. I don’t need them anymore, but only more of You. Only You can fill me up with the joy I need, and give me over to the best things in life. I love You, Lord. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

Matthew 6

¹Matthew 6 (KJV)
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Romans 12

²Romans 12 (KJV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.