I entered the familiar bar earlier than my friends. They're still on their way from the office and was stuck in traffic somewhere along Amorsolo. We usually go there together from work but since I resigned a year ago, I need to just meet them up. Everything looked the same. I looked for the owners (who were also good friends of mine) but they were not there. I chose a seat by the window and started texting. I've been to this place countless times. I drank here when my heart got broken (three times -- twice by the same person), I drank here when I was frustrated at work, I drank here when I had problems with the family, I drank here to celebrate my birthday eve, I drank here when I just felt like drinking. It was an almost regular Friday night out place (and it even became my Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night out place). You'd find me here with a beer bottle in hand (probably my fourth if you come at around 10pm). I laugh the night away with friends I love. Some of my best times in the past 4 years of my life, were spent here.
But tonight was different. You see, a month ago, I said a hearty yes to God and gave my life to Him. I vowed to follow His ways and through His grace I am able to do so. In a span of four weeks I went through one2one, attended small group meetings, participated in a retreat and went through water baptism. I recently let go of a wrong relationship and kicked a bad habit cold turkey. All by the grace of God.
Tonight was my test of faith.
I needed to be here because I miss my friends and because it was Ernie's farewell-to-the-old-job-hello-to-the-new-job-kinda-party. My friends know what I'm going through and promised to support me... I just needed to show up so I did. I prayed for God to be my strength on the way to Mug Draft. God placed this desire in my heart to walk with Him, He gave me the means and the grace for this to happen and I was determined not to fail God. And boy, did God deliver! I was awestruck at the kind of resistance that He gave me! I couldn't even believe it was happening.
I spent the night laughing with my friends, catching up on stuff I missed from the office, sharing best practices to make the job easier and ate good food. I didn't have a beer bottle in my hand and I wasn't even tempted to go back to that bad habit I mentioned earlier that I quit cold turkey (c'mon.. I'm sure you already know what I'm talking about). Everything was the same. Everything was the way it was countless of after work nights ago. But there was one thing, one very important thing, that set this night apart from all the other nights I spent here -- it was my heart. And that made all the difference.
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)