Daily Devotional

We Are Called to Be One

Scripture Song of Songs 6:3 I am my beloved’s, And my beloved is mine. He feeds his flock among the lilies.

Observation: Teri is not only my wife, but I’m also her husband. I know that might be a redundant statement, but do we look at our marriages that way, that we are each other’s? I almost always say that Teri is my wife and by that it sounds that she has certain duties to perform as wife, but I’m also her husband and I do have the duties of the husband to perform according to God. We are called to be one and each one of us deserves the love and respect that God calls us to give to each other.

Application: To focus more that I’m Teri’s husband and she should depend on me doing the duties of a husband. God has created me with the ability to control one thing and that thing is me and to only focus on what I should be doing as the husband in this relationship.

Prayer: My Lord next to being your child the greatest blessing I have is being Teri’s husband. I thank you for this precious gift and I ask guidance as we continue along the path you have chosen for us.

My Beloved My Friend

Scripture Song of Songs 5:16 His mouth is most sweet, Yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, And this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!

Observation: As the Song of Songs go it is full of romantic phrases and the yearning of love, much like society today. One of the most important things in a marriage and a relationship is friendship. You can love someone, but not like them. It is important to develop a friendship, a friend is someone you go to, someone you want to spend time with and someone you respect.

Application: My wife is my best friend and I don’t know what I do without her. We are always there for each other and there is no one I would rather spend time with than her. Hopefully I’m getting close to retiring and I look forward to spending whatever time God is blessing me with my best friend

Prayer: My Lord I thank you for the precious gift of my wife. I truly love her and she is the first person I would go to confide in. I thank you for the bound you have created between us.

My Sister My Spouse

Scripture Song of Songs 4:10 How fair is your love, My sister, my spouse! How much better than wine is your love, And the scent of your perfumes Than all spices!

Observation: At first it seems strange the verse my sister, my spouse, but that is what a Christian wife is. God has blessed me with Teri as my spouse, but she is also my sister in Christ and always will be. When it is time to go home Teri will no longer be my wife, but she will always be my sister and my best friend and her love means the world to me.

Application: I need to realize the special relationship I have with my wife. God has created us one flesh and it’s the most wonderful relationship I can have on this earth. It is such a blessing to know that our relationship will continue throughout all of eternity.

Prayer: My Lord, I thank you for this precious gift, the relationship that Teri and I have and I thank you that it does not end. Help me be a better husband to her now and the best friend I can be forever.

Seeking the One I Love

Scripture Song of Songs 3:2 “I will rise now,” I said, “And go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love.” I sought him, but I did not find him.

Observation: This reminds me of my life before receiving Jesus as my Lord and savior. I was searching for love, acceptance, peace and a reason to live. I went to stores to buy it, relationships hoping it might be there, occupation, compliments from others and anywhere else I could think of, but the more I searched the further away I went. The day I first found my love was my last suicide attempt when I just gave up.

Application: I need to treat my Lord as my love. I need to spend time with him, give my love and attention, and make Him my main propriety. I know He will never leave me or forsake me and I must do the same.

Prayer: Dear Lord I need your help to stay focused on you. The enemy has me so distracted help me stay focused on what it is you desire. You are my love and always will be.

Spring is Here

Scripture Song of Songs 2:12 The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land.

Observation: As I write this it is spring here in California. We had a great winter with plenty of rain and the once was brown mountains are a variety of shades of green. The flowers are in bloom all around and it is beautiful. When I look at the beauty around all I can do is thank and praise God for such beauty.

Application: I need to look for God all the time, because He is always around. I get so focused on the negative things in my life that I don’t have room to appreciate my Lord and that has got to change, there is nothing more important in my life than taking time to praise my creator.

Prayer: My Lord you deserve all of my time, my love and my praise. May I not stray from thinking of you and the many blessings you give me and my family. I love you Lord and you are so worthy.

Comparing Others

Scripture Song of Songs 1:9 I have compared you, my love, To my filly among Pharaoh’s chariots.

Observation: I know Solomon is making this comparison as a compliment to a woman, but we all seem to make comparisons of others in an attempt to define someone. Unfortunately, most of our comparisons are negative and only in the realm of our understanding. We really don’t know anyone that well to understand what that person is going through, even our spouse.

Application: Not to look at others through my eyes but God’s. If I see every person as a child of God or my brother or sister I won’t need to make comparison but love them as God has called me to love. He has told me to love others as I love myself. Even though we may not say we love ourselves, we still take care of our needs and put our desires above others. We need to ask God to allow us to see others through His eyes.

Prayer: My Lord I am shallow and only see what I want to see. Please open my eyes to see others as you do with love and concern. Give me a heart that pleases you. I love you Lord may I live today to show you.

Fear God and Obey

Scripture Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.

Observation: What a perfect end to this book. After going through everything in life and the vanity of all that we can do on our own comes our purpose. The only goal we need to set for ourselves is to obey. We need to let God lead us wherever He desires and to be fearful when we disobey. I seem to be afraid of everything but not obeying my Lord.

Application: I need to trust my God completely and to listen to what he wants. Get into the word each day and understand what God is telling me to do. To give this fear I have to Him and be guided by His love.

Prayer: My Lord help me please fulfill the purpose you have given me. Show me how to be obedient to you in all that I do. I love you Lord and I want to finish well.