Month: August 2020

Forgetting and Moving Ahead

Scripture: Philippians 3:13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.

Observation: I have a difficult time forgetting my past at times. I’m so much better since I received Jesus as my Lord and savior yet I still think of the past. I use to let the past form who I was in the present, instead of letting what God made in me look forward to the future. I know now that God has my destiny and whatever it might be will be wonderful, because it will be God’s will for my life.

Application: Know that God has a plan for me, a plan to prosper and give me hope and a future. I need to use my past as a learning tool and not who I am. I should look forward to my future because I desire God’s will for my life. Do everything I can to honor God and stay on his path for my life.

Prayer: Dear Lord guide this servant to fulfill the purpose you have given me. Give me strength each day to do your will. Form me into this man you desire me to be and speak to me so I may hear your voice, guiding me.

Consider Others Better than Yourself

Scripture: Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Observation: It seems so much of what I do is out of selfish ambition or just to get credit and recognition. I compare myself each day to others to make myself feel better about myself looking for flaws and judging what they do.

Application: I am only here because God allows me to be and any gifts and talents I have come from him. He commands me to look out for others and put them above myself and I need to obey. I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to serve God and the best way to do that is to serve others in his name.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father I am yours and you deserve the best I have to offer. I offer this life as a living sacrifice may it glorify you.

God Will Carry Out This Good Work

Scripture: Philippians 1: [6] being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Observation: I wish I was more confident and would not worry the way I do. This scripture tells me that God will carry out the good work he begun in me. Why then do I try so hard to do it myself? I know God does have a good work and will use me if I let him, to fulfill the purpose of spreading the gospel using me.

Application: Let God take charge and realize that is the only way my purpose will be completed. I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me and apart from God I can do nothing.

Prayer: My Lord forgive your servant for the arrogance of believing I can do things through my own power. Teach me how to pray to you that I may hear your voice and be guided by your love. Work through me to accomplish the purpose you have created me for.

Serving Wholeheartedly

Scripture: Ephesians 6:7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.

Observation: My heart is to serve but I don’t serve wholeheartedly as I should. There are always some conditions to my service and it needs to be done on my timeline. Also I should get the credit I deserve and that is not serving the Lord. My Lord has given me everything and deserves everything I have and He asks me to give to others in his name. My service should not be limited and be done as I would do it for the Lord, which.

Application: Continue to pray for guidance and for God’s direction in what he wants of me. Look for opportunities to serve, even though I may seemed overwhelmed at times because God will give me the strength if I’m in his will. Give the credit to God, which he alone deserves when I do anything good.

Prayer: Dear Lord give me strength and show me how I may serve others in your name. You deserve the best I have and nothing should come before doing your will. I love you with all my heart, even though I don’t show it very often, help me be a better servant in your name. I am yours.

Living a Life of Love

Scripture: Ephesians 5:2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Observation: I’m suppose to live a life of love and not love for myself, but for others for and the glory of God. Love is a sacrifice, it looks at the needs of others before yourself, sacrificing what you want and thinking of how God wants you to be. This is our offering to God our life, the life he gave us.

Application: To stop looking at my needs and desires above everything else. This should be the last thing I look to and give them to God he will take care of me. To do my Father’s will by loving others in his name and sacrificing my time and possessions to his glory.

Prayer: Dear Lord fill my heart with love and open my eyes how you desire to live this life until it is time to come home. You are worthy of the best I have to offer and I thank you for this time to serve you. May I be able to love as you love me.

Living a Life Worthy of the Calling

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Observation: I should be a prisoner for the Lord, doing what he requires of me, captured by his love for me, confined to the area of his grace and obedient to the call he has put on my life.

Application: To realize I’m not free to do what I want to do in my sinful nature any longer. I’m a prisoner of God’s love for me and will be obedient to the call he has put on my life. To serve him and others in his name, for my sentence is eternal life, because of the mercy of my Lord, Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Father thank you for calling me out of this world to serve you. I am a bondservant and freely give you this life as a living sacrifice and beg that you use it to glorify you.

The Power Within Us

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

Observation: That God can do anything and that his power is within us, meaning through Christ I can do anything. Why then do I feel so powerless most of the time, so overwhelmed? With the power that is available to me I should be able to do anything with faith. Maybe that is my problem the lack of faith to get things done.

Application: To know the power of God in my life. To trust in the Lord with all my heart that he wants to work through me for his glory. Use the power God has given me to fulfill the purpose he has for my life. Live a life victoriously in my Lord.

Prayer: Dear Lord guide this servant to do the things you desire me to do. That through your power there is nothing I can’t do and may I do it in glory and honor to you. Increase my faith and guide me this day to serve you.