Daily Devotional

Scripture Ezra 4:3 But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel said to them, “You may do nothing with us to build a house for our God; but we alone will build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”

Observation: Have you ever not wanted anyone else to help you , because you wanted to take the credit for doing something alone. God has created us to do so much more together then we can possibly to by ourselves. It’s our pride that holds back God’s work at times, He tells us the exalted will be humbled while the humble will be exalted. God calls the church the body and that we function as one even husband and wife are one flesh. He calls no one to be a lone wolf, but to be part of the body.

Application: I have that problem I want to do something by myself so that I’m the one that is recognized. God knows the truth, but for some reason I want to impress others and when I do that I forfeit my reward in Heaven, I need to be humble and remove this pride I have. There is nothing in me that God hasn’t put there and there is nothing I have that God hasn’t given me. He has given me gifts that work best as part of a team with a group of believers, but I need to humble myself and be part of the body and not the mouth.

Prayer: Dear Lord help me live this life under your leadership. Take this pride from me and show me how to listen to you and others. May I be part of your plan and that I would be obedient to do all you call me to do. I’m here to serve and nothing more. Love you my Lord.

Scripture Ezra 3:11 And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever toward Israel.” Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

Observation: Praising and giving thanks should be our natural response when we think of our God, but we seem to be preoccupied with our own selves. When we wake up we should be praising and thanking God that we have another day to build up treasures in Heaven, when we eat we should be thankful that we have food, if we work be thankful that we have a job and skills that can be used to make a living. For every breath we should be praising our heavenly Father and if we did our life would be so full of joy and we would get the blessing He wants to give us. Can you imagine a whole day spent with Dad? It’s a shame that the enemy and this sinful place distracts us so easily.

Application: I need to practice what I preach. I need to get up in the morning and not worry about any aches or pains put to give glory to God before anything and then remain with my Lord all day long finding things to give Him praise for and there are so many. I love my wife so much, but how many times in a day do I thank God for her, every good gift is from above. If someone was to give me a gift right now I would thank them so how much more should I thank my father for each gift as I receive them in the course of a day.

Prayer: My Father I thank you for all you give me each day and all the evil you keep from me. I give you thanks and praise and your mercy endures forever. I love you Father may I be an obedient child that brings you pleasure.

Scripture Ezra 2:69 According to their ability, they gave to the treasury for the work sixty-one thousand gold drachmas, five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priestly garments.

Observation: Do we give according to our abilities? I know I don’t. I give my tithe of all that I receive, but my ability goes beyond that. Everything that I have, including my gifts, talents and time I have is given to me by God. So I have the ability to use all of that in my Lord’s service, but I don’t. I have my moments like tonight Teri and I are going to make burritos for the church and we’ll do a Thanksgiving dinner at the Army and navy Academy, but that is little in comparison to what I can do. I sit at home and waste the precious time that God gives me and I should be doing more.

Application: I need to use everything that God has given me for His glory. The abilities that I give where given to me first and I’m just returning the minas with interest to my Master, but so many times I bury that minas where it doesn’t give any return to my Lord. The time is coming when I will have to give an account to what I did with the talents He has given me and I fear I won’t be ready to give an account that will be pleasing to Him.

Prayer: My Master help me do better in your name. Show me how to make this investment you made in me profitable to You. May this life give interest to you when the time comes and that you will welcome me in with the words I desire to hear, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

Scripture Ezra 1:1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,

Observation: I have felt God stir up my spirit and give me different ideas of ministry, to do a Bible study or to volunteer for a mission. Most of the time I think it’s my idea, but deep down I know that God stirred my spirit to get off my butt and do something that will outlast me. Most of the time it takes God’s nudging to get me to do anything, I seem to be to content to sit on the couch and do nothing, but it feels great when God gets me in the game and stirs my spirit to do something that will honor Him.

Application: I need to make myself ready to be doing things that honor God. My time should be spent doing things for others that will please my Lord. I need to take the focus off myself and put it on God’s will for my life. There is so much more that I can be doing and it’s time to be doing it.

Prayer: Dear Lord you deserve so much more than I give you. Please stir up my spirit and get me on the path you want me on. I want to serve you, that is why you created me so please remove this laziness from me and stir up my spirit to please you. I love you Lord may I live a life that shows it.

Scripture 2 Chron 36:15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place.

Observation: God doesn’t give up easy, but there is a time when enough is enough. God gave me plenty of chances to come to Him and I’m not sure if the last time might have been the last time and I would have left this earth Hell bound. God opens doors, sends people and does miracles to get our attention and gives us an opportunity to turn from our sins and turn towards Him. However the final choice is still ours whether we will humble ourselves and receive Jesus as our Lord and savior or not.

Application: I want to be one of those people God sends to warn others. I want the opportunity to tell others about the love God has for them and if the humble themselves and receive Jesus they too will be saved. I need to look for those opportunities and to prayer to my Lord to use me in whatever way He desires. I need to be that faithful servant God desires me to be.

Prayer: My Lord I am yours, please use me to touch the lives of others in your name. May I be useful to you and that I will speak out boldly about your love and saving grace. I love you Lord and I do want to honor you with this life you have given me.

Scripture 2 Chron 35:21 But he sent messengers to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war; for God commanded me to make haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is with me, lest He destroy you.”

Observation: If God commands you or someone else do what He commands. Do not get in the way of God’s will, but be in it. If someone is doing God’s will see if you can help in any way or get out of the way. It’s easy enough to distinguish God’s will, if it aligns with scripture and glorifies God it is of God. God may call us to do things that seem strange to us, but always take it to prayer to see how God will use it to fulfill His purpose. King Josiah was the king who got in the way of God’s plan and he was defeated and died. Be on the side of God and be blessed.

Application: I get so involved in me and what I am doing for God I make myself unaware of how God is using others and that He may what me to help them. God has used so many people in my life to guide and help me, as a matter of fact I don’t remember doing anything to glorify God that didn’t involve others. All the outreaches I have done in God’s name involved so many people, even my testimony can only touch others by people helping me find a way to reach them.

Prayer: My Lord guide me in your plan for my life and may I assist others in the plan you have for them. I’m a servant and a servant serves his Master and the guests of his Master. May I be a faithful servant glorifying your name.

Scripture 2 Chron 34:31 Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.

Observation: To make a covenant with God because it seems to be the right thing to do is worth nothing if you don’t do it with all your heart mind and soul. You make a covenant with God because you love, fear Him and desire to please Him and fulfill the purpose He has created you for. We must follow God’s law. Not just some of it, but all of it. This is God’s direction for our life, the path that will keep us safe and if we decide to stray from it we can’t expect God to protect us any longer.

Application: I need to make a covenant with my Lord that I will keep all of His word, because I love Him and want to please Him. I can’t pick and choose what commands I want to keep and which ones I don’t. I need to stand on His promises and trust Him with all of my heart, mind and soul that His will would be done in my life from now on.

Prayer: My Lord I freely give you this life as a living sacrifice may it be Holy and pleasing to you. I love you Lord and I want to please you and I make a covenant with you today that I will keep your laws and draw closer to you.