Category: Daily Devotional

Scripture: Acts 15: [11] No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

Observation: I’m so self-centered it is hard for me to believe there is nothing I can do to be saved. I try to impress God with my service, looking holier than though, I even think I can make a difference on my own and forget I’m nothing, nothing but God’s creation. The grace of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has allowed me to be able to serve. Without Jesus and the Holy Spirit I couldn’t even serve myself. Apart from God I can do nothing and I need to realize this every minute of every day that everything I do and have is only by grace.

Application: Do what God allows me to do and do it for His glory. Point others to the grace of God and tell them my testimony of an ever loving God. Thank God throughout each day for His grace as I come to each blessing He puts in my life. When I accomplish anything that I need to realize it was only through the grace of God and give Him the glory.

Prayer: Lord forgive this arrogant servant help me repent of my evil ways and draw me closer to you. Show me how to receive your grace in humility and help me fulfill the purpose you have created me for. All the glory and honor is yours.

Scripture: Acts 14: [22] strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

Observation: I can’t say any of the hardships I have gone through compare to what the early church went through. Even in other countries the hardship they must suffer is so much greater than the inconveniences I have as a Christian. A hardship for me is getting off the couch and doing something for the Lord instead of doing something for myself. I should be going through many more hardships then I do to enter the Kingdom of God with honor.

Application: I need to go out of my way to get into His glory. There is so much more that I can be doing. I can go out and evangelize and take the chance that someone might turn me down or be downright rude. What a small price to pay for the kingdom of God. I know I can’t earn a place in heaven, but I can get a better seat, closer to my Lord by using the talents he has given me for his glory.

Prayer: Dear Lord you are worth all that I have and I want to give it to you. Give me the courage and strength to please you and to be willing to go through any hardship to draw nearer to you.

Scripture: Acts 13: [22] After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: `I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

Observation: After reading this I first became jealous of David, a man after God’s heart. However that is what we are all called to be people after God’s own heart. God is our master and we are to do anything He asks of us without questioning Him.

Application: Being like David should not be an option, but an example of the people God calls us to be. We are called His servants, slaves, children and friends we need to start acting like it. I’m put on this earth for a purpose and that is to serve my God and to bring others into His loving grace. So like David I need to have a heart to serve and please the one who created me.

Prayer: Dear Lord forgive this servant for not being like David. Help me be that man that is after Your heart. Give me the strength and courage to fulfill the purpose you have created me for and that I will glorify you.

Scripture: Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Observation: I pray each day, but is it earnestly. I seem to repeat the same words but is it from my heart or my mind. I pray for my family and friends, I thank God for what He has given me and if there is a particular need that I might have a pray for that. I’m not sure if I’m praying because I feel I need to or am I praying to grow closer to God. This is the one thing that God allows me to do to grow closer to Him and to hear Him, but I’m not taking advantage of all that God is offering me.

Application: I need to pray earnestly and confidently that God hears my prayers and He will answer according to His will. I need to come before the Father as a privilege, which is what it is. I’m allowed to speak to the creator of all things and He listens to me, I need to give Him my full attention and not just repeat words, but to express my feelings. May I treat this time as an honor, for which it is.

Prayer: Dear Lord I humbly come before you with thanksgiving. May I empty my cluttered mind of the things of this world and stay focused on you. Please speak to me and guide me on the way you want me to go and may I always receive your answer to my prayers.

Scripture: Acts 11: [21] The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

Observation: I know when I do God’s will that is hand is upon me and He grants me success. If I allow Him He will guide me through this life, but because of pride I think I can do it on my own and fail so often. God’s hand can only be upon me if I’m doing what He desires of me and I was created for to be an instrument of His in this world do help guide others to Him.

Application: I need to make sure I’m on the right path that God has chosen for me. I need to resist the temptation of doing things on my own and without God’s approval. I’ll only be successful when I’m doing God’s will and not my own. I need to think and pray before I act and ask God’s guidance in my life so His hand will be upon me.

Prayer: Dear Lord apart from you I can’t do anything, but I can do all things through Jesus who strengthens me. Help me stay under your guiding hand and show me each day your desires for my life.

Scripture: Acts 10:4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.

Observation: I wonder if I do anything that goes up to God as a memorial offering? I wonder when I help serve like the spaghetti dinner or the Father Daughter breakfast that I will do tomorrow if that goes before the Lord. I wonder if there is anything else that I do that rates going before the Lord, maybe the way I treat my wife, others, when I share my testimony or proclaim Jesus as my Lord and Savior? Do I do these things often enough to be a memorial offering?

Application: I should be doing so much more that is worthy of my Lord. How awesome would it be to do things that come up before the Lord. I wonder if He smiles when He sees things done in His name? I need to get out of my comfort zone and make serving Him my main priority in this life, so when I get home my Lord might say I received your offering well done.

Prayer: Dear Lord I want you to be proud of me. I want what I do to manner in your presence and that this life would be an offering to you. I freely give you this life as a living sacrifice, may it be holy and pleasing to you.

Scripture: Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.

Observation: We have each been chosen for a purpose. God gives us the necessary gifts and abilities to carry out our mission on this earth. The only thing He doesn’t force us to do it. I would like to know exactly what it is I’m supposed to accomplish with this life God has given me, but it’s not that clear. God asks that I trust Him each day and if I’m obedient He will guide. Normally you would think that would be exciting looking at each day individually for God’s blessing, but I lack patience and want to know right away.

Application: I need to trust God all of the time and just follow each day. I need to repeat Proverbs 3:5,6 each morning and believe in it that God will guide me. I need to be patient and wait on the Lord, He has all the time in the world and what I think my mission is might be something totally different. I need to remember I’m her to serve God and not the other way around.

Prayer: My Lord increase my faith that I will trust in you with all of my heart and not lean on my own understanding but in all my ways acknowledge you and that you will make my paths straight.