Category: Daily Devotional

Scripture Ezra 10:11 Now therefore, make confession to the LORD God of your fathers, and do His will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the pagan wives.”

Observation: We are called to do God’s will, but we can’t do it if we blend into the world so well that no one notices that we are Christians. We hate to rock the boat or stand out from the crowd or make ourselves noticed or not to fit in, but unless we do we can’t do the will of God. We are called to be in the world, but not to be part of this sinful place. We are called to be holy (set apart) people around us should know that our Master is God and that is who we serve no matter what persecution we might come up against.

Application: I have a tendency to fit in the world because I look for praise more from man than from God and that needs to stop right now. I need to show myself as a servant of Jesus wherever I am. I need to do better at work and control my anger and pride and to show love and concern for others I need to represent my God much better than I do. No matter where I’m at our whom I’m with I need to show Jesus in my actions, speech and works.

Prayer: My Lord forgive your servant for looking out for myself and not for you. Make me a better example of your love and mercy to others. May there never be a doubt that I’m a child of God and use the gifts, talents and testimony you have blessed me with to make a difference for you.

Scripture Ezra 9:6 And I said: “O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens.

Observation: This country should be ashamed and humiliated the way we treat our God. We have taken His name from our schools and government and have blasphemed our Lord in the news, movies and television. We deserve to be destroyed even those called by His name remain silent, which is just as bad. I can’t understand why God doesn’t just destroy this place as He did Sodom and Gomorrah, we surely deserve it. We are not worthy to even come in our Lord’s presence in prayer, yet He desires us to do so.

Application: I need to speak up whenever possible to defend my Lord’s Holy Name. I need to live a life separate from the world so that it would be pleasing to my God. I’m no different most of the time, looking at things I shouldn’t be looking at or saying things that don’t reflect my Savior’s grace to me. I need to be a better representative to my Master and serve Him the way He deserves to be served.

Prayer: My Lord help me focus my thoughts on you that my mind would stop drifting from one thing to the next. Help me live the way you call me to live and to be the man you want me to be. I can’t do it on my own, I’m a sinner and have very little self control. Please fill me with the Holy Spirit and guide me through this life. I love you and want to honor you, please help me.

Scripture Ezra 8:22 For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.”

Observation: How many times do I declare that my Lord can do all things and if I believe that, why do I suffer so much from anxiety. I say the words but my heart doesn’t seem to believe. I tell others all that God has done for me in the past and yet I’m still worried about what might happen in the future. I live my life as if it depended on me, when I should live that it depends on God’s will. If I’m going to be a representative of my Lord’s love, I must first show that I trust Him.

Application: I worry so much about nothing, I need to give my worries to my Lord and ask for His guidance and what he wants of me. I need to trust Him with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding, but in all of my ways I need to acknowledge Him and that He will make my paths straight.

Prayer: My Lord I believe, help my unbelief and give me the strength that I need. Help me trust in you with everything that you have blessed me with and guide me through this life. May I reflect your love and trust to others that you place in my path.

Scripture Ezra 7:18 And whatever seems good to you and your brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do it according to the will of your God.

Observation: I like that is says do whatever seems good to you, as long it’s according to the will of God. So many of us, myself included, do the things that seem right to us, but without regards to God’s will. We know His will there should never be any confusion He makes it clear in His word and places it on our heart once we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. So we should be striving for God’s will in all that we do and then after that we should do what we know is right and good.

Application: I’m so concerned about me in all of my decision making instead of God’s will. My thoughts are about me most of the time and that needs to change. If I thought about what God wants of me as much as I think of what I want, I would be a man after God’s own heart, but instead I’m a man after my own heart. I need to change and no matter what I think about I need to stop and ask God what he wants and then do it accordingly.

Prayer: lately my Lord I feel I’m straying away from you and getting to involved in my own blind ambitions and concerns. I want to be a man after your own heart, you know that, but I’m not capable to do that in my own flesh. Please fill me with the Holy Spirit open my eyes and heart to what you desire that I will do your will each day of my life.

Scripture Ezra 6:21 Then the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the LORD God of Israel.

Observation: God has called us to be in this world, but not part of it. We have to separate ourselves from the sin of this place so that we may draw close to God. We can’t take part of the sin and evil that are here, but need to set ourselves apart from it. We are here for now and need to make a difference in glory to God we need to show others Jesus through our lives. Our God wants none to perish and that is why we are here to spread the gospel and help lead others to eternal joy and salvation that comes only through the sacrifice of our Lord, Jesus.

Application: I need to stop blending in so well in this unholy place and live a holy life, a life set apart. I’m here for a purpose using the gifts, talents and testimony my Lord has blessed me with I need to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. I need to be a better example of love and humble myself in front of others so that I will get myself out of the way so others may see my Lord.

Prayer: Lord help me complete the task you have put me here for. Humble me and take this anger, hatred and pride from my spirit so that I will be the best ambassador for you I can be. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and have him guide me each day in this journey. I love you Lord and want to be the best I can be for you.

Scripture Ezra 5:5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so that they could not make them cease till a report could go to Darius. Then a written answer was returned concerning this matter.

Observation: God is watching and looking over us. He will make sure His will is done and there is nothing that can stop it. God directs our path and will remove any obstacles from that path that might stop us from accomplishing His will for our life. There is no surprises to God He knows everything and there is nothing He doesn’t know and there is nothing that He can’t do. God is always with us and if we listen and do what He calls us to do He will make sure that it will happen and remove anything that gets in the way.

Application: I’m probably the biggest obstacle in getting in God’s way. My lack of faith, laziness and focus on myself deters me from doing my best for my Lord. God has given me a testimony, gifts and talents that need to be used for His glory and at times I wish He would just force me into using Him, but He wants an obedient heart more than results. I need to humble myself in His presence and do what He calls me to do.

Prayer: My Lord you know my heart and my desire to please you. Please remove any obstacles, including myself, from accomplishing that. Use the testimony you have blessed me with to touch others in your name and use me to please you. The only result that I desire is that your will would be done and that whatever I do brings a smile on your face.

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.