Category: Daily Devotional

Scripture Exodus 28 [30] Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the LORD. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the LORD.:

Observation: God resides within us and has given us a conscience and a soul to help us determine right from wrong. I find it interesting that the means of making decisions is placed above the heart. We should be making decisions with our hearts so that we do what is right. So often we try to think things through instead of letting God work through us. When God speaks to me He speaks to my heart, He doesn’t reason with me and explain He expects that I will do because He calls me to do it. He wants a heart that obeys.

Application: I need to use my heart more than I do. I try to figure things out and I normally try to figure out what is best for me, not what will honor God. If I use my heart I will be able to see situations through God’s viewpoint. He wants me to run, not sit back and calculate, but run knowing that He is right there besides me and if I use my heart more I will be able to hear Him more clearly.

Prayer: My Lord soften this hard hearted man. Fill me with your love that I may share it with others. Put on my heart the things you desire of me and that my heart will be visible to others so that they may see you working in my life.

Scripture Exodus 27: [8] Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain.

Observation: Sometimes we feel we’re not sure how to do something that God wants us to do, but yet He has shown us through His word. The bible is great because God not only tells us what to do, he gives us examples of both what to do and what not to do. We have been shown how we are to live our life for God’s glory. God has set up rules and regulations on how we are supposed to act, honor God and treat others.

Application: I know the life God wants me to live and I have no excuses when I fail. I need to get out of this sinful nature of mine and stay focused on God. He has done so much for me and He is watching over me and wants the best, that is why He sets up perimeters for me to stay within. I need to follow directions so that I can build a life God would be proud of.

Prayer: My Lord thank you for showing me how to live. I thank you for your rules and direction in my life, but I need your help to be successful and following them. Each day I need the Holy Spirit to guide me and fight off this sinful nature I have so that I may do what is right. I love you Lord and want to please you.

Scripture Exodus 26:31 “Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim worked into it by a skilled craftsman.

Observation: Throughout Exodus God tells Moses to have a skilled Craftsman or an embroiderer or a person that is gifted in doing the task that needs to be done. God doesn’t want amateurs so He gives us the necessary skills we need to fulfill the purpose He has created us for. So if we are not sure of our purpose we need to examine what we are good at and what we enjoy, because God wants us to enjoy our work, this way we will master it.

Application: More I see how God wants to use me the more I can observe the skills God has given me. He has taught me how to write, He has given me organizational skills, cooking skills and has soften my heart to others. Some of the things I had before becoming a Christian and others were gifts given by the Holy Spirit. He has incorporated both the talents, testimony and gifts and has given me a purpose. I need to continue to hone my skills and not take them for granted and be ready to use them every time God calls on me.

Prayer: Dear Lord I thank you for all I have, because it comes from you. Use me and show me how to use the skills you have given me for your glory. May I make a difference before it is time for me to come home and open the eyes of your children to your love.

Scripture Exodus 25: [2] “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give.

Observation: God didn’t force anyone to give , He wanted people to have a heart to give. God can make us do anything if He so desired, but He doesn’t, He want us to want to do. He wants us to love Him with all of our heart, mind and soul and we should. God has given us everything and He didn’t owe us anything. Our Heavenly Father is very generous giving us anything that we need and yet He doesn’t demand us to give back, but He wants us to. How many people to we loan to and only expect it back if that person wants to give it back?

Application: I need to give more to others as God has given to me. I need to realize everything belongs to God in the first place and He alone allows be to use it for a time, so all I’m doing is returning what God has loaned me. I need to learn to give to others and that includes my time.

Prayer: Lord I know that I’m selfish and do not give freely, but begrudgingly at times.
Give me a giving spirit that I will give to you all that I am and give to others in your name. Help me be what you want me to be.

Scripture Exodus 24: [7] Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.”

Observation: I don’t believe there is anyone that can say I have always obeyed God. Here is the Israelites, probably one of the most stiff-necked people according to God, and they have always rebelled. God makes it clear what the rules are in His word and there is no excuses. One thing about maturing as a Christian, is that I realize quickly when I’m disobeying, but yet I still disobey every day.

Application: Stay in God’s word and be more aware of what I’m doing. Stay focused and look to see what God wants me to do. Instead of always asking for forgiveness when I mess up, try not to mess up. Think things through before I act and have a loving heart. A loving heart towards everyone is something I lack and yet God calls me to have one.

Prayer: Dear Lord help this stiff-necked man become an obedient servant for you. May I obey each of your desires and be a man that follows you with all of his heart. You deserve the best that I have, show me how to give that to you. I love you and want to be a better child for you.

Scripture Exodus 23: [29] But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you.

Observation: We always seem to what everything now and patience certainly is not one of my virtues. God loves us and knows what is best and usually the best isn’t getting what we want when we want it. In this scripture God is telling the Israelites that they will possess the land, but it’s going to take a while, and He tells them why, that they wouldn’t be able to care for the land and the wild animals would be to numerous for them to handle. He told them it was going to be longer than a year and a year to us is forever at times.

Application: I need to stop being so anxious about things and wait on God. I need to trust God and His timing in my life. When I look back everything that happened to me had to happen in the time it did or I wouldn’t be here now. Because of God’s timing I have a testimony to share, the most wonderful woman as my wife, a great home and so much more, because of God’s timing I have purpose and am enjoying the best part of my life.

Prayer: My Lord thank you for your patience and for always watching over me. Help me wait on you and know that everything happens in your timing and not mine. I thank you for all you have blessed me with and help me be faithful with all that you have given me.

Scripture Exodus 22:31 “You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; throw it to the dogs.

Observation: Holy means to be set apart. We are to be different then the people of the world. God has given us things we must do to be holy in His Word and if we obey the world will know that we Are different. Unfortunately we Christians blend into the world so well that no one can see the difference and then no one can see God through our lives. God has set us apart and as rewarded us because of Jesus. We have eternal life through Christ and God’s hope is that we bring others into His grace so they too will be saved, but we need to be holy so others can see.

Application: Jesus said not to hide your light under a bushel, but to allow it to shine brightly so others can see. That is being holy, set apart from God. I need to be obedient to what God has called me to be and share with others what God has done for me and what he wants to do with them. Give every man an answer of the hope that dwells inside of me.

Prayer: My Lord help me be holy in this unholy world. It seems each day the world becomes more corrupt, help me be a light to others and use me to fulfill the purpose you have created me for. Help me shine brightly for you.