Month: October 2015

Love the Lord

Getting Over Depression Journal

Scripture: Mark 12: [30] Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Observation: God is not asking for a partial love or even most of our love He requires all. All our heart, soul, mind and strength and He deserves it. He has given His all to us and to give any less would be an act of ungratefulness. I wish I could say I give God what He deserves, but I fall so short each day. My thoughts end up in things of the world and myself.

Application: Any time my thoughts or actions drift away from honoring God I need to stop and beg for His forgiveness and pray for His direction. Everything I do must show my love for God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

Prayer: Dear Lord I love you more then anything. Keep my heart soft, my soul saved, my mind fixed on you and give me the strength to glorify you this day.

Ask For In Prayer

Getting Over Depression Journal

Scripture: Mark 11: [24] Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Observation: Each day I pray for my wife, family, church and myself. My problem is I don’t pray then believe I will receive it. My faith is weak, I believe God can do anything, I just lack the believe he’ll do it for me. He has proven his love over and over again and has worked miracles in my life, yet when I pray I hope he’ll answer, but I don’t believe for sure He will.

Application: I need to pray with faith and knowing God will answer my prayer according to his will and in his time. Each miracle Jesus performed was according to the faith of the person. I need to have the faith it will take for answered prayer.

Prayer: My Lord you have been so loving to this servant of yours. Show me now how to live this life in glory and honor to you. May I always pray in faith knowing that you will answer.

Receiving Like a Child

Getting Over Depression Journal

Scripture: Mark 10: [15] I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Observation: A little child trusts and believes. They have no stress and their minds are not preoccupied with the world and what they need to do. It’s easy to make a child laugh and they want your company. A child can sit and listen to a story and likes hugs and to be held tight. A child needs to know they’re loved and freely gives love back.

Application: That’s how I need to be with my heavenly Father, trusting, loving, listening, desiring His love and to be able to sit still and listen.

Prayer: My Lord give me the heart of a child. Open to you, may I sit by your side and listen to what you have for me.

Everything is Possible

Scripture: Mark 9: 23 ” `If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”

Observation: It seems the scriptures that deal with faith speak out to me. God keeps telling us that nothing is impossible for us who believe. He has shown that in my life, yet my faith is still so weak, why? How can I get that confidence in my Lord and Savior? I believe in my Lord and that there is nothing He can’t do, but my question is why would He want to do it for me?

Application: God has a plan for my life and He wants to work through me for His glory. This life is not about me, but bringing others to Him. When I believe that then all things are possible because He will then work out His will for my life, because He loves me.

Prayer: Dear Lord open my eyes to your will and take charge of this life. Complete the task you began in me and complete it for your glory.

Saving My Life

Scripture: Mark 8: [35] For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

Observation: I continue to want to do things my way focusing on the things of this world. I pray God’s direction but I don’t hear Him because I’m so busy thinking of other things. I tell God I want to do His will yet I continue doing mine. I have but one purpose in this life and it can only be fulfilled through Christ. My pastor told me yesterday I have the gift of evangelism yet I don’t use it.

Application: I need to start doing more things for Christ and let Him speak to me as I’m doing them. I don’t hear Him on the couch watching TV or busy doing things in this world, only when I’m serving or when I’m quite meditating on His word.

Prayer: My Lord I offer you this life as a living sacrifice. Use it as you will, may you fulfill your purpose for me and may I complete this race in glory and honor to You.

What Comes Out of a Man

Scripture: Mark 7: [15] Nothing outside a man can make him `unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him `unclean.’ ”

Observation: My words make me unclean, my complaining, criticizing others and my negative opinions. Whenever I say something that might hurt someone makes me unclean, actually if I say something that is not encouraging or loving makes me unclean.

Application: I need to think before I speak. Will these words honor God? What I’m about to say will it be uplifting, useful, encouraging or helpful? If not do I need to say anything at all? Sometimes I speak just to speak I need to consider my words before saying anything.

Prayer: Dear Lord touch my heart and my lips may all that I say this day make it clear that I belong and love you.

Is My Heart Hard?

Scripture: Mark 6: [52] for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

Observation: God has worked so many miracles in my life however when a struggle comes along I worry and forget about His past provisions. Is it that my heart is hardened? It is so easy for me to lose my joy over small things that come up each day.

Application: I need to focus on God and all He has done for me. When a struggle comes I need to stop, pray and ask Jesus for a soft heart and to direct me in what He wants done.

Prayer: Dear Lord soften my heart that I might hear your voice and drown out the sounds of this world.