Month: May 2021

Scripture: Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Observation: How much time to I give to God in prayer and how special do I make this precious time? I wake up and take the dog for a walk and pray as I walk or maybe I don’t get up early enough and my prayer time is in the shower and the short drive to work. I may talk briefly during the course of the day when I think of it and at night both my wife and I will pray together for His blessing. That is not what I call being devoted in prayer.

Application: I need to be watchful and look at all God has done for me and how He has surrounded me with His presence. I can’t continue to ignore my master who loves me so much. God needs to be on my mind and heart constantly and not when it is simply convenient for me. I need to develop that thankful heart that I should have automatically in response to all the blessings He has given me.

Prayer: Oh Father I’m so sorry for ignoring you and taking You for granted. Please allow me to hear Your voice and to be quiet. I want to be obedient Lord and bring a smile to your face each day.

Scripture: Colossians 3 [23] Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,

Observation: This verse helped me be a better food service director for Culinart., before I was always abrupt and sarcastic with the customers and my managers. I always felt taken advantage of and not getting the proper recognition and respect. Doesn’t manner if it is true or not because there is no excuse for not giving it your all, if you’re working for the Lord and not men. I’ve gotten better but still have a ways to go before my work is honoring to God.

Application: Stay in constant prayer at work asking God for His direction. Remember I’m here for only a little while before I really will be working just onto the Lord. Treat my customers the way Christ would treat them.

Prayer: Dear Lord you are my boss no matter what. Help me be obedient to others in honor to You. May I work in such a way to draw others closer to You.

Scripture: Colossians 2 [7] rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Observation: Why am I not overflowing with thankfulness? I should be for all that God has done for me. He surrounds me each day with His love and protection and if He was number one in my life, which is where He should be my heart should be overflowing. The problem is that my faith is weak and my focus is not on my heavenly Father but in this stupid world.

Application: Realize every moment of every day that God is with me. When things get tough think of all that God has gotten me through and all that He has given me and embrace the love He has for me. Do not ever be overwhelmed with this world but realize this is not my home, but my home is with my heavenly Father.

Prayer: Dear Lord I believe, help my unbelief. Increase my faith my Lord and open my eyes always to Your love.

Scripture: Colossians 1: [10] And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

Observation: How can I please God in every way? So many of the things that I do must be displeasing to Him so what do I do? I do very few good works and the ones I do or attempt to do don’t seem to bear much fruit, but I want more than anything to do these things.

Application: The last part growing in the knowledge of God is what I need to be doing. I need to understand what He desires of me so I can please Him, do the works that God has predestined me to do so they will bear fruit and most importantly spend more time with Him and listen without talking.

Prayer: Dear Lord I love you with all of my heart and I ask you to forgive me for not acting that way. Draw me nearer to You and open my heart and mind to the things you desire of me. I’m your creation, slave, servant and child do with me has you will.

Scripture: Philippians 4 [12] I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Observation: I also have been through all phases in my life where I made more money than I thought I could and being in bankruptcy. Yet in either situation was I content. I always had my desires measure whether I was content or not and my desires always were of the world. Even after becoming a Christian in some of my most spiritual moments and blessings of God, my mind would still dwell on the secular things of life.

Application: Stop measuring situations and things by the standards of this world and measure them by God’s. God has given me everything I need and this life is almost over and I’ll be home where I belong. My content should be based on how I’m living for God and not myself. At the end of each day my contentment should always be found in my relationship with Christ.

Prayer: Dear Father you have supplied beyond my needs and blessed me with things that I know I don’t deserve. Guide me each day in knowing what blesses You and then show me how I may please You.

Scripture: Philippians 3 [13] Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

Observation: That was my old life always looking back thinking how I should have done things instead of how I did them. The past is exactly that the past and there is nothing we can do to change it. The only thing we can use the past for is instruction on how to live in the future. Not to make the same mistakes again.

Application: I have a purpose and need to strive on doing God’s will for the rest of my life. Using the past to remind me only of God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises. I need to seek Him each day and let Him guide me through the present into the future.

Prayer: Dear Lord You are so faithful and you have always been there for me. Take hold of my hand and lead me through the rest of my life and show me how You want me to live this life for your glory.

Scripture: Philippians 2 [3] Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Observation: Since I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior I’ve been doing much better putting the needs of others above my own, but not enough to honor God. The Word says do nothing out of selfish ambition, yet my first thoughts are still of me and How will I benefit from a situation. Even when I do something that would honor God and meet the needs of others I still have that tendency to get some credit for it, instead of giving all the glory to God.

Application: Remember I am not here for me but for God and others. My purpose is to spread the gospel so others may here it and allow the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts. People will only listen if they know I care so I need to continue to work on my heart and care for others above myself.

Prayer: Dear Lord you have renewed my mind and I ask that you continue to change me into the likeness of Your Son.