Month: September 2021

Why Is Believing So Hard?

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: I definitely have asked for a lot in prayer, but how much I believed God would grant is something else. I pray out of repetition sometimes forgetting what I’m saying. There is no reason for me not to believe if I ask God with a sincere heart, knowing His will for my life. God has answered so many prayers because of His grace and He asks me to trust and believe in Him and to share that belief with others.

Application: When I go before God in prayer realize that I have the privilege to talk to the creator of all things and there is nothing He can’t do. When I make a request of my Lord that it is with a pure heart and focused mind and when I know my request honors God belief that my prayer has already been answered and will come to fruition in God’s timing not mine.

Prayer: My lord I come before you humbly, but with confidence that you hear my requests. I know that you love me, even though I don’t understand why. I also know you want the best for me and my request this day is for you to guide this life and take charge and use it for your glory. Thank you Dad.

I’m Richer Then I Realize

Scripture: Mark 10:21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Observation: I get overwhelmed at times with bills and earthly desires without realizing how rich I am. God has blessed me so much, He has given me a home, met all my needs, I have a wonderful wife, health and so much I don’t deserve. More importantly I have eternal life with my Lord and His word to guide me. My treasures is my testimony, love God has given me, along with the finances I’m blessed with, which should be given away.

Application: Be focused on what I have been given and find a way to give it away. Everything I have belongs to God and I want to be a good steward and take my talents that they may be multiplied to my master. Find opportunities to bless instead of ignoring the possibilities God puts in my path.

Prayer: My Lord I thank you for all you have blessed me with even the trials. May everything be used for your glory and not my comfort, that I will be a good steward and when I come home I may hear the words I long for, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

Help Me Overcome My Unbelief

Scripture: Mark 9:24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Observation: A day doesn’t go by that my actions don’t proclaim this scripture. Each morning I wake and pray and tell my God how much I love and trust Him. Then as the day goes by I fall into fear and anxiety and my faith weakens as I focus on my life in this world and not my life with God.

Application: I need to focus on my God and not my problems. Remember all the times God has been faithful to me and has gotten me this far. Keep in my heart all the blessings He has given me and feel the love He has for me. Be aware of how I’m feeling at all times and cry out for help when I depend on my strength and not His to get me through.

Prayer: Dear Lord I do love and trust you. Help me overcome my unbelief in those moments when my heart strays from you. Keep me close and aware of your presence.

Who Do I Say He Is?

Scripture: Mark 8:29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Christ. ”

Observation: Who do I say Jesus is? If I call Him my Lord and Master, my savior, my King, then why don’t I act like it. If Jesus rules my life then why am I so worried? I say so many different things and at the end of the day I’m not trusting my Lord.

Application: What I say with my mouth I need to back up with actions. If I call Jesus my Lord I need to pledge allegiance to Him in every situation. I should be working hard at obeying His commands so when others see my life they can see the light that shines on Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Lord you are my master. Command me in the way that will please you and guide me through this life that I will honor you. I say now that you are my savior, my Lord and love of my life may I live in a way that proves it to others.

Do I Obey Jesus Commands?

Scripture: Mark 7:36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it.

Observation: Jesus tells me not to worry, to trust in Him, to love others, to put the needs of others above my own, not to have lustful thoughts, to love God above anything, but do I obey Him. A day doesn’t go by without doing what He told me not to do. My disobedience must be heart breaking to my Lord. He does so much for me and if my children were as disobedient as I am they would have been punished.

Application: I can’t claim ignorance in knowing what God wants of me. I need to think before I act and ask if what I am about to do is in God’s command or against. My life should be centered around Christ and not myself. My time here is getting shorter each day and I won’t have the opportunities I had to live my life according to God’s direction.

Prayer: Forgive me my Lord and help me please. I do what I don’t want to do and I don’t do what you tell me to do. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and give this servant peace and strength to be obedient to you.

Something I Can Amaze Jesus With

Scripture: Matthew 6: [6] And he was amazed at their lack of faith.

Observation: The way I live my life, Jesus must be amazed at my lack of faith. The miracles He has worked in my life, yet each day I wake up afraid. I worry about everything it seems and I can’t still my thoughts to focus on what God is trying to say to me. He has pulled me through this life, keeping me safe and yet I don’t seem to trust Him with anything. Why is my faith so weak?

Application: I need to exercise my faith each day, trusting in my Lord and seeing what it is He wants me to do. He has given me the gifts and talents to accomplish His will, I just need the faith to do it. If I just step out in faith God will accomplish whatever He desires, but it takes that first step.

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

Telling Others About Jesus

Scripture: Matthew 5: [19] Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

Observation: This is the story about the demon possessed man, very similar to me. I was overcome with depression for most of my life, no doctor or medicine seemed to help, all I wanted to do was die to rid myself of the pain. One day Jesus came into my life when I had nowhere else to turn and had mercy on me. He rid me of the demon of depression and set me free, but how many have I told?

Application: God has used my testimony to help others and I need to be more aggressive in telling my story about Jesus mercy. He has given me tools to use to tell others, my testimony both written and recorded and He continues to put people in my path. This is my purpose in life to help others see the cure for depression which is Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Lord I’m not worthy of your mercy, but please use this servant to touch the lives of those you have chosen to have mercy on. Use me to fulfill the purpose you have created your servant for so that when it is time I can enter into your rest with the peace of knowing I was used by my Lord.