Month: September 2021

Scripture: Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Observation: This is one of my favorite verses, when I’m doing something for others. The rest of the time I seem to ignore it. I just received an email from Lorrie from my church about feeding the people at Bread of life and I was going to ignore it because it’s a little bit of a hassle to get food there on a Monday night. I’m sure Jesus would understand or not. He has given me so much and He asks so little in return and yet I give Him even less.

Application: As soon as I’m finished writing in this journal I will send an email back telling Lorrie I would be glad to help out and bring either pasta or potatoes for the dinner. Instead of waiting for an opportunity to help I should be looking for ways to serve my Lord. There is so much that can be done and Jesus did everything for me and I do want to be welcomed into the kingdom.

Prayer: Dear Lord forgive me for my laziness and give me strength to help others in your name. You have given me so much and you deserve so much more from me. No matter what I do I will never be worthy to enter into the kingdom and only through your mercy and grace do I have an opportunity to do so. I love you please guide me in a way that will honor you.

Scripture: Matthew 24: [46] It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

Observation: The master tells the servant what He expects and trusts him to do it. I know what my master wants of me even though I don’t do it all the time. The time is getting short before Jesus comes and sits at His rightful throne. What will He find me doing? Will I be preaching His gospel, helping and loving others, using the testimony He has given me? I can’t plead ignorance to not knowing and He has given me the abilities it will take to accomplish His will.

Application: I need to be doing my Father’s business. God has given me the gift of serving through cooking, He has given me a heart to help others, and a testimony to help others with depression. I need to be doing these things when He comes back and when I go up to be with Him. It isn’t only my purpose, it is also my pleasure.

Prayer: My Lord the best times in my life are when I’m serving and fulfilling the purpose you have created me for. Help me do more of that and that a day doesn’t go by that this servant pleases His master.

Scripture: Matthew 23: [3] So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

Observation: I have counseled a few people and I tell them what the Holy Spirit puts on my heart about how God loves them and they need to trust God. I’ll recite Proverbs 3:5,6 and at that moment I feel I’ve given them great counsel, yet that is not the way I live my life. I want to trust God and He is certainly trustworthy, but my lack of faith seems to steer me in a different direction. If the people I talk to saw the way I was every day they would question my counsel.

Application: I know what to do and how to live this life trusting God. I need to walk the talk and stand firm on God’s promises. I want to get my depression ministry and class going and I can’t tell others how God has healed me if I’m not healed.

Prayer: My Lord help strengthen your servant. Show me how to live this life and help direct others on the path you have choose for them. Increase my faith and help me live this life the way you desire.

Scripture: Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied: ” `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

Observation: I love God, but not in the way I should. I should love God above everything and at all times. During the course of the day I hardly think of my Lord instead of Him being the utmost in my thoughts, word and deeds. To love God in the way I should I would be thinking, if I do this, does it honor my God?

Application: God needs to be first place in my life at all times. In everything I do I need to think how I can do it in a way that would be pleasing to Him. When I wake up in the morning and talk to my Lord I should treat Him as the most important person in my life, which He is and deserves to be.

Prayer: Dear Father I do love you and I want to draw closer to you. I want you in my thoughts constantly and I want to know what would please you each day. You are the most important thing in my life, help me stay focused on you.

Scripture: Matthew 21 [22] If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”:

Observation: I will only receive what I believe I will get. My prayers are shallow and repetitious most of the time. While I’m praying my mind is wondering and I wonder why some of my prayers aren’t answered. I must first believe in the power of God and in His love so when I ask I ask with the right spirit.

Application: I need to realize the honor it is to be able to speak to God, the creator of all things, including me. I should understand the will of my Father and thank Him first for the opportunity to come before Him, that alone is answered prayer. I need then to pray with confidence that my prayer will be answered according to His will and not mine .

Prayer: Dear Father I come before you humbly, but stand confident that you will do what is best for me and others. Please direct me in the path you have chosen for me and increase my faith.

Scripture: Matthew 20:34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Observation: I look back on my life and I can see Jesus’ compassion for me. I don’t understand why He loves me so much, but I know He does. Unlike the blind men I didn’t ask for anything but Jesus saw what I needed and reached down and helped me make my way. His compassion for me was long before I received Him as my Lord and Savior so I didn’t follow Him right away and even now I follow to far behind Him. He wants me to walk right alongside Him and yet my selfish ways get me ahead of what He desires for my life.

Application: I need to walk with my Lord each day and understand His plan for my life. I need to have His compassion for others that He places in my life and help show them His compassion for them.

Prayer: Oh my Lord, thank you for not giving up on this lowly servant of yours and I thank you for your compassion in my life. Show me now how to take the focus off of me so I may have compassion for those you put in my path.

Scripture: Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Observation: It does seem everything I try to do on my own fails, when I don’t have God involved. Even things that seem simple don’t work out the way I plan because of my selfish nature. However when My Father is in charge and I just follow His lead without knowing what the outcome will be it comes out beyond any expectations I might have.

Application: In everything whether big or small seek God’s guidance and stop and listen. Make sure whatever I do is honoring to my Father and not take for granted the little things but in everything do as Jesus would do. Lord does not ask for sacrifice but for obedience, may I be obedient.

Prayer: Dear Lord you are worthy of all my love, all my praise and all my obedience, strip away my selfish desires and place on my heart the things of You.