Month: January 2022

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you–unless, of course, you fail the test?

Observation: I don’t stop often enough to see where I stand in the course of a day. Am I in faith or just so involved with my surroundings I forget about my God. Christ is in me but if I don’t stop to notice I forget. Almost all of my T-shirts are Christian shirts and I’ll pass by someone and they will tell me they like my shirt and I’ll have to stop and look at it to see which one I’m wearing. That’s like my life if someone is noticing the way I act I need to look at myself to see If I’m wearing Christ or my own sinful nature.

Application: I need to have Christ on every day. The other day I said something terrible to someone and never apologized. That person doesn’t know me very well and I know He didn’t see Christ in me, because I wasn’t wearing His love. I need to know that Christ is in me and be proud that I’m His child. Others need to see that in my life and want what Christ as given me.

Prayer: Dear Lord forgive me for ignoring you so often in my life. Help me wake up each morning with you and be with you all day long. May I be used as a light to this world and that light reflects you.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12: [9] But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Observation: It seems the times I come to God is when I’m so overwhelmed and I don’t know what to do. When everything is be going fine I don’t call on God or thank Him for the ways things are going, but just rest secure that they are. When I feel strong, confident, I think I’m doing things on my own, but it is only when I can’t handle situations that I depend on God to get me through.

Application: I need to realize I’m always weak and that apart from God I can’t do anything and that I need Him always. There is nothing good in me and I need to depend on the love of God to get me through each day and ask Him for strength to do His will in my life. God has gotten me this far and I’ll only go as far as He will let me.

Prayer: Dear Lord thank you for watching over me and I depend on you for each day of my life. May I always realize my weakness and that I can’t do it without you. I’m here to serve and nothing more. Open my eyes that I may serve you and others and that you will take this anger from me and give me a calming spirit.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11: [3] But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Observation: I allow myself to be deceived because at times I want the easy way out, I want my way, I want what’s best for myself, in my eyes. I allow myself to be distracted or talk myself into doing something I know God doesn’t want me to do by trying to justify it. The enemy doesn’t have to work too hard on me at times to deceive me, because at times I want to be deceived.

Application: I need to be on guard at all times and not just from the enemy but from my own sinful nature. If I’m to finish this race in glory and honor to God then I need to be focused on him and not be distracted or deceived. I need to keep in scripture so there is no question on the direction I’m to go and then stay on that path and continue to ask God for guidance.

Prayer: Dear Lord forgive me for my wondering mind, heart and eyes. Keep me on the path you desire of me and give me wisdom that I won’t be deceived and the strength do to what honors you my Lord.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10 [17] But, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Observation: Sometimes I daydream about doing great things for the Lord and there seems to come a moment when either I can take the credit or make sure the credit goes to God. Unfortunately the majority of the time I receive the credit. I do want to do what is right and glorify God and it is a wonderful feeling when I’m in God’s will, but there are those moments when I get praised for what I do and I receive it instead of giving the glory where it belongs.

Application: I need to continue to do God’s will, but for his glory and not my pride. My satisfaction must come from pleasing God and not men and to lead a humble life that people desire to have and then point to God as my strength. From apart from Him I can do nothing but I can do all things through Him.

Prayer: My Father you are worthy of all that I am, all my obedience, praise and worship. May you use me to lead others to you and that you would take this pride from me and humble me before you.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9 [13] Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

Observation: Do I live a life that is so obvious to others that I believe and love God the way I say I do or am I a hypocrite? If I truly was obedient I would be sharing the gospel, since that is my job description as a Christian according to Jesus and when and if I do, do I do it in such a way that it is obvious I believe what I’m saying and convincing enough to draw others near to God?

Application: I know I don’t share the gospel the way my Lord wants me to. When I do I don’t do it boldly and most of the time I don’t believe my love for my God is being expressed to others. I need to take more opportunities to share what Jesus did for me and what He wants to do for others. I can talk with courage and boldness to my fellow believers, but God wants the unsaved to be saved.

Prayer: Dear Lord give me wisdom and courage to speak your word to others so that they may be saved. I’m here as your servant, command me in the way you want me to go. Give me boldness and a heart of love for those that are lost.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8: [21] For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.

Observation: The first time I saw this scripture I wondered why do I care what others think? Then I remembered my job was to spread the gospel of Jesus and who would listen if they thought I was wrong. So even if I know I’m doing God’s work it must be done in a way that others can see it’s the right thing to do. After all isn’t that part of what love is, caring how others feel.

Application: I need to be more loving at work and at home. My actions might be right, but when I’m saying something and I’m sarcastic or unsympathetic people won’t want to listen or I’ll hurt their feelings. I need to remember God put people in my path to love them and to share His love with them and I can’t if people think I’m rude or uncaring.

Prayer: Dear Lord soften my heart and open my eyes to what you desire of me. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and have love overflow from my words and deeds. I’m here as your ambassador may I be welcoming to those you put on my path.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:[10] Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Observation: Most of the things that bring me sorrow are things of the world. I still worry about so many things and my mind is focused more on the things of the world then the things of God and they do bring me death. Death of my spirit, of hope and strength. I now teach a class and the main point is to trust God and live a life for Him and I’m not setting a very good example.

Application: I need to feel sorrow when I don’t do the things that God desires me to do. I need to repent of my evil ways and ask God to direct me in the path He wants me to follow. My sorrow should only come from not doing God’s will in my life and treating His children with the love and respect that He deserves from me.

Prayer: My Lord give me a heart that will break for the things of you. Give me the wisdom, courage and strength that it will take to serve you in a way pleasing to you. Break my heart when I don’t follow your guidance.