Month: April 2022

Endurance and Faithfulness

Scripture: Revelations 13:10 If anyone is to go into captivity,
into captivity he will go.
If anyone is to be killed with the sword,
with the sword he will be killed.

This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.

Observation: Patient Endurance and faithfulness are two things I lack. We are called to have these when things are very tough and yet I lack them when things are good. My Lord was patient when He waited for me to come to Him, if He wasn’t I would have been burning in Hell a long time ago.

Application: I need to practice patient endurance and faithfulness with the people God surrounds me with. I need to stop and depend on God. The CIA ministry is putting on a Christmas party for military families and each day I get a little nervous about making it happen. I know God has called us to do it and when it is His idea I need to let Him work it out for His glory. This is a good time to build up my faithfulness to my God.

Prayer: Dear Lord guide your servant today and each day that I will have patience in my life and that I will have the faith to endure through all that comes before me. I do want this life to glorify you and use it to help open the eyes of those who don’t know you yet. I give you this life as a living sacrifice, may it be holy and pleasing to you.

Fighting Against the Dragon

Scripture: Revelations 12:7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.

Observation: This seems to be each day of my life fighting against Satan, my evil thoughts and sinful nature. What a battle it is just when I feel as if I’m going to honor God thoughts arise in my mind and selfish desires take hold and I’m off track again. It’s so comforting to know when Satan goes to battle with God that He losses and I won’t have to fight anymore.

Application: Until God destroys Satan once and for all I need to put on the full armor of God and polish my sword by reading and studying His word so that I will be prepared to battle each day of my life against the schemes of the devil., I also need to know I can’t defeat Satan without Jesus I am no match for my enemy and I need to leave the battle to God, but be prepared to do what God calls me to do.

Prayer: Dear Lord give me the strength, courage and skills to battle my enemy. That you will always be beside me and that I don’t take matters into my own hands but always seek you counsel on what you desire me to do.

When Do We Give Glory to God?

Scripture: Revelations 11:13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Observation: It seems we seek God when we are in desperate need of Him or afraid of what might happen, instead of giving Him glory because we love Him or because He is worthy of it. We pray when we are in need instead of praying and telling our heavenly Father that we love Him and appreciate all that He does for us. We see when there is a terrible disaster that people on the news are talking about praying and asking for protection from God, but it seems to be the only time you hear anything about seeking God.

Application: My prayers should be based on who God is and not what I want. I’m allowed to come before the throne of God and speak to Him through prayer. What an opportunity to tell Him, thank you. He deserves all of my praise, obedience and worship for He deserves the glory. My life needs to reflect God’s glory no matter what might be happening in it. He deserves all I have.

Prayer: Dear Father I want to take a moment to thank you for all you give me. You’ve given me life and an opportunity to use it for the reason I was created. May my actions, thoughts and words reflect your glory to others and may there never be a person that meets me that would not know that I belong to you. I love you Father and I give you all the glory.

No One Greater

Scripture: Revelations 10 [6] And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay!

Observation: I pray to God every morning, evening and during the day, but most of the time don’t consider who I have the privilege to talk to. He is the greatest, who has created everything, lives forever and only through His grace I will get to live with Him. I think because I can’t even begin to fathom His greatness I don’t try to understand the privilege I was given to come before the throne.

Application: I will never understand completely but I must try to realize the greatness of God. Every time I come before my God in prayer I need to visualize bowing before the throne. I picture in the days that the king had to give permission for anyone to enter the throne room and then come before him bowing. My God deserves so much more than that, but if I visualize His holiness and that I’m not worthy that I would come before Him humbly as a servant, of which I am.

Prayer: My King, my Lord and my Master. Thank you for allowing me to come before you in prayer. Help me understand your greatness when I speak and may I not come before you without the respect and adoration that is owed to you. Help me be a better servant to the King.

Will They Ever Repent?

Scripture: Revelations 9:20 The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood–idols that cannot see or hear or walk.

Observation: All of the worst plaques imaginable have come on the earth and yet people still have not repented. I look around me today and all of the horrible things that are happening because of mankind and yet we don’t repent. I can’t imagine what it is going to take before mankind gives up their agenda for God’s.

Application: My job is to spread the word. To tell others my own personal hell I created in depression and how God took me out of it. To help lead others out of their sin and introduce them to Jesus, their only hope. I’m hoping the worse it gets on this earth the easier it would be to convince others of God, but it seems we dig ourselves deeper into our sin.

Prayer: My Lord I know it’s all going to be coming to an end and your day will come. Help me do the part you created me for that I won’t be lazy or timid to share your word and love with others. I’m here as your servant, show me how to serve you best.

Woe to the Earth

Scripture: Revelations 8:13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”

Observation: Woe to the inhabitants is right. If you look around this earth you can’t blame God for destroying it, actually we are destroying it already. We have become the plaque that is destroying the earth. Our immorality, hatred, pride and the disrespect we show to God has brought this on ourselves. God has blessed us with so much and look what we have done with it, we are a nation of sinners and Sodom and Gomorrah have nothing on us.

Application: The end is coming and surprisingly hasn’t come yet. I have a job to do to tell as many people as I can about the love of God. I’m here to spread the gospel and times a wasting. I need to have a sense of urgency about my witness and to use all of the gifts (talents) God has given me so that I may come home giving my Lord the interest on what He has given me to watch over.

Prayer: My Lord and my God I do not know how much time I have here on earth, but I ask you to guide me that I may use it wisely for your glory. May you put people in my path that you desire to be with you when it’s all over here on earth and give me the wisdom and courage to preach your word, using the testimony you have blessed me with.

My Sheppard Forever

Scripture: Revelations 7:17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Observation: When I get to heaven my Lord will be at the center of the throne and that is where He should be in my life. God should be in the center of my life, but I keep dethroning Him during the course of the day. I talk with him in the morning and then life happens and I forget about the one who gave me life.

Application: Every decision, what I do with the resources’ He has given me and especially the time he has allowed me to be on earth should be decided by my Sheppard. I should not make a decision without consulting him, Jesus is the CEO of my life and everything I do should point to Him. I’m here for only a little while longer, before I go home and worship my Lord in heaven and I need to start worshipping Him every day here.

Prayer: My Lord, my God, my Sheppard and my Life. I need you now each day to direct me on how to live this life in a way that will glorify you. It is not my own, it belongs to you. May I be a good steward of the time and resources you have given me and that I might return it with interest.