Month: February 2023

Walking in the Ways of the Lord

Scripture 1 Kings 2:3 And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn;

Observation: We continue to ask for God’s blessings, that we would prosper and that He will keep us safe and healthy, but do we keep His commands? I know for myself each day I break one of my Lord’s commands, for instance He commands me to love others as I love myself, I don’t think a day goes by that I keep that one, He told me not to have lustful or coveted thoughts and again a day doesn’t go by that I keep that command. I can go on, but I believe each one of us misses a command of our Lord, so why should we ask Him for anything? Even though we do not deserve His blessings He is so generous He gives them anyway.

Application: I need to try much harder to keep my Master’s commands, but when I don’t I need to stop and ask for His forgiveness and repent right away. It’s hard in this fallen world to be righteous, but that is what God commands me to be. I need to work so much harder on loving my brothers and sisters and to have a concern for those that are lost. I need to put God first in my heart and not my desires, but to live a life that will honor my Lord and to keep all of His commandments.

Prayer: My Lord and my God, You know my heart and that I do want to be the best I can be, but you also know my nature and how I always fall short. Strengthen me and give me the wisdom I will need to live a righteous life before you. I want to run this race will You coach me each day to do what is right in your sight.

Keep Your Word

Scripture 1 Kings 1:30 just as I swore to you by the LORD God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ so I certainly will do this day.”

Observation: Let your yes be yes and your no, no. Be truthful in all that you say do not lie or take back a promise, because the Lord knows. God has made promises in His word and has kept each one as an example we should do the same. If we promise someone we are going to do something we need to do it in glory and honor to God. We are to have godly character and to be representatives of our King and our King does not need a liar as His servant. We are to represent our King to others and they should know that we are Christians or we’re not doing a very good job. Our character is our integrity and others need to see that.

Application: To make sure I do everything I promise someone I will do and to do it with a gracious spirit as If I was doing it for the Lord, which I am. To be the best representative I can be for the Lord on this earth, helping bring others to His loving grace. I need to be so much more loving and a better witness for my Lord, people around me should not have a doubt that I belong to my Lord and Savior.

Prayer: Dear Lord help me a trustworthy person even though you are the only one that is completely trustworthy, help me be an ambassador for you. I want to be a light in this world help me shine brightly, always telling the truth and being dependable no matter what the situation.

Does My Heart Condemn Me?

Scripture 2 Sam 24:10 And David’s heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O LORD, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”

Observation: Lately I’ve been having a hard time keeping good thoughts about people, it seems as soon as my mind starts to rest I have nothing but negative thoughts. My heart has really been condemning me and I spent a good part of the day asking for God’s forgiveness. It seems I can’t think or look at someone without having some negative judgment or lustful thought. I’m glad my heart is condemning me since this will be the only way I will change, but it’s hard and just reminds me of what a sinner I am.

Application: I need not only ask God to change my heart, but I need to confess this sin and see what I need to do to make up for it. Each morning I tell God He is worthy of all of my praise, love and worship, but as I’m to love God with all of my heart, mind and soul, my mind continually drifts from Him. There is a scripture Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things. I need to memorize this scripture.

Prayer: My Lord soften my heart and change my thoughts. Take this self-centered focus from me and make it a God centered focus each day. That my thoughts would be pure and of you. Help me stay focused on your will and my new home when it’s time instead of the useless things I think of each day.

The Lord Brings Victories

Scripture 2 Sam 23:10 He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder.

Observation: In this chapter it tells of the mighty men of David. It told how one killed 800 in one day, someone else 300 and the list goes on how mighty these men were. However this verse tells it all, the Lord brought a great victory. I don’t know anyone who could kill 800 of his enemy in one day by themselves, it has to be God and when we realize that it is Him and not us it gives us a feeling of security and hope.

Application: I need to start giving God all the glory for the victories a receive each day. Just getting up and making it to work each day is something I shouldn’t take for granted. I assume so much, that all I have I deserve, when in reality I deserve nothing at all. My whole life has been a victory, I should be dead and burning in Hell where I belong, but my Lord had a different plan for my life and I need to start living victoriously through Him and letting others know about my leader, my God and my Lord.

Prayer: Dear Lord thank you for your protection. Thanks for stepping in for me so many times to fight my battles and I thank you for all of the victories you won. Help me show others a life that follows you and use me to bring others to your saving grace.

Crying Out to God

Scripture 2 Sam 22:7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry entered His ears.

Observation: In my distress seems to be an everyday occurrence for me. I catch myself thinking evil about others, I have no self-control about eating, I have a hard time staying focused on the tasks God sets before me and I cry out for help. I know He hears me, because He answers my cries and comforts me in my trials. My mind doesn’t stop I can’t seem to keep it at rest or focused on one thing so I cry out for peace, I cry out for direction and patience and I know my Lord hears me. Sometimes I think He has to be getting tired of the constant cries from me, but He never makes me feel as though He does, He just continues to hear my pleas and grants them in His way.

Application: I need to realize my Lord is always there and I need to trust Him in every aspect of my life. I need to realize the depth of His love for me and how He cares for me and wants me to succeed for Him and that He is willing to help me out and all I have to do is ask. There is nothing that happens to me that my Lord doesn’t know about and there is nothing too big for Him to handle. I need to just make sure that I’m in His will and doing what honors Him and show Him that I trust and love Him no matter what.

Prayer: Dear Lord I know that you hear me and I thank you for always being there for me. Forgive me of my distress, because if I truly trusted and loved you I would realize you are bigger than anything that can happen to me. I know you won’t give up on me, help me earn the rewards that you have set aside for me. I love and trust you Father, guide me each day.

Keeping Our End of the Deal

Scripture 2 Sam 21:14 They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the tomb of Kish his father. So they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God heeded the prayer for the land.

Observation: We expect God just to answer our prayers no matter what. God’s promises comes with a condition, He expects us to do something before He will do what He says. God does not answer prayers unless they are in His will. If you pray for a million dollars the chance God answers that prayer is very slim, because it’s not in His will for you. In this case there was a drought and King David called out to God and he told him that there was something He needed to do before the prayer would be answered and after he accomplished the task God heeded his prayer. Before we pray we need to make sure we are in God’s will and if there is sin in your life you may have to correct the problem before you can get your answer. For example if you are in an adulterous relationship do not expect God to answer your prayer as a matter of fact watch out for God’s wrath.

Application: I need to straighten out my own life before asking God for anything. I need to take a close look at my life and see where I’m sinning against my Lord. I need to come to Him and prayer and ask Him what I need to change so that He may hear my request and live a life honoring to Him. When I pray I need to make sure my request is in line of what God wants and that it will be in His will, not mine.

Prayer: My Lord I come to you and ask that you tell me how to live this life in honor to you. Make it clear to me what I need to change to be pleasant in your sight. Point out the sin in my life so that I may see and change so that my prayers will not be hindered, because of the life I’m leading. May this life honor you.

Listen to the Wise

Scripture 2 Sam 20:16 Then a wise woman cried out from the city, “Hear, Hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come nearby, that I may speak with you.’ ”

Observation: We are so busy listening to ourselves and having fixed in our minds what we want to do that we don’t listen to others that might be wiser than us. As a matter of fact we hate the thought that others are smarter than us, like children we like to think that we know it all and don’t need counsel. God has put people in our path to help and to speak through them and if we stop and listen and put our pride aside we would truly learn something. If it wasn’t for this wise woman a town would be destroyed and I think God used a woman here because at that time woman were not highly regarded so most men wouldn’t listen to their advice at all, but because Joab was smart enough he took the time and listened to this woman’s advice and was able to maintain his goal without bloodshed of the town or his soldiers.

Application: I don’t listen very well, I have my own agenda and stick with it no matter what, at times with great disappointment. I need to stop talking and do a lot more listening to others to hear what they are saying and truly take it in. This doesn’t mean everyone’s advice would be helpful, but I need to allow God to use them to speak to me otherwise I might as well be deaf. I need direction and I’m not always going to find it within myself, I need God and others to help direct me to do what is honoring for my Lord.

Prayer: Dear Lord put others in my path and humble your servant so that I may listen to discern what you are telling me and what way you want me to go. Remind me always that I’m only a servant and need direction to please my Master and use your other servants to help me accomplish what you desire of me. I love you my Lord, please direct me.