Month: February 2023

Scripture 2 Sam 19:30 Then Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.”

Observation: What’s most important to us? That has changed so many times in my life from making money, job prestige, security, recognition and other self-focused priorities. There is nothing in this world that I wouldn’t give for the safety and health of my wife, but even more important than that is how I honor God. There should never be anything more important than God in our lives, since if it wasn’t for Him we wouldn’t be here. Everything I do should be centered with God in mind, everything I do needs to honor God whether at work, rest or play my life should be a reflection of Jesus. I’m so far from that and I need to do more to accomplish this goal that the Holy Spirit has put on my heart.

Application: Sometimes I think I’m doing okay for God, but I look at the time I spent that doesn’t and I know I’m so far from what I should be doing. I need to spend my time more preciously, honoring God. He has blessed me with talents and gifts that I can use and I need to be doing just that honoring God with the time I have left on this earth. What I do now will affect me for all of eternity.

Prayer: My Lord I want to do what is right by you, but I always fall short and I need you to keep me on the path you want me to be on. Give me wisdom and courage to do what is of you and so when I come home you will welcome me with a smile and a well done good and faithful servant.

Scripture 2 Sam 18:27 So the watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.”

Observation: A good man would come with good news and what is the best good news? The gospel. A good man puts God first and others above himself so when an opportunity arises a good man would honor God by sharing his word and caring enough about others not to worry about how it might make him look, but putting the salvation of that person’s soul first. A good man puts others first and loves his brother as himself, but loves God with all his heart, mind and soul.

Application: I want and need to be a good man. I want to put God first in everything that I do and I want to put others before myself, but deep down I’m not a good man. I need to stop putting my desires above others and especially above God’s. I need to get my priorities straight and start living today with God first, others second and mine third. I need to strive to be that good man God calls me to be. Before doing anything check my motives in why am I doing it if it doesn’t honor God or benefit someone else, I need not to do it.

Prayer: My Lord help me be this good man you call me to be. Soften my heart and guide me to put you first always and to please you by serving others to your glory. Humble me and make me that servant you desire me to be that others will see me as a good man and want to hear what I say, because they would know it is good news.

Scripture 2 Sam 16:12 It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing this day.”

Observation: This scripture shows someone cursing King David and his men asked if they should kill him to shut him up. David looked at this situation coming from God, a test maybe, but he felt that God might have put him in his path. We have choices to, do we take revenge or do we look at a situation possibly coming from God? Even if it didn’t come from God, God has told us how to handle situations, we are to forgive others, love others, help them and the commandments tell us never to hurt anyone. So David felt if this was a test he wanted to pass and he knew if he did what honored God that he would be repaid, whether on this earth or the next.

Application: All day long my mind feeds on negative thoughts and the majority of thoughts towards others is negative and hurtful. I look at situations and see them in a way that I’m the one that is justified no matter who it might hurt. I need to change my heart because of there are rewards for doing good there are also consequences for doing wrong. To be a light means to shine brightly and to shine in that way we need to reflect the light of our Lord. People need to see Jesus in my life and the way I treat others is the most important step in serving God.

Prayer: My Lord help me please have a peaceful spirit and loving way towards others. I want to be repaid for the good I do, help me do good. May I be your ambassador in this dark place and shine my light to direct others to the saving grace of my Savior.

Scripture 2 Sam 15:15 And the king’s servants said to the king, “We are your servants, ready to do whatever my lord the king commands.”

Observation: These were the servants of King David and they knew what servants are supposed to do. I call myself a servant of the Lord, my King Jesus, but do I know what a servant is supposed to do? It’s pretty basic a servant serves and does what he is commanded to do. My Lord has given me commands including the ten commandments, but the Bible is full of commands my Lord expects me to carry out. None of which are too difficult to accomplish and all seem to be for my benefit anyway. Even if the commands would have been outrageous my Lord deserves the best from me to complete the tasks he sets before me.

Application: I know what my Lord wants and He does deserve all that I am to complete those tasks. I need to be obedient to His will and fulfill each command with honor to him. There is nothing he can command me to do that he would not be worthy of me doing. I need to make sure however when I do the things he calls me to do that he gets the glory and honor and not myself, for I am a lowly servant to the most high God.

Prayer: My Lord and my King, command your servant to do the tasks you desire of me. Keep me in your word and speak to me as I read and show me each day the schedule of duties that you have for me. I love you Lord and freely give you this life as your bond servant, use me please.

Scripture 2 Sam 14:11 Then she said, “Please let the king remember the LORD your God, and do not permit the avenger of blood to destroy anymore, lest they destroy my son.” And he said, “As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”

Observation: Remember the Lord is similar to remember the Lord’s commandments. Remember the Lord is like that saying What Would Jesus Do? It is living your life for God, the way life is to be lived. Before you get angry, make a plan, treat others without love, or do your job, remember the Lord. Let him guide you ,remember his word and obey. God has put the way to respond to any situation in his world and if you’re still not sure the Holy Spirit is with us to guide us, but we must stop and remember the Lord. We can’t act rashly, our motives must be of God and we are to act out of love, that is remembering the Lord, remember you belong to Him.

Application: I have a difficult time of waiting on the Lord. I react quickly and out of self-interest and not God’s. I need to be with God all day long in prayer and meditation, I need to fill my mind and heart with his commands. No matter what I do I need to remember my Lord first and then act and act out of the love for God. My life is to be a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to my Lord and that can only be done if I’m obedient to his commands.

Prayer: My Lord you deserve the best that I have and my best is you. Draw me closer to you fill my mind with the way You want me to live and guide me through this life until it’s time to come home.

Scripture 2 Sam 13:5 So Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’ ”

Observation: Sometimes the Devil will bring another person, especially someone you trust to help you sin. As that ever happened to you that you had a situation and wasn’t sure how to handle it and all of a sudden a friend has this idea, not totally on the up and up, but it sounds like it would work. People are typically uninhibited about sharing their thoughts and ideas, usually ideas that they wouldn’t do themselves. They mean well and are trying to help, but without considering all the consequences of your actions. You are usually desperate and need to find a plan since you couldn’t come up with one of your own and we typically don’t take it to prayer since we received this advice from a trusted friend. We forget so often the one friend that we can trust, Jesus, he told us to call him friend since we knew the Father’s business. We need to call on him.

Application: My mind continually runs amuck and I’m always thinking of something and a way to get it done. I normally don’t stop to think of the consequences I just need to get it done right away and don’t check with anyone. Before I do anything I need to take it in prayer. Slow down and ask for guidance and get my Lord’s approval before I proceed. He loves me and wants the best for me so I can trust his guidance.

Prayer: My Lord I thank you for being my best friend and forgiving me when I’m not. May I always come to you first for direction in my life so that it will always please you. Help slow down my thoughts so that I might think clearly. I love you and want to finish well, but I know I can’t do it by myself.