Month: February 2024

Scripture Proverbs 17:3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts.

Observation: I’ve done several outreaches for others and on the outside, I would appear to be a Godly man, but why do I do the things I do? If it’s not for the Lord it will all be burned up and God knows my heart. I start out at first doing things for my Lord, but when the praise comes so does my pride and I’m lost in myself. The only thing that will stand from the fire is what I do for my Lord and allow Him to work in my heart.

Application: Teri and I will be doing the food for a Christmas party for children whose parent is in prison. I have the opportunity to play Santa along with making the meal and it will be an opportunity to serve my Lord. I need to be focused on why I’m doing it and whenever there is an opportunity, I need to glorify God in front of others.

Prayer: Lord, I know you know my heart and how wicked it can become. Please Lord soften my heart and open my mind to how you want me to serve you. May all I do glorify you. I love you Lord and need your help.

Scripture Proverbs 16:1 The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

Observation: It is up to me to prepare my heart to receive my Lord. God gives us the gift of choice and we must decide to follow God with all of our heart, mind and soul. Once we allow God to take His rightful place in our heart we will be guided to do and say what is right. He fills us with the Holy Spirit and our thought will be purer so when we speak, we speak out of love and encouragement. That is the opposite of who I was before Jesus came into my life.

Application: To know what God desires, I must be in prayer and in his word. I need to seek what God desires and become that new creation that God calls me to be. I need to set aside my selfish thoughts and desires and focus on what God desires. Only then can I speak the words to others that will be uplifting.

Prayer: My Lord please rule your servant. Place on my heart the things that you desire of me. Use me to be your vessel to help touch the lives of others. I love you Lord hold me close.

Scripture Proverbs 15:15 All the days of the afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

Observation: That was me each day I felt afflicted and my thoughts were evil against those that I felt afflicted me. It was my choice to feel the way I did, always the victim, believing so many were against me, causing me anger. I could have chosen to be content and happy, but there was never enough time to develop that characteristic, since most of my time was spent in misery and depression. I see that played out so often, now my daughter is playing the victim and the devil has her focused on all the wrong things distracting her from what God has planned for her life.

Application: To stay in God’s word and in prayer. To keep my focus on Him and His plans for my life, to love others as His children and not my adversaries. I have a choice and my choice is to do the will of my Father, because that is where my joy is.

Prayer: Dear Father, please continue to help me stay focused on the things of you. I know the race is coming to an end and my desire is to finish well. May others see the joy in my life that only comes from you. I love you Lord, draw me closer.

Scripture Proverbs 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, But the folly of fools is deceit.

Observation: Our wisdom comes from the Bible. God has prepared his word for us to understand and obey, but we have a choice, do we take the time to understand what He is telling us or do we use or time to do what we desire to do? It takes some discipline to make time to sit down, read and meditate on God’s word, but the peace and joy we seek are in the pages of the bible. Not to take the time will lead to a life of emptiness.

Application: I read each morning, but I’m not taking enough time to understand what I’m reading. I need to be more diligent in the time I spend with my Lord. He deserves all I have and yet I give Him so little, I need to offer myself as a living sacrifice to be holy and pleasing to Him.

Prayer: My Lord please fill me with the Holy Spirit and fill my mind with understanding of your commands. Help me live a life that will honor you. I know I can’t do it alone.

Scripture Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

Observation: This has been a problem with me so much of my life, saying something I shouldn’t. It’s amazing as soon as the words come out of your mouth, you wish they didn’t. Usually, pride is the catapult of these unwise words, hoping to appear in a better light, when all of a sudden it feels as if your turned out the light instead.

Application: Thanks to my Lord I take situations in prayer and think before I speak. I ask that he humbles me and uses me. No one listens to a big mouth, but when you are sincere and listen instead of speaking, it blesses others. I have so much more joy being the person that edifies someone instead of tearing them down and I have the Holy Spirit to thank for that, because that is not my nature.

Prayer: My Lord please use your servant to fulfill the purpose you have created me for. Humble me before others and that I would point others to you instead of making a spectacle of myself. I love you Lord use me as you desire.

Scripture Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.

Observation: This is a great scripture for Getting Over Depression. Anxiety is the opposite of faith. To be anxious in the heart is to have no hope, which is what causes depression. Depression is the absence of hope and faith, but a good word heals that anxiety. Jesus says there is no one good but God, so a good word is God’s word. If you read His word, you’ll realize there is nothing to be anxious about and you will be able to set those anxious thoughts and depression at the foot of the cross.

Application: I need to practice what I preach. Even though I read my bible everyday it is becoming more of a routine, than spending time in God’s word. I need to meditate and understand what God is saying and who He is, my heavenly Father who cares for me. I need to let go of these bad thoughts that occupy my time and spend more time with my Lord.

Prayer: My Lord and my God release me from these anxious thoughts that are devouring my life, they can only come from Satan and fill my heart with your word and love. I love you Lord and want to finish well.

Scripture Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.

Observation: I’ve struggled with pride all of my life and this comes from a man that has done nothing to be proud of. Before Christ I would boast of things that I didn’t even do and the things that I did I would embellish so they sounded much more than they were. Since Jesus has come into my life, I have done things that can bring about pride, but they were only done through the power of Christ, who deserves to get all of the glory. When I’m humble and I give God the glory in front of his children, only then am I wise, but when I try to receive praise from others and that is when I feel the shame and ask God for forgiveness of trying to steal His glory.

Application: Realize there really is nothing good in me unless I allow the Holy Spirit to take charge and shine God’s light through me. My only purpose in this life is to give God glory, I’m his creation, His servant and child.

Prayer: Dear Lord take charge of your servant I freely give you this life as a living sacrifice may it be holy and pleasing to you. May everything that I do glorify you.