Daily Devotional

Scripture Proverbs 20:24 A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way?

Observation: As hard as I struggle doing my own thing I need to submit to my Lord. He has the plan for my life a plan to prosper me, not to harm me and to give me hope. I have a purpose in this life that only God knows and if I would submit to His leadership, He will direct my steps. I have no other purpose than to do what God has called me to do and that is my purpose and my joy.

Application: I need to fully give in to God’s agenda and stop trying to make my own way. Stop looking at my own selfish desires and allow God to lead me. As soon as I feel that I’m going astray to stop and pray that God would take my hand and lead me to where He desires me to go.

Prayer: Dear Lord I am your creation, your servant and child. I need you to lead me in the way that you desire and not me. Please show me how to finish this race, glorifying you. I love you Lord, I’m your bond servant.

Scripture Proverbs 19:21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’S counsel–that will stand.

Observation: I do have many plans and most of them do not take God in consideration. I do however carry out some of them, but the ones that don’t honor God soon come to an unfulfilled end. Then there are things that I do out of prayer, plans that are God’s ideas and not mind. They are carried out successfully, it seems without much of my help.

Application: When I have these ideas, I need to take them into prayer to see if they are from my Lord. It’s easy I just have to match them up with His Word. If the plan honors God, using the gifts and abilities he has given me and he gives me a clear course to accomplish these plans, then it is safe to proceed and allow Him to carry them out with a little help from His servant.

Prayer: My Lord my desire is to do your will. Take the laziness from me and command me what to do. Use me dear Lord to fulfill the purpose you have created me for and guide me to the finish line of this race. I love you Lord and can’t wait to be with you forever.

Scripture Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD.

Observation: I’ve been so blessed to have Teri as my wife. We do so much together but the most important things are that we pray each night together and we serve others in Jesus name together. I really feel we are one flesh when it comes to our love for the Lord. God has truly blessed our marriage and I can’t wait to see what he has planned for us to do next.

Application: God has called me to love and take care of my wife as I take care of myself. Before I do anything, I want to make sure it honors God and blesses my wife. I need to put her needs above mine and show her my love and that we need to always stay in His will for our lives.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I can’t thank you enough for the blessing of my awesome wife and I ask for guidance on how to be the husband she deserves me to be. Give me strength and discernment to be the best husband I can be. I love you Lord help me show it by the husband I am for Teri.

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.