Daily Devotional

Scripture Song of Songs 3:2 “I will rise now,” I said, “And go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love.” I sought him, but I did not find him.

Observation: This reminds me of my life before receiving Jesus as my Lord and savior. I was searching for love, acceptance, peace and a reason to live. I went to stores to buy it, relationships hoping it might be there, occupation, compliments from others and anywhere else I could think of, but the more I searched the further away I went. The day I first found my love was my last suicide attempt when I just gave up.

Application: I need to treat my Lord as my love. I need to spend time with him, give my love and attention, and make Him my main propriety. I know He will never leave me or forsake me and I must do the same.

Prayer: Dear Lord I need your help to stay focused on you. The enemy has me so distracted help me stay focused on what it is you desire. You are my love and always will be.

Scripture Song of Songs 2:12 The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land.

Observation: As I write this it is spring here in California. We had a great winter with plenty of rain and the once was brown mountains are a variety of shades of green. The flowers are in bloom all around and it is beautiful. When I look at the beauty around all I can do is thank and praise God for such beauty.

Application: I need to look for God all the time, because He is always around. I get so focused on the negative things in my life that I don’t have room to appreciate my Lord and that has got to change, there is nothing more important in my life than taking time to praise my creator.

Prayer: My Lord you deserve all of my time, my love and my praise. May I not stray from thinking of you and the many blessings you give me and my family. I love you Lord and you are so worthy.

Scripture Song of Songs 1:9 I have compared you, my love, To my filly among Pharaoh’s chariots.

Observation: I know Solomon is making this comparison as a compliment to a woman, but we all seem to make comparisons of others in an attempt to define someone. Unfortunately, most of our comparisons are negative and only in the realm of our understanding. We really don’t know anyone that well to understand what that person is going through, even our spouse.

Application: Not to look at others through my eyes but God’s. If I see every person as a child of God or my brother or sister I won’t need to make comparison but love them as God has called me to love. He has told me to love others as I love myself. Even though we may not say we love ourselves, we still take care of our needs and put our desires above others. We need to ask God to allow us to see others through His eyes.

Prayer: My Lord I am shallow and only see what I want to see. Please open my eyes to see others as you do with love and concern. Give me a heart that pleases you. I love you Lord may I live today to show you.

Scripture Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.

Observation: What a perfect end to this book. After going through everything in life and the vanity of all that we can do on our own comes our purpose. The only goal we need to set for ourselves is to obey. We need to let God lead us wherever He desires and to be fearful when we disobey. I seem to be afraid of everything but not obeying my Lord.

Application: I need to trust my God completely and to listen to what he wants. Get into the word each day and understand what God is telling me to do. To give this fear I have to Him and be guided by His love.

Prayer: My Lord help me please fulfill the purpose you have given me. Show me how to be obedient to you in all that I do. I love you Lord and I want to finish well.

Scripture Ecclesiastes 11:4 He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap.

Observation: At times we make excuses why not to do something we know we should do. I have done that so many times. God can call me to do something and instead of just doing it I think of things that hold me back. I calculate all of the possibilities of why something might not work instead of trusting God and just doing it.

Application: If God is calling me to do something or if there is something that needs to be done and it’s in God will, just do it. Make the plans that need to be made, but not excuses and ask God’s guidance on whatever it might be.

Prayer: My Lord, I find myself not doing anything lately and I know that is not your will. I need to hear your voice that you might guide me in what you desire of me. May I do the things that please you my Lord.

Scripture Ecclesiastes 10:10 If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.

Observation: How little I use wisdom. I go through every situation without weighing the consequences. I want to get things done quickly, but without thinking it through and I typically have to redo it. There is a difference between wisdom and knowledge. We can gain knowledge by studying or just by experiences, but using that knowledge properly takes wisdom.

Application: I need to search and use wisdom. I need to take situations to prayer and ask God to give me the wisdom I will need. I need to stop and meditate on what I’m about to do to make sure it is the right thing.

Prayer: My Lord your servant needs wisdom to do what is right in your eyes. Give me the patience I will need to do things right and pleasing to you. I love you Lord please guide me this day.

Scripture Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten.

Observation: I always say the most important time in a Christian’s life is the day they receive Jesus as Lord and Savior and the day they die. Only what we do in that period of time can earn rewards. No matter what you have done before receiving Christ as your Lord and savior don’t mean anything and after you die, your rewards have already been determined.

Application: I’m going through a difficult time with my health and my focus seems to always focused on that, but this is an opportunity to glorify God. Instead of complaining I should be telling others how I trust in the Lord and no matter what happens God loves me and will take care of me whether here on earth or when I get home.

Prayer: My Lord use your servant to glorify you. May I earn the rewards you have set aside for me. Guide and open my eyes to what you want of me give me courage and wisdom to accomplish what you sent me here for.