Daily Devotional

Scripture Deuteronomy 10 [13] and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

Observation: I know I am to obey God’s commands, but I didn’t realize it was for my own good. I thought I was obeying God because He deserves my obedience, which He does, but why is that for my own good? All of God’s commands are directions on how I should live my life and in those directions are ways for me to earn rewards in heaven, fulfill my purpose, protect me and give me a life of joy. Whether I obey God or not does not affect Him, it is all for my own good or ruin.

Application: To realize God loves me and wants the best for me that is why He gives me commands. He has a plan for my life and I need to follow His directions to fulfill that purpose. Keep reading and studying His commands and follow them to the letter knowing that they are for my own good to live a life that will glorify my Lord.

Prayer: Dear Father thank you for your love and commands. Help me obey every one of them and draw me nearer to you. I want and need you in my life and I want to stay on the path you have chosen for me. Guide me each day and open my heart to you.

Scripture Deuteronomy 9:23 And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh Barnea, he said, “Go up and take possession of the land I have given you.” But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You did not trust him or obey him.

Observation: I’m so much better than I was about trusting God, but why don’t I trust Him every time? He has always been faithful and true and has never let me down, plus He is God. It seems when I feel when I can do it on my own I stop trusting His direction and take things on by myself and that is typically where my down fall comes. I’m not sure why I don’t trust my Heavenly Father each time it is a combination of my sinful nature and the enemy egging me on.

Application: No matter what I need to trust my Lord and nothing else. I’m here because God has chosen me to be here and I can only fulfill His purpose in my life when I let go of my agenda and start trusting His. I need to get busy using my gifts and talents for His glory and not my convenience and trust His plan for my life and stop trying to make up my own.

Prayer: My dear Lord help me trust in you completely. I can’t do anything apart from you. I need your wisdom and guidance to make it through this life and I need to obey You in everything. I love and trust you.

Scripture Deuteronomy 8 [18] But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

Observation: Most of my life I thought I did it all. I was good in the foodservice industry because that is what I did. I earned money because I deserved it and was good at what I did, but that wasn’t the reality. The reality I could only do what God allowed me to do. There wasn’t anything special about me that was of my own, it all belonged to God. There is no reason to be arrogant, because everything we have and am is from God and it is to be used for His glory not our recognition.

Application: Whenever I get a little cocky I need to stop and thank God for the gifts that He has given me. A lot of my days should be spent in thanks to God for all that I have and that He has allowed me to be here at this time to fulfill a purpose He has created me for. I need to look around at all of the wonderful things and people that surround me and thank God for giving them to me, even though they are only on loan.

Prayer: My Lord thank you for all I have and all that I am. It all comes from you. Show me how to use these things to glorify you and that you will fill me with the Holy Spirit and show me the people you desire me to touch the things you want me to do with the gifts you have given me.

Scripture Deuteronomy 7 [9] Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

Observation: My Lord has kept His covenant with me and I didn’t even know I had one. I wasn’t faithful or obedient before I knew my Lord, but for some reason He didn’t give up on me, but showed me mercy. I know and love Him now and I do want to please Him and keep all of His commands. I’m here as His servant and I’m honored to be it.

Application: I need to be faithful to my Lord. I say the words but a day will go on and I’ll do something that goes against His command. My attitude of anger over love is in direct conflict to the way He calls me to be. I’m here to glorify my Lord and tonight I plan to go out to evangelize with some of my brothers and sisters at the pier. I’m hoping God will make a way for me to share my testimony with others and touch someone there that needs the Lord now before it’s too late.

Prayer: Dear Lord I know you love me and you show me each day that I wasn’t a mistake but created to do good works. Lord tonight use the gifts that you have given me for your glory and show me how to touch someone in your name. Make good use of your servant my Lord.

Scripture Deuteronomy 6 [5] Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Observation: This is the greatest And should be the easiest to keep. With all that God has done for me this should be a no brainer. There shouldn’t be anything more important than my heavenly Father and it should be natural to love Him with all of my heart, soul and strength, but so much of the time I don’t. To love someone that much you must be thinking of Him most if not all of the time. I love my wife and I think of her throughout the day, unfortunately I don’t think of God as often. I pray throughout the day and ask for His help, but it’s not very often that I tell Him that I love Him and to love someone with all of my heart, soul and strength I would be telling Him all of the time, because that is what would be on my heart.

Application: So before I ask my Lord for anything I need to tell Him how much I love Him and how much He means to me. I need to have my God on my mind and heart at all times and it should be natural as I think of how wonderful and beautiful He is. This is the most important commandment and without it the rest mean so little. I’m here because my Lord loves me and has a plan for me, I’m His. I need to love Him the way He deserves to be loved by me with all of my heart, soul and strength.

Prayer: My Father I do love you and forgive me for not telling you more often. You have always been there for me even though I don’t deserve it. It is your love that keeps me going and forgive me for not being more appreciative of that amazing love. Help me show my love to you and speak to me so that I will always feel your presence in my life. I love you Father and I’m here to serve you in whatever way you desire.

Scripture Deuteronomy 5:[29] Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!

Observation: God sounds disappointed or sad because He knows His children won’t keep all of His commands. He loves us so much and knows what is best for us, but that terrible thing of free will and our sinful nature continues to make us wander form His grace. The first part where it states that our heart would be inclined is the key if we truly wanted to honor God and follow Him we would, but there is so much distractions down here and we so badly want to please ourselves before pleasing God and He knows that. All He wants is the best for us and He knows what is best, not us.

Application: I want to have a more pliable heart that God would be able to shape it for my own good. I want to follow all of my Lord’s commands and to glorify Him with my life. I do fear God but not always and that is my desire to fear Him in all situations, to put my God first above everything.

Prayer: My Lord you are so worthy of the best of me. Show me how to do it, how to finish well and when I get home I want to lay any reward I might have earned on this earth at your feet and worship you forever.

Scripture Deuteronomy 4 [2] Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.

Observation: I really what to keep God’s commands as He has given them to me. However I find myself trying to adjust those commands to meet with my desires and to be convenient for me. Each day I read and learn a little more about what God desires of me, but I’m not totally obedient to His word. I gave my class yesterday and I emphasized how important it is to get into God’s word and to know what He is calling you to do and to be obedient to that calling and yet I don’t follow my advice one hundred percent of the time. What God commands us is for our own good not God’s. He is already all good.

Application: Continue each day to learn more about God’s commands and be obedient to each one, not changing or adjusting it for me, but honoring my Lord and all He calls me to do. The more I learn and do the better I’ll be situated in heaven where I will live forever. I need to be obedient in what He calls me to be, a humble, patient, God honoring and loving man. I still have a long way to go.

Prayer: My Lord I want so badly to be the man you desire me to be. I want to be obedient in all things and follow your commands without exception. I’m a sinner and have a sinful nature help me grow close to you and do what you desire of me.