Daily Devotional

Scripture Exodus 21:5 “But if the servant declares, `I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’

Observation: God has given us a choice we can either love Him or not. We can believe what He says or not. We can live with Him for all eternity or not. Our Master has set up rules for us to follow yet He leaves it up to us whether we will follow them or not. We honor Him when we are obedient, it shows Him that we love Him. His rules are for our own good and benefit. I will never leave my master, because I remember life without Him and that is no life at all.

Application: God is my loving Father, but He is also my master and creator. He loves me, and I don’t know why. He is always there for me and corrects me when I do wrong. I need to be in His word each day and be able to feel His presence. It would be easier if I could see Him like an earthly master, but this way it takes faith and faith is what I need to show my love, because without faith I can’t please God.

Prayer: My Lord and my Master. I never want to be set free from you. I need you each day more than air. I don’t ever want to be apart from you again, but serve you in a way that will please you. I love you Lord and what to be always close to you.

Scripture Exodus 20:20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”

Observation: I don’t think a day goes by without me committing some type of sin. I find it so difficult to love each person and my first thought is always a negative one. I might say something and try to justify it or put myself above God and others. Each day is a test on how well I’ll do and even though I might continue to improve I’m far off from being the man I should be for my Lord. I need more fear of my Lord when I decide to do something. Not that He will strike me down with lightning, but that I will fear that I will let Him down, again.

Application: I need to be able to see God in all that I do, He should be my main focus no matter what I’m doing. He is the reason I get up each morning and only by His grace do I even exist. Each day is a test and I need to study, because the results of these tests will be read in heaven and I want a passing grade a grade I will be proud of taking home to my Father.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for each day you have given me whether good or bad. No matter what happens open my eyes to what you are teaching me and that I see your hand in everything that I do. I’m here to serve you and honor you, help me Lord pass the final exam with flying colors.

Scripture Exodus 19: [5] Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,

Observation: I want to be God’s treasured possession. So many people want to be their own person without answering to anyone. I spent most of my life that way and ended up in deep depression. I belong to God and there is nothing greater than being a child of God. God loves me and has set up rules, like any loving father to protect me and bring joy to my life. These are not restrictions, but commands of a loving Father. If you truly love someone you want to please and obey them and we are to love our God with all of our heart, mind and soul.

Application: I do love God but during the course of the day my mind wanders to so many different things I forget about Him. I need to stay focused on God and what He wants for me. He wants only the best for me and He wants me saved and loved. I need to be aware of His desires for my life and stay in His will all of the time.

Prayer: My Father I do love you and forgive me for the way I drift away constantly. Keep me close to you speak into my heart and guide me on this journey you have put me on. Help me be obedient to you for you treat me as a treasured possession, help me be worthy.

Scripture Exodus 18: [8] Moses told his father-in-law about everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and about all the hardships they had met along the way and how the LORD had saved them.

Observation: This is what every Christian should be doing, telling others what God has done in their life. One of the most precious things we have is our testimony and we have it to share. As bad as my life was without God it is now valuable, because it can help others see God’s love. Our testimony can be used to save those that don’t know the Lord or encourage our brothers and sister.

Application: I need to find more ways to share my testimony to others. I need to get busy on the church list I’ve been working on and see if there are places where I can share my testimony. I know God already has hearts prepared and I need to go and meet those hearts. I should also go out and evangelize and use my testimony to draw others to God.

Prayer: Dear Lord you have saved your servant and have given me a new life. Show me how to use that life to glorify you and to comfort those who need comfort with the comfort you have given to me.

Scripture Exodus 17: [7] And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”

Observation: Jesus told us not to test the lord and yet how many times in our life will we? When things don’t go our way aren’t we quick to doubt that God cares or is even there. We test Him in our actions and the things we say, we test God in our disobedience and lack of bearing fruit. Most of our life is testing the One who doesn’t need to take test, but gives them. He is our teacher and master and we have no right to question Him let alone test Him. If we don’t believe God’s word, then we don’t believe God.

Application: I catch myself all the time testing God expecting a certain situation to turn in my favor and if it doesn’t I begin to doubt if God cares. I need to trust in Him with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding but in all my ways acknowledge Him and He will make my paths straight. God has all the answers and does not need to be tested, especially by His creation. Remember who I am and give God the glory and respect He deserves.

Prayer: My Lord you know all and see all and I’m nothing but your servant. For some reason you love and care for me and that should be in the forefront of my being and I need to trust you with all that I am. Help me glorify you with this life you have blessed me with. I love you Lord may I live a life that proves that.

Scripture Exodus 16: [3] The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”

Observation: When things are going our way we think back to the past and remember how wonderful it was, but was it? We think if we would have just done this or that things would be as they were. However we forget all the other things God has gotten us through, things we never want to experience anymore. The Devil loves getting our minds going in the past, distorting our memories and playing the “what if” game. You see as long as our mind is in the past we are of no good in the present. We’re not serving or loving our God we’re too busy wasting our time wondering what might have been instead of making now the best it can be.

Application: Most of my life was spent living in the past and regretting most of the things that I did. I had no time for the present because I never spent any time there. Now I am doing better focusing on the present and what I should be doing for my Lord and not for me. I realize I was created for God and not for myself so I try to live that way each moment. Even though each day I fall short I still persevere to do better to please my Master.

Prayer: My Lord I thank you for my life and how you got me through all the trials I went through. Lord please speak to me each day and show me how to live this life in a way that is pleasing to you. I belong to you use me as you will each moment of every day.

Scripture Exodus 15:25 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.
There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them.

Observation: Each day is a test if we are going to follow God or our own desires. We normally start out okay, praying and thanking God for all He has given us. Then we have to leave the house and into the world, which has become so corrupt. How many mistakes do we make in a day, do we join in on unwholesome talk, gossip, did we lie, look lustfully at someone, treat someone poorly, and miss opportunities to share our faith. God points out not doing good when we have the opportunity is the same as doing evil. What grade did you get on your test yesterday? Was it a passing mark or did you fail. Keep studying there’ll be another test tomorrow.

Application: Need to be prepared for each day’s test. Knowing that it will come will help me prepare. I need to be observant on what is happening and be ready with the right response. Need to study God’s word so I have the right answer for the things that come up and to know the ruler in this world is my enemy and will do whatever to trip me up.

Prayer: My Lord I need to have my life an open book test. That you will guide me through this and give me the answers. Help me seek you throughout each day looking for answers and being a doer of your word. That there will be no question that I avoid, but try to answer them all in your precious name.