Daily Devotional

Scripture Exodus 14: [14] The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Observation: I like that it says the Lord will fight for you and you only need to be still. Why is being still so difficult for us. We need to be doing something , I know I sit down and read my bible I can’t get my mind to be quiet and still so I can understand the Word Of God. We feel we need to be part of the solution and that something must depend on us or why are we even here. We are here for one reason and that is to love and honor God. If we are not still then we are not obeying or trusting God to do what He has told us He will do.

Application: Practice being still. God has fought so many battles for me but I have a hard time staying on the side line and when I don’t I mess things up. Being still is saying God I trust you, when you want me call me in. There is nothing I can do or nothing that I might possess that God hasn’t given me and I need to wait on Him.

Prayer: My Lord increase my faith and give me the patience I need to be obedient to you. Show me how to be still and wait until you give me instructions and when you fight for me help me stay on the sidelines and observe and be appreciative that you love me so much that You would battle for me.

Scripture Exodus 13:14 “In days to come, when your son asks you, `What does this mean?’ say to him, `With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Observation: I didn’t become a Christian until after my children were grown. Unfortunately I taught them so many bad things by example how to be selfish, to look out for yourself and don’t trust anyone. When I first got saved I tried to explain to my son what Jesus did for me, but he was upset that I put God before him. We haven’t talked in over 20 years, but I pray for him each day, I pray that God will teach him the truth that I didn’t. How different it might have been for him if he had a father that taught him what he needed to know.

Application: I can’t live in the past, but I can make my present the best it can be. I wasn’t able to be a good example to my children while they were growing up, but I can set the best example I can for other children and other adults. We are all teachers using our life experiences and I need to draw from that to help others know God’s will for their lives.

Prayer: Dear Lord you have taught me so much and I know there is so much more to learn. Use me to help tutor others about you unending mercy, grace and love. I’m here as your student please give me wisdom to lead a life that would be pleasing to you.

Scripture Exodus 12: [42] Because the LORD kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the LORD for the generations to come.

Observation: We love God because He first loved us. It seems God sets the example for us to follow. Instead of just obeying Him by faith He goes first to encourage us. Then for the ultimate example God the Father sends Jesus to really show us how to live our life. He put the instruction down in writing, but we are slow on the up take and need someone to take us by the hand to show us how to do it. Jesus didn’t just tell us what to do He showed us to the point none of us will do it as well as He did but we have a goal to shoot for.

Application: To live my life differently, to set Jesus as my example each day. Before doing anything ask if that is what Jesus would do and when I stumble, and I will stumble, to ask for forgiveness and guidance to do it better the next time. I want to live a life that others may see Jesus by watching me and when I fail to get up and try harder.

Prayer: My Lord what a beautiful example of love you gave us in Jesus. Help me be more like Him each day, putting the need of others before myself. Take my pride away and fill my heart with love for you and others. I want to be able to hug you when I get home and then feel your embrace.

Scripture Exodus 11:9 The LORD had said to Moses, “Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you–so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt.”

Observation: If we listen God will tell us what we need to know, but He is not going to yell and we are going to have to sit still and be quiet to hear. There isn’t anything God doesn’t know whether in the past, present or future. That doesn’t mean everything is good, but again if you focus on God you will be able to see what His plan is. God doesn’t do things for kicks, He does them for a reason and our thoughts are not like His, His are higher than the sky so we need to hear from Him to tell it to us in layman terms.

Application: I need to spend more quiet time with my heavenly Father. I pray, but I do most of the talking. When something happens around me I need to stop and ask God what it is I’m to learn, not necessarily do. I’m good at talking but not very good at listening and I need to do better for God and with others.

Prayer: My Lord I’m a stiff necked man and I’m so ashamed of that. I look at my viewpoints at times to be the only good ones. Humble me and make me a better listener that I will listen much more than I speak. Turn me into the man that pleases you.

Scripture Exodus 10:27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go.

Observation: We wonder about some people how they can be so hateful and intolerable and we want to change them, but maybe God wants to change us through them. It’s easy to like someone that agrees with us and is likeable by nature or that we have things in common, but Jesus loved everyone. I believe He even loved the pharoses and Sadducees and was hoping they might change before it was too late. I believe that is why sometimes God puts people in our life, so we can become more like Jesus loving each other and hoping they will receive Jesus before it’s too late. It’s easy to talk to a friend and easier to ignore someone you don’t care for.

Application: There are people in my life that I don’t care for so I just avoid them. I don’t care about their wellbeing or were they might end up for eternity and that is not God’s plan for my life. Jesus said to love one and other and by that people would see that I’m His disciple. I need to step out of my comfort zone and reach out to those I have chosen to ignore and make a heart filled attempt to be their friend to reach out to them with the love of my Lord.

Prayer: My Lord soften this hard heart and fill it with your love that I may give that love to others that need you so desperately. Give me a heart to save a soul like you that I may care for the needs of others above my own. I love you Lord help me love others.

Scripture Exodus 9:20 Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the LORD hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside.

Observation: When we fear something we pay attention to it. If you fear something you are normally on the lookout for it. Same with the fear of the Lord you obey what He says, you’re on the lookout to see if you are doing what He calls you to do. There were 2 officials in the scripture the ones who feared God and did what He said and the next verse were the ones who didn’t fear or listen and all they had were destroyed. We need to have a reverent fear of our Lord so we don’t take Him for granted, He wants us to live a holy life and the only way we can do it is by listening to what He wants of us and It’s all written in His Word.

Application: To know God’s word is to study it each day. I’ve read through the Bible 13 times now and each time I still find something I didn’t notice before. I need to ask God to teach me as I read and ask for wisdom and a way to put into practice what he is teaching me. I need to love God most of all, but I need to know He is a Father that means what He says.

Prayer: My Father open my eyes to your Word and teach me each day. I want to be a doer of the word and not just a hearer. Help me be obedient to your commands and live a life that will bear fruit in glory and honor to your name.

Scripture Exodus 8: [1] Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, `This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.

Observation: We may not hear from God the way Moses did but we still know what He says through His word. God directs us what to say to others, He even commands it when He told us to go out and spread the gospel. He has given us a way we are to live or lives and has given us rules to follow. He wants none to perish, but for that to happen everyone needs to obey God’s commands and we are chosen to tell others what those commands are.

Application: One way to tell others how God wants us to live or life is by being an example. To love God more than anything and to love others as we love ourselves. We are to be humble and gracious when we speak and we need to be genially concerned for the wellbeing of others. Once others know they can trust what we are saying then we can tell them the words of God, so that they will listen.

Prayer: My Lord make me an example in this world of your love and mercy. Help me live this life the way you want me to live it and to draw others to you. Make me a messenger of the good news and help me bring others to your living grace.