Daily Devotional

Cruel Jealousy

Scripture Song of Songs 8:6 THE SHULAMITE TO HER BELOVED Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame.

Observation: Jealousy is cruel and I’ve seen it break up friendships and marriages. Jealousy is that desire to have something or someone that someone else has. It’s not being content with what you have and wanting more than what God has blessed you with. We forget the blessings we have when we are focused on wanting what others have.

Application: To be more focused on all that I have and to thank God for all of the blessing He has given me. I have nothing to be jealous of, I have so much more than I deserve and I should be more giving to others.

Prayer: My Lord, you have truly blessed me and I want to tell you now that I love you and appreciate all you’ve done for me. Help me be the man you call me to be.

Compliments are Vanity

Scripture Song of Songs 7:6 How fair and how pleasant you are, O love, with your delights!

Observation: As I’ve been reading Song of Songs it is a romantic story. Most of it comprised of lavished compliments. I’m sure a lot of women and men would feel wonderful if the person they love would say such things to them. But love is so much more. Compliments are just words and without anything to back them up they are empty. Love is an action word and needs action to be true. If we say nice things and do nothing to prove our love what good is that? That doesn’t only go for our spouse our loved ones, but for God. If we say we love Him and live our life for us, how can that be love?

Application: I need to show God that I love Him with all my heart, mind and soul. He deserves all of that plus my time. My time needs to be used for His glory. I can’t just say the words in a prayer that I love Him, but I need to show my Lord and others around me that God is my first love.

Prayer: My Lord, I do love you, but I know I haven’t been showing you love for a long time now. Please fill me with the Holy Spirit and show me what I should be doing to show that love.

We Are Called to Be One

Scripture Song of Songs 6:3 I am my beloved’s, And my beloved is mine. He feeds his flock among the lilies.

Observation: Teri is not only my wife, but I’m also her husband. I know that might be a redundant statement, but do we look at our marriages that way, that we are each other’s? I almost always say that Teri is my wife and by that it sounds that she has certain duties to perform as wife, but I’m also her husband and I do have the duties of the husband to perform according to God. We are called to be one and each one of us deserves the love and respect that God calls us to give to each other.

Application: To focus more that I’m Teri’s husband and she should depend on me doing the duties of a husband. God has created me with the ability to control one thing and that thing is me and to only focus on what I should be doing as the husband in this relationship.

Prayer: My Lord next to being your child the greatest blessing I have is being Teri’s husband. I thank you for this precious gift and I ask guidance as we continue along the path you have chosen for us.

My Beloved My Friend

Scripture Song of Songs 5:16 His mouth is most sweet, Yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, And this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!

Observation: As the Song of Songs go it is full of romantic phrases and the yearning of love, much like society today. One of the most important things in a marriage and a relationship is friendship. You can love someone, but not like them. It is important to develop a friendship, a friend is someone you go to, someone you want to spend time with and someone you respect.

Application: My wife is my best friend and I don’t know what I do without her. We are always there for each other and there is no one I would rather spend time with than her. Hopefully I’m getting close to retiring and I look forward to spending whatever time God is blessing me with my best friend

Prayer: My Lord I thank you for the precious gift of my wife. I truly love her and she is the first person I would go to confide in. I thank you for the bound you have created between us.

My Sister My Spouse

Scripture Song of Songs 4:10 How fair is your love, My sister, my spouse! How much better than wine is your love, And the scent of your perfumes Than all spices!

Observation: At first it seems strange the verse my sister, my spouse, but that is what a Christian wife is. God has blessed me with Teri as my spouse, but she is also my sister in Christ and always will be. When it is time to go home Teri will no longer be my wife, but she will always be my sister and my best friend and her love means the world to me.

Application: I need to realize the special relationship I have with my wife. God has created us one flesh and it’s the most wonderful relationship I can have on this earth. It is such a blessing to know that our relationship will continue throughout all of eternity.

Prayer: My Lord, I thank you for this precious gift, the relationship that Teri and I have and I thank you that it does not end. Help me be a better husband to her now and the best friend I can be forever.

Seeking the One I Love

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.

Spring is Here

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.