Daily Devotional

How Are My Good Works Done?

Scripture James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

Observation: I believe I need more wisdom. I’ve done good works, but how many will stand the test if I did them for my Lord or just to get recognition. I seem to start off right by doing things that honor God, but as people give me credit for doing them, I don’t always point to God, but take the credit myself.

Application: I need to use the wisdom God has blessed me with and only do good works for His glory and not my recognition. I need to be humble in all I do so that Jesus gets the glory. I want others to see the good things that I do and know that I’m doing them for my Lord.

Prayer My God humble your servant and command me what You desire. That all I do will glorify you and that I will love you with all my heart, mind and soul.

Faith and Works Go Together

Scripture James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Observation: If you are truly saved by faith the spirit will stir you to fulfill the purpose you were created for. We each have the gifts and talents we need to serve God, our good works points others to what God is doing in our life. Our good works are to be done in obedience to God, glorifying Him.

Application: I want God to continue to use me and the gifts that He has given me. Everything I do that is good, I must give God the glory. Today as I walk, I need to keep in prayer and see what God is calling me to do. Look for any opportunity to help someone in Jesus’s name.

Prayer Dear Lord I kneel before You ready to serve. Command me today to do your will and open opportunities for me to glorify you.

Asking in Faith

Scripture James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Observation: I’m blessed to be able to pray with many people at the strand each day, but do I doubt that God will answer our prayer? One scripture that is always on my heart is without faith it’s impossible to please God and that should be everyone’s goal. There is no reason to doubt I’ve seen so many answered prayers whether mine or someone else’s.

Application: I need to make sure when I pray that I’m praying in faith that God is listening and will answer that prayer according to His will and timing. To be more confident when I pray and to always make sure I’m honoring my Lord with each request. That I never doubt God but stand firm in His word.

Prayer Dear Father increase my faith and open my heart to what You desire of me. When I pray with others that I will have full confidence that You hear me and will do what is best.

God Is Working in Me

Scripture Hebrews 13:21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Observation: Any good work is God working in me. I have no right to take credit for any good that I do since it’s not me doing it. To do more of what pleases God I must first commit my heart to Him and allow the Holy Spirit to take over and be used by Him. This is our purpose in this life, not to do what we think is good works, but to follow our Lord’s guidance to do the things that will please God.

Application: Each day my only agenda is to do the will of my Father. Be where God wants me and to follow his word in what I should and shouldn’t be doing. My goal each day is to please Him and bring a smile to His face. Then let God make me complete.

Prayer Dear Lord I am yours today and always. Use me as You desire, put the people in my path that you want me to meet and continue the process to complete this servant of yours. Look forward to spending the day with you.

With Endurance Let’s Run the Race

Scripture Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Observation: The Bible is full of witnesses that have run their race with endurance and finished well, along with those who haven’t. May I learn from both and lay aside anything that is not of God but be focused on his will for my life. May I always have the finish line in site, my eternal home with my Father and not be endured with the worries of this world.

Application: God gives me a day at a time and I need to spend it with Him. I need to know what the race entails for this day and be ready to run with faith keeping my heavenly home in my heart. Each decision must be made with God’s commands in mind waiting for the day this race is over and my life begins.

Prayer My Lord I’m ready to continue running. May I stretch out my faith that I won’t get lost on the track but honor you with the way I run today. May I learn from others and be guided by their success.

Faith Pleases God

Scripture Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Observation: That is a rough statement if you don’t have faith. Faith doesn’t automatically come when we are saved it’s a gift that needs to be worked on each day of our life. Faith is the believe of things that we don’t see but excess because God tells us they do. The apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith and that should be our prayer. Your faith should be greater today than yesterday and the longer we walk with our Lord the stronger it will become.

Application: I need to walk by faith knowing what I’m doing pleases God. Not to get ahead of myself but to be patient and wait to see what God is doing through my life and know whatever is happening is from God.

Prayer My Lord thank you for another day to please you. Please increase my faith as I walk through this life and that I may know the things that I see are from you.

His Laws Are on My Heart and Mind

Scripture Hebrews 10:16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”

Observation: This is so true if I think of doing anything against God’s will He makes it clear to me not to. I know what is right and wrong according to God’s word, yet I still have a choice. After walking with my Lord for so long I don’t want to go against his law, but be obedient in all that He commands. I can’t make the excuse anymore that I didn’t know.

Application: To always start my day in prayer and ask for the knowledge and wisdom to do what is right and pleasing to Him. Before making a decision pray and make sure it is in God’s will and not mine.

Prayer Dear Lord give me the knowledge and wisdom I will Need to do what is of you. Continue to put on my heart and mind the things that will honor You.