Daily Devotional

Scripture: 1 John 4: [20] If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

Observation: I realize I have a difficult time loving others. My first thoughts normally are negative and during the course of a day I’m thinking hateful thoughts of some people I know. A day doesn’t seem to pass when I think how much I dislike someone, but that shouldn’t matter God commands me to love everyone. God loves me and I have done some terrible things to his children over the years, yet it doesn’t seem to affect the way he cares and loves me. Wouldn’t it be something to be able to love others the way God loves us.

Application: As soon as I think negative about someone I need to think of how God loves me. God doesn’t ask me to just tolerate others, but to love them to put their needs above my own and there is no limitation to whom. If I stop focusing on myself and focus on God and all He has done for me and to see others as God’s children I could love them. The reason I don’t is because I’m comparing them to me or how they affect me and that should have nothing to do with it, I’m called by my Father to love and with His help I can do it.

Prayer: My Lord I know you love me, yet I have no idea why. I know you are love and you call me to this same purpose, but I need your help. I’m a sinner and so many times I let the enemy in. I need your protection and guidance to make it through this life in a way that will please you. Fill my heart and mind with love for others and that the love will come from you.

Scripture: 1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Observation: God loves me so much He calls me His child. The creator of all the things, the lord and Master of all calls me His child. My thoughts wander all the times about what to do, hateful thoughts, misuse of the time God has blessed me with and hardly ever do I think of myself as God’s child. What a privilege I’ve been given, there is nothing greater on this earth or in all eternity to be the child of God. So why don’t I ponder on that? If I did the devil would never get a foothold on me and my thoughts I would be too busy thinking about my Father and not my own personal wants.

Application: I need to wake up every morning thinking of my Heavenly Dad and live a life that would please him. I remember as a child I wanted my earthly dad’s approval and love and rarely received it, but I know now that my true Father has given me everything I need to live a joyful life and a purposeful one. As much as I wanted my earthly father’s approval I must want my true Father’s approval and live a life with Him in the center of it.

Prayer: Good morning Dad. So strange that sounds and I don’t know why. Each morning you wake me up and watch over me during the day. You take care of all my needs and place joy in my heart. You protect me in a way that no one else could and have promised me a special home with you. You have never broken a promise and after all the terrible things that I have done, you never stopped loving me. I love you Dad and I thank you for not giving up on me.

Scripture: 1 John 2:9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.

Observation: I want to walk in the light, I teach a class at the church, I serve at church, I read my bible every day and do this journal so why am I still walking in the dark? Lately any thought I have about others is negative and if I let it, it grows to anger. Not only is my initial feeling negative, but it lingers with me to the point if I see that person again I’m mad at them for now reason. The way I think of others is the opposite of how Jesus would treat them or expect me to treat them.

Application: I need to be convicted right away if I feel poorly about someone and think right away of how Jesus would feel. All the love and grace He has given me and yet I can’ return the favor to others. I need to make the way I treat others a priority I must make a better effort to look at others as my brothers and sisters and children of the Lord.

Prayer: My Lord forgive me for being so mean and hurtful to others in my thoughts. I want to be kind and loving to others and be a representative for you but I’m a sinner. Help me repay the grace you have given me to others and that they would feel loved and important by the way I treat them and my thoughts towards them.

Scripture: 1 John 1: [7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Observation: Am I walking in the light? If I am why am I so full of hate and anger at times. Why do I look at people in such a negative light and why isn’t my heart more bent in helping others instead of looking at my own needs. I should be able to look at others as Jesus would, yet my first reaction is to judge and look for something wrong in them. I’m walking on the wrong side of the street.

Application: I’m aware how I am and I need to change. There is no reason why I shouldn’t receive people as children of my Lord. I need to humble myself before my Lord and beg for forgiveness for the way I am and to ask for God’s help to be better.

Prayer: Forgive me Lord for the way I thought about Chelsea, the nurse at work, the way I treated Maritza when she asked for more turkey, the evil thoughts I have for Mark across the street and the way I place myself above others. Humble your servant for these are your children and should be treated with the love and respect they deserve. I love you Lord, help me be that man you desire me to be.

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives

Observation: I know what kind of life would honor God and He deserves all of my love, my praise and obedience. However that is not the life I live every day. My thoughts are for me first, what do I want to do with the time He has given me, I take care of my needs first along with my desires. The moments I live the Godly life are outweighed by the times I don’t.

Application: I need to start thinking of me less and about why God has me here. I’m here to love and honor Him. I just got finished reading Mark about when the Pharisee asked what was the most important commandment, to love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength and my life needs to reflect that truth. God needs to come first in my life and then others and then me. I know it will be a struggle, but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Prayer: Dear Lord I want to live a Godly life in glory and honor to you, but I’m a sinner. I need you to take charge and fill be with the Holy Spirit and help me each day to put you first in all that I do. I’m selfish, weak and wretched and without you I can’t even come close to living the life that will honor you. Help me be who you want me to be.

Scripture: 2 Peter 2: [19] They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity–for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

Observation: For the longest time depression was my master and controlled all that I did. Even today I will hear the call of my old master trying to draw me close to him again. My master now is my Lord and savior, Jesus, and I need to stay attentive to Him so I don’t get dragged back to my old life.

Application: I need to spend more time with my Lord so that I may understand His desire for my life. There are so many things that I can’t do and one of the main ones is running my own life and knowing what is best for me. Jesus is the master of my life and He loves me and wants what is best for me, so why would I resist His calling on my life?

Prayer: My Lord you know I struggle every day and even now as I’m writing this I’m feeling horrible and am wondering what is happening in my body. Instead of focusing on my pain open my eyes to what you desire of me and give me strength to go on to complete the tasks you have set for me. I do love you, help me live a life that would prove that.

Scripture: 2Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Observation: I keep wanting more each day whether it’s security, money, possessions, better job or better health. I want more even though Jesus has already given me everything. He has given me everything in this life that I will ever need and has given me knowledge that I could only get from Him. Through Christ glory and goodness I’m wealthy and don’t need anything else.

Application: I need, like Paul, to be content in any and all situations. My Lord has supplied me with all I need and more and I need to stop searching for things in this world which I do not need. Not only has my Lord supplied me with everything I need to tell others of His generosity in my life and that same generosity is available to them.

Prayer: My Lord thank you for taking care of your servant. Thank you for all you have blessed me with and that you have equipped me to fulfill the purpose you have created me for. Help me today to draw nearer to you and to help touch the lives of others in your name.