Daily Devotional

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.

Scripture Exodus 7: [13] Yet Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.

Observation: From time to time everyone’s heart becomes hard. God will direct us, but we listen to ourselves or the devil because it is what we desire now. We ignore the miracles God puts before us because we are too interested in getting what we want and what God wants us to do takes more effort. He wants us to be used for the good of others and to glorify Him. Hard hearts prevent us from fulfilling the purpose God has designed us for and instead of an eternal blessing we settle for a momentary happiness.

Application: I need to soften my heart and listen for God’s voice in my life. I need to remove any selfish ambitions and focus on the will of my Heavenly Father for direction. My heart belongs to God and I need to prepare it so it is sensitive to His desires and to use it to guide me through this life. When it’s time to go home I want to present Him with a heart of a servant, one that can receive His love with no distractions.

Prayer: Dear Lord soften my heart that I may feel your presence each day. I want to know you better in my life and know what you want from me. I want to serve you and I know when I serve others it is like serving you so soften me and humble this servant that I will glorify you each day of my life here on earth. I love you Lord and you deserve all that I have and am.

Scripture 6:[7] I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.

Observation: With all the noise of this world it hard to hear God. The world tells us what to do and how to feel and what we need to be happy and so many times we listen. How often do we listen to God? He won’t yell and we will have to go to Him to hear what He has to say to us, but that should be the only voice we listen to. He is God and knows all and his direction is all we need, but we need to seek Him with all of our heart, mind and soul.

Application: The most effective way to hear God is to go somewhere quietly and seek His voice. To humbly go before Him with an open mind and heart and ask for His guidance in my life. He is my master and there is nothing He can’t do and the only reason I’m here is because He decided so. He created me for a purpose who else would I go to?

Prayer: My Lord, my Master and creator. You have a plan for your servant and I ask you to direct me each day in what you desire me to do. May I seek your face in each decision that comes my way and that my actions would be pleasing to you. I know my time is getting short in this place and I desire to enter your presence knowing that I fulfilled your will in my life and that I will hear, “well done good and faithful servant.”