Daily Devotional

Scripture: John 15: [4] Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Observation: I realize to remain in Jesus is to do what He commands me to do. To be in the Word and do what it says and just not some of the time but all of the time. I can only bear fruit when I’m doing what He tells me to do. My fruit is when I help others, tell them of His love and live a life that He calls me to live. In Jesus I have the power to bear fruit that will go beyond the life I’m now living.

Application: I need to remain in Christ and stop living this life for myself. God has called me to use the gifts and talents He has given me for His glory and not my selfishness and in that is fruit. My thoughts must be embodied in God’s will and not my selfishness and in His will is my purpose, the reason He created me. May I be a harvest of good works before it is time for me to go home.

Prayer: My Lord I do want to bear fruit. You know my heart and my desires, you have given me gifts and talents. May I be a harvest of good works in this life that when the time comes for me to come home you would be able to welcome me with open arms because of the harvest I brought.

Scripture: John 14: [27] Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Observation: Today is Easter and it’s a beautiful day, yet each morning I ask my Lord for peace in my spirit. My heart seems to be troubled most of the time and I can’t stop the constant thoughts that go through my mind even though I have nothing to fear. I have a hard time concentrating and staying focused and I worry so much about nothing. I think my problem is that Jesus has given me peace, but I chose not to accept it. I make the choice to worry and be afraid though Jesus protects me and gives me reason and purpose to live.

Application: I need to realize Jesus has already given me peace if I’m willing to accept it and that no matter what happens in this world it is temporary and I have a permanent home with Him at the end of this life. That when I do worry I’m telling God that I don’t trust Him and that I need to handle the situation myself, which I can’t. I need to let go and trust my Father to guide me through this life and live in a way that will honor Him.

Prayer: My Lord thank you for loving me so much that you would give me peace and protect me that I don’t have to fear. Give me strength to hand over my burdens to you and the realization that you are always with me and you love me so much that you don’t want me to be afraid.

Scripture: John 13:38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

Observation: Each morning I pray and ask for God’s guidance and tell Him I want to live this day for Him and that He is worthy of all of my love, praise and obedience. Yet it doesn’t take long before I judge someone, get angry, speak negatively about someone or act in a way that is in opposition to my claim to be a Christian. So when people see me to they see me as a disciple of Jesus or just another hypocrite?

Application: I need to think before I act. Am I representing my Lord with this action or am I representing myself and my desires. Am I disowning my Savior with what I say or how I treat His children or am I guiding people through the love I show them in Jesus name? I have only one purpose to touch the lives of those around me for my Lord and I can only do it through the strength and wisdom He gives me so I must walk the way He walked.

Prayer: Dear Lord I do love you and want to fulfill the purpose you have given me, but I can’t do it in my strength. Please be with me each day and guide me when I go off the path, so that others may see you through my actions and words so they will say, “this man must have been with Jesus.”

Scripture: John 12:[43] for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

Observation: I feel that scripture was meant for me. All of my life I tried so hard to get approval from the people around me. I wasted so much time trying to get their approval, because I felt that is what would make me happy. Even now knowing my Lord and Savior and all that He has done for me I still seek the approval of others. God already loves me and to get His praise is all I need to do is His will.

Application: I need to see God in my everyday life and seek His advice. Before I try to please anyone I need to ask God if this pleases Him. I know His will and I want to be obedient so I need to be with Him throughout the day.

Prayer: My Lord I want to hear what Jesus heard, “this is my son with whom I’m well please.” Show me how to make you proud of me and help me through each day.

Scripture: John 11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

Observation: I don’t understand why Jesus cares so much for us, especially the way we treat Him. Tomorrow will be Good Friday and we will remember the most loving act imaginable that God so loved us that He sent His son to suffer for us to take away our sins. I wonder how many times my lord was moved or troubled when He saw what I put myself through. His hand and heart must have gone out each time I tried to end this life He gave me.

Application: I need to draw nearer to God and tell Him how much I appreciate and love Him. This is not my life and never was I’m God’s creation and He owns me and I need to honor Him. I don’t want my Lord to be troubled over me anymore. I want Him to look down and be pleased with the man He created.

Prayer: My Lord I know that you love me you show me all the time. I freely give you this life and ask that you would use it in a way the glorifies you. May I not cause you anymore heartaches, but bring joy to you as you do me.

Scripture: John 10: [10] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Observation: I look back at the first 46 years of my life and it saddens me how I wasted it. The devil stole much from me and I allowed him to do it. I was selfish, self-centered, unloving not knowing what to do. I tried to destroy myself six different times, but God was always there, I don’t know what He saw that was worth savings, but I’m glad He did. What a different life it has been when I received Jesus as my Lord and savior. What a wonderful guide He is and patient.

Application: I need to draw nearer to my Lord so that I can experience the life that He has planned for me. He has given me life and purpose here on earth and also a new home for all eternity, because of His sacrifice for me. I want to enjoy this new life He has given me and make a difference in His name until it is time to go home.

Prayer: Dear Lord thank you for taking me out of Satin’s hands. You grabbed me before I was totally destroyed. Thank you for this new life that you have given me, may I use it in glory and honor to you.

Scripture: John 9:25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

Observation: Before Jesus entered my life I was blind and walking around aimlessly. I couldn’t see anything but myself. I didn’t see what God wanted for my life, I didn’t notice the people that surrounded me. I lived in the darkness and refused to see anything else. After Jesus opened my eyes I saw the people and their needs, I saw how God designed me to help, I saw a purpose for my life that I didn’t see before. I was able to see God in a world that I wanted to leave.

Application: Now that Jesus has opened my eyes I need to be on the lookout for what He desires of me. I need to listen to the small voice within me and allow it to guide me. I need to look beyond myself and see the life God wants me to live and not be so short sighted. I want to be able to see through God’s eyes.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for opening this blind man’s eyes and taking me by the hand and walking me down the path you have chosen for me. Please don’t let go and open my eyes to your wonders and the desires of your heart.