Daily Devotional

Scripture: John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Observation: Most of my life I’ve been in the dark and afraid. I wandered aimlessly not even knowing what I was searching for. It wasn’t until Jesus came into my life that I could see and begin to understand a little clearer in what direction I should have been going. It was as if a light went on, which it did and I get to walk the rest of this journey with His light to guide me.

Application: To walk in the light I need to be willing to see it. Jesus is always there, but I need to choose to see Him in every situation. I need to look for His light and the path He has chosen for me. I need to be looking in His direction each and every day. Without His light I could never finish this race of life that I am on.

Prayer: My Lord, thank you for lighting up my life. I need your guidance every day and I need your help in living this life in a way that would be honoring. Take my hand please Lord and show me the way to go.

Scripture: John 7: [24] Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”

Observation: I feel as if Jesus is saying that directly to me, because that is the way I judge. I look at people and have them summed up without even talking to them. When people talk to me most of the time instead of listening, I’m judging them. No one has a chance around me I seem to have an opinion for everyone I meet.

Application: I need to start looking at people through God’s eyes. If I just met me I know the evil I would think and how I would judge me and it’s not like God. God has had mercy on me and must have found something worthy to love and that is what I need to see in people. I need to start listening more to what people say and not what I think. If I’m going to judge then I need to be judged and I know how that would come out.

Prayer: My Lord forgive me for my shallow ways and selfish acts. Help me see others through your eyes and not mine. May I be a messenger of your love and not a judge of my pity ways. You are the only righteous judge may I leave judging to only you.

Scripture: John 6: [44] “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

Observation: I think of all the miracles that I took for granted that led me to Jesus. My Father must have been holding my hand to get me through a life I continued trying to end. He spoke to me when I didn’t know it was Him, guiding me on my most important journey, the journey to eternal life. I think of all the people He involved to get me saved and now it’s my turn to be used by my loving Father.

Application: I know God doesn’t need me to fulfill His purpose in this world, but He wants to use me to fulfill His will. What an honor it is to be able to be used by the Father. Instead of being useless I can be used for the most important mission ever, to help draw others to eternal life. I need to take this honor seriously and get busy listening and doing what my Father desires of me.

Prayer: Dear Father I am not worthy of this honor to be used by you, but please continue to speak to your servant and guide me each day in what you desire of me. I’m here to serve you and complete the task you set before me. Give me strength, courage and wisdom to honor you.

Scripture: John 5: [44] How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?

Observation: All of my life I wanted to please someone whether it was my parents, friends employers or just the people around me. I wanted people to recognize me and praise me for the things I could do, but if there is anything that I can do that is praise worthy, I’m only able to do it because of my God. Anything at all that is good in me comes from my heavenly Father and I have no right to boast about anything, unless I boast about my Father.

Application: As soon as people see something in me that is praiseworthy I need to point to God. If I’m allowed to touch anyone’s life for the better God needs to get all the credit. I want God to see me as a man after His own heart, like David. God deserves all of my praise, obedience and glory.

Prayer: Dear father I thank you for all that I have and all that I am. I thank you for making me, me and I ask you to show me how to be the best that I can be. I’m here as your servant, show me how to serve.

Scripture: John 4:34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

Observation: What’s my food, what keeps me going? I wish I could say doing what God created me to do, but it’s not. Each day I wake and barely have the energy to get out of bed, then go to work, come home, eat, watch television and go to bed. Where is my purpose in that? That is not God’s will for me to be useless after all He has done for me.

Application: The few times that I do something for God whether feeding the poor, doing counseling or helping at the church those are the times I feel full, full of the Holy Spirit. I need to arrange my time better so that I’m doing more for my Lord and letting Him take control of His servant. I’m going to have an opportunity to help at the father daughter breakfast and do a spaghetti dinner to help raise money for someone in need, that is what God’s will would be for this life.

Prayer: Dear Lord strengthen me to do your will. Open my eyes to the things that please you. Show me how to serve in a way that brings honor to you. I freely give you this life as a living sacrifice, may it be holy and pleasing to you.

Scripture: John 3: [30] He must become greater; I must become less.

Observation: I need to become less. My life is all wrapped up in me. My actions, words, decisions are all based on what is the best for me. Who am I to be so arrogant? I’m only here because of the grace of God and only exist because He desires it so. When others see me, that is all they see, they don’t see my creator, because I won’t let them.

Application: I read in my devotional today if God only wanted us to be saved and had no other use for us He would bring us to Heaven as soon as we were saved. God has a purpose for my life which is more than I can say for myself. I’m an ambassador of my Lord Jesus and as an ambassador I should represent my King. I need to decrease and let the Holy Spirit take over this life for my King’s glory.

Prayer: Dear Lord I’m yours, please use me to fulfill the purpose you have created me for. Use this testimony you have given me that people may see your love and desire for their lives. I want to be a vessel used for noble use, but no matter what I’m your vessel, use me as you desire.

Scripture: John 2: [25] He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

Observation: I know, pride, anger, selfishness, deceit, revenge and hatred are in me. I wish they weren’t and it’s a battle each day to fight off these emotions and to try to be like Jesus, but much too often I don’t. When my mind is at rest it still wanders to negative and hurtful thoughts. Jesus knew this and He got to see it first hand over and over again whether it was the Pharisee, Sadducees, people around Him or His own disciples He saw what was in a man.

Application: Jesus tells us to take up our cross daily and that is what this is a daily battle. Even now writing this my heart is full of anger and pain and for no reason, it almost seems more comfortable there then to have grace or thanksgiving. I need to continue to ask the Holy Spirit to fill me and take these terrible emotions away and fill my heart with love and grace.

Prayer: Dear Lord please help me I don’t want to feel this way and it makes me sick to do so. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and take this burden from me. Give me the heart of Jesus and show me how to live this life in glory and honor to you.