Daily Devotional

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,

Observation: My encouragement must not come from the words of others but by my Lord’s grace. There are so many motivational speakers trying to encourage us by this world And hope to get rich, but my hope must lie in the Lord that one day I will be with Him. I continue to hope for things in this world whether security, money or happiness and all of that is futile.

Application: Today I got up and joined some of my church family at the beach to help clean it up. I felt led and I picked up trash and talked to my Lord and even sang, “I Love You Lord” as I went along. I continued to think why I was there and tried to figure it out asking God what He wanted me to do. I grabbed some of the books I wrote and was going to pass them out, but only passed out a couple to people that went to church. I’m not sure I accomplished what I went there for, but at least I obeyed today and did what He asked of me. God is my hope and encouragement and I need to stay focused on that.

Prayer: Dear Lord I thank you for your grace and that I am saved and that you have touched my heart and mind that I don’t think or act the way I use to. Help guide me and give me hope that I will accomplish all that you desire of me and that you would give me strength so that I don’t quit. I love you so much help me run this race that I would please you.

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.

Observation: I keep thinking I’m doing things by my power and then I realize apart from God I can’t do anything. I don’t know how God can see me worthy, but His mercy goes well beyond what I can understand. I know God has a purpose for me and He has given me so much and I do need His power and guidance to fulfill any purpose He desires of me.

Application: A key factor in this is my faith, which is weak at best. God has proven himself faithful time and time again and I need to trust Him that He will complete this good work He has begun in me. I need to live a life worthy of God I know He knows I’m not perfect, but if I try and put Him first in my life I know that will honor Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord help me be the man you desire. I want to live a life worthy of You and I need your guidance and direction each day. Open doors for me to share what you have done in my life to bring others closer to you.

Scripture: 1Thessolonians 5 [14] And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

Observation: I have no problem telling those who are idle to get busy, I’m not even a bad encourager, I enjoy helping others, but when it comes to patience I really miss the mark. I seem to always think the negative about people and then I dwell on it. Even when I’m serving on the line at work it kills me to wait for someone to make up their mind. I hurry them and will even make a sarcastic comment. I have so little patience even when it comes to my wife, whom I love more than anyone my patience always runs thin and I may say something that will hurt her feelings.

Application: I need to work on being patient and be aware of all the times when I’m not. I need to realize things don’t have to be done instantly and think of some of the instances God has made me wait and how it always turned out for the best. If God wasn’t patient with me I would be burning in hell instead of writing this journal.

Prayer: Dear Lord I’m afraid to ask for patience, because I feel I know what you will do to give me some. Help me not be in such a hurry for everything and give me that loving heart of your Son that I may wait patiently for others and help them wherever I can.

Scripture: 1Thessolonians 4:1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

Observation: I’ve been torn lately because I haven’t been doing anything for God. We went to church last Saturday for the first time in a month, We are supposed to go to Bible study tonight but I don’t want to, I don’t even get up early and pray while I walk Noah. I sleep, go to work, come home, have dinner, watch television and go to bed. This is not a life that is pleasing to God. I do have my moments, but that is all they are brief moments in a life that God blesses.

Application: I really want to live my life in glory to God that when it is time to go home I will be welcomed with open arms. This Saturday the church will be at the pier to clean up and evangelize and I need to go. I need to start my class again on depression and find others ways to please God with the time He has given me.

Prayer: Dear Lord it’s your lazy servant again. I know my daily routines don’t please you and I’m having a hard time doing what I should be doing. I need you, I need your help to guide me to live this life so it is pleasing to you. Please take this laziness away a get me on the path you desire of me. I do want to please you and show you that I do love you.

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3: [7] Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.

Observation: Does my faith encourage others? I believe there are moments that my faith does, but for the most part I talk about troubles I’m having or anger I’m feeling which is not faith. Yesterday I talked to someone about when we lost our house because I lost my job. I told her we weren’t worried there must be a reason for it and that God would get us through. Then I told her how He blessed us with a beautiful home that we could afford and how He was always there. That faith helped someone knowing that God wants to work the good in all things.

Application: God has given me every reason to have a great faith, but I choose not to most of the time. I need to feed my faith and look at how God has already worked in my life. I need to share that faith with others and encourage them the same way God encourages me so that they can see God in their situation. I’m here to be a light I need to shine so much brighter.

Prayer: Dear Lord increase my faith, strengthen me in all that I do and draw me near. Use me whenever you desire and guide me through this life touching the hearts of others as I go through.

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2 [4] On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.

Observation: What does my speech tell others about me? Are my words kind, do I speak about Jesus and my Father, do I reflect love, faith and concern. I think back at the last few days and none of those apply. My thoughts have been about worry, angry and hopelessness at times. This is not the man that is approved by God to spread the gospel, who would want to listen to this man about the love of God?

Application: God has given me knowledge and a testimony that would allow me to touch hearts that others may not be able to reach. If I step out in faith I know God will bless my efforts and He has in the past. He has given me so much so that I may help others and that is what I need to be doing with all of my might. I need to take the focus off of me and direct it to help others find Jesus and the truth of the gospel.

Prayer: Dear Lord I know what I should be doing please help give me the courage and strength to do it. Get me out of my comfort zone to go to the war zone where your children are lost and hurting. Use the knowledge, testimony and gifts of your servant to touch the hearts of those you desire to be touched.

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1: [3] We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Observation: How will I be remembered by others? Will I be the guy that gave, did much for others, was always kind, a man that represented Jesus’ love for others? If I died today that would not be my epitaph. I’m still so far from being the man God called me to be even though that is what I want more than anything. Unfortunately it takes faith, work, perseverance and love to accomplish, which I have short supply of.

Application: I just need to decide the man I’m going to be. I know what to do and how to act and I need to get past this lazy and self-centered ways I have. God has given me gifts and talents to use for His glory and when I use them I’m blessed by God, what more could I possibly want? I need to get beyond myself and look to my Lord.

Prayer: My Lord I can’t do this on my own, I’m too weak. Take this laziness from me, give me strength and wisdom to complete the tasks you put before me. Before it is time to go home may others see you presence in my life may your love shine through me and touch others.