Daily Devotional

Scripture: Revelations 1: [3] Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Observation: This year will be the 13th time I read through the Bible. I’ve read the words, but I haven’t taken them to heart all the time. I haven’t obeyed what is in God’s word and I haven’t shared it with others as He commands me. I know God’s word and what He desires of me yet I still find myself living this life my way instead of how God has designed it. I want to be blessed and God has blessed me, but not out of my obedience, but by his grace.

Application: I need to study God’s word not just read over it. I need to put the meaning in my heart and live them out. I should be living a life that deserves to be blessed. It time to share what I have learned with others that don’t know the Lord to be that light that God calls me to be.

Prayer: Dear Lord show me how to put your word deep into my heart that when times come I will be able to call on those words to glorify you. Put the understanding in my mind and give me the wisdom that I will need.

Scripture: Jude 1:24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy

Observation: I don’t know why I underestimate Jesus. When I’m in trouble I focus on the problem and not on my Lord and Savior. Just yesterday I was reading how Jesus calls us His friend. He has always acted as my best friend watching over me always there when I call, but it is one sided friendship most of the time. He can even present me before the Father in a way that God doesn’t see my sins and I can enter into His glory, because of Jesus.

Application: I need to realize the person of Jesus. My King, Lord, Savior, my friend and my everything. There should be no one or anything that deserves my love more than Him. I need to realize all He has given to call me His and the lengths He went that I may have eternal life with Him and the Father.

Prayer: My Lord I owe you everything and I know you are with me. Show me how to live this life with you by my side. May I honor you and show you my friendship with a heart of love.

Scripture: 3 John 1 [3] It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.:

Observation: I wonder if there is anyone I know that can tell that I walk by faith and if they were so impressed by my walk that they would tell others about me. Maybe I don’t walk by faith, maybe my complaining and lack of trust tells others something else about me. Have I become a hypocritical Christian saying one thing and living my life in another. I try to imagine what someone else would see by looking at me and if they would be able to see a strong walk in Christ or would the few things I do for others in God’s name get shadowed by the way I live my life each day.

Application: I need to present myself as an ambassador for Christ in my everyday life. People should be able to see the joy in my life without forcing anything. I need to remember who I am in Christ and not the position I hold in this world. I want to live my life in a way that others would see my love for God and for them.

Prayer: Dear Lord I do love you and you deserve to be first in my life above everything. Help me focus on you and that others would see that love and be drawn near to you because they desire the same relationship we would have.

Scripture: 2 John 1: [6] And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

Observation: I want to obey God and to obey Him I must walk in love, yet I don’t. I struggle with not hating my brother-in-law. I feel he is a liar and a thief and has treated his sister, my wife, with no respect. I can’t think of him without hateful thoughts and I know that does not honor God. There is no excuse for me I must love him if I want to honor God, but it is a struggle for me.

Application: God has not given me any exceptions to His will, to love Him I must love others. I need to look at my brother-in-law as God’s child and nothing else. This is my thorn and I must overcome my hatred and honor God by loving him.

Prayer: Dear Lord I need your strength, love and compassion to be obedient to you. I’m a sinner and I have hateful ways, fill my heart with your love and guide me so that I may be obedient to you in all things.

Scripture: 1 John 5: [3] This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

Observation: I know to love God is to obey Him, but I didn’t think that it wasn’t going to be a burden. Everything He asks of me is for my own good and the good of others. and when I’m obedient I feel the Holy Spirit and joy. God has never asked anything that difficult of me and all I need to do is humble myself and put God desires above my own.

Application: God asks so little of me and I need to take this time He has given me to be used for His glory. I need to stay in the word and prayer to know God’s will and do it with a cheerful spirit, a spirit others may see and desire for their own.

Prayer: Dear Lord I owe you everything, yet you ask so little of me. May I always serve you with a cheerful spirit, in a way that pleases you. Please Lord use me until it’s time to come home.

Scripture: 1 John 4: [21] And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Observation: It would have been easier if Paul says that God recommends or strongly suggests, but he said must. This means to receive unconditionally, to care for, even above your own needs putting your brother first. Why if God commands it, that it is so hard for me to love unconditionally. When I first see someone normally my first reaction is of judgment, not love, I criticize in my mind something about that person and search out negative things.

Application: I need to think about all the negative things about me and there is a lot, yet God loves me and sees nothing but good because of Jesus. There is no reason to compare anyone with anything but to look at others through God’s eyes, His child and creation and if I look in judgment, then I’m judging God’s work. I do love God and to love is to obey and love what is His.

Prayer: Dear Lord soften my heart and show me how to love others as I love you. I love because you first loved me, now may I share that love with others in your name.

Scripture: 1 John 3: [24] Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

Observation: How often to I obey God’s commands? He puts things on my heart, but doesn’t force me to do it, but uses the Holy Spirit to confirm what He wants. It’s so easy not to do the things of God because He doesn’t force us, but wants us to do it out of love for Him. You would think with how much God loves me that I would jump at the opportunity to please Him. How selfish I am, a child of the best Father ever you would think I would want to please Him.

Application: Ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit and not be afraid of doing what is required of me. To do all things out of love and not obligation, to be obedient because He is my Father. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and ask for help when I need it.

Prayer: Dear Father I don’t want to come home and see the disappointment on your face because of a disobedient child. Use the Holy Spirit to correct and guide me on what is left on this journey so when it is time I will be able to run into open arms and know that you are well pleased.