Daily Devotional

Scripture: James 5: [16] Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Observation: Am I a righteous man? Like Paul I don’t do what I should do, but do what I shouldn’t. In my heart I want to be righteous, but I always seem to come up short. However God continues to answer my prayers and is always with me.

Application: To strive to be the man God calls me to be, that righteous man. To pray in accordance to God’s will, to be there for others when they need me and to strive to be righteous.

Prayer: Dear Lord guide this servant of yours to be that righteous man that will glorify you. Open my heart and mind to do what is right and honoring to you. I love you Lord, guide me this day.

Scripture: James 4: [17] Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

Observation: I try to avoid sin the best I can, but I also avoid doing good out of laziness. I know I’m suppose to be working harder at the small group ministry, but I don’t. I don’t want to help with the Valentine’s dinner, because of pride and laziness. I don’t want to do anything in the evening, because it disturbs my rest.

Application: God put on my heart the things I should do, I have no excuse. I need to fight the temptation of not doing anything, that is my sin. I’m only here for a short while and have a small window of opportunity to do God’s will here and I need to take it.

Prayer: Dear Lord give me strength and wisdom to do your will. May I realize the blessings you have set aside for me here and may I not miss an opportunity to do good.

Scripture: James 3: 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

Observation: I should be living a good life in glory and honor to God. All He asks that I do my part. To do good deeds that He has planned for me to do. To Help others and fulfill the plan He has set for me. God has given me wisdom, talents and gifts to do these good works so I have nothing to boast about.

Application: To do the good works He puts before me each day. To show His love through what I do in His name. To take each opportunity to serve others in glory and honor to my Lord.

Prayer: Dear Lord take this laziness away and put on my heart your desires. May I please You in all that I do.

Scripture: James 2: [23] And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.

Observation: Does my belief credit me righteousness. Do I step out in faith and do good works that result from strong faith? I so desperately want to be called a friend of God. A friend is trustworthy, someone you can depend on, he’s there when you need him, can confide in and someone you want to be with. That is what I want to be a friend of God’s.

Application: I need to start acting like a friend. Get off my butt and be available to God. Show Him I love Him by what I do and say. Be available when He needs me and go out of my way to please Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord thank you for being my best friend. Now show me how to be yours. Have me do the things that would make you proud of me and draw me closer to you.

Scripture: James 1: [3] because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Observation: My faith, unfortunately is easily tested. My concern for my finances with a cut in pay, my future employment, because the company is doing poorly, but the more mature I get in Christ and see how He gets me through all these trials the stronger my faith has become. I don’t worry as much and have confidence that Jesus has control of my life and He is always with me. So I continue each day searching for His will in my life.

Application: Stop when I begin to feel anxious or worry and look back at all God has done and all He has gotten me through. Be strengthened in that and continue to seek His will for each day.

Prayer: Dear Lord thank you for your love and faithfulness and forgive me at times for my lack of faith. Continue to strengthen your servant that I will fulfill my purpose in glory and honor to your name.

Scripture: Hebrews 13: 6 So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?”

Observation: Most of the time I think I’m alone living this life. I let the worries of this world overwhelm me. The worries are too much for anyone to bare on their own that is why we have Jesus as our helper. What can this world do to me? I’m only here for a short time.

Application: I will do my best and depend on Christ to help with the rest. The only thing I need to accomplish is to live a life worthy of my Lord. Fulfilling the purpose He has given me. I need to stop worrying about my job, health, appearance and focus on Jesus and know that He is with me every step of the way.

Prayer: Dear Lord thank you for never abandoning me and sticking with me in spite of all I’ve done wrong. Be with me now and help me to live this life in glory and honor to You.

Scripture: Hebrews 12: [2] Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Observation: Where do I fix my eyes each day? Normally my job, my finances, my desires, my problems. This life is so short and eternity is forever why do I focus so much of my time on things that don’t matter? Jesus has given everything for me, yet I give so little and He wants to do even more because of His love.

Application: Start focusing my efforts in Christ and live this life in glory and honor to Him. Realize He deserves all that I have and give it to Him. Think thoughts that will honor and please Him and fix my eyes, mind and heart on God each day.

Prayer: Dear Lord thank you for your love and sacrifice that I may have this wonderful life. Show me how to live it in glory and honor to you.