Daily Devotional

Scripture: Romans 5: [4] perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Observation: The first is perseverance which I lack. It’s too easy to give up or get distracted about other things. That is my nature, it takes the filling of the Holy Spirit to make me into anything that God can use. Next is character which is the man I am behind closed doors, not trying to impress anyone. Then hope after I persevere and build character that I will be worthy of God.

Application: Take the focus of myself and look ahead to the promise of Christ, persevere. Be the man God wants me to be for Him, no one else. My hope rests in my Lord.

Prayer: Dear Lord guide me this day, be by my side and show me how to be the man that will honor you.

Scripture: Romans 4: [5] However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

Observation: How much do I trust God? He deserves all of my love, adoration, time and trust. So what stops me? Why do I think things depend on me, when God is in complete control? I’ve depended on myself most of my life and always failed. This life is too difficult to survive without God.

Application: Commit each day to God. Listen to what He wants of me and do it. Before making a decision pray and trust God for the right way to go. To live this life for God and not myself, fulfilling His purpose not mine.

Prayer: Increase my faith so that I will trust in you with all my heart, lean not on my own understanding, but in all my ways acknowledge you and you will make my path straight.

Scripture: Romans 3: [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Observation: At first I read this scripture and it makes me feel I’ll always fall short, which I do, but it should be encouraging. I will always fail, but God will never fail me. Jesus’ sacrifice made me holy and righteous before the Father. Jesus gave me the most precious gifts anyone can receive, eternal life, peace, love and acceptance. I should spend the rest of my life showing my appreciation to Him by the way I live this life now.

Application: Live each day in gratitude and look for opportunities to show Jesus my appreciation for all He has done. To look at each person I meet each day and ask myself what can I do for them to show my love to Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Lord I am a sinner and not worthy of You. I thank you for your love and ask that you guide me this day to glorify You.

Scripture: Romans 2: [6] God “will give to each person according to what he has done.”

Observation: What have I done or doing and if I don’t change will I honor God. Yes I do some good things that honor God and yes I do more than some others, but do I do enough? No, not even close. God has opened the door for me to accomplish so much in His name and I pick and chose determining on how I feel. God has blessed me so much that if all I did for 24 hours in a day was to honor God with the gifts He has given me I wouldn’t come close to repaying Him.

Application: Look for opportunities to do something that will honor God. Not worry about having a time to relax, but enjoy the time God gives me to serve Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord you’ve created me for a purpose, may I fulfill that purpose. May I have done so much in this place when I come home there will be so much for me to give back as an offering to You.

Scripture: Romans 1: [17] For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Observation: My goal is to be righteous to God. That I will live a life pleasing to Him. Before I can do that, my faith needs to increase. Each day I start out worrying about something and throughout the day it consumes my thoughts. Worrying is just a lack of faith in God’s love for me.

Application: As soon as I begin to worry I need to give that burden to God. Make sure I don’t pick it up again and when tempted, focus my thoughts on Jesus and the love He has for me knowing He will protect me.

Prayer: My Lord forgive me for my lack of faith. Increase my faith that I will trust in you with all of my heart and that you may look at me and see righteousness.

Scripture: Acts 28: [31] Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Observation: Paul did what Jesus calls each one of us to do, preach the Kingdom of God boldly and without hindrance. We are all called to do it in a different way, but there is no doubt about our mission. I can’t count how many times I shriek of my duties to God and elect to be silent instead of speaking out boldly to others.

Application: I need to realize what happens to others when I don’t tell them about Jesus and His saving grace. The bible tells me if I tell someone about Christ and they refuse it, it is on them, but if I don’t tell them it is on me.

Prayer: My Lord give me courage to speak boldly in your name that there will be no one you put in my path that doesn’t hear about you from my lips or sees you in my actions.

Scripture: Acts 26: 29 Paul replied, “Short time or long–I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Observation: When I speak do I say words that will encourage others to become what I am? Not very often do I speak so others so they might be saved and when I do it’s usually to other Christians where it’s safe.

Application: Today I will have an opportunity to be around people I never met. Most it appears will not be Christians. I need to take any opportunity I have to speak in a way to draw others to God. I should share my testimony and explain what God has done for me and He wants to do the same thing for them.

Prayer: Dear Lord use me as an instrument to please you. To bring your children home to you. Give me courage and wisdom to say the right thing. Open my eyes and put someone in my path whom I may tell of your never ending love.