Daily Devotional

Scripture: Mathew 10:20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Observation: I’ve experienced those moments when words came out of my mouth that wasn’t from me. What a wonderful experience those times are when God uses me to encourage and help others. I want to experience many more moments like that, but I need to put myself in situations that God can use me. I need to step out of my comfort zone and be willing to be used.

Application: I need to look for those opportunities where God can speak through me and to step out when someone needs prayer and to be available even when it might be inconvenient. I need to speak out in the name of Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Lord you deserve everything I am and I ask you to use this servant to empty me out and fill me with the Holy Spirit. Help me step up and make myself usable for you.

Scripture: Matthew 16: 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Observation: I spend more time worrying about myself then anything else. Currently I’m worried about losing our home and where we are going to live instead of focusing on God’s plan for my life. Until I stop thinking of me and focus on what God wants of me I will never fulfill the purpose God has for me.

Application: It’s time to follow my Lord and Savior and see where he wants to lead me. Allow God to work in me and give him everything each day. Stop focusing on me and my needs and start focusing on what God wants me to do.

Prayer: Dear Lord forgive my selfishness and self-centerness and guide me through this life to be the man you desire me to be. May I take up my cross each day and follow you all the way home. I love you and I know you know my heart, may I show the rest of the world this love.

Scripture: Matthew 15: [18] But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man `unclean.’

Observation: That is me if I’m feeling something I would just blurt it out without taking in consideration the other person’s feeling or how I might be dishonoring God in the words I say.. No sense saying I didn’t mean it because I most obviously was and the damage has been done. The damage has been done and what I said determines who I am to that person.

Application: I need to think and pray before I say anything, always checking my heart for what would honor God. Fill my heart with love for others as God has for me. If my heart is full of love all that will come out of my mouth will be encouraging, loving and caring words.

Prayer: Dear Lord I’m a sinner and I thank you for your love and grace in my life. Show me how to extend your love to others with the words I use and the manner I use them. Fill my heart with your love so it may overflow to others.

Scripture: Matthew 14: [14] When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Observation: It is so hard to understand Jesus’ compassion for us. I know it was something I don’t deserve yet I know he cares and loves me. It is something you can’t earn and don’t deserve, but he gives it so freely. So I won’t attempt to understand, but just freely accept it as my gift given from God.

Application: To live the best life I can in appreciation of God’s love for me. I know I can’t earn it, but I need to do my best to bring some joy to my Lord who continually gives me joy, peace, love, protection and a reason to go one each day.

Prayer: Dear Lord I thank you for who you are and the compassion you have on this sinner. Help me fulfill the purpose you have created me for and guide me each day to be this man you call me to be. I’m here only for you, help me show you.

Scripture: Mathew 8:26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

Observation: My faith must be weak because a day doesn’t go by that I don’t worry about something. I live most of my life in fear, yet I don’t know what I’m afraid of. God has worked miracles in my life and yet even after experiencing these miracles I still doubt.

Application: My fear comes from a lack of faith. I need to trust my Lord with all my heart. God put this on my heart a few years ago. Proverbs 3:5, 6 and yet I still have a hard time trusting. I need to give my whole life to Christ, it’s his anyway. Every time I worry or over plan I need to stop and know Christ is with me.

Prayer: Dear Lord increase my faith for you are trustworthy and true. I dedicate this life to you, guide me this day to glorify you. Take this fear from me and fill me with your love.

Scripture: Matthew 13: [23] But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Observation: I feel the seed fell on good soil when I received the word, yet I have not produced a crop in accordance to what was given me. I hear the word and a day doesn’t go by that I don’t read the word and each day I understand more what is in it. Yet I’m not putting everything into practice. I’m not allowing the nutrients of God’s love to enter me so that I may grow and reproduce the crop.

Application: This life was not given to me for me alone. I’m here to share what I have whether possessions, time or the knowledge I’ve been given. I’m to go out and spread the word to find the good soil so others may be saved by the grace that was given to me.

Prayer: Dear Lord thank you for counting me worthy of the hope you have given me. Strengthen my knowledge of the word and what I’m to do as your servant. You are worthy of all that I have and am use me to produce a crop in glory and honor to your name.