Daily Devotional

Scripture: Matthew 11: [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Observation: I read each day and I know what Jesus has done and what his message is, but do I learn from Him? When the time comes that I need to put in practice what I’ve learned I simply try to handle things in my own power and thoughts. Jesus asks me to do it together with Him, yet I continue to try to tackle life on my own.

Application: Jesus loves me and is prepared to be right by me walking and teaching me as I go on this journey. I need to let Him take charge and I need to learn.

Prayer: Dear Lord guide me each day and open my eyes to what it is you want me to learn. May I be a good student and graduate this life to the next.

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

Observation: I have experienced this more than once when I step out to talk or comfort someone in Jesus name. Words come forth and it is as if I’m standing next to me listening. I watch the expression on people’s faces as He speaks through me and how His words comfort and guide them. I want more of that.

Application: I need to make myself more available to God. I need to offer myself more to others and give God more opportunities to use me to speak through me.

Prayer: My Lord I’m nothing without you, but with you there is nothing I can’t do. So guide me this day and give me an opportunity to be used by you that your name will be glorified.

Scripture: Matthew 9: 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”;

Observation: According to my faith, what would be done for me? I talk a good game yet every day my lack of faith comes out through worrying and anxiety. I’m concerned over money and health and work. Yet God has never let me down. What kind of faith is that?

Application: I need to catch myself when I become overwhelmed or fearful. Stop and pray and give it to my Lord, who is faithful and loving. I need to ask God to increase my faith and learn to trust Him in everything.

Prayer: My Lord increase my faith and open my eyes to your desires. I’m here only because you want me here and whatever happens to me is under your control.

Scripture: Matthew 8: 10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

Observation: I lack faith, even though God shows himself to me each day of my life. I want to be that man that Jesus was astonished by his faith instead of disappointed by my lack of. I don’t want God to look down on me and shake his head because of my lack of faith anymore.

Application: I need not worry, fear or be anxious. God has chosen me to fulfill a purpose and no matter what trial I might be going through God will guide me through it, if I let Him.

Prayer: My Lord increase my faith and guide me this day. May I astonish you with my faith and honor you.

Scripture: Matthew 2: [11] On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

Observation: Jesus deserves my worship, praise and obedience. He deserves all of my treasures, all that I have. My gift to Him should be my all, nothing should be more important then honoring God.

Application: Start each day by bowing down to my Lord and Savior and presenting my life as a gift, holy and pleasing to my Lord. He is worthy and should be first place in my life.

Prayer: Dear Lord I thank you for your love, mercy and grace and ask you to forgive this servant of yours for all the time You took a back seat to my desires. Help me put you first in all that I do.

Scripture: Matthew 7: [12] So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Observation: I recite this scripture, but I don’t always live it. I’m nice to others, but I do choose the people I don’t care for and treat them different. God tells me not to judge others, yet I do whether simply by appearance, what others say or the judgment I make. However God means everyone and every situation to treat others the way I want to be treated.

Application: If I treat anyone with less than love the Father commands me to, I need to stop and ask God’s forgiveness and theirs. There is no reason to treat someone poorly but the reason I use is they treated me poorly first and that is no excuse in God’s eyes.

Prayer: My Lord give me strength to love all your children, to treat others with the love you treat me with. Help me love the way You love.

Scripture: Matthew 6: [20] But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Observation: I continue to store up treasures in this place using my resources that God has given me to buy things here instead of using them to store up treasures in heaven. One of the greatest treasures is my time and lately I feel I’m hording it for myself instead of giving it to God. He asks so little of me yet I give him even less.

Application: I need to plan my time and treasures better for the kingdom. I need to get more involved with church or projects that honor God. Before buying something I need to ask myself can this money be spent more wisely for God.

Prayer: My Lord, this sinner is selfish, please change my focus to you and your children and show me how to build my treasures in heaven.