Daily Devotional

Scripture: Mark 4:40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Observation: I’ve been worrying about so many things lately. I’m really afraid of what might happen with my job and health. I can’t stop thinking negative thoughts and realize it’s because of my lack of faith. God has got me through so many things and yet I quickly forget and start worrying as soon as something comes up.

Application: I need to receive God’s protection and have faith that He is in control. When ever I begin to worry I need to start praying.

Prayer: Lord you are in control give me guidance and fill my heart with your love. Increase my faith.

Scripture: Mark 1:11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my son, whom I love, with you I am well pleased.”

Observation: There are two statements that God can say of me I am his child and that He loves me. I wish I could say He is pleased with me, but I know that is where I fall short. Each day I fall short of doing what He desires and get caught up in this world. I try harder to please the people around me then pleasing God.

Application: To realize whatever I do should be done in a way that is pleasing to God. I know how and what to do it’s just doing it that’s hard for me. I need to be a God pleaser instead of a man pleaser.

Prayer: Lord may I live the rest of my life in a way that when it’s time for me to come home I may hear you say, “this is my child whom I’m well pleased.”

Scripture: Mark 3:35 whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother

Observation: Jesus gives us a new relationship when we are obedient to God’s will.  Jesus calls us friends and asks us to follow him.  When we do what the Father asks of us we become part of the family.  For me to draw closer to God I must do His will.

Application: I should have a plan to accomplish God’s will in my life.  By reading the Bible I know what God’s will is for my life and what He expects of me.  This needs to be my top priority if I plan on being in his family.

Prayer: My Lord take the distractions of this world away from me so my focus will be on you and what you desire of me.

Scripture: Mark 2:5: When Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, “Son your sins are forgiven.”

Observation: It was the friends faith that healed the man not his.  When we pray for someone they don’t have to be a believer because it’s the faith of the believer praying that God will use.  However when God answers the prayer we need to make it clear what God did for that person.

Application: I need to increase my faith as I pray.  I need to know God is going to answer my prayer with the measure of faith I have.

Prayer: Lord increase my faith and give me a larger heart for others so through my prayers I can make a difference for you.

Scripture: Mathew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the3 Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Observation: God asks are obedience, to use our gifts, to have faith, but no matter what are purpose is to bring others to him.  Each Christian’s end result is to make disciples of others.

Application: Everything I do should have some hint of my main goal whether at work being an example so people may want what I have in Jesus.  Being the man God calls me to be will help bring others.  Using the gifts and talents God has given me needs to have an end result of bringing others to him.

Prayer: God may I live this life you have given me in a way that Jesus shines through me, being a light of love to others.

Scripture: Mathew 27:32 As they were going out they met a man from Cyrene named Simon and they forced him to carry the cross

Observation: Forced him to carry the cross.  Jesus says to take up your cross and follow me.  How many times I feel I’m forced yet my Lord willingly took the cross for me.  He asks so little for giving me so much

Application: I should gladly take the cross and carry it knowing my Lord is with me and carry it honor to him.

My burdens are so small yet how I complain. I need to stop complaining and just do what I know my God wants me to do.

Prayer: My Lord give me the strength to gladly take my cross and follow you knowing you are with me each step of the way.

Scripture: Mathew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.

Observation: It is so easy to fall into temptation because in this world were tempted all the time.  With television, newspaper, billboards, internet and people that surround us it is so easy to stray.  We are caught up in satisfying our flesh we loose track of why we’re here and that is to serve God.  So if we don’t watch out for temptation and stay close to God by prayer, temptation will take over.

Application: To stay in a constant mode of prayer so when temptation comes I can ask for God’s help to defeat it.  When I feel tempted to recite the words of Jesus “away from me Satan, as it is written worship the Lord your God only.”

Prayer: Lord keep me alert and be with me to fight temptation and to be focused on you.