Daily Devotional

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

Observation: It was the friend’s 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: 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 things that I know. First that I’m God’s 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: Mathew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the 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 we are called to bring others to Him. Each Christian’s goal is to make disciples of others.

Application: Everything I do should have some hint of my main goal whether I’m at work or out in public people may would want what I have in Jesus. Being the man God calls me to be will help bring others to Him. Using the gifts and talents God has given me should lead 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 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’s 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 go astray. We are caught up in satisfying our flesh and we lose 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. May I 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.

Scripture: Mathew 25:40 The King replied, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine you did for me.”

Observation: It’s amazing how I can pray each morning and tell God I want to glorify him, give him my best, do His will and please him. Then I think how I treat his children with harsh judgment, unconcern, putting my wants ahead of other’s needs.

Application: I need to start looking at others as if it was Jesus, thinking first before I speak or to stop a negative thought about someone. I need to start living as if I’m always standing next to Jesus, which I am.

Prayer: Lord, may I look at everyone through your eyes seeing the beauty you placed in each one of us.

Scripture: Mathew 24:44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.

Observation: We must be ready. What does ready mean. I believe from the time we are saved we have things to accomplish “Our Purpose.” Being ready is being in the midst of doing God’s will. We may never finish but we should be doing what God called us to.

Application: I need to get busy doing the things God has called me to do. I know how to get started and I know God will guide me, but getting started is hard to do sometimes. I need to be ready and busy.

Prayer: Lord take this laziness away I know there will not always be a tomorrow to get it done, put a sense of urgency in my spirit.