Daily Devotional

Scripture Neh 12:24 And the heads of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers across from them, to praise and give thanks, group alternating with group, according to the command of David the man of God.

Observation: They had groups of worshipers just praising and giving thanks continually to the Lord. There was always someone or group giving God the praise and thanks that He deserves. I want to be in that group, can you imagine how close those worshipers were to God, with God on their minds and hearts mediating on Him they must have felt His presence. The little time I give to God in thanks and praise is so minimal I can never feel Him close to me. The Bible says move closer to God and He will move closer to you, but we need to move first and thanks and praise is a way to run into His arms.

Application: I need to be part of that group or make my own. All day long I need to thank and praise His glorious name and nature. By prayer, actions, what I say or yell out that it gives God praise and that I thank Him for all that He has blessed me with, which would take the rest of this life to do. I need to stop being so involved in this life and start looking forward to my eternal home. If I want to earn rewards at home I need to do them here where God has placed me.

Prayer: My Lord you are worthy of all my praise, worship, love and obedience. Help defeat the enemy that is stopping me from doing that whether it is Satan or my own sinful ways. You deserve all that I have and all that I am in praise and thanks. I love you Lord and I thank you for this life that you have blessed me with, may it bring you joy.

Scripture Neh 11:17 Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, the leader who began the thanksgiving with prayer; Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

Observation: It is interesting that the leader began the thanksgiving in prayer and was recognized in the scripture for doing so. We should start everything in prayer, every endeavor, decision, act of service or even speaking most of the time and in those prayers we should always start with thanksgiving. We need to recognize that God has given us all and He deserves are all. Prayer is the way to draw close to our Lord and ask for direction, the direction that will glorify Him

Application: I go about things with so little thought and without consulting my Lord and so many times things go wrong. I think that I can do things in my own power without realizing I can’t do anything apart from God. I need to stop before doing anything and bring it to my Master in prayer and ask for His guidance and ask what would bring Him joy, how can I use every situation to worship Him. I’m only here to serve God and nothing else and I need to know how.

Prayer: My Lord help me slow down and open my eyes to you. May I bring everything to you in prayer and then wait until I hear from you before I proceed. You deserve all I have including my time and love and yet I give you so little of both. Help me finish well that there will be no doubt about my love for you.

Scripture Neh 10:29 these joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes:

Observation: A curse and an oath, which means if they don’t do what they say they will do, which is to walk in God’s law they are inviting a curse on them. We expect a blessing if we do what God calls us to do, but how often do we tell God if we don’t do according to your will Lord please place a curse on me. Just the thought is frightening. That is how serious we should be we should have no doubt that we will follow through on keeping God’s law if by some chance we don’t we deserve a curse, which we do. God has given us everything and ask us to follow his word, which is good for us, how can we do anything but.

Application: I need to stop taking so lightly my promises to God. I tell my Lord every day that I want to do His will and be the man that will glorify Him, but the amount of effort I put toward that goal is so minimal it deserves to be cursed. My number one commitment needs to be to my Lord and my God. I need to make an oath that I will follow my Master’s commands and do what He calls me to do or pay the consequences.

Prayer: My Lord this laziness is so hard to get past. Help give me the strength and will power to do what is in my heart. I want to please you and glorify your name I need strength. I want to make an oath to you that from this day forward I will do just that give me the courage to make and keep this oath in glory to you.

Scripture Neh 9:5 And the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said: “Stand up and bless the LORD your God Forever and ever! “Blessed be Your glorious name, Which is exalted above all blessing and praise!

Observation: I was just reading a book about Heaven by Greg Laurie and it was saying what the meaning of life is. Our meaning and purpose is to glorify God that’s it. If we made something we don’t make it for its own good but for ours, it is to serve a purpose for us. That is why God created us to serve, glorify and give Him praise. He loves us and our joy is only found in Him and until we stop trying to find pleasure everywhere else and start finding it in our Lord we’ll never find it.

Application: My days are full of thoughts, but most of them are about me and what I want or get out of life. I have my moments when I’m with God asking Him to change me into the person He desires, but that time should be my full focus instead of a few moments a day. I need to humble myself and realize I’m only here because God desires it so and that my life was designed to give Him joy.

Prayer: My Lord help me put you first in everything I do. My thoughts are mostly about what I want to do and worries about this life. I want to do nothing but bring you joy so please humble me before you and give me strength and the desire to glorify you.

Scripture Neh 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Observation: We continue to try to find strength within ourselves, our position, our possessions or our abilities and we always fall short. We think we can live this life without God, but that is the only reason we are here in the first place. There is nothing good in us, we are selfish, prideful and basically sinners. Our joy and strength comes from our Lord, the purpose of our life. We are not here to make money, a lot of friends, fill a position on this earth we are here only to glorify God and to earn rewards in Heaven. God has given us a chance to do it right, by living for Him, but he won’t force us. So we need to find our joy love, strength, courage and peace in our God, nowhere else.

Application: I continue to look to myself for my joy and purpose when God has already spoken to me that it is Him. I think way too much and act way too little. I need to find my strength, joy, love and purpose in my Lord. I need to live each day for Him and not me. I need to introduce others to my Lord, not me. I want to finish this race well.

Prayer: My Lord I’ve been so involved in my life, I forget it’s yours. It’s always been yours show me how to give it to you completely and to stop trying to take in back. May I freely give you this life as a living sacrifice, Holy and pleasing to you. I love you Lord and I thank you for loving and caring for me.

Scripture Neh 7:2 that I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the leader of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.

Observation: If we want any type of responsibility in the house of God we first must prove faithful. People need to be able to depend on us and that we would put what is right first. To fear God is to respect Him in a way that we would feel fear if we didn’t. Knowing God gives us a clearer picture of Him and our part in His kingdom and on this earth. When you realize all that God can do and who He is you can’t imagine to look Him in the eyes, because you are not worthy and we aren’t.

Application: I have not been proven faithful lately. My laziness has overcome my productiveness. It seems I don’t want to do anything and that is not being faithful to my Lord or to His children. If I feared God the way I should and would be appreciative of all He has done and given me I would search for every opportunity to do His will. I need to get my energy and loyalty going and get off my butt and serve the way I’m called to.

Prayer: My Lord forgive me please and help me off the couch. Heal your servant and give me strength to do your will in this life. Help me please I feel like I’m drowning in my own laziness give me strength and wisdom to do what is right. Help me be faithful to you.

Scripture Neh 6:16 And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.

Observation: If we know God wants us to do something, but it seems too big for us to do, good. God wants others to see Him through our love, effort and compassion. He wants us to do things that we can’t do on our own so others can see Him. We spend more time being afraid of trying things that we don’t try anything. If you tell others that you are a child of God, then act like one. If you were a child of a millionaire and told others you were going to buy a new car, no one would be surprised because your father could afford it, so when we go out and attempt to do something above our means no one should be surprised that it becomes accomplished through the strength of your Father.

Application: Well of I can practice what I preach. I’m afraid to do anything lately. I’ve become so lazy and I’ve lost my compassion. God has given me so much and He gave it to me to help others and to show his love to many. I’ve gotten to the point all I do is lay around and watch television and on the rare occasion attempt something for my God. I don’t know if God is trying to talk to me and I can’t hear Him or that I’m just not listening. I need to regain my passion for my Lord and get busy proving it to Him and to introduce others to my Lord and Father.

Prayer: Dear Lord help me please. I’ve become useless and I’m so tired anymore I can barely stay awake. Give me the energy, strength, courage and passion to do your will and be that servant you call me to be. May others see my life and see you. I love you and I want to do what honors you help me please, get me going for your glory.