Daily Devotional

Scripture 2 Chron 1:11 And God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life–but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king–

Observation: Solomon cold have asked for anything, but he asked for something that would glorify God. He wanted to fulfill the purpose God had created him for and knew he couldn’t do it in his own power so he asked God for the talents he would need to do what God desired. God was so blessed with his request that He didn’t only give Solomon what he asked for , but much more. Solomon blessed God with his request and God blessed Solomon with riches and power if he would just stay in God’s will for the rest of his life. Solomon received what God promised, but through his life strayed from God’s will to do what he wanted and he paid the price for his disobedience.

Application: God has blessed me with so much and He answered my prayers, but like Solomon I get comfortable and stray from the path that God put me on. I need to be focused on my Lord so I don’t get side tracked all the time and remember all of his benefits. He gives and wants do give me the desires of my heart, but He can’t reward sin so I need to stay righteous and stay on the path all of my life and when I see I’ve wandered of the path I need to get right back on and ask forgiveness for not listening to my Lord.

Prayer: Dear Lord I thank you for all the many blessing you have bestowed on me, but I need your help. I can’t stay on the righteous path you have chosen for me without your help and guidance. Please give me the wisdom, knowledge and discipline it will take to finish this race in the way you desire it to be run. I love and what to honor you my Lord, please help me.

Scripture 1 Chron 29:14 But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.

Observation: When we give to God sometimes we think it’s a big deal. Maybe we do a special event that took some of our time, donated some things or money, but we forget no matter what we gave in God’s name was still God’s. We honor God for the faithfulness of following His commands by being generous, but no matter what we gave it was God’s. We become so stingy at times with our possessions without realizing they aren’t ours in the first place. If we were to go home today to be with the Lord all that we have accumulated will still be here.

Application: I have become to protective of what I have and I have become stingy about giving. God tells me to be generous to others and I’m not. What He is saying share some of the stuff I have with those I surround you with. Don’t be a hoarder with my stuff, use what I have given you to fulfill the purpose I created you for in the first place. I need to think of the needs of others before my own and this is hard since I’ve been so self centered most of my life, but I need to let go and use what God has blessed me with for His glory.

Prayer: My Lord help me be more generous with all that you have given me. Help me stop looking for ways to please myself and start pleasing you with this life you have so generously given me. Humble me before others that I may give freely from all that you have given me.

Scripture 1 Chron 28:7 Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever, if he is steadfast to observe My commandments and My judgments, as it is this day.’

Observation: God will fulfill the plan He has for our life if we will let Him. God will not do anything against His nature and He calls us to be obedient in all that we do for Him. He wants His children to love and obey Him as good children would do, but if we rebel there will be consequences to be paid. God desires to give us the best and so much more than we can possibly deserve, but we must follow Him each day and ask for His guidance.

Application: My mind wanders so much to evil and lustful thoughts and I’m having a difficult time keeping them in check. I need to seek God’s guidance on how I can stay steadfast in His commands. I need to rid myself of the distractions of this world and be focused on God’s will for my life. I need to know God’s commands and His rules for living this life in a way that is honoring to Him.

Prayer: My Lord open my eyes and help me resist the evil that is surrounding me. Give me a peaceful spirit and the wisdom to make right decisions each day. Guide me on your path you have chosen for me and keep me walking towards you. I love you Lord and want to glorify your name. help me please run this race to please you.

Scripture 1 Chron 27:23 But David did not take the number of those twenty years old and under, because the LORD had said He would multiply Israel like the stars of the heavens.

Observation: If you obey God you can count on His promises that He has declared to us through His word. However Like David who ended up taking a census against God direct order not to, will pay the consequences. Our directive is not to do what God has called us not to do and do the things he commands us to do. It seems simple, but the enemy has other plans for our lives and those plans include disobeying God. God’s intention is to bless us but He can’t if we are rebellious towards Him. We need to trust God in what He says and follow his commands in our lives.

Application: Continue to study God’s word and draw closer to Him so that I will stay obedient no matter what might come. Listen when I pray and wait for His still small voice to speak to me and obey all that He says. God has given me several commands I must follow in regards to the man He calls me to be, the way I spend my time and money and the way I treat His other children and I must follow each command to the letter.

Prayer: My Lord you are my God and my Master. Draw me close to you that I may hear your voice and obey each command. Make me into this man you desire of me, change me and rid me of this sinful nature and laziness I have and make me a servant that will serve you till the end.

Scripture 1 Chron 26:5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth; for God blessed him.

Observation: This is part of a long genealogy and distribution of duties however only Peulthai was said to be blessed by God. It doesn’t state why he was picked out as being blessed and I’m sure the others have been blessed by God for they were Levites. I wonder what he did to have this distinct honor. He must have served God better than the rest and had a heart for the Lord and God wanted him to stand out to show others if you give your life to the Lord he’ll reign down blessings. I’m not sure if that’s it, but it sure sounds like my Lord, grow nearer to God and he’ll draw closer to you.

Application: I deserve no blessings. I lived most of my life far apart from God and even now that I have drawn closer to my Lord I still sin each day, but He blesses me so much. I need to try harder to be faithful to my God. I’ll never earn His blessings or be worthy, but He deserves the best I have no matter what I receive in return, because this beggar deserves nothing from the King, but He deserves all that I am.

Prayer: My King and my Lord I thank you for all of the many blessings this lowly servant as received out of you love for me. I need help staying on course of what you desire. I will never be worthy Lord, but help me be the man that pleases you, a man after your own heart.

Scripture 1 Chron 25:7 So the number of them, with their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the LORD, all who were skillful, was two hundred and eighty-eight.

Observation: I would love to be able to sing or play an instrument, but that isn’t my skill. My voice is far from a joyful noise, maybe just a noise. However I do have other skills God has blessed me with, I can cook and God has blessed me even with the ability to teach others how to cook, I have organizational skills and have been in management all of my life and God has blessed me with imagination and the ability to visualize things. These are the skills I’m to use while I’m here on earth to glorify God. When I get to heaven I believe I will be able to do things I couldn’t do here, but my service always to the Lord are the skills and gifts He has given me here on Earth.

Application: Instead of worrying about what I don’t have I need to be using the gifts I do have for God’s glory. I shouldn’t take them for granted because they come so easy to me, that is how God gifted me as He has everyone else. These are the skills I’m to use to help others and to be a part of the body of Christ. I need to keep using them and improve them as I grow closer to using them for all eternity in service to my King.

Prayer: My Lord I thank you for the skills and talents you have blessed me with. Guide me in how to use them for your service and to fulfill the purpose you have created me for. May the talents you have given me multiply to you and that I would be a good investment of your love, mercy and grace.

Scripture 1 Chron 24:19 This was the schedule of their service for coming into the house of the LORD according to their ordinance by the hand of Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

Observation: When you do as the Lord commands things go well for us. In the old testament you see it over and over again. When the Israelites followed the Lord things went well, but as soon as they rebelled situations went bad. The same is true today. If we follow God’s commands and obey His laws things will have a purpose and God will watch over us no matter what the situation, but when we decide to stray and not follow God’s commands God will leave us to our own destruction until we return to Him.

Application: I need to always be in God’s will and listen to Him. I need to get rid of this pride that holds me back and humble myself before Him. I need to recognize God as my Master and as His servant I need to listen to each command and serve Him with my whole heart every day.

Prayer: My Lord I am an unworthy servant, but I come before you in hope that you will change me. Give me that heart of flesh and an obedient spirit that I may serve you in the way that will please you. I love you and want to honor you as your servant each day.