Daily Devotional

Scripture Psalms 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Observation: I know that the Lord is good and I need to trust Him to make this life work out, but why is it so hard for me. My Lord has never failed me and has watched over me all of my life, yet a day doesn’t go by that I lose my faith. I worry all of the time about the dumbest things and occupy my thoughts most of the day and end up anxious. I can’t seem to keep my focus on my God for any period of time even though I know that will be my salvation from all of this worrying.

Application: I need to make trusting in my Lord a top priority every day. I need to fill these empty thoughts with prayer to my God and have Him direct my path. This journey I’m on is God’s plan for me and I need to consult with Him during the day to stay on this path. Only my Lord can get me through this life and show me my purpose and I need to trust that He will do that.

Prayer: My Lord increase my faith. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and show me how to trust you with all of my heart and not lean on my own understanding, but in all of my ways acknowledge you and let you make my paths straight. I love and trust you my Lord, keep me on the path.

Scripture Psalms 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

Observation: This world does everything but stand in awe of God. We come up with fairy tales to diminish God’s creation. This world has made up so many different religions to avoid the true and awesome God. I can’t believe He doesn’t destroy this evil place. So many Christians don’t even stand up for their belief, we make such a little difference in this fallen world. I’m not sure we as believers stand in fear of our almighty God. We seem to be blending more and more into the world instead of bringing this sinful place closer to God.

Application: I’m no better than most Christians satisfied to stand on the sideline while the few play and listen to our coach. I need to get into the game, I need to make a play or two for my Master. Each day I need to stand in awe of my creator and point others to Him. There is not much time left in the game and I’m in my fourth quarter. I need to give it all I got and stop being so lazy. I need to fear God and be afraid if I’m not obeying Him. Players get cut all of the time or if they are not that good, they spend their time on the bench. These players get the lowest pay and little reward. I don’t want to be one of those players any more.

Prayer: My Lord and my Master. You have created all things, help me tell others of you. Show me what You desire of me, tell me what to do and give me strength and courage to do it. I don’t want to sit by the side any longer I want to give it the best I have for as long as you have me here. I love you and want to make you proud.

Scripture Psalms 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

Observation: I keep wanting to make my own way and chart my own course and every time I do I get lost. God already knows where He wants me and when I arrive He blesses me. Yesterday Teri and I did a luncheon for the women’s ministry, because that is where God guided us to go. It’s easy to distinguish where God wants you and where you go off on your own. I was tired and would have loved to sleep in and I worried about doing this for some time before the event and couldn’t wait until it was over, not an attitude that honors God. Everything went smooth. The women were blessed and thanked us for a wonderful lunch. During the serving time 2 women came up to me one took my depression class. Her and her husband weren’t getting along well and she told me how the two of them are getting along great because they take the focus off of themselves. The other woman simply told me that my book saved her life. I was on the path God guided me on.

Application: I need to let God take full control of my life, it’s His anyway. I’m so tired of messing up and feeling the anxiety that comes from making wrong decisions. I know the results when I’m on God’s path and when I stray off of it. I need to take this self pleasing desire I have, because it doesn’t work and make it a God pleasing desire.

Prayer: My Lord help calm my spirit and take this constant anxiety from my spirit. Put me on the path you want me on and keep me there please. I feel so lost and just want to come home most of the times, but I know I’m only here because it is your will. Show me how to fulfill the purpose you have created me for each day. I love and trust you, my Lord.

Scripture Psalms 31:24 Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.

Observation: I wish I had good courage. It seems I’m always afraid, worrying about what might happen and what I’ve done wrong. My courage needs to come from God and not my own strength, because I have none. Maybe my problem is that I don’t hope in the Lord and I depend too much on my own abilities. I know God has watched over me my whole life, but the devil sways me so easy because my hope isn’t in the Lord, because I feel I’m hopeless most of the time. My heart melts and I feel as if I have no strength left, maybe because I never had any on my own and I need to come before the Father and ask Him to strengthen my heart and to give me courage to win this battle I have each day.

Application: I need to spend more time with my God. I start off in the morning and then loss contact right away. I need to depend on Him with everything that goes on in my life and be obedient to His commands and walk in His light. I need to realize I can’t win this fight, only God can free me from this anguish I have each day. I need to be in good courage knowing that God is fighting the battle and not me. I need to rely on the Lord each day.

Prayer: Dear Lord I need you every day and every moment in each day. I need your strength, mercy and guidance to make it through this life. Please never let go, strengthen my heart and get me through each day in a way that glorifies you.

Scripture Psalms 30:11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

Observation: Most of my life I’ve been in mourning because of my depression. A day didn’t go by that I hoped it would be my last one. When Teri and I were watching over her dad as he was sick and dying, she told me how her mom and dad liked to dance. Her mom who had already passed before I ever met her, sounded like an awesome woman who loved God and her family. When Teri’s dad passed, I got up to speak at his service and repeated this scripture that God turns our mourning into dancing and that the two of them were most likely dancing with the Lord that day. Then I looked at my own life when each morning brought pain and sadness and how the Lord filled it with hope, telling this worthless man that I have a purpose and fulfilling that purpose will make me a great dancer.

Application: I need to take more dance lessons. I need to remove these negative thoughts and feelings from my life by replacing them with thoughts about my God. When I’m thinking of Him or doing His will my life is full of joy, only when I stray and think of myself or this world does the dancing stop.

Prayer: My Lord, thank you coming into my life when you did and how you have stayed throughout all of these years. Take this negative thinking from me and the feeling of mourning I sometimes have and change me. Renew my mind and direct me in the things you desire of me. I want to be a better servant and I want to draw closer to you. I love you and desire to dance.

Scripture Psalms 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Observation: We are always asking God for something, but how often do we give back? We need to give back only what He deserves, which is everything, but He asks for so little. Our worship is what we do with this life God has blessed us with and He deserves us to make it something very special. We are so busy making our life for us we leave the only reason we have a life and that is for God’s glory and not our own. Our Lord is perfect and His beauty has no boundaries and He deserves to be worshiped with all of our heart, mind and soul.

Application: All I’ve been thinking about lately is me. This was my last day at the Army and Navy Academy and all I think about is that they realize they made a mistake for letting me go and that does not honor God and is no act of worship. My thoughts for the most part are about me and what I want. I have to break free from this terrible mindset and be focused on my Lord and how I can better live this life for Him. It seems I can’t stay focused more than a minute without drifting back to my self-absorbed life and I need to be living for my Lord. This is not an option and I must do it right before it’s too late.

Prayer: My Lord you are worthy of all my love, praise, worship and obedience. I don’t know how to live this way and need your help to do it right. I feel so lost at times please Lord lift up your servant and guide me to glorify you. May this life be worship that You desire and please you. I love you and what to love you more.

Scripture Psalms 28:4 Give them according to their deeds, And according to the wickedness of their endeavors; Give them according to the work of their hands; Render to them what they deserve.

Observation: I just got let go of a job I had for five years and the company I was working at told my company that they would only renew the contract if they would change managers. I was shocked and couldn’t believe it because I thought I was doing this wonderful job and everyone loved me. This is my last week and I’ve been helping the man that is taking over. I go back and forth praising God that He will open another door for me and wanting Him to strike them with lightning or something. I want them to get what they deserve. I forget they are just looking out for the best interest of their school and for some reason I wasn’t a good fit. I’m taking it personal and it was a corporate decision and maybe God is using this to humble me and I need that.

Application: I have a couple of more days and I need to make them the most positive I can. They need to be able to see my Lord in my life as I leave with love and grace. I need to trust God, He has never let me down in the past and I know that He loves me and wants to do a work in my life. I need to be more focused on Him and not on what happened, I need to keep my eyes wide open to see what God desires of me.

Prayer: My Lord help me get through this and see you in the midst of this situation. Speak to your servant and guide me soften my heart and fill it with love for others. I’m here only as a servant and need to act like one. I love you my Master, guide and use me.