Daily Devotional

Scripture Psalms 13:5 But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

Observation: I wish I could say that every day that I trust in my Lord’s mercy. He has proven himself over and over again. I still get anxious and fearful, I still lose hope, even though I say my hope is in Him. I’m a hypocrite and Jesus would have every right to treat me as He treated the Pharisees, but He doesn’t. His mercy is new each day and you would think by now I would be at peace knowing that. I just finished writing another book and the key point is that this life isn’t what it’s all about, it’s about our eternal home, our salvation. If I truly rejoiced in my salvation, which I should, this life should be a piece of cake, because my focus would be on my Lord and my future with Him.

Application: I don’t understand why I don’t trust my Lord fully, it’s not about Him, but my sinful ways. I’m so easily distracted and focused on myself and not my mission. I wake up each morning in prayer, but I don’t draw near to my God and I need to do that and stay close all day long. I’m weak and that’s okay if I allow the Lord to be strong through my weakness, instead of giving up. My Laziness, pride and anger needs to be controlled so that I can be used by God and lay down this life as a sacrifice to Him and to fully trust in His mercy and the gift of my salvation.

Prayer: My Lord I pray over and over that I will trust you. You’ve put on my heart with Proverbs 3:5,6 to trust you in all things. Why don’t I? Fill me with the Holy Spirit and take charge of this servant, I’m a bondservant to you. Please take control and command this unworthy slave and make me useful for you. I love you Master, command me.

Scripture Psalms 12:3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, And the tongue that speaks proud things,

Observation: As a society we are proud people, but proud of what? We praise others in hope that they will praise us back. We seem to always need some reassurance of who we are and approval of what we are doing. We are so busy trying to hide our flaws and imperfections instead of looking at them and improving. We are so involved in ourselves we don’t have time for God, because that would distract us. God knows we are imperfect, yet he still loves us and wants us to be better, but we can only do that by looking at what we need to improve and if you’re like me that’s a lot. I’ll never be perfect on this earth, but I need to be better, not for me, but for my Lord.

Application: I want to improve and the only thing that gets in my way is me. I’m afraid to admit I need to improve, because then I might feel down on myself. I need to trust God and be honest with Him and honest with others. I can’t give in to flattery or false praise, but I need to be a man of integrity. Each day is an opportunity to be better and I need to seize that opportunity and pray and ask God for the guidance to be better. I need to be focused on the needs of others above my own and honor God with my decisions.

Prayer: My Lord thank you for making me, me. I know I have a long way to go but if you can help me each day be a little better, a little more righteous, a little more like Jesus. I know when I come home, I won’t be perfect, but help me be better for you. I love you and you deserve the best from me.

Scripture Psalms 11:5 The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

Observation: Throughout God’s word it tells us that the Lord tests or disciplines His children. Like a good Father God wants us to grow and mature. He needs to guide us to do what is right and if we go off course, He’s there to put us back on the path. He does this because he loves us and that we are His. To be tested is an honor from God, even though that is not what it feels like when we are going through it, but if He didn’t care, He wouldn’t bother. God calls us to be righteous and only He can train us to do that.

Application: I need to stop being afraid of God’s testing. I get too comfortable doing nothing. I need to grow, I’ve become stagnate and do not want to give up much of my time. I need to ask God to open my eyes to do what He wants me to do and in the way He wants it done. I need to be able to welcome any testing and discipline God puts in my life, because I know that He loves me and will only give me what I can handle through Him. It’s time to stop making excuses and get busy serving my Lord.

Prayer: My Lord and my Father. help me get over this laziness I have. Wake me up to do your will in my life. Guide and correct me when I’m doing wrong and open my eyes on what you want of me. I can’t do it alone, I’m too weak. Give me strength and guidance to run this race in a way that will glorify you, my Lord. I love you and I desire to honor you.

Scripture Psalms 10:11 He has said in his heart, “God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see.”

Observation: With all the wickedness on this earth it is easy for some to think God does not exist or as forgotten us. God does not forget and allows us a choice to follow Him or do what we please. He has given us ways to see Him and that anyone can repent and have eternal life, but it’s our choice. The world is a terrible place anymore, Satan has done a good job of distracting people of God’s love and will for our lives. The worst it gets the more it appears that God does not care, but those who love Him know the truth. He is waiting and hoping we turn to Him for salvation, but until then it is up to each one of us what we are going to do with the choice He has given us.

Application: I need to be part of showing God’s light in this dark place. God has blessed me with gifts and talents He wants me to use to help others know that God is here and He cares. I need to seek God to see how He wants me to use what He has given me for His glory and to help open the eyes of others to see Him.

Prayer: My Lord take this anger and self centerness from me please oh Lord and make me a humble servant before you. Show me how to obey every command and get me out of the way. I pray for wisdom to do your desires and the strength and courage to complete the tasks you set before me. I love you and my desire is to please you and show you how much I love and need you.

Scripture Psalms 9:1 To the Chief Musician. To the tune of ‘Death of the Son.’ A Psalm of David. I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.

Observation: That is my calling to tell others of God’s works, not mine. Everything that I am and do, that is good, is God’s work. He works the good in all things, not me. My testimony is the testimony of God’s love, even all the bad that happened to me and that I did, God is the one that got me through. I need to share the works of God to others, this is the will of God. No matter what good thing I do, God needs to get the glory and I need to be courageous expressing that to others. God is not ashamed of me and I must be bold in telling others about His love, mercy and grace.

Application: I need to find ways of telling others of God’s works. I need to find more ways to express His love, sharing my testimony, doing bible studies and performing other works. Everything that I have come up with as far as ministries has come from God He commands me to use them for His glory to tell His children of His love. I need to find ways to share what God has given me with others so that they can see Him more clearly in their own life.

Prayer: My Lord, I thank you for the gifts, talents and testimony you have blessed me with. Open doors for me to share what you have given me with others. Open my eyes and take this laziness away from me that I may do your will in this life. When I come home I want to know that I fulfilled the mission you have given me and be welcomed with open arms.

Scripture Psalms 8:4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

Observation: I always wondered who am I that God would want to be with me? Compared to God I am less than an ant, yet His word tells me that He loves me and has sacrificed His son for me so that I may have eternity with Him. I think that is the difficult part for most people that the creator of all things, that has no beginning or end cares for us. I believe that is why so many religions have people doing works to go to Heaven, so at least we are doing something, but to just believe and have eternity with God is hard to receive. We need to be reminded that God created us to do just that is our purpose, to believe and have faith in Him no matter what obstacles might arise in our life. To love God and want to be with Him more than anything is His desire.

Application: I need to receive my Lord’s love and desire that He wants me and that I’m not a mistake, but made perfect for what He wants. I need to seek each day His will for my life and to seek the purpose He has created me for and fulfill it. I need to search the scriptures and seek His voice and commands then do them. I’m saved and now it is time to fulfill the reason that my Lord has created me for. I’m here for service and I need to start serving others in my Lord’s name.

Prayer: My Lord humble me before you take this spirit of evil from me as I look at my needs above others. Soften my heart, speak to your servant and command me in what you desire of me. I want to please you and receive what you have set aside for me. Help me so that I don’t miss any of the rewards you planned for me to receive and may they be used for your glory. I love you, help me live a life that proves it.

Scripture Psalms 7:8 The LORD shall judge the peoples; Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, And according to my integrity within me.

Observation: We should be able to say judge me Oh Lord. It’s a scary thing to ask the Lord to judge ourselves, because we know how we are and that we deserve to be judged at times. Even when I’m supposing doing something for my Lord deep down there is something in it for me. Our decisions should be made on thinking of God first and others next, but very rarely does that happen our own interests always seem to creep up to the top. Being righteous will take a lot of time and practice and we need that discipline of knowing when we are not being righteous and that is where God’s judgment comes in. He’s a loving Father, but needs us to be righteous and will need to guide us from time to time.

Application: I need to be aware of God’s judgment in my life, even before I do something. I need to think it out to see if what I’m doing is His will or something I’m doing for myself and when I see it is a selfish manner, I need to be ready for the judgment I deserve. I need to know this is God’s discipline for me and I need to learn from it and be better in the future.

Prayer: My Lord continue to guide me through this life that I will honor you. Show me how to be righteous in your eyes and open them up to do what is right. I want to run this race well and I need your coaching to complete the race. Open my eyes and heart to you, I want to honor and obey everything you call me to do.