Daily Devotional

Scripture 1 Sam 6:9 And watch: if it goes up the road to its own territory, to Beth Shemesh, then He has done us this great evil. But if not, then we shall know that it is not His hand that struck us–it happened to us by chance.”

Observation: How many times have we made our own game of if this happens it’s God and if this happens it wasn’t. If God rules our lives then His hand is in everything and we won’t have to toss a coin. Our goal is to be in God’s will and ask for His direction and we know as His followers He will answer. Our Lord answers in different ways but He doesn’t allow chance to guide our lives. I once heard the definition of coincidence is only a miracle God didn’t get the credit for. We should never let chance decide our future the future belongs to God.

Application: I keep thinking that things are just going to come in the right time. I need to be more aware of how God is working in my life. I need to stop taking chances and seek God’s direction. God is the ruler of my life not pure chance. It’s not as if I’m here by chance, but I’m here because God desired it so. However I do need to be taking chances on what to do when God leads me in a direction and not sit idly by.

Prayer: My Lord speak to your servant and direct me on what to do. Open doors for the things you want of me and give me the courage to do them. I’m so tired not doing anything for you show me what to do. You have given me gifts and talents use them for your glory. Show me how to please you.

Scripture 1 Sam 5:7 And when the men of Ashdod saw how it was, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh toward us and Dagon our god.”

Observation: As I was reading this I see how God is showing His powers and how He destroyed the statue of their god, Dagon. They didn’t say that the God of Israel was God or get rid of their false god Dagon, but they said get rid of the ark, which is of God, He is harsh with them and their so called god Dagon. They had this god for so long it hasn’t dawned on them that this really wasn’t God, as a matter of fact they were trying to protect it from God. Were like this not wanting to give up on our idolatries, even though God has proven Himself the one and only God worthy of our worship. It may not be a statue, but it can be money, job, relationship, pride or even something else. At times we wonder why God’s hand is so harsh towards us, probably right in the middle of our worship to a false god.

Application: I’m no better than anyone else when it comes to idol worshipping. Sometimes it’s my pride, my abilities that God has given me, possessions and my desires, instead of God’s desires for me. I need to bow down to my Lord who has given me everything that I have and worship Him only. I need to ask for His guidance and listen to how He wants to direct me. I need to burn the gods of my life and realize they are nothing and offer my whole self to my Lord.

Prayer: Dear Lord and Master of my life. You are the only thing that I should be worshipping and you are so worthy of all my love praise and worship. Please take these distractions from your servant and open my eyes to your desires for my life. I love and want to obey you in everything my God.

Scripture 1 Sam 4:3 And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.”

Observation: How come when things go wrong it’s God’s fault? Not once do you see in these scriptures that the Israelites asked God if they should go up to battle. They made their decision and proceeded the way they wanted and when the result wasn’t lined up to what they thought it should be they blamed God. How often do we do that, I know I’ve done it a lot. When my life falls apart it must be God’s fault, even though I never asked for His guidance or timing. We assume God will watch over us no matter what, but if we are outside His will we are on our own.

Application: I need to call upon my Lord and ask for direction and guidance in my life. When things don’t go well I need to ask God what He is trying to say to me. There is always a lesson and God doesn’t waste a hurt. Our lives are not supposed to go perfect, because we are only here a little while and our faith will be tested in adversary. We need to praise God in all situations and lesson to His voice in every circumstance.

Prayer: My Lord speak to your servant and tell me what you desire of me. Open my eyes each day to what you desire of me. May I be patient and always call upon you before I move forward. Help me finish this race in a way that pleases you.

Scripture 1 Sam 3:9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Observation: Maybe we don’t ask for the Lord to speak, because we know that we might not hear Him. I know I don’t stay still long enough to hear His voice. Maybe the Lord is speaking today, but none of His servants can hear Him. We try to blame God at times for the wrongs in this world that we create. We may pray to our God, but if we don’t listen to His answer how do we know if our request have been granted? We have become so busy doing nothing that will last, which the devil is happy with, that we don’t take time for the things that will outlast us. God wants us to know, but are we listening?

Application: I know my mind goes a hundred miles an hour and I accomplish very little with the time I’ve been blessed with. I need to spend more time listening to what God desires of me and less time making plans that won’t last. My purpose is eternal and I don’t have the wisdom to establish plans like that. Only God, my Lord knows what I was created for and reading His instruction are great, but I still need to listen to my Lord for the details.

Prayer: Speak to me my Father and tell me what you want of me. I give you the time you have blessed me with use it for your glory and not my amusement. I want my life to mean something when I’m gone, I want to meet people in heaven that I helped introduce you to. I want to see the fruit that I bore here on earth in heaven and I want to see the treasures you have set aside for me when I get home. Speak and keep me silent to hear your word.

Scripture 1 Sam 2:1 And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

Observation: No matter what happens here on earth we should always rejoice because of the salvation that is coming. There is nothing that can happen to us that can compare to the salvation Jesus has given us. We are going to have an eternity of pure joy because of the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior. This should give us all the strength that we need, our heart should rejoice every day, there isn’t a person in this place that can dampen our love, because no matter what happens we know how the story ends.

Application: I should never let my anxiety get the best of me, as a matter of fact I should use any opportunity especially the darkest ones to bring my Lord glory. When people see my hope and that I can rejoice in bad times, this will give me the opportunity to show others the power of my God. I can tell others then that I rejoice, because no matter what happens to me here my Lord is with me now and I’ll be with Him forever.

Prayer: My Lord I thank you for your love, mercy, grace and for my salvation. May I never forget the price that was paid by you for that precious gift, a gift I can never repay. Help me show others of your unending love and mercy and that they too can rejoice in your love. I love you Lord and look forward to the day to be with you forever.

Scripture 1 Sam 1:27 For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.

Observation: How many times do we have answered prayers? I know for myself I can’t keep track it happens so often in my life. Now how many times do we thank Him for those answered prayers? Here Hannah made a vow that if God answered her prayers she would dedicate her son to His service and she did along with offering and sacrifices. God has answered my prayers and has given me so many blessings that if I spent every moment of my life thanking Him it wouldn’t be enough, yet I only spend moments if that in thanksgiving. With my lack of gratitude it’s amazing God hears me at all.

Application: I need to tell and show my gratitude for all the Lord does for me. I should never be depressed since I should have a thankful spirit. Whenever something doesn’t go my way I need to thank God for all the things that do and the things that He has blessed me with. I’m here and breathing and more important I have an eternal home that I don’t deserve compliments of my King and that in its self is more than enough to thank God every moment of every day for His grace.

Prayer: My Lord thank you for all you do and all that you are. I thank you for the Master you are and for the blessing you have bestowed on me and the blessing yet to come. I thank you for loving this sinner and that you love me so much you have built a home for me that I get to dwell for all of eternity. Forgive me when my heart turns cold and I forget your mercy. Give me a new heart, a heart that will serve you better.

Scripture Ruth 4:14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel!

Observation: Naomi continued to say that God has cursed her, because of the things that happened in her life. Yet God supplied Ruth, her daughter-in-law to help take care of her and to supply an heir. God’s hand was in everything to make sure that she would be taken care of and that a child would be born who would become the father of Jesse who was the father of David, the line that Jesus would come from. God always supplies what we need, unfortunately we think we need so much more. We are here for a short time and God will give us what we need to make sure we can complete the purpose we are created for, but we have to decide are we here to serve the Lord or ourselves.

Application: I need to stop wanting things and look at what the Lord has already has given me and see how it can be used for His glory. I have so much an awesome wife who I love with all of my heart, a wonderful home, a great family and God has taken care of all of my needs and so many of my desires. I want for nothing except to serve Him with who I am.

Prayer: Dear Lord thank you for taking care of me and blessing me so much. Help me now understand the purpose you desire me to fulfill. Show me how to spread your word to others and make a difference for Your kingdom. Give me the heart to serve and draw me near to you. I love you my Lord make me a better servant.