Daily Devotional

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.

Scripture Ruth 3:10-11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.

Observation: How did the people of the town know that Ruth was a virtuous woman? It must be the way she lived her life and the things she dos for others. You can’t be self-centered and be considered virtuous. I wonder how people think of me? Do they think I’m righteous, honorable, trustworthy or do they look at me in a more negative light or do they even consider me at all? We can’t control how people think of us, but we should be living a life that pleases God and that is a virtuous life, a life with purpose and a life that others can see Christ through.

Application: I stop living a virtuous life when I but my needs and desires above anything else. God did not put me on this earth for me, who would create something for its own wellbeing. Things are created for a purpose and God created me for a purpose. It’s the start of another year and I have no idea what this year will bring, but I do know what God expects of me, to follow His commands and be the best me I can be in His eyes. So as I want to finish this race well I desire to start this year right by drawing closer to my maker and listening to His directions for this servant of His.

Prayer: My Lord here I am on bended knee wanting to understand the direction you desire your servant to go. There are so many things on my heart with the depression ministry you have placed on my heart, the assistance I can be to the outreach ministry at my church, the Heaven study you have placed on my heart. Please speak to me each day and put me on the path you desire me to be on and please take any distractions away from your servant. I’m here to serve you, my beloved master.

Scripture Ruth 2:12 The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”

Observation: The word tells us we are to do good works and bear fruit and we will be rewarded for our obedience. Boaz is telling Ruth the same thing in his blessing to her. Boaz seems to be a humble man since he is wealthy but never said that she found refuge under his protection, but under God’s. God used Boaz as His wing of refuge, He but this situation together to bring about His plan for their lives. Boaz was faithful and grateful to God and appeared to live a life that honors God and Ruth was doing the same, taking care of her mother-in-law above her own needs and God is rewarding their work and obedience.

Application: I shouldn’t fear as much as I do as a matter of fact I shouldn’t fear at all, unless I’m not seeking shelter under God’s wing. If I’m doing what God calls me to do no matter what might come up I have the comfort of knowing I’m under the refuge of God’s protection. Even on to death I will be rewarded for the good works that I have done. The only rewards that I earn are the good works I do unto the Lord and not myself so I need to be close to God so that I will know what to do.

Prayer: My Lord I need you more than anything and I want to please you by doing the things you call me to do. I get so distracted in this world and lose sight of what I should be doing. Keep me under your wing of protection and speak to me and show me the things you want of me. I’m here only as your servant, command me on what to do. I love you Lord.

Scripture Ruth 1:21 I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

Observation: Of course all of the bad things that happen to us is God’s fault, it can’t have anything to do with us. You hear it all of the time if a loved one dies or gets very sick, if we lose our job or something dear to us, it must be God’s fault. We are so easy to blame, but slow to praise. We take our prosperous time and assume that is the way it should be without giving God glory for His provision, but once they are taken away or disturbed in any way we are asking God why. Instead of asking God why we should be asking Him what do you desire of me or what do you want me to learn my Lord. I wonder how many people thank God for when a love one passes, that He has provided them with an eternal home free of pain and full of joy for all of eternity. God gives us everything and sometimes things must be taken away before we realize that He is the provider of all.

Application: I need to get down on my knees more often to thank my Lord for all that I have and the things He has in store for me. I need to have a grateful heart and an attitude of gratitude constantly. I need to see how God is working in my life no matter what the circumstances are so that I can follow Him completely. My life belongs to God and it is a gift for me to be used for His glory and not mine.

Prayer: My Lord thank you for all the blessing you have given me and I’m thankful for the trials you have gotten me through. Open my eyes to see the path you want me on and help me keep on task and not get distracted. I’m proud to be called your servant may I serve you in a way that pleases you.