Daily Devotional

Scripture Esth 3:5 When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath.

Observation: How often do we get upset when things don’t go the way we want them to? That’s pride. Why do things have to go the way we think they should, who are we to be above anyone? I know in my life I feel I’m owed a certain amount of respect and that my wishes should be recognized. I feel that way a lot more than I feel I should be helping someone else have their desires or needs met. Anger happens when we don’t get our own way or things aren’t turning out right for us and that anger will build so eventually that anger will harm someone else and typically it’s a family member or close friend.

Application: I need to stop seeking my way and start seeking God’s way, putting His desires above my own. Once I do that the needs of others will be more important than mine. I have a terrible anger problem and get upset at the simplest things, things that don’t go my way. That anger is sin, it’s against the will of God and it happens so quickly and way too often. I need to go immediately to prayer when I feel my anger getting to me and ask God for comfort and a way to bring Him joy. Taking care of His children is something that will bring my Heavenly Father joy so I need to search to help others with their needs or desires above my own.

Prayer: Dear Father help me with my self-centerness and open my heart to how you want me to live my life. Take this anger from my spirit and replace it with kindness, joy and service to others. I’m your child and your bond servant command me on what to do that I may obey and please you. I love you Lord and you deserve the best I have to offer.

Scripture Esth 2:20 Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him.

Observation: I realize that Mordecai was not her natural father, but he raised her as his daughter. Esther obeyed his commands because of who he is, her acting father. The fifth commandment to obey our parents and if we do it will go well for us. In today’s society parents are looked at as fools and kids are always rebelling. All the sitcoms show how the parents aren’t to be listened to and the children do as they will. This is the opposite of God’s commands and that is probably why things are so awry in our society, parents aren’t taking their role to heart as God as called them to and the children are doing what please them.

Application: I’m not honoring my mother and father. I may have never disrespected them to their face, but behind their back I groan and didn’t want to be bothered with them most of the time. I call my mother once a week and don’t do it with a loving spirit and my father I make excuses why not to call him. Time is running out and I know that I wasn’t a good father to my children. My son and I have not spoken in over 10 years and my daughter and I talk on the phone occasionally. I could see why it is difficult to honor me has a father, because I wasn’t honorable, I wasn’t a good father. I wish I was a better representative to their heavenly father, but I wasn’t. I need to go to my father for guidance to see if there is something I should be doing to close this gap I created.

Prayer: Dear Father you are so worthy of being honored and I do what to do that each day. You are the perfect parent and deserve all of my love and affection and respect. I want to obey you in everything, remove this pride and help me honor you the way you deserve to be honored.

Scripture Esth 1:22 Then he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to each province in its own script, and to every people in their own language, that each man should be master in his own house, and speak in the language of his own people.

Observation: I agree the man should be master of his own house, but what does that mean. To get the best example would be Jesus our Lord and Master. He told us to be the master or great we need to become servants so to be the master of or house we need to learn to serve. That seems backwards to what we see in our society, but who are you going to believe society, or the God of the universe, seems like a simple decision. So to be master we must serve our family, set a good example, be God honoring and a good teacher of what is right and pure like our master in Heaven.

Application: I need to be the right master for my wife and children and grandchildren. I need to lead in love and service. I need to teach as Jesus teaches and be an example of love and a man of God. All I should look to receive is my Master’s approval and walk in the way of my Lord. I need to strive to be the best example of Christ’s love here on earth to my family and the people God surrounds me with each day. I need to continue to study my Lord’s commands so that I might be the best example there is.

Prayer: My Master, I love you and want to obey every command that comes from you, but I’m stubborn and I need direction in my life. Help me be the best servant I can be guided my love ones to you. Help me serve others in your name and master your word in my life.

Scripture Neh 13:11 So I contended with the rulers, and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their place.

Observation: Most of us go to church once a week and worship and listen to the message and that’s it. Most won’t go back to the church and help out or get involved in the upkeep of the church. It’s a place to go once a week and to tithe to keep it going which I believe most don’t, but give a couple dollars here and there. If we saw the church as the House of God maybe we would treat it with more respect. God is preparing a place for us when we get home, but the place we worship now is His and we need to treat it that way. We need to do more than attend when we want, we need to serve. We are not to forsake God’s house, but to build it up to God’s glory.

Application: I’ve become one of those many. I may tithe to support the church, but that is not an option but a command from God and He has blessed me for that giving. Just a while ago they asked for volunteers to help pack the Christmas gifts to be sent to other countries to those in need and I didn’t go even though I had the time, they have asked for people to help move chairs so the carpet could be cleaned and I didn’t volunteer. There are plays and movies to help bring others into His House and I haven’t participated in any of those. The most I do lately is to greet a couple times a month. I need to be more involved in my church in service to others, in service to God.

Prayer: My Lord I want to honor you in any way I can and I believe this is one way to honor your house. I’ve become so lazy and tired help give me strength to fulfill the purpose you have created me for and get busy doing something for you. May I help build up your church and be a greater part of the body. I love you and you deserve everything from me.

Scripture Neh 12:24 And the heads of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers across from them, to praise and give thanks, group alternating with group, according to the command of David the man of God.

Observation: They had groups of worshipers just praising and giving thanks continually to the Lord. There was always someone or group giving God the praise and thanks that He deserves. I want to be in that group, can you imagine how close those worshipers were to God, with God on their minds and hearts mediating on Him they must have felt His presence. The little time I give to God in thanks and praise is so minimal I can never feel Him close to me. The Bible says move closer to God and He will move closer to you, but we need to move first and thanks and praise is a way to run into His arms.

Application: I need to be part of that group or make my own. All day long I need to thank and praise His glorious name and nature. By prayer, actions, what I say or yell out that it gives God praise and that I thank Him for all that He has blessed me with, which would take the rest of this life to do. I need to stop being so involved in this life and start looking forward to my eternal home. If I want to earn rewards at home I need to do them here where God has placed me.

Prayer: My Lord you are worthy of all my praise, worship, love and obedience. Help defeat the enemy that is stopping me from doing that whether it is Satan or my own sinful ways. You deserve all that I have and all that I am in praise and thanks. I love you Lord and I thank you for this life that you have blessed me with, may it bring you joy.

Scripture Neh 11:17 Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, the leader who began the thanksgiving with prayer; Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

Observation: It is interesting that the leader began the thanksgiving in prayer and was recognized in the scripture for doing so. We should start everything in prayer, every endeavor, decision, act of service or even speaking most of the time and in those prayers we should always start with thanksgiving. We need to recognize that God has given us all and He deserves are all. Prayer is the way to draw close to our Lord and ask for direction, the direction that will glorify Him

Application: I go about things with so little thought and without consulting my Lord and so many times things go wrong. I think that I can do things in my own power without realizing I can’t do anything apart from God. I need to stop before doing anything and bring it to my Master in prayer and ask for His guidance and ask what would bring Him joy, how can I use every situation to worship Him. I’m only here to serve God and nothing else and I need to know how.

Prayer: My Lord help me slow down and open my eyes to you. May I bring everything to you in prayer and then wait until I hear from you before I proceed. You deserve all I have including my time and love and yet I give you so little of both. Help me finish well that there will be no doubt about my love for you.

Scripture Neh 10:29 these joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes:

Observation: A curse and an oath, which means if they don’t do what they say they will do, which is to walk in God’s law they are inviting a curse on them. We expect a blessing if we do what God calls us to do, but how often do we tell God if we don’t do according to your will Lord please place a curse on me. Just the thought is frightening. That is how serious we should be we should have no doubt that we will follow through on keeping God’s law if by some chance we don’t we deserve a curse, which we do. God has given us everything and ask us to follow his word, which is good for us, how can we do anything but.

Application: I need to stop taking so lightly my promises to God. I tell my Lord every day that I want to do His will and be the man that will glorify Him, but the amount of effort I put toward that goal is so minimal it deserves to be cursed. My number one commitment needs to be to my Lord and my God. I need to make an oath that I will follow my Master’s commands and do what He calls me to do or pay the consequences.

Prayer: My Lord this laziness is so hard to get past. Help give me the strength and will power to do what is in my heart. I want to please you and glorify your name I need strength. I want to make an oath to you that from this day forward I will do just that give me the courage to make and keep this oath in glory to you.