Daily Devotional

Scripture Neh 2:18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work.

Observation: That is what we are called to do, to tell others how God has worked in our life, our testimony. We should be bold when telling our testimony, knowing that God is with us and He will soften the hard hearts. It doesn’t matter what the results are, we are called to be obedient and tell of our many blessings. After Nehemiah told how God worked in his life they decided to follow him, because they knew that God was leading him.

Application: I have so much to tell others how God has blessed and protected me all of my life and it’s time to use that testimony to comfort others and draw them close to God. I think I’ve done everything to tell my story and give others my book, but maybe that is not how God wants me to do it. Instead of going to the church maybe my Lord wants me to tell strangers and those that He surrounds me with. I need to go to Him in prayer and continue to ask direction on which way He desires me to do.

Prayer: My Lord guide your servant to do all that you want me to do. Give me wisdom and discernment to tell how you have entered my life and about your mercy and grace that is available to everyone who asks. Use me as a vessel to help bring others closer to you. I love you and want to finish well, your servant.

Scripture Neh 1:4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Observation: Nehemiah sat down and wept for the nation of Israel because Jerusalem was destroyed, He mourned, fasted and lifted his voice to God in prayer for Jerusalem. How often do we weep over others and take their needs before God with a broken heart. I’ve fasted before, but for me and my request, I’ve wept before God but again it was for me. God has called us to look for the needs of others, even above our own and praying for them must be on the top of the list, but not just to bring the request before our Lord, but to have a broken heart for those who need God’s grace.

Application: I need to stop looking in the mirror and look around me and see how broken this world is and how much it needs God. I need to have a heart for others and feel the emotion of others, because without God they are distend for disaster. People know when you are sincere and when you’re not I need to be truly concerned for those around me and cry out to God for them.

Prayer: My Lord forgive this selfish sinner and break my heart for others so that I may intercede on their behalf. May I feel their pain and be unable to turn away and that I will put their needs before my own. Make me a man after your own heart Lord.

Scripture Ezra 10:11 Now therefore, make confession to the LORD God of your fathers, and do His will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the pagan wives.”

Observation: We are called to do God’s will, but we can’t do it if we blend into the world so well that no one notices that we are Christians. We hate to rock the boat or stand out from the crowd or make ourselves noticed or not to fit in, but unless we do we can’t do the will of God. We are called to be in the world, but not to be part of this sinful place. We are called to be holy (set apart) people around us should know that our Master is God and that is who we serve no matter what persecution we might come up against.

Application: I have a tendency to fit in the world because I look for praise more from man than from God and that needs to stop right now. I need to show myself as a servant of Jesus wherever I am. I need to do better at work and control my anger and pride and to show love and concern for others I need to represent my God much better than I do. No matter where I’m at our whom I’m with I need to show Jesus in my actions, speech and works.

Prayer: My Lord forgive your servant for looking out for myself and not for you. Make me a better example of your love and mercy to others. May there never be a doubt that I’m a child of God and use the gifts, talents and testimony you have blessed me with to make a difference for you.

Scripture Ezra 9:6 And I said: “O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens.

Observation: This country should be ashamed and humiliated the way we treat our God. We have taken His name from our schools and government and have blasphemed our Lord in the news, movies and television. We deserve to be destroyed even those called by His name remain silent, which is just as bad. I can’t understand why God doesn’t just destroy this place as He did Sodom and Gomorrah, we surely deserve it. We are not worthy to even come in our Lord’s presence in prayer, yet He desires us to do so.

Application: I need to speak up whenever possible to defend my Lord’s Holy Name. I need to live a life separate from the world so that it would be pleasing to my God. I’m no different most of the time, looking at things I shouldn’t be looking at or saying things that don’t reflect my Savior’s grace to me. I need to be a better representative to my Master and serve Him the way He deserves to be served.

Prayer: My Lord help me focus my thoughts on you that my mind would stop drifting from one thing to the next. Help me live the way you call me to live and to be the man you want me to be. I can’t do it on my own, I’m a sinner and have very little self control. Please fill me with the Holy Spirit and guide me through this life. I love you and want to honor you, please help me.

Scripture Ezra 8:22 For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.”

Observation: How many times do I declare that my Lord can do all things and if I believe that, why do I suffer so much from anxiety. I say the words but my heart doesn’t seem to believe. I tell others all that God has done for me in the past and yet I’m still worried about what might happen in the future. I live my life as if it depended on me, when I should live that it depends on God’s will. If I’m going to be a representative of my Lord’s love, I must first show that I trust Him.

Application: I worry so much about nothing, I need to give my worries to my Lord and ask for His guidance and what he wants of me. I need to trust Him with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding, but in all of my ways I need to acknowledge Him and that He will make my paths straight.

Prayer: My Lord I believe, help my unbelief and give me the strength that I need. Help me trust in you with everything that you have blessed me with and guide me through this life. May I reflect your love and trust to others that you place in my path.

Scripture Ezra 7:18 And whatever seems good to you and your brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do it according to the will of your God.

Observation: I like that is says do whatever seems good to you, as long it’s according to the will of God. So many of us, myself included, do the things that seem right to us, but without regards to God’s will. We know His will there should never be any confusion He makes it clear in His word and places it on our heart once we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. So we should be striving for God’s will in all that we do and then after that we should do what we know is right and good.

Application: I’m so concerned about me in all of my decision making instead of God’s will. My thoughts are about me most of the time and that needs to change. If I thought about what God wants of me as much as I think of what I want, I would be a man after God’s own heart, but instead I’m a man after my own heart. I need to change and no matter what I think about I need to stop and ask God what he wants and then do it accordingly.

Prayer: lately my Lord I feel I’m straying away from you and getting to involved in my own blind ambitions and concerns. I want to be a man after your own heart, you know that, but I’m not capable to do that in my own flesh. Please fill me with the Holy Spirit open my eyes and heart to what you desire that I will do your will each day of my life.

Scripture Ezra 6:21 Then the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the LORD God of Israel.

Observation: God has called us to be in this world, but not part of it. We have to separate ourselves from the sin of this place so that we may draw close to God. We can’t take part of the sin and evil that are here, but need to set ourselves apart from it. We are here for now and need to make a difference in glory to God we need to show others Jesus through our lives. Our God wants none to perish and that is why we are here to spread the gospel and help lead others to eternal joy and salvation that comes only through the sacrifice of our Lord, Jesus.

Application: I need to stop blending in so well in this unholy place and live a holy life, a life set apart. I’m here for a purpose using the gifts, talents and testimony my Lord has blessed me with I need to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. I need to be a better example of love and humble myself in front of others so that I will get myself out of the way so others may see my Lord.

Prayer: Lord help me complete the task you have put me here for. Humble me and take this anger, hatred and pride from my spirit so that I will be the best ambassador for you I can be. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and have him guide me each day in this journey. I love you Lord and want to be the best I can be for you.