Daily Devotional

Scripture Joel 3:3 They have cast lots for My people,
Have given a boy as payment for a harlot,
And sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.

Observation: This is so sad that we don’t value our children more than we do. Jesus wanted the children to come to Him and He warned if anyone harmed a child it would be better if they had a millstone tied around them and thrown in the sea. Today we abort children in the ninth month, pedophile punishment is a joke, sex trafficking is rampant and fatherless homes are greater than ever. How this must hurt the heart of God.

Application: We need to do whatever we can to turn this around. I donate to an organization that helps children from sex trafficking. There is legislation that needs to be passed to protect our children and if a man fathers a child, he needs to be responsible for fathering that child. A child needs to know they are important and must be taught the word of God so they may know the true love that He has for them.

Prayer Father help us please take care of Your children. Help us show them the love that You have for us and them. May they not feel like outcast but an important part of Your family.

Scripture Joel 2:1 Blow the trumpet in Zion,
And sound an alarm in My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble;
For the day of the LORD is coming,
For it is at hand:

Observation: With most of the prophesies fulfilled it appears it might not be too long before the Lord returns. I’m torn from the joy of going home to the thought of our children and grandchildren maybe not making it. As I look around it seems there are going to be so many people not going to heaven but on the road to hell.

Application: I need to do the best I can to warn others of their eternal doom. Jesus told us that the road was narrow and He was the only way to the Father. I need to seek God each day and listen and see what He wants of me each day. My only purpose is to serve Him whether here or at home.

Prayer My prayer is when I get there and knock at the door that You would answer and greet me knowing my name. That I will be welcomed in and get to spend eternity with You. Help me stay focused on You.

Scripture Joel 1:3 Tell your children about it,
Let your children tell their children,
And their children another generation.

Observation: One of the problems today is that we don’t talk to our children. There is so much to do and we don’t take time with them. Parents should be the ones that talk to their children about God and life. We allow others to teach them and we are surprised when we find out they were taught lies. If our children have the truth taught them by the ones that love them they would be better prepared to deal with the lies, but if all they know is lies that is what they will believe.

Application: My children are grown and they have their own children now. I was not a good father and did not spend time with my children or teach them anything of any use. My grandchildren are getting older and they will be going out on their own. I now try to set a better example, but I still haven’t spent time telling them the truth about the gospel. I need to find a way to spend time with them so they will know the truth.

Prayer My Lord give me wisdom and courage to approach my children and grandchildren and to speak the truth to them. That they may know You and your love and mercy. You are the only thing that matters.

Scripture Hosea 14:2 Take words with you,
And return to the LORD.
Say to Him,
“Take away all iniquity;
Receive us graciously,
For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips.

Observation: America has strayed so far from the Lord. Even His children are not as close as we should be. To return to the Lord is to be obedient to His commands and our purpose. We have gotten too comfortable here and receive what the world offers too easily. God says if we would return to Him, He would receive us graciously and take away our iniquity.

Application: It’s time to return to our first love, God. He deserves our praise, worship and love and we need to give that. This should not just be a private thing but a commitment that others will see. If we plan on bringing others to God, we must first show others our love and commitment to Him.

Prayer Dear Lord forgive us. I know we don’t deserve it and we don’t understand the depths of Your love, but we do know that You love us. May we repent of our evil ways and return to you with our whole heart, because you deserve the best we have.

Scripture Hosea 13:4 “Yet I am the LORD your God
Ever since the land of Egypt,
And you shall know no God but Me;
For there is no savior besides Me.

Observation: I’m not sure why the world insists of creating other gods and ignoring the one and only Lord. We know what sinners we are but we want to deny the sins we commit. I believe some think if we get rid of God our sins will go along with Him. Instead, we are making our sins worse than ever and it will have eternal consequences.

Application: God has given me a commission to pray for His children. He has put me in the path of so many and I pray that He finds me worthy of preaching the gospel to those that might be lost. I know my time is getting short and my strength is weakening with age, but before I go home, I want to finish my race in a way that will please my Lord.

Prayer Dear God there is nothing I can do without you, but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Please strengthen your servant and pick me up that I can make it to the finish line. There are so many that are lost show me how to find the ones You want home. Can’t wait to be with You forever.

Scripture Hosea 12:6 So you, by the help of your God, return;
Observe mercy and justice,
And wait on your God continually.

Observation: We need God’s help every day. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t cry out to my Lord. When we don’t hear from God in our time frame we need to wait and not go out alone. We always want things in our time, but God timing is perfect. We need his mercy and justice.

Application: I’m a very impatient person and want things to happen right away. I’ve learned this life is not about me and that God is perfect in every way so I’m trying to learn to wait. There is nothing good in me alone, but my goodness comes from God.

Prayer Dear Lord thank you for your continued protection and mercy. I know I don’t deserve them, but because of your love for me you graciously give them to me. I love you and ask that you guide me through this day to glorify you.

Scripture Hosea 11:5 “He shall not return to the land of Egypt;
But the Assyrian shall be his king,
Because they refused to repent.

Observation: This country refuses to repent. There is so much evil in America and our children are being misled and they don’t know what is right. Our leaders are being bought to do evil and their gods are money and power. We need to turn to our true leader and King, Jesus before it’s too late.

Application: I remember how hard it was for me to repent, because before you can do that you have to admit what you’re doing was wrong. We hate being wrong. I had to admit to God that I was a sinner and beg for His forgiveness and turn from the wickedness I was doing before I could be saved. This is not a one-time commitment. I find myself doing wrong constantly and I need to ask for forgiveness every day.

Prayer Dear Lord help me through another day. Help me stay on the path that you have chosen for your servant. May I be steadfast in serving you and helping others find comfort in you. I’m here only to serve, please command me.