Daily Devotional

Scripture 1 Sam 20:12 Then Jonathan said to David: “The LORD God of Israel is witness! When I have sounded out my father sometime tomorrow, or the third day, and indeed there is good toward David, and I do not send to you and tell you,

Observation: We sometimes forget that God sees and knows all, if we did we wouldn’t do some of the things that we do. God is our witness, when we tell someone we will do something God is there, when we say we will be faithful to our wife, but aren’t God is there, when we steal or slack off on our job, God sees, when our eyes look upon things we know we shouldn’t God knows. There is nothing we do that God isn’t there. At the same time when we help someone in need, give of our time to God’s work, share with others about the love of our God, and do the will of our Father He sees and stores up rewards for us in Heaven. There isn’t anything He doesn’t know about.

Application: Live my life as God is right next to me, which He is. Don’t do anything that would make God shake His head in disappointment but use the time God has blessed me with in ways that I can turn to my side and look into His face and see Him smile at me. Live this life in a way that I see many more smiles then looks of disappointment in my Father’s eyes. I might feel alone at times, but I never am, He is my witness in all that I do.

Prayer: Dear father thank you for always being there. You know how my mind wanders and my heart gets cold at times. May I never forget, not even for a moment that you are there and know everything that I’m going through. I need you always to guide me may I do something each day that brings a smile to your face and that you may say you are pleased.

Scripture 1 Sam 19:5 For he took his life in his hands and killed the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great deliverance for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?”

Observation: No matter what we think we did the Lord has done it through us and He deserves the glory. What a joy it is to be used by God, the best moments of my life are those times. God allowed me to speak in front of people sharing my testimony and helping others, I’ve been part of dinners for those in need, prayed with some that needed to hear from God and was able to give counsel to those who suffered from depression. Each time I know it wasn’t me accomplishing those things, but the Holy Spirit working through me. Like David we only need to take our life in our hands and give it to God to work whatever He desires.

Application: Like David I need to step out more and not fearfully, but expectedly that God will use me. I don’t have to have all the answers but to be sure I’m where God wants me to be, doing what He has called me to do. I tell people we don’t have a Pizza Hut God you have to go out and get your blessings, He’s not going to deliver them while you’re sitting on your couch. I need to take my own advice and get off my butt and make a better effort of making myself available to my Master.

Prayer: Dear Lord here I am, please use me to do something extraordinary, because when others see it they will know that it is you and not me. Make this life mean something to others that they will see your works by your servant. Use me Lord I freely give you this life as a living sacrifice, may it be holy and pleasing to you..

Scripture 1 Sam 18:14 And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him.

Observation: Behaving wisely or doing the right thing for the right reason. When you are behaving wisely, you are not sinning and if you are not sinning you are close to God. Doing what God calls you to do is doing what is wise. When you are avoiding sin you can hear God’s voice more clearly and do what He is commanding you to do. Following God’s word is wise and fruitful. David did this in all his ways, no matter what He was doing he was doing it in a way that honored God and that is why God was with him, David was a man after God’s own heart and God gave him success.

Application: I would love to say at the end of each day that I behaved wisely, but I can’t. I try, but most of the time my sinful ways get the better of me and I act conceited, rude or say something that isn’t honoring. How can I expect God to be with me if I’m acting contrary to the way He calls me to? I know God’s word and I know how he desires me to behave, but too many times self outweighs wisdom in my life. Every time I act I need to consider what God wants me to do and then do it for God’s glory.

Prayer: Dear Lord you know my heart and you know I want to honor and obey you in everything, but a day doesn’t go by that I mess up. I need your guidance in my life, I need wisdom. Please Lord give me these things that I will lead a life that you would desire to be with me.

Scripture 1 Sam 17:37 Moreover David said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!”

Observation: When I look back at my life I see God busy pulling me out of the pit that I dug. Six times I tried to end my life, but this life doesn’t belong to me it’s the Lord. He has delivered me from depression, sickness, stupidity, greed and pride so many times that I can’t possibly count. If each of us looks back on our life and sees how many times God has pulled us up and out of trouble we can rest assure that He will continue to do so. All we need is the faith and obedience to allow God to work in our life and He will. So no matter what you are going through God knows and will deliver you. It most likely won’t be in the way you think it should be, but it will be the right way, God’s way.

Application: Currently I’m going through struggles as I most likely will for the rest of my life, but I don’t fear the way I use to. My faith is not perfect and never will be, but it’s stronger than it’s ever been. I know God loves me and protects me and the worst thing that can happen even death God will be there. I need to use each opportunity to give God the glory, like David so others may see the way He delivers. I’m on a journey to Heaven and my Lord wants me to bring as many as I can.

Prayer: Dear Lord I thank you for watching over me and delivering me from all that I have gone through. Be with me as I continue this journey and show me how to make it a journey that will please you. I love you and appreciate all that you do for me each day.

Scripture 1 Sam 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Observation: All day long I judge people by their appearance. Before knowing anyone I have a judgment of what that person is like. If it’s an attractive woman they must be full of themselves, there are people that don’t look very intelligent, so they must not be, other people are uppity by the way they talk or hold themselves, some people are kind, because they treat me well. I have each person I meet pegged without knowing anything else about them, what an amazing gift, or is it. I have no idea what a person might be going through, what their heart is and any pain that they might be suffering with and by my judgments that is how I treat them. I’m sure glad I’m not God, because if I saw me through my eyes I wouldn’t be writing this now.

Application: I need to look at each person as God’s child. I have no right to judge anyone and God calls me to love everyone. I may not be able to see another’s heart, but then again I don’t have to, God is the judge not me. I need to be doing what God commands me to do, to love one another, to help others, to put their interests above my own and to lead them to Him. Nowhere in my job description does it say to judge anyone, probably because I’m not capable of doing that.

Prayer: My Lord I need your help. You know me and my heart and the evil I think each day. Give me a heart like Jesus, where I will love all those you place in my path, that I will not judge, but only love as you call me to do. I’m not able to do this on my own please fill me with the Holy Spirit and do this through me.

Scripture 1 Sam 15:22 So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

Observation: We can give our time and money to what we think honors God, but if we are not obedient to what He tells us it means nothing. I’ve caught myself doing things that appear to be doing for God, but instead it makes me look good as I sacrifice my time and talents. When I do something for God I first must be sure it is what God desires and that I’m hearing God’s voice in what I do and then I need to do it out of obedience for Him and give my Lord all of the glory. Everything that I have came from God so to give it as a sacrifice is only giving God back what He gave me, but to be obedient to my Master, to honor Him with this life that He gave me, that is what pleases God.

Application: I need to spend more time listening to God and asking my Lord what He desires of me. I need to rid myself of all these selfish desires I have and put God first where He belongs. I need to stay in God’s word so that I know his commands and then I need to be faithful to follow, in obedience. Everything I have was given to me by God and it needs to be used for Him. He gave me several talents, how many will I return when I go home?

Prayer: Dear Lord this is your servant. I know I’m hard of hearing most of the time so I ask you to speak up so that I may hear your voice. I want to obey your commands, please make it clear what you want your servant to do. May what you have given me multiply and be pleasing to you. I look forward to serving you always. I love you with all of my heart, may my actions prove that.

Scripture 1 Sam 14:6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.”

Observation: Basically God can do anything with anybody He chooses. So often I feel helpless and say to myself what difference can I make and I’m right if it is just me there isn’t much I can do, but if it’s God and me there is nothing that I can’t accomplish. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Devil is pouring lies into my mind all day long telling me how useless I am and God is telling me He wants to use me, so why do we listen to the enemy? God has shown me in the past that He can use me and has done some amazing things through me with even a halfhearted faith, I can only imagine what He would do with a faith that He deserves from me.

Application: God is always there for me and continues to prove himself every day of my life. He deserves much better from his servant and I need to give it to him. I need to have a stronger faith and be willing to put myself in situations where God can show his strength through me, his servant. I need to be bolder and more trusting to my Master. If I sit back, that is all I’m doing sitting, but if I step out only God knows where that journey will end and I know it will glorify Him.

Prayer: My Lord increase my faith. Give me the courage and strength that I will need to fulfill the purpose you have created me for. I’m here as your servant, command me to go where you want me to go and tell me what you want me to do. May I not waste this life and have nothing to show at the end, but may it be a life worth living, a life that pleases you.