Category: Daily Devotional

Scripture: 1 Peter 3: [9] Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Observation: I received an email from Bob at Rock of Faith it appears he is upset because I talked to Pastor Mike about a Thanksgiving Dinner. All night long I’ve been thinking of something cleaver to say to strike back. Here is a man who is trying to take care of the homeless and instead of supporting him I’m trying to seek some type of revenge. I’ve spent so much time rehearsing what I might say, instead of using that time to pray for him and the event. What a waste of time and energy.

Application: I’m here to be a blessing not a burden, as I have been most of my life. I need to reach beyond my own personal feelings and seek God’s strength and wisdom on how to serve others in his name.

Prayer: Dear Lord soften this servant’s heart and open my eyes to see what you desire me to see. Take this self-centeredness away from me and may I focus on the reason you created me. May I glorify your name in all that I do.

Scripture: 1 Peter 2: [12] Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Observation: To live the good life you need to live it for God and not yourself. That’s how the world lives and even boasts about how we can do everything within our own power. If we allow God to rule our lives and allow him to fill us with the Holy Spirit and his love, others will see this. We will do deeds that others will not understand, unselfish and loving deeds that they will be able to get a glimpse of God through our lives.

Application: Allow God to have his way with me. Make it my goal each day to live to glorify him and not me. Go out of my way to do things for others in God’s name. Live a life that others will envy and want for themselves and then point them to Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Lord help take any selfish ambition from me and have me trust in you with all of my heart. Increase my faith and guide me how to live a life worthy of you and be that model of your son, so others may see.

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:[8] Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

Observation: My Lord has filled me with this joy, but only when I’m focused on him and the desires he has for me. My joy is over when I start focusing on myself and the things around me. There is no joy in worry, fear, envy or greed. I do love and believe in my Lord and he has given me the greatest joy and when my mind is fixed on him it is glorious.

Application: I need to remember why I’m here and who I’m here for. To start my day with God and be with him all day long. To keep reminding myself of his love and purpose for my life. To experience that wondrous joy all day long.

Prayer: Dear Lord help me draw nearer to you. Be with me this day and show me the desires of your heart and then put them in mine. May this servant be able to give back if only a little of the joy you give to me.

Scripture: James 5: [16] Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Observation: How righteous am I? I know the things that I do and the thoughts that I have and they do not seem very righteous at times. I pray each day yet how sincere, there isn’t a time that my mind doesn’t wander and think of the things of this world. I do need a healing, a healing of my spirit so it is broken before God that I may be the righteous man God calls me to be.

Application: To practice being righteous. To be aware of what I’m doing and saying at all times to see if they match up to the actions of a righteous man. To honestly pray to God with love in my heart in a humble spirit and pray for the things of God and not me.

Prayer: Dear Lord make me a righteous man. A man that honors you in all that he does. Humble me before you so that I may see only the things of you and not me.

Scripture: James 4: [15] Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

Observation: I worry so much not only about tomorrow, but for the rest of the year. Teri and I had a discussion yesterday and it was because I make so many plans and worry about what might happen that I don’t enjoy the present. Its seems like I’m always making plans and figuring out different scenarios I don’t realize what I have at the moment.

Application: To be the best I can be and trust God. Read his word, pray and follow what he has already put on my heart and step back and ask to do his will.

Prayer: Dear Lord please forgive me for my lack of faith and trust in you. I’m so weak and have such a hard time controlling my thoughts and actions at time. Please take charge of my life and may I always be obedient to you in what I do.

Scripture: James 3:9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.

Observation: I have nothing good to say about my brother-in-law and at times hope for the worse for him. I can’t think thoughts or say words that are contrary to what God desires of me or my whole life is a lie. No matter what happens in this world, doesn’t matter it is just what I do for the new life that awaits me.

Application: I’m to honor and glorify God and live a life to resemble the life my savior lived on this earth. I need to think what kind of man I was and am at times and how Jesus has forgiven and loved me. I need to see everyone as a child of God created specifically for a purpose that he predestined them for.

Prayer: Dear Lord help me be a better man and increase my faith to see the things you desire of me. Give me patience to wait on you and patience to deal with others in a way that will please you.

Scripture: James 2: [17] In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Observation: My faith and deeds are not nearly strong enough to honor my Father. My faith falters so often and my deeds should be more abundant for the mercy and blessings my Lord gives to me.

Application: A day, a moment, should not go by that I don’t show God my faith in him and at the same time I should be thinking of ways to show that faith by serving him and others in his name. I need to make a conscience effort to think of things to do that would please and honor God.

Prayer: Dear Father please increase my faith and show me how to live this life in glory and honor to you. Guide me in the things I can do to show you my love and devotion to you and draw me close.