Category: Daily Devotional

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

Observation: Most of my life I kept to myself not discussing anything personal not even with my wife and family. The Lord has surrounded me with Christian brothers and sisters, yet I still have a hard time talking to them about what is really going on in my life. God calls me to confess to my brothers and sisters and He will use them to speak to me I need their prayers as they need mine. God wants us joined as a family and will use us in this way.

Application: I need to be more open has I confess my sins to God. I need to be open to the person I might have sinned against or to pray with a friend so God may speak and guide me.

Prayer: My Lord may I pray with others in your name to draw us closer to you and each other.

Scripture: James 4:17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

Observation: I think I only sin when I do something bad. I think of how many times I can do good in a day, but because of laziness or just lack of concern I don’t. The times I can reach out to somebody in Christ’s name and share the gospel I avoid because of embarrassment.

Application: If I realize every time I don’t do good when I can I sin. I need to realize it’s Not doing what is right is just as sinful as doing wrong will help me do better. I will go out and look for ways to do good making my Father proud.

Prayer: My Lord open my eyes to see the good you want me to do. Give me the strength and discipline to serve you and others each day.

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: Each morning, I praise God, pray to Him asking that He would make me the man He wants me to be. It’s not too much longer that I will say something about someone or say something to someone that proves I’m not as close to God as I say.
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Application: I realize after I say something it was wrong. I need to think before I speak and how it represents my Lord and what effect it will have on the person I’m talking to.

Prayer: My Lord tame my tongue. May it be used only to praise you and build others up in your name.

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

Observation: Very seldom would I do anything for anyone; my time was mine. When Jesus took hold of my heart, I was able to let go of some of that time, because He deserves all of it. I owe Him so much I can’t possibly come close to giving back all He has given me. My love and faith in Him are only shown by what I do.

Application: I will continue to release more and more of my time to Him and others. I will pray that He will take this laziness away and use me more. That everything I do is to His glory, not mine.

Prayer: My Lord take this servant and use me to serve others. May there not be a doubt to those who know me, who I belong to.

Scripture: James 1: [5] If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Observation: Each day I do something that shows my lack of wisdom. I try to figure things out in the flesh and most of the time it’s wrong, because I’m looking for my best interest and not God’s will. I get so involved in this world I forget I can ask God and He will give me what I need and what is best for me.

Application: Before I make a decision or try to figure something out, I will pray for God’s wisdom. Each morning, I will ask God for wisdom so I will honor Him and draw nearer.

Prayer: Dear Father I ask for wisdom that today I will live a life honoring to you. That the decisions I make will be pleasing and right in your eyes.

Scripture: Hebrews 13: 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Observation: I never think of the God of all creation as my helper. Yet in every situation in my life, He was always there helping me get through. Almost each day I’m afraid of something whether work, financial, health and I don’t stop often enough to say, if God wants me here no one is going to stop the will of God.

Application: I must realize God has a plan for me and He will be faithful to complete it. I know I’m not going to know the details of the plan, but I need to trust in God that He will help me through them.

Prayer: My Lord, my God, my helper. Help me through this day to fulfill your will for me.

Scripture: Hebrews 12: 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

Observation: When I go through hardships I feel like I’m being punished, not disciplined. I wonder what I might have done wrong instead of asking my Father what He is teaching me. When I look back, I can see the lesson He was showing me and how it made me stronger in bringing me closer to Him.

Application: Next time I go through a hardship I need to get down on my knees and ask my Father what should I be learning from this, and thank Him for the opportunity to draw closer to Him.

Prayer: My Father open my eyes and teach your child. Discipline me in the way I should go and don’t ever give up on me, please.