Category: Daily Devotional

Scripture: Mark 7:36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it.

Observation: Jesus tells me not to worry, to trust in Him, to love others, to put the needs of others above my own, not to have lustful thoughts, to love God above anything, but do I obey Him. A day doesn’t go by without doing what He told me not to do. My disobedience must be heart breaking to my Lord. He does so much for me and if my children were as disobedient as I am they would have been punished.

Application: I can’t claim ignorance in knowing what God wants of me. I need to think before I act and ask if what I am about to do is in God’s command or against. My life should be centered around Christ and not myself. My time here is getting shorter each day and I won’t have the opportunities I had to live my life according to God’s direction.

Prayer: Forgive me my Lord and help me please. I do what I don’t want to do and I don’t do what you tell me to do. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and give this servant peace and strength to be obedient to you.

Scripture: Matthew 6: [6] And he was amazed at their lack of faith.

Observation: The way I live my life, Jesus must be amazed at my lack of faith. The miracles He has worked in my life, yet each day I wake up afraid. I worry about everything it seems and I can’t still my thoughts to focus on what God is trying to say to me. He has pulled me through this life, keeping me safe and yet I don’t seem to trust Him with anything. Why is my faith so weak?

Application: I need to exercise my faith each day, trusting in my Lord and seeing what it is He wants me to do. He has given me the gifts and talents to accomplish His will, I just need the faith to do it. If I just step out in faith God will accomplish whatever He desires, but it takes that first step.

Prayer: My Lord increase my faith that I will trust in you with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding, but in all my ways may I acknowledge you and have you make my paths straight.

Scripture: Matthew 5: [19] Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

Observation: This is the story about the demon possessed man, very similar to me. I was overcome with depression for most of my life, no doctor or medicine seemed to help, all I wanted to do was die to rid myself of the pain. One day Jesus came into my life when I had nowhere else to turn and had mercy on me. He rid me of the demon of depression and set me free, but how many have I told?

Application: God has used my testimony to help others and I need to be more aggressive in telling my story about Jesus mercy. He has given me tools to use to tell others, my testimony both written and recorded and He continues to put people in my path. This is my purpose in life to help others see the cure for depression which is Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Lord I’m not worthy of your mercy, but please use this servant to touch the lives of those you have chosen to have mercy on. Use me to fulfill the purpose you have created your servant for so that when it is time I can enter into your rest with the peace of knowing I was used by my Lord.

Scripture: Matthew 4: [34] He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Observation: I spend time with God in the morning praying, but my mind wanders a lot. This is the first time I noticed this scripture where it says that when the disciples were alone with Jesus then He explained everything. This world is so confusing and most of the time I don’t understand what God is trying to tell me, but then I’m not alone with Him enough.

Application: I need to spend more quality time alone with my Savior and listen to Him explain what He wants of me. I’m here for a purpose and I need to understand each day what is expected of me. I also need to be comforted and when I’m alone I can be still and know that He is God.

Prayer: Dear Lord take me aside with you just the two of us so I might hear what you have to say to your servant. Explain please to me the things you desire of me that I might understand and obey.

Scripture: Mark 3:5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.

Observation: He must see my stubborn heart when I refuse to do the things He desires me to do. I make so many excuses to why I can’t do things I know would honor Him. I’m too tired, too busy, and basically I just want to do what I want to do. I let self-pride and my desires get in the way of doing God’s will. If He was angry and distressed at the Pharisees I wonder How He feels about me at times.

Application: I wonder how long it will be before I get tired of letting Jesus down. I need to set my priorities right, putting God first in my life. I’m supposed to do a staff appreciation dinner, yet not enough people have responded and I want to call it off. I need God’s guidance and not my own to know what to do.

Prayer: Dear Lord speak to my heart on what to do. You need to sit at the throne of my heart and command me what to do in every situation. Speak to me and let me know whether to call off the dinner this Monday. Reign in my life my Lord.

Scripture: Mark 2:17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Observation: I am definitely a sinner. When Jesus came into my life I was the worst of sinners, not caring for anyone or anything more than myself. My destructive ways had taken its toll on my whole family and the people around me. I’m sure there was no one who thought that I might be a righteous man. Jesus called me when I was as low as I could go and nowhere else to turn.

Application: I need to remember where Jesus found me and try to understand His love for me when I had no love for anything. I need to try to find that love in me that I may give it to others in His name. I am a sinner who can relate to other sinners and that is why God wants to use me to bring others to Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord I thank you for your forgiving heart and I ask that you fill me with a love that will draw others near. Give me the heart and wisdom to say the right things to those you put in my path that they may see you through the light I shine.

Scripture: Mark 1:38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else–to the nearby villages–so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

Observation: Jesus came to tell us what God wants of us and what we must do to have eternal life. Jesus mission was to bring us to heaven with Him through His sacrifice and how to live this life that was given to us. Now that I am saved I have a purpose with the same goal. To tell others of Jesus and the Father’s great love for us and the gift of eternal life. My life will never touch the lives of so many as Jesus, but God loves us so much if my entire life was to save just one of His children, it would be a life well spent.

Application: I can only fulfill my mission by listening and obeying directions from my master. I need to get rid of this laziness and selfishness I have and devote myself on doing God’s will not mine. I need to step out and take some risks without worrying about myself or being embarrassed. This is the only time I will have to bear fruit for my Lord.

Prayer: Dear Father help me I am so weak and afraid. I want to do your will and fulfill the purpose you have created me for, but I need your guidance and strength to do so. Take charge my Lord and fill me with the Holy Spirit.