Category: Daily Devotional

Scripture: John 5: [44] How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?

Observation: All of my life I wanted to please someone whether it was my parents, friends employers or just the people around me. I wanted people to recognize me and praise me for the things I could do, but if there is anything that I can do that is praise worthy, I’m only able to do it because of my God. Anything at all that is good in me comes from my heavenly Father and I have no right to boast about anything, unless I boast about my Father.

Application: As soon as people see something in me that is praiseworthy I need to point to God. If I’m allowed to touch anyone’s life for the better God needs to get all the credit. I want God to see me as a man after His own heart, like David. God deserves all of my praise, obedience and glory.

Prayer: Dear father I thank you for all that I have and all that I am. I thank you for making me, me and I ask you to show me how to be the best that I can be. I’m here as your servant, show me how to serve.

Scripture: John 4:34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

Observation: What’s my food, what keeps me going? I wish I could say doing what God created me to do, but it’s not. Each day I wake and barely have the energy to get out of bed, then go to work, come home, eat, watch television and go to bed. Where is my purpose in that? That is not God’s will for me to be useless after all He has done for me.

Application: The few times that I do something for God whether feeding the poor, doing counseling or helping at the church those are the times I feel full, full of the Holy Spirit. I need to arrange my time better so that I’m doing more for my Lord and letting Him take control of His servant. I’m going to have an opportunity to help at the father daughter breakfast and do a spaghetti dinner to help raise money for someone in need, that is what God’s will would be for this life.

Prayer: Dear Lord strengthen me to do your will. Open my eyes to the things that please you. Show me how to serve in a way that brings honor to you. I freely give you this life as a living sacrifice, may it be holy and pleasing to you.

Scripture: John 3: [30] He must become greater; I must become less.

Observation: I need to become less. My life is all wrapped up in me. My actions, words, decisions are all based on what is the best for me. Who am I to be so arrogant? I’m only here because of the grace of God and only exist because He desires it so. When others see me, that is all they see, they don’t see my creator, because I won’t let them.

Application: I read in my devotional today if God only wanted us to be saved and had no other use for us He would bring us to Heaven as soon as we were saved. God has a purpose for my life which is more than I can say for myself. I’m an ambassador of my Lord Jesus and as an ambassador I should represent my King. I need to decrease and let the Holy Spirit take over this life for my King’s glory.

Prayer: Dear Lord I’m yours, please use me to fulfill the purpose you have created me for. Use this testimony you have given me that people may see your love and desire for their lives. I want to be a vessel used for noble use, but no matter what I’m your vessel, use me as you desire.

Scripture: John 2: [25] He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

Observation: I know, pride, anger, selfishness, deceit, revenge and hatred are in me. I wish they weren’t and it’s a battle each day to fight off these emotions and to try to be like Jesus, but much too often I don’t. When my mind is at rest it still wanders to negative and hurtful thoughts. Jesus knew this and He got to see it first hand over and over again whether it was the Pharisee, Sadducees, people around Him or His own disciples He saw what was in a man.

Application: Jesus tells us to take up our cross daily and that is what this is a daily battle. Even now writing this my heart is full of anger and pain and for no reason, it almost seems more comfortable there then to have grace or thanksgiving. I need to continue to ask the Holy Spirit to fill me and take these terrible emotions away and fill my heart with love and grace.

Prayer: Dear Lord please help me I don’t want to feel this way and it makes me sick to do so. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and take this burden from me. Give me the heart of Jesus and show me how to live this life in glory and honor to you.

Scripture: John 1: [16] From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

Observation: How can I forget all His blessings in my life. Each day it seems all I focus on is my problems and worry about things that might happen. I spend so little time just meditating on the blessings He gives me each day and there are so many I wouldn’t be able to number them. Why am I so bent in being miserable and useless?

Application: I need to cherish each day the blessings I have and even though I can’t I should try to number them: the air in my lungs, my health, the way He meets all of my needs, my beautiful wife, my children, my family, the gifts and talents He has given me, the way I feel when I see the ocean or mountains, the gift of salvation, the people He puts in my path, the joy He puts in my heart when I read His word, my home, the people He surrounds me with, my new family with Teri, my church, my pastor, etc.

Prayer: Dear Lord have me think of these things,” whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” Calm my spirit and quiet my mind that I may hear from you.

Scripture: Luke 24 [38] He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?:

Observation: Jesus said this to His disciples when they saw Him come back from the grave. Jesus could say this to me almost every day. It seems I’m always troubled by something and my thoughts are so preoccupied that I don’t focus on what God wants. Each day I doubt that I should even be here and am not sure why I’m here. If I would just spend half of the time I spend worrying and doubting and take that time in prayer and thanksgiving I could accomplish so much for God’s kingdom.

Application: It is hard for me not to be distracted, but I must make a commitment to live my life so that it honors God. I have no other reason to be here then to serve God and to touch the lives of others in His name. I need to tell myself when I drift off to doubt that God is in control if I let Him steer my course.

Prayer: Dear Lord help me stay focused and take this anxiety from my spirit please. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and show me how to finish this race in glory and honor to you. I’m so lost help me please get on the path you have chosen for me.

Scripture: Luke 23: [21] But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Observation: I wrote something a while ago about the people that must have been there at this time. People who saw the miracles and even those who were healed and ate when Jesus fed the five thousand. They must have heard Him speak, yet no one came to His defense. These were the people Jesus came to save and they have either abandoned Him or were condemning Him. So what about me, what am I doing? Have I abandoned Him with my lack of faith or do I condemn Him with my actions that others see?

Application: I need to stand up for my Lord and Savior who stood up for me with the Father. I need to bear fruit in His name and touch the lives of others with His word. My actions and words need to prove to others that I’m a believer in Christ and the He sits on the throne of my heart and I need to direct others to this very special love that Jesus has for them.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for your love and mercy. Show me how to open my mouth in your defense to your accusers in this world. Give me the wisdom that I will need to say the right words and the courage to stand up against any persecution and show me how to lead others to you.