Category: Daily Devotional

Scripture: 1 Peter 4: [11] If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

Observation: This last Thanksgiving we did an outreach for the homeless, elderly and military and served a wonderful dinner at the Army and Navy Academy. It took God’s strength for me to be able to do all the things that needed to be done, but through His grace everything went well. It has been awhile before that I did anything to serve others in God’s name. Opportunities were there, but I chose to ignore them or make excuses. This Thanksgiving blessed a lot of people both those that were served and those who served, but most importantly I had an opportunity to bless God and showed Him that I trust Him. Why wouldn’t I want to do that all the time?

Application: Make opportunities to use the gifts God has given me and don’t make any more excuses of why I can’t do something when I know it would please God. I believe God has put on my heart to honor the staff at Calvary Chapel with a special dinner. It would be easy to ignore it or I can trust God to give me the strength and abilities to honor Him by honoring His servants.

Prayer: Dear Lord strengthen me so I don’t waste anymore of this precious time you have given me. Use the gifts you have given me to honor you and touch the lives of others in your name.

Scripture: 1 Peter 3 [4] Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

Observation: I’m so blessed to have such a beautiful wife. A friend called this morning I haven’t heard from in a long time and asked how Teri was doing and as soon as he said it I couldn’t stop talking about how blessed I was to have someone as wonderful as her as my wife. I look at her and see the most beautiful woman ever and love to be with her because of the woman she is. She is loving, giving, peaceful, trusting and desires to draw nearer to God each day.

Application: I should never take for granted the blessing God has given me in Teri and put her needs and desires above my own at all times. I need to show her how much she means to me and continue to give thanks to my Father for the honor to be married to His most wonderful daughter.

Prayer: Dear Lord thank you for allowing me to be married to Teri. I do lover her with all my heart as Jesus loves His church. Make me a better man and husband to her and may she always feels loved by me.

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: Living the good life in this world is a lot different than living the good life according to God. The good life in the world is living in luxury getting what you want, but the good life according to His word is living a life that honors God. A humble life that puts God’s will and others first. A life that is intriguing to others because we live with joy and peace, because of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. A life that other want because all the things of this world do not give the joy that only God can give.

Application: Live every day to honor God and to trust Him with all my heart. Aim to do things that please God not others or even myself. Care for the needs of others wanting everyone to experience the love of God and that they will be able to make the journey home to the Father.

Prayer: My Lord I can’t live the life you want me to live on my own. I’m a sinner and I need your guidance each day to stay focused on the purpose you have created me for. Give me a heart for others and for you and not let a day go by that doesn’t honor you.

Scripture: 1Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,

Observation: I’m supposed to be a stranger in this world so why do I try so hard to fit in? I want the things of this world, I want to be respected, accepted and liked by others and be successful to the people around me. That is not God’s calling in my life , I should be living a different lifestyle, one that shows I fit into God’s family, that I want what God desires of me to have, that I would please Him and make a difference by telling others about His great love and His plan for salvation.

Application: Focus not on this world but my true home in Christ. Plan this life by what God desires of me and not the world. Be different and not worrying about fitting in, but fulfilling the purpose I was created for. Finish my job here before I go home.

Prayer: Lord help me, the enemy has me looking at this world and offering me the things in it, but give me a heart like Jesus as when Satan offered the kingdoms of this world He turned them down knowing the only things He desired was from you.

Scripture: James 5:13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.

Observation: I pray a lot when I’m in trouble which seems to be considerable at times, but when do I sing praises. I’m so busy complaining and focusing on my troubles and pain I forget all of God’s blessings in my life which outnumber by far. The people around me should be seeing me praise the Lord for the happiness He has given me and not see this poor old man that is complaining about the little things that Satan puts in his path.

Application: Focus on God’s blessing each day so I won’t even see the traps Satan places in my path. Use those troubles to glorify God, knowing He will rescue me and not abandon me. That people will see me and see a person that is full of joy and ask what I am happy about, giving me the opportunity to point them to my source of Joy, Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Lord you are always there for me all I have to do is open my eyes to see. Help keep me focused on you and the joy you put in my life. May an hour never pass that I don’t thank you for the blessings you surround me with.

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

Observation: Wow that hurt. It hurts because I’m so guilty of being lazy and making excuses not to do the things I know I should be doing. When it comes to serving or attending studies that would help me grow closer to God I make excuses and tell myself how tired I am. I focus on the little good I have already done thinking that’s enough or its more than most do. knowing God deserves much more from me.

Application: No more excuses. I’m not going to avoid doing the good I know I should be doing and I’m going to seek for opportunities to honor God instead of sitting on that stupid couch.

Prayer: Dear Lord thank you that you are not me, because if you were I would be burning in Hell at this moment, not worrying about someone as undeserving as me. I need your help Lord to be a man that does good in your name, because I’m a sinner and that is not my nature. I need the nature of Jesus to honor you.

Scripture: James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

Observation: Deeds done in humility, which means God gets the credit not you. I tell God that I’m doing something out of glory and honor for Him, but when someone praises me for doing something how fast am I to give the credit to God? Do I do things to get recognized or am I so humble that people just see the deed and not the doer. God tells us if we are going to do something for Him do it in private, because if man recognizes it that will be your reward.

Application: I can never repay God for all He has done for me and I do what to make Him proud of His child. I what my good deeds to be just between Him and I unless what I do draws others to my Father and not this sinner.

Prayer: Dear Lord you are worthy of all my love, all my praise and all my obedience. May I bear fruit in your name and may that fruit be pleasing to you.