Category: Daily Devotional

Scripture: Philippians 4: [6] Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Observation: Most of my day is spent worrying about something. I get up worrying how I’m going to be treated at work, finances and health. I spend much more time doing that then praising God. I do pray and have so much to be thankful and I know God hears me and meets all my needs and then some.

Application: I need to realize who I’m praying to, the God of all, my creator, my love and that there is nothing He can’t do. He is watching over me. I realize it must be an insult to Him the way I worry, since He has always been there for me. My main focus each day is to seek my God and please Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord I thank you for all you do for me, which is more than I can say. Guide me this day that I may please and honor You.

Scripture: Philippians 3: [13] Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

Observation: Why can’t I forget the past? I still find myself reliving things that are already over. I know God has a plan for my life and He reveals something each day. That is what I should be focused on so I don’t miss anything. I need to strain harder towards what God’s plans are and not dwell on the past.

Application: Realize what God has gotten me through. Not dwell in the past, but use it to show me how God has been faithful to fulfill His purpose in my life. Look forward with excitement on what God has planned for me each day and keep my eyes open so I don’t miss anything.

Prayer: Dear Lord open my eyes to what you are doing. Give me the excitement of a small child on Christmas morning, looking forward to the gifts you will give me this day.

Scripture: Philippians 2: 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Observation: My attitude is so different from Jesus most of the time. Today I have been focused on work and what was said on a voice mail. My heart has been full of anger and fear and my negative attitude showed so much that my wife continued to ask if I was okay. Christ attitude was of love, faith, caring, grace and mine is of self, fear anger and hatred. Why do I feel like this when God has done so much for me? I will never fulfill my purpose until I change my attitude.

Application: Increase my faith. My faith is so weak that my attitude changes constantly. Take my burdens and fears to the cross of Jesus and let Him guide me. Draw nearer to Him so that I may be more like Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord change me to be more like your son. Take my fears and worries and change them into faith, knowing that you have them under control.

Scripture: Philippians 1:[6] being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Observation: Sometimes I wonder if I’m doing anything at all for Christ. I remember times when God used me to touch others, but when is He going to continue to work in me. Then today Teri and I visited a dear brother in the hospital to encourage and bring Christmas gifts for his daughter. His good work is continuing.

Application: I need to be more aware of what God desires of me. Keeping my eyes and heart aware of my surroundings and asking God to lead me. To realize my work is not complete until it’s time to go home to be with my Lord.

Prayer: My Lord continue to work in me and guide me in what you would have me to do. I know You won’t give up on me, may I honor and glorify your name.

Scripture: Ephesians 6: [16] In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Observation: Why do I have such a hard time picking up my shield? The devil continues to shoot arrows and my shield is down. Throughout the day I get overwhelmed as Satan has his fun with me. It must hurt God after all he had done for me that my faith is so weak.

Application: I need to visualize my shield and the terrible thoughts and worries the enemy throws my way and protect myself. God has blessed me so much and has protected me all of my life. I need to make my shield larger so it completely covers me.

Prayer: Dear Lord increase my faith, so I will trust you with all of my heart and not lean on my own understanding but in all my ways trust in you.

Scripture: Ephesians 5: [17] Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Observation: I try to convince myself that some of the things I do should fit into God’s will, when they are only selfish desires. This morning instead of getting up and going to workout with my wife, I stayed in bed thinking the rest would be better. God has a plan for me and I need to get this body strong to do his will. I watch TV at night again thinking that it is rest, but it’s nothing but laziness. Sometimes when it comes to doing God’s will I’m a fool.

Application: Make doing God’s will the number 1 priority in my life. That laziness, self desires or anything else hat doesn’t honor God must must be eliminated from my life. Focus on getting myself healthy so I will be prepared when God wants me.

Prayer: Dear Lord I need your strength to fulfill the purpose you have created me for. Help me do your will. I freely give you my life as a living sacrifice, may I glorify you.

Scripture: Ephesians 4: [23] to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

Observation: My attitude directs my actions. My pastor gave a series of messages just recently about attitudes. I realize how bad my attitude is at times. Most of my thoughts are negative and I judge people first instead of loving them. My attitude towards my church is negative mostly which gives me a desire not to serve. My attitude is destroying me, because that is not the person I want to be.

Application: It is my attitude and decision to change it. I need to wake up each morning with a plan to change my attitude to a positive and loving one. I need that attitude of gratitude and realize my attitude can either honor God or disappoint him.

Prayer: My Lord you have blessed me so much, I should have a mind of love and giving. Help me change and be the man you require me to be.