Category: Daily Devotional

Scripture: Matthew 8: 10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

Observation: I lack faith, even though God shows himself to me each day of my life. I want to be that man that Jesus was astonished by his faith instead of disappointed by my lack of. I don’t want God to look down on me and shake his head because of my lack of faith anymore.

Application: I need not worry, fear or be anxious. God has chosen me to fulfill a purpose and no matter what trial I might be going through God will guide me through it, if I let Him.

Prayer: My Lord increase my faith and guide me this day. May I astonish you with my faith and honor you.

Scripture: Matthew 2: [11] On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

Observation: Jesus deserves my worship, praise and obedience. He deserves all of my treasures, all that I have. My gift to Him should be my all, nothing should be more important then honoring God.

Application: Start each day by bowing down to my Lord and Savior and presenting my life as a gift, holy and pleasing to my Lord. He is worthy and should be first place in my life.

Prayer: Dear Lord I thank you for your love, mercy and grace and ask you to forgive this servant of yours for all the time You took a back seat to my desires. Help me put you first in all that I do.

Scripture: Matthew 7: [12] So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Observation: I recite this scripture, but I don’t always live it. I’m nice to others, but I do choose the people I don’t care for and treat them different. God tells me not to judge others, yet I do whether simply by appearance, what others say or the judgment I make. However God means everyone and every situation to treat others the way I want to be treated.

Application: If I treat anyone with less than love the Father commands me to, I need to stop and ask God’s forgiveness and theirs. There is no reason to treat someone poorly but the reason I use is they treated me poorly first and that is no excuse in God’s eyes.

Prayer: My Lord give me strength to love all your children, to treat others with the love you treat me with. Help me love the way You love.

Scripture: Matthew 6: [20] But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Observation: I continue to store up treasures in this place using my resources that God has given me to buy things here instead of using them to store up treasures in heaven. One of the greatest treasures is my time and lately I feel I’m hording it for myself instead of giving it to God. He asks so little of me yet I give him even less.

Application: I need to plan my time and treasures better for the kingdom. I need to get more involved with church or projects that honor God. Before buying something I need to ask myself can this money be spent more wisely for God.

Prayer: My Lord, this sinner is selfish, please change my focus to you and your children and show me how to build my treasures in heaven.

Scripture: Matthew 5: 14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Observation: God saved me for a purpose and no matter what else He calls me to do, He calls all of us to be a light, to spread the gospel. If I’m not different from a person not saved what good am I? It needs to be obvious that I’m different, I need to be a light for those that are lost and point them in the right direction.

Application: I need to work harder at being happy around others. I need to show the people God puts around me or in my path there is something different about me. I need to stop worrying and being anxious and start being positive and tell others why I’m different.

Prayer: My Lord fill me with the Holy Spirit and light me up. May a glance of your spirit make others wonder about what I have, that they don’t. May I be bold in expressing how you have blessed my life.

Scripture: Matthew 4: 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ”

Observation: So often my mind wanders and Satan comes in to tempt me or my thoughts give way to sin. When I catch myself I say these same words that Jesus said, “away from me Satan.” If I sin or don’t do what God wants me to do I’m not worshipping God.

Application: I need to be aware of the devil’s schemes and catch myself instantly when I stray from the path God wants me on. As soon as my focus strays toward sin I need to call out, “away from me Satan for it is written worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.”

Prayer: My Lord make me aware of the enemy’s traps and keep my mind and heart on you. May my life serve you and worship you.

Scripture: Matthew 3: [10] The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Observation: That is what I want to produce, good fruit. I call myself a Christian and desire to do God’s will, but how much fruit am I producing? When the day is done can I look back and see the fruit of my faith? Not very often is it evident.

Application: I need to set goals on accomplishing each day something to show God I love Him. To produce fruit at work, home or wherever I go. To make that my main job and not something that I do if I have time.

Prayer: My Lord guide me, grow me to be a producing, loving man that honors you to others. That the fruit I produce with this life you have given me will be a harvest for you.