Believe in the Son

​S-‭‭John‬ ‭5‬:‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

““I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”

O - Jesus is proclaiming the power of God that is within Him and that those who listen to His truth and believe in His message will have eternal life.   God will not condemn them but forgive them of their sins and lead them to eternal life.  

A - The application for me is to hold on to the truth that Jesus is the son of God sent to take away the sins of the world.  Anyone who believes in him will have eternal life.  I believe in Christ as my savior and now only need to stay close to Him to walk the path of eternal life.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's lesson may it be sealed to my heart. I pray that you would help me stay close to you in my walk and that you show me your way to eternal life.  I pray all these things in Jesus name, Amen.

The light of the world

​S-‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

““There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.””

O- Jesus is speaking these words to the pharisee Nicodemus.  He is speaking that he is the light brought into the world by God.  For those that believe in Him he offers salvation and those that don't there is judgement.  The light of the world shines the light on our sins and those that acknowledge this light and their own sins, are forgiven when they accept the son as their Lord and saviour. 

A - The application for me is to recognize Jesus is the light of th world,  I need to believe in Him and allow his light to shine on and expose my sins.   I repent and turn away from these sins and seek to walk in the light and direction that Jesus is showing me.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank your for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord you would help me to expose all my sin and repent and turn away from my sinful ways.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Possible with God

​S-‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.””

O - The disciples were astounded at Jesus explanation to them how it was easier for a camel to go through the eye  of a needle than for a rich man to make it to the kingdom of heaven.  But we see here that what is impossible to be done by man, can be done by God.  It is through Jesus and only Jesus that we are able to come before God and enter His kingdom.

A - The application for me is not to focus on the things of this world that are valuable but to focus on the relationship with God through Jesus.  I am to count heavenly things as valuable and store up my treasures in heaven and not on earth.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's less may it be sealed to my heart. I pray Lord you help me to focus on the heavenly things in my life and maintain my relationship with Jesus.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen

Blessed are those that see and hear

​S-‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT

““But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.”

O  -  Jesus was speaking to those who would listen to him proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven is here.  He knew he was a fullfilment of many prophesies and promises that God had made through nation of Israel. What should have been an amazing revelation and experience these people were seeing for some it was a stumbling block.  This is not how some had envisioned the messiah would come and therefore had a hard time believing the things Jesus would say or even do.

A - The application for me is to by faith believe in these accounts of Jesus during his time on earth.  All of them happened that I might believe and receive Him as my Lord and savior.   I can trust in these accounts and the many miraclous healings and words of truth as witness to me to the power of the Messiah and the plan he had for all of us to be redeemed through Him.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you would continue to reveal to me your truth in scripture and grow my faith in you and all you have done.  I pray the Holy Spirit would continue to guide me in my steps each day.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Following the Holy Spirit

​S-‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”

O-  The battle between my sinful nature and the Holy Spirit in me is real.  The key to success is not to let the sinful nature dominate but to be instead controlled by the Holy Spirt.  We must focus of letting the Spirit control our minds.

A -  The application for me is to die to my old nature that was dominated by sinful nature, and live in perfect peace by living controlled by the Holy Spirit.  I must begin my day connecting to the Holy Spirit in me for direction and guidance and discipline myself to following the guidance of the spirit.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for this lesson today may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord your Holy Spirit would dwell in me and guide me in your everlasting ways.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen

Free from the law - free from sin

​S-Romans 7:6NLT

“But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.”

‭ “So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

O - Paul here describes the internal struggle we all feel.   We desire to do what is right and good but we don't.  We know the law and desire to follow it but our sinful nature lives in us against the law.  But verse 6 tells us that we have been released from the law because we died to it and are no longer captive its power.  Now we can serve God in a new way , not by following law but by following the Holy Spirit who God has gifted us following our confession of Christ as our Lord and savior.  So we are no longer a slave to sin but a slave to Christ.  

A - The application for me is to thankful for Christ's gift  of salvation as it free's me from the penalty of death that trying to follow God's law  had lead me to.   I now can rejoice in a new freedom from sin and a new life in Christ.  But like Paul I will have this sin nature in me that makes me want to do what is wrong, the answer lies in being obedient to the Holy Spirit in me.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you Holy Spirit would speak to me and guide my ways.  I pray that you help me discern when the sinful nature in me wants to act out and cause me to dwell in my sin. 

Faith in Christ

​S-‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.””

O- The Gospel is the good news for us on how Jesus reconciled us with the Father through his sacrifice on the cross.   By our accepting this sacrifice and believing in Him we are made right with God.  It is our faith in Christ that our salvation is complete.  

A - The application for me is to remember that my faith in Christ is what makes me right with God.   I am to walk in the truth of who Christ is,  a living and breathing sacrifice for the sake of my sins so I could be reconciled with God once and for all. 

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord for the reminder and refreshment of my faith in Christ so that I can walk in your truth.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen

The cornerstone of faith

​S - Acts 4:10-12 NIV

0 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead,that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,
    which has become the cornerstone.’[a]

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

O- John and Peter were standing before the Sanheedrin because of their testimony regarding the healing of a man at the temple.  They were not intimidated by the leaders who were questioning them but boldly proclaimed it was by the name of Jesus Christ that they healed this man.  They proclaimed the good news of salvation is found in Christ who was crucified as atonement for our sins and raised from the dead and now is seated in heaven at the right hand of the Father.  There is no other name by which we are saved from our sins than Jesus.

A -  The application for me is to walk in this testimony that my salvation comes from Christ who died for my sins on the cross, reconciling me once and for always with God the Father.  This is the cornerstone of my faith upon which I am to build my life.  

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you help me to build my faith up on the rock of your salvation that is Christ.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name ,  Amen.

Faith in Jesus

​s- Acts 3:16 NIV

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

O- Peter here heals the lame man at the entrance of the temple.  He is walking in the promises of Jesus told them and even trained them when he sent his disciples 2 by 2 to do the ministry through Israel.  Peter here operated under the authority of Christ to heal this man who many recognized as lame and always at the gate of the temple begging for money.  But Peter said I have no money to give but what I do have I give to you.

A - The application for me is to have faith in Jesus that Peter had.  There are many things to pray for but staying connected to the father through the holy spirit I can pray his will be done in many circumstances I will face.   I must by faith in Jesus pray all things to his glory and not mine.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray that you would help me to have the faith of Peter, and pray in your name for the things that are in my life.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

The resurrected Christ

​S-Luke 24:45-49 NIV

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will sufferand rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

O- The resurrected Jesus speaks he to two of his disciples who didn't quite understand that his ressurrection was part of the prophesy of the Messiah.  It is through His death and resurrection that forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God is achieved. This is the good news that will spread to all nations beginning in Jersusalem.   The ascensiion of Jesus into heaven and his sending of the Holy Spirit is the last of His promises and neccesary for the disciples to know how and where to do the ministry of Christ on earth.

A - The application for me is to believe in the resurrection of Christ and the payment for my sins through his death.  His ressurrection means I have an advocate in heaven that knows me and know my heart.  I am to be repentant for my past sins and look to be guided by the holy spirit in my future action.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord you help remind me of the power of your resurrection and help me to be guided by your holy spirit.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Trust in God for my provision

​S-Luke 16:13 NIV

13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

O-Jesus here challenges us to love God above all else.   We will be challenged in this life to serve money over God because money is measurable we never seem to have enough of it to live a life we dream of.  But in order to live a truly fullfilled life we must love God above all else because he is our strength and portion.  

A- The application for me is to choose to serve God over serving money.  This sounds easier than it is.  I must overcome my fear of not having enough money and trusting in God for my every provision.  That is the key to trust in God who is worthy of my trust in all aspects of my life. 

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord you give me the strength and direction to put my trust fully in you for my life,  I confess I have worries about my provision, but want to put my trust fully in you.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

Trust in the Father

​S-Luke 11:9-13 NIV

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you;seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

O- Jesus is giving us how we should engage God in our life everyday.   We are to ask and seek the Lord for what our needs are.  We are to knock on closed doors that they may be opened.   For our Father in heaven is a good good father, who will give us what we need and not what is bad.   We need to have faith that our heavenly Father is good and wants what is best for us, so we should be confident when we seek and knock that God will answer in a way that is good for us.

A - The application for me is to not be afraid to go to God in all my needs and circumstances.  He is good and faithful to answer in a way that my needs are met and he is trustworthy to depend on in all of my circumstances.  

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord you give me the confidence and patient endurance to present to you my requests and needs, trusting in your goodness and faithfulness.  I pray all this in Jesus name,  Amen.

Seeking healing

​s-Luke 5: 12-13 NIV

12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy.[b]When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

O- It is amazing how those afflicted came to Jesus to be healed.   They came with a faith in Jesus as a healer who if he was willing could heal them.  The lepar here did not demand Jesus heal him, but rather humbly submitted himself to the Lord and ask if he was willing he could heal him.  Jesus seeing the faith and humble submission was willing to heal the man, so he reached out and touched him and he was healed immediately. 

A - The application for me is to have the faith of the leper, knowing Jesus can heal, and simply humbly submitting myself to God and his healing touch.   I am to take my addiction and submit it to the Lord and ask for his healing and restoration of my soul.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord for healing and restoration from my sexual addiction,  I pray for a renewed mind and spirit in me one that seeks after and follows you.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

The good shepherd

​S- John 10:14-18 NIV

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheepand my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

O - Jesus is our one and only good shephard.  He knows us and calls us by name to follow Him.  He lays down his life so that we can be reconcilled with God.  Jesus here reveals he is not just called to the sheep in Israel but to the others outside, in fact he calls them all together in one great flock,  His flock.  God is well pleased with Jesus' work here on earth, because he lays down his life for the lost sheep, only to take it up again after his death so that he may take his place at the right hand of the father in heaven.

A - The application for me is to reaffirm that Jesus is my good shepherd.  I have gone to him and committed myself to receiving His grace due to his great sacrifice on the cross.  I follow him in love and peace as he guides me in his everlasting ways.   I turn away from sin and towards him who loves me unconditionally.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's devotion,  may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you shepherd me in your good way and save me from myself.  I pray this in Jesus name, Amen

Freedom from sin

S-John 8:34-36  NIV

34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

O - Jesus is the son of God and has all authority to set us free from our sin.  Jesus is explaining to the pharisees and those present that He alone is from God and delivers God's message to the people.  His message of salvation from sin once and for all.  It is this hope that makes us different to those who are simply trying to conform to the law.

A - The application for me is to be glad and rejoice in the finished work of Jesus.  Although I have sinned,  I have repented and towards God.  I have access to God because of the work of Jesus on the Cross.   I have been given the Holy Spirit to guide me and therefore I can live free from sin.  

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's lesson may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord you remind me of my relationship to you through your son.   I pray that you help me put my past sin behind me and move forward in your ways.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.

Believe in Christ

​S-Romans 10:11-13 NIV

11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[e] 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

O- How comforting to know that whoever believes in Jesus will never be put to shame.  The Lord is the same for the Jew and the Gentile,  he is the Lord of all and richly blesses each person that call on him.  The fact that Jews and Gentiles where apart of the church in Rome, it probably meant there was tension between the two groups.  The Jews in Rome had been driven out by the emperor for a period and the letter to Rome from Paul came to them at a time when the Jews returned to Rome.   

A - The application for me is to recognize Jesus is available always to me and if I would believe in him, and call upon him he will be there for me.  I may have fallen short of God's best for my life but that doesn't mean he isn't still working things together for good.  I simply need to call on him and believe he can and will show me the way. 

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord you would be the Lord of my life and lead me onto path's that I should be taking.  I pray this in Jesus Christ name, Amen

Entering God's kingdom

​S-Mark10:24-27 NIV

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[e] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

O - Jesus says this parable after the rich man comes to him asking what he needs to do to inherit eternity.  Jesus told him to follow the law of moses to which he claimed to have followed since he was a child.  Then Jesus told him to take and sell all of his stuff and give everything to the poor and follow him. Jesus then tell's his disciples that it easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.  The disciples then asked then who can be saved.  Jesus said things are impossible with man are possible with God and therefore even a rich man can enter the kingdom if he follows God.

A -  The application for me is to seek God and my salvation through Jesus. I need to lay down my need for earthly treasures and seek kingdom treasures.  I must focus on my relationship with God and seek his will first and trust in him for all other needs.  

P - Dear heavenly father thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord for you to reveal you kingdom to me and show me the way to enter it.  I pray for your provision to be enough to satisfy my needs and worries.  I pray all of this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

Light in the darkness

​S-Job 17:11-12 NIV

11 My days have passed, my plans are shattered.
    Yet the desires of my heart
12 turn night into day;
    in the face of the darkness light is near.

O- Job here is speaking to himself to uplift his spirits in the midst of a very challenging set of circumstances.  He could feel defeated and hopeless but shows here rather than wallowing in a pit of despair to focus on not his shattered plans but on the desires of his heart. It is in this turning to what he deeply desires that the light returns and brightens his way.  It is a reminder that even in darkness ,  light is near.

A -  The application for me is to recognize that in my darkness ,  the light is near.  The light is God and his plans for me.  These future plans and path are to bring hope where there is despair and peace where there is pain.  My job is to focus on the light of God and not on the darkness of my sin and despair.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank  you for today's lesson may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord for a clear vision of your light in my darkness.  Help me to see your light in my path and to see your ways over my ways.  I pray this in Jesus Christ name,  Amen.

Do not worry

​s-Luke 12:22-26 NIV

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[b]?26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

O- Jesus addresses his disciples to put their minds at ease.   Worry about provision of food and clothing and other needs comes natural to us but Jesus wants to show us a way to live free of these worries.  He explains that are lifes are more than just the food we eat or clothes we were. God has a plan for provision for the Ravens who worry about where their provision is coming from.  They neither plant seed or sow a harvest of their own making but the Lord still feeds them. Since the Lord provides for the ravens, how much more will He provide for us.   Worrying about these things does not lead to adding an hour to our lives and since we can add to our life by worrying about littel things we should not worry about the rest.

A - The application for me is to place my trust in God and His provision.  I have so many individual worries that at times it can overwhelm me but God has me in his palm looking over me and providing for my every need.  I need to commit to surrender my worries to the Lord and allow Him to be my good shepherd and show me His ways and His provision.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's message may it be sealed to my heart.  Lord I pray for you abundant provision in my life. I surrender all my cares and worries to you.  Show me you ways and provision so I may walk in a manner that exemplifies my trust in you.  I pray this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

Faith to be healed

​S- Luke 5:12-13 NIV

12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy.[b]When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

O- The faith of this Leper is commendable as he had likely only heard of Jesus before he came and had never seen him perform miraculous healing.  He likely heard that Jesus was coming and therefore ran to meet him.  When he finally saw Jesus he humbled himself with his face to the ground and begged him  "If you are willing you can make me clean".   Jesus having compassion on him reach out and touched the leper and healed him.  His choice to touch the untouchable and heal the afflicted gave testimony to where he was from.  

A - The application for me is to take the wise lesson of the leper and come to Jesus humbly and seek his healing.   Pray if it is your will lord you can heal me.   Pray over all of my mental afflictions and pray over my marriage that He can and will heal me.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you would heal my mind of the affliction of bipolar and give me the strength and knowledge to walk in your ways, which are better than my ways.  I pray you heal my marriage and restore my relationship with Abby.  I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.