S - Psalm 73:12-15 (NASB)
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And [z]besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the [aa]strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For, behold, those who are far from You will perish;
You have [ab]destroyed all those who [ac]are unfaithful to You.
28 But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;
I have made the Lord [ad]God my refuge,
That I may tell of all Your works.
O - David's heart for God is displayed here in the open. To live a life desiring nothing on earth, but in your defeats and victories, the ability to recognize God is our strength. David's heart is not to be like those who have been unfaithful to the Lord but to seek the nearness of the Lord.
A- The application for me today is to desire a heart like David's. I have experienced my flesh and my heart fail me, I have witnessed God's salvation and redemption of my life. I have wandered into the evil parts of the world, far from God and I have felt God's correction. Today I want to make God my refuge and stronghold.
P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's word, may it be sealed to my heart. I pray Lord that you would be my fortress, my stronghold, and my redeemer. I know Lord my flesh and heart failed me, and I have been cleaned and made new once again. Help me to walk in your righteousness. I pray all this in Jesus name.
Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Monday, July 6, 2020
Be encouraged by one another
S- Hebrews 3:12-13 (NASB)
12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart [c]that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Chris
O - This advice from Paul to the church at Jerusalem is one that had been communicated throughout the generations of God's people from the time of Adam. God knows sin seperates us from Him, and that is not His desire (separation) but rather reconciliation and redemption. Today we have Jesus to be our reconciler and redeemer, but we must every day be encouraged by one another, so that we don't slip into sin, which hardens our heart.
A - The application for me is to see and confess my own hardened heart and the need for forgiveness and reconciliation. Even while I walked the same path, attending church, reading God's word,and appearing to be outwardly God loving, I was steeped in sin as I did things in the dark away from view of my family, yet not out of view of God. I wandered this direction alone, not surrounded by fellow believers that encouraged me day after day. My application is to put Godly people back into my life, to speak truth in love into my life.
P - Dear Heavenly Father, thank you Lord for your heart to see me reconciled once again to you. My initial salvation through Christ was not the end of your grace, but you continue to allow me to be redeemed through Christ as I walk my christian walk. I pray Lord you let me know who those people I need to have in my life are and help me develop deep relationships that are encouraging to one another and help us avoid the deceitfulness of sin.
12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart [c]that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Chris
O - This advice from Paul to the church at Jerusalem is one that had been communicated throughout the generations of God's people from the time of Adam. God knows sin seperates us from Him, and that is not His desire (separation) but rather reconciliation and redemption. Today we have Jesus to be our reconciler and redeemer, but we must every day be encouraged by one another, so that we don't slip into sin, which hardens our heart.
A - The application for me is to see and confess my own hardened heart and the need for forgiveness and reconciliation. Even while I walked the same path, attending church, reading God's word,and appearing to be outwardly God loving, I was steeped in sin as I did things in the dark away from view of my family, yet not out of view of God. I wandered this direction alone, not surrounded by fellow believers that encouraged me day after day. My application is to put Godly people back into my life, to speak truth in love into my life.
P - Dear Heavenly Father, thank you Lord for your heart to see me reconciled once again to you. My initial salvation through Christ was not the end of your grace, but you continue to allow me to be redeemed through Christ as I walk my christian walk. I pray Lord you let me know who those people I need to have in my life are and help me develop deep relationships that are encouraging to one another and help us avoid the deceitfulness of sin.
Friday, July 3, 2020
Seek God in all things, don't stray from His ways
S - 2 Chron 26:5 (NASB)
5 He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding [c]through the vision of God; and [d]as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him.
...
16 But when he became strong, his heart was so [m]proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the Lord his God, for he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Then Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of the Lord, valiant men. 18 They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the Lord God.”
O - King Uzziah started off well, doing what is right in the sight of the Lord, but did not finish well. When he became strong, hubris set in and his actions became no longer pleasing to the Lord, and he did what God had set aside for the Priests to do.
A - The application for me is to recognize my own tendency to not finish well. I must not let God's promotion of me to get to my head, and I must guard my heart against hubris and not let familiarity to promotion get to my head where I think it is from me and not from the Lord. I must in the end seek the Lord in all circumstances.
P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's word, may it be sealed to my heart. Lord I am so sorry for the times I have wandered from your path, and pray you would help me stay corrected to your ways for my life. I pray that you would help me to always seek you on a daily basis to ensure my direction is your direction, and my ways , your ways. I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.
5 He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding [c]through the vision of God; and [d]as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him.
...
16 But when he became strong, his heart was so [m]proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the Lord his God, for he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Then Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of the Lord, valiant men. 18 They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the Lord God.”
O - King Uzziah started off well, doing what is right in the sight of the Lord, but did not finish well. When he became strong, hubris set in and his actions became no longer pleasing to the Lord, and he did what God had set aside for the Priests to do.
A - The application for me is to recognize my own tendency to not finish well. I must not let God's promotion of me to get to my head, and I must guard my heart against hubris and not let familiarity to promotion get to my head where I think it is from me and not from the Lord. I must in the end seek the Lord in all circumstances.
P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's word, may it be sealed to my heart. Lord I am so sorry for the times I have wandered from your path, and pray you would help me stay corrected to your ways for my life. I pray that you would help me to always seek you on a daily basis to ensure my direction is your direction, and my ways , your ways. I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
God's grace and mercy
S Titus 3:1-7 (NASB)
Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. 3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs [a]according to the hope of eternal life.
O - A great reminder by Paul to Titus. We must remember who we were, and how the Lord saved us from our foolish selves, by grace and not by our works. We are to remember this so we may stay humble and aware of what those not saved have available to them, and not hold their foolishness against them.
A - The application is to truly appreciate the grace and mercy that God has shown us (me). I was once foolish, and even after salvation have wandered back into my foolishness. God does not rejoice in my wandering away from Him but His grace and mercy are the same, if I repent and turn back to Him and His ways He will make my path straight.
P - Dear heavenly father, thank you for today's word, may it be sealed to my heart. I thank you so much for your grace and mercy. I have been blessed to know your salvation, and learned to walk in your ways. Despite this I still stumbled and strayed from your path. Thank you for the correction and acceptance of me back into your arms. I pray Lord you would lead me in healing of the wounds I caused because of my sins, and guide my path in my occupation so that I will not stray from your path for my life. I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Walking in Godly manner
S - Titus 2:2 (NASB)
2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in [a]perseverance.
O -This message to Titus is a reminder for how they were to conduct their lives. Obviously man's nature has sin in it, but God has redeemed us through Christ and wishes us to live a better life than that which the fall of Adam brought about.
A - The application for me is to dissect and meditate on living a life that is temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. Since I am now an older man I have no excuses, I can relate to each one of these traits, I have lived them at one time or another, and have examples of people who have been in my life who have exampled these traits. I need only check myself periodically to be sure the draw of a life which seeks worldly treasures or wordly glory, or worldly pleasures will draw me away from this godly living.
P - Lord thank you for today's word, may it be sealed to my heart. I pray Lord you help me walk out these day's ahead in your perfect plan for my life. Help me to to look to you for guidance and correction if necessary, and help me to resist the temptations of this world.
2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in [a]perseverance.
O -This message to Titus is a reminder for how they were to conduct their lives. Obviously man's nature has sin in it, but God has redeemed us through Christ and wishes us to live a better life than that which the fall of Adam brought about.
A - The application for me is to dissect and meditate on living a life that is temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. Since I am now an older man I have no excuses, I can relate to each one of these traits, I have lived them at one time or another, and have examples of people who have been in my life who have exampled these traits. I need only check myself periodically to be sure the draw of a life which seeks worldly treasures or wordly glory, or worldly pleasures will draw me away from this godly living.
P - Lord thank you for today's word, may it be sealed to my heart. I pray Lord you help me walk out these day's ahead in your perfect plan for my life. Help me to to look to you for guidance and correction if necessary, and help me to resist the temptations of this world.
Saturday, June 27, 2020
Turn away from the ways of the world
S- 2 Tim 3:2-5 (NASB)
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, [a]haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of [b]godliness, although they have denied its power;
O- This is a warning to Timothy about what type of people will become the dominant culture in end times. All the these traits show disobedience to living a life obedient to God and in his perfect design on how we are to live.
A - The application for me is to see this as a warning to me. I have at times had one or more of these traits show its head in my own life, even after receiving salvation of Jesus Christ. It doesn't mean I have failed, it just means I have succumb to the ways of the world which in the end will be misaligned with God. I must be careful not to live in these ways; but when I find myself venturing into an area that is unhealthy, I must repent and seek God, correct back to His ways.
P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your love and grace. I confess I wandered in a few of these personal traits and I know repent for all the wrong I have done. I ask for your grace and guidance on how to recover those parts of my life affected by these sins. I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.
Friday, June 26, 2020
My season in the belly of the fish
S - Jonah 2: 2-10 (NASB)
“I called out of my distress to the Lord,
And He answered me.
I cried for help from the [b]depth of Sheol;
You heard my voice.
3 “For You had cast me into the deep,
Into the heart of the seas,
And the current [c]engulfed me.
All Your breakers and billows passed over me.
4 “So I said, ‘I have been expelled from [d]Your sight.
Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
5 “Water encompassed me to the [e]point of death.
The great deep [f]engulfed me,
Weeds were wrapped around my head.
6 “I descended to the roots of the mountains.
The earth with its bars was around me forever,
But You have brought up my life from [g]the pit, O Lord my God.
7 “While [h]I was fainting away,
I remembered the Lord,
And my prayer came to You,
Into Your holy temple.
8 “Those who regard [i]vain idols
Forsake their faithfulness,
9 But I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving.
That which I have vowed I will pay.
Salvation is from the Lord.”
O- Jonah said these words from the belly of the fish after 3 days there. His head and heart had been realigned back to the Lord and he recognized he had survived because of the grace of God, despite his disobedience.
A - The application for me is to recognize my own disobedience and my own season in the belly of the fish. It was a toxic season, designed to turn my heart back to God. I confess that it was my doing, my falling away from God, away from my role as husband and father that brought me to this season. I also proclaim the reality of God's grace. I stand here today proclaim with joy that I am back on the right path and starting a new season. God has provide a new occupation, provided housing for my family and kept in a location where we can continue to heal and grow.
P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your grace and love. I couldn't have made it through this season without you , despite my own shrinking away from you. Thank you for the joy you have restored to my heart. I pray that you continue to show me the path you have for me, and guide my steps. I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.
“I called out of my distress to the Lord,
And He answered me.
I cried for help from the [b]depth of Sheol;
You heard my voice.
3 “For You had cast me into the deep,
Into the heart of the seas,
And the current [c]engulfed me.
All Your breakers and billows passed over me.
4 “So I said, ‘I have been expelled from [d]Your sight.
Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
5 “Water encompassed me to the [e]point of death.
The great deep [f]engulfed me,
Weeds were wrapped around my head.
6 “I descended to the roots of the mountains.
The earth with its bars was around me forever,
But You have brought up my life from [g]the pit, O Lord my God.
7 “While [h]I was fainting away,
I remembered the Lord,
And my prayer came to You,
Into Your holy temple.
8 “Those who regard [i]vain idols
Forsake their faithfulness,
9 But I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving.
That which I have vowed I will pay.
Salvation is from the Lord.”
O- Jonah said these words from the belly of the fish after 3 days there. His head and heart had been realigned back to the Lord and he recognized he had survived because of the grace of God, despite his disobedience.
A - The application for me is to recognize my own disobedience and my own season in the belly of the fish. It was a toxic season, designed to turn my heart back to God. I confess that it was my doing, my falling away from God, away from my role as husband and father that brought me to this season. I also proclaim the reality of God's grace. I stand here today proclaim with joy that I am back on the right path and starting a new season. God has provide a new occupation, provided housing for my family and kept in a location where we can continue to heal and grow.
P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your grace and love. I couldn't have made it through this season without you , despite my own shrinking away from you. Thank you for the joy you have restored to my heart. I pray that you continue to show me the path you have for me, and guide my steps. I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.
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