Submit to God

S- Job 22:21-27 NIV

“Submit to God and be at peace with him;
    in this way prosperity will come to you.
22 Accept instruction from his mouth
    and lay up his words in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored:
    If you remove wickedness far from your tent
24 and assign your nuggets to the dust,
    your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines,
25 then the Almighty will be your gold,
    the choicest silver for you.

Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty
    and will lift up your face to God.
27 You will pray to him, and he will hear you,
    and you will fulfill your vows.

O - These words from one of Jobs friends are speaking to Job about the posture he should take in his circumstances which seem grim.  Job is to submit to God and be at peace with him first.   Accepting instruction for God and lay up God's words in his heart.  If He turns toward God he will be restored, if he removes wickedness from his surrounding and trade your gold for the treasure of the almighty God.   If He does all of these things he will find delight in God and once again lift up his face to God.  He will pray to God and God will hear him and he will fulfill his vows.

A - The application for me is to be like Job's friend describes to Job the way back to being in alignment with God.  First I am to submit myself to God and be at peace with God.  When I submitt to Him I am to listen for his instruction and put His words into my heart.  I need to turn away from my wandering ways and turn toward God obediently following his guidance and direction.  I am to remove wickedness and laziness from arond me and trade in my earthly treasure for heavenly treasures.  I will lift up my face God and delight in Him,  praying to him all my needs.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord you help me to turn my face to you and pray.  I pray for a internal motivation to restore my relationship with you and to know and feel your presence.  I pray for wisdom and discernment on how I am to work toward my recovery from addiction and how I am to financially move forward.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen

Doing God's will

​s-Mark 3:31-35 NIV

31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived.Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”

33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.

34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

O - Here we see as Jesus ministry is growing and more and more people are following and pressing in on Him,  He is forming a distinct relationship with his disciples.   He is sitting down amongst the crowd when his mother and brothers arrive and are seeking to be with Jesus.  Jesus reveals that his relationship with those close to Him , who are following Him and doing the will of the Father are now like mother, brother, and sister to him. 

A - The application for me is to seek to do the will of the Father.   Jesus came to die for my sins and restore the relationship with God the Father.   I am to do His will for my life and become his true son.  

P - Dear Heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord you help me do your will for my life and be worthy to be called your son.  I pray all 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.

Following your calling

​S-Acts 29:22-24 NIV

22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

O- Paul's testimony of his recalling to Jerusalem is a encouragement to me.  He goes not knowing what will happen there but knowing the holy spirit has prepared him for prison and hardship, yet he faces the calling.   He considers his own life worth nothing other than to finish the race God has called him to complete that of testifying to the good news of God's grace.   He laser focus on his mission in light of upcoming circumstances show us how to run our own race.

A - I am to run my own race like Paul did.  I am to run with purpose to my calling as a father, husband and disciple.  My path has some tough phases ahead as I struggle through my own recovery from sin and addiction.  I move forward in faith that God has good plans for me , not for my destruction but for a purpose and a hope.  

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you would help me through this difficult phase of my life.  Give me strength and guidance on where to spend my time and effort,  give me the peace that comes with following you and your ways.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

Turning from the old to the new

​S-Job 11:13-17 NIV

Yet if you devote your heart to him
    and stretch out your hands to him,
14 if you put away the sin that is in your hand
    and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,
15 then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;
    you will stand firm and without fear.
16 You will surely forget your trouble,
    recalling it only as waters gone by.
17 Life will be brighter than noonday,
    and darkness will become like morning.

O- These words to Job can be uplifting words to me even today.  To devote my heart to God and reach out for His hand; to put away sin  and allow no evil to dwell with me;  then free from sin I can lift up my face to him without fear, and with hope.  I can put all my troubles in the past and forget them recalling only as waters gone by; life will be brighter than noonday sun and darkness will be like the morning sunrise.

A- The application for me is to live this scripture out by devoting my heart to God and putting away my sin.  I will lift up my face to him not allowing any evil to dwell in my house, I will stand firm and without fear. 

P - Dear heavenly Father , thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  Lord I lift up my heart to and reach out my hands so that I may be one with you.   I cast out all sin and ask that you help me to put it behind me.  I pray all this is Jesus Christ name, Amen.

Following the spirit's prompting

​S-Acts 11:25-26 NIV

25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

O - The believers in Antioch came from the group that dispersed when Stephen was martyred.   At first they spread the news of Jesus the messiah among the Jews but a few of them felt the calling to spread the news to the Greeks as well.   When the disciples in Jerusalem heard the news they sent Barnabas to Antioch to teach.  Once he arrived he began teaching and many came to Christ.   Barnabas I suspect realizing the opportunity to reach many went to Tarsus to find Saul who was a great teacher and follower of Christ.  This was aligned with God's calling on Paul to be called to preach to the gentiles.  

A - The progression of faith and how the good news spread to Antioch is a good example for us.  Even the scattering of the believers following Stephen's death shows God can use all things for good.  I am to look at my own life and realize even in the low points God can use those experiences to guide me in a direction that is aligned with His will for my life and those around me.  The key to doing this is being flexible and open minded to the Holy Spirit's prompting.  I am to seek the wisdom of God and lean not on my own understanding.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's message, may it be sealed to my heart. I pray Lord you help me to see through my low points the wisdom and direction you would have for me.  Give me strength and perseverance to walk in the manner you have layed before me.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

Proclaim boldly the Gospel

​S-Acts 9:28-30 NIV

28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,[a] but they tried to kill him.30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

O - Saul's early ministry was in Jerusalem where before his conversion he had great reputation and authority.   After his conversion in Damascus he returns to Jerusalem to speak at the synagoges to the Jews.  He had the reputation as a Pharisee but now was preaching in favor of Jesus being the messiah.  His knowledge of scripture was likely used to speak to the Hellinstics Jews explain how scripture revealed the coming of Christ and Jesus came and fullfilled the scripture as he was laid down as a sacrfice for the forgiveness of sin.  This Gospel didn't sit well with the Hellenistic Jews and like their reaction to Jesus , they sought to kill Saul.

A -  The application for me is to be encouraged by  the boldness of Saul who preached the gospel without fear of repurcusions.  He knew the likeihood of push back even to the point of death was a possiblity because he once persucuted Christians to the same end. I am to walk and talk with the same boldness as Paul did, to proclaim the truth of who Jesus Christ is and the truth of the Gospel.   

P -  Dear heavenly Father , thank you for today's lesson may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord you would restore my boldness for you and give me your words I am to proclaim.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen

Turn to God

​S- Acts 3:19-20 NIV

9 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.

O-Peter preaches these words after he healed the lame man.  He spoke this to all the witnesses who were trying to make sense of this miracle.   He says repent and turn to God now that you realize it was God who healed the man and he is present and willing to forgive sins, in fact wipe them all out.  Out of this forgiveness of sins come relief and refreshing from the Lord.  The Lord has sent our Lord Jesus as our savior appointed for each of us who repent and turn to God.

A -  The applicatin for me is to repent of my sins.   I have witnessed God's healing powers and miracles and have no reason to doubt in Him.   I am to rest in His presence and receive a refreshing of my soul, mind and spirit.   Jesus is my messiah and I belong to him.  

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord for your everlasting forgiveness of my sins and a new refreshing of my spirit.  I pray all this in Jesus  Christ name, Amen.

Our help is in God

​S-psalm 146:5-6 NIV

Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God. 

He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them—
    he remains faithful forever.

O -  The psalm speaks about where our help comes from as Christians.  Our hope is in the Lord our God.  God is our help in all situations for we are a part of his creation from heaven to the earth and to the sea and everything in them.  We must give praise and honor to the Lord our creator who is and is to come.

A- The application for me is to lay down my past thoughts that I am the creator of things in my life.  Instead I am to acknowledge the God of all creation.  I am to put my hope in him who gives me help in times of need and time of prosperity.  He is the same from the begin of creation to today, and he is trustworthy to put my faith in Him. 

P-Dear heavenly father , thank you for today's lesson may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord for help in my current circumstances that you would make a way for me to heal from my addiction and recover relationship with my wife.  I pray you show me the way for my financial provision and help discerning about going back to work.  I pray all of this in Jesus name, Amen.

Jesus' sacrifice for our restoration

​S-Luke23:43-47 NIV

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the templewas torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”[e] When he had said this, he breathed his last.

⁴⁷ The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 

O- At the moment on the cross where Jesus would yield his spirit to God the father.  A darkness came over the land when all of the sins of man were heaped on Jesus on the cross.  The curtain in the temple which separated man from the holy of holy's was torn in two and thus the separation of man from God was no longer.   Then Jesus having taken on the sins of the world committed his spirit to God and atoned once and for all the sins of mankind. The centurion who was not even a Jew,  saw the righteousness of Christ and gave testimony to what God had done through Christ.  

A - The application for me is to acknowledge that Jesus is my Lord and Savior.  He took on my sin on the cross and shed his blood so that I could be redeemed and restored in relationship with God the father.   I am to be like the centurion when confronted with the truth of who Jesus is, I give praise to God. 

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's lesson may it be sealed to my heart.  I give you all the praise and honor Lord for what you have done through your son's obedience on the cross.  Thank you God for the gift of my salvation.  I pray this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.

Repent of my sins

​S-Luke 18:14 NIV

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

O-Jesus tells of the tax collector who humbly approaches God proclaim he is a sinner and laying low his head as he approaches God's throne.  This was juxtaposed the Pharisee who gave thanks that he was not a sinner and approached the throne with head lifted high.  The lesson here is to approach God humbly and contrite looking at your frailities and confessing your sinful self.

A - The application for me is to simply be like the tax collector who though he was a sinner , knew he should come to God seeking his mercy and grace. I am to recognize that I have fallen short of God's best and have made mistakes in my past but I am to come humbly before God, confess my sins and receive His mercy and grace.

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for your grace and mercy.  Help me to reveal all the sin I have committed to you and seek your forgiveness.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen

Response to healing from Jesus

​s-Luke 17:14-19 NIV

14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
O- This is a lesson for all those healed by Jesus and our response to His good works.  Jesus saw the group of lephers approach him for healing and when he saw them command them to go show the priests you have been cleansed (because he healed them as they went).  One of them came back praising God when he had seen he had been healed.  The other nine we can assummed kept traveling to show themselves to the priests.  

A -  How much am I like the 9 who pray for healing and restoration and when God answers my prayers I continue to focus on the worries around me.   I wish to follow the example of the Samaritan who was healed and immediately turned back to praise God.  

P - Dear heavenly Father , thank you for today's devotion may it be sealed to my heart. 

I pray for healing from my addiction and the healing of my marriage so that I might live the life you have planned for me.  I pray this in Jesus Christ name,  Amen.

Serve God not money

​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 shares this truth about whom we serve God or money after telling the parable of the dismissed servant.  The servant forgave a bunch of debt to his master to curry favor from people in hopes they would treat him well after he got fired.  This word of wisdom comes from a place that we are drawn to as individuals who are worried about where our provision will come from.  If we trust in God and his provision we won't have to chase after unsavory ways of obtain wealth.   We will instead seek first the kingdom of God and His ways and allow his provision to be sufficient.

A - The application for me is to seek first the kingdom of God.  Too much worry and obsession of money will draw me away from God's plan for my life.  I can see in my own past where chasing the money has led me down the wrong path and I need to repent for these past deeds and renew my committment to following God's lead. 

P - Dear heavenly Father thank you for today's devotion, may it be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord for forgiveness of my greedy ways in the past and ask that you would show me your ways for provision in my life.  I pray these in Jesus name, Amen