From Birth

Psalm 71:6 - Yes, You have been with me from birth; from my mother's womb You have cared for me.  No wonder I am always praising You!

God has always been with us.  Some of us come to realize and understand it much later than others, but David always knew, and always trusted in God for His protection over him.

I have caught myself saying to people, '...since God has been in my life...' but I have come to understand that He has always been there, I just wasn't quiet and listenting.  I am so happy that I am now.

Dear Lord, thank You for always being there for me.  Thank You for Your unending patience and love for me.  All honor and praise be to You.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Eternal Life

Matthew 25:46 - "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life."

As believers and disciples of Christ, it is our duty to care for and love each other as Christ does.  When we follow His commands, He promises us eternal life in His Glorious Kingdom.

Do I demonstrate love and kindness as Jesus has instructed?  I have felt God working in my heart recently and making me better at this.  I know with His guidance I will accomplish anything.

Dear Lord, I ask for You to continue the work You have started in me.  I want to experience love like Jesus has for me.  Help me to be a more loving servant.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

The Lord's Coming

Matthew 24:42 - "So be prepared, because you don't know what day your Lord is coming."

Jesus will come back to collect His chosen people and establish His Kingdom here on. Earth, and we do not know when that will happen.  It is our responsibility to be ready for Him when we are called to account for ourselves.

Am I ready?  Jesus could very possibly come before I finish writing this.  I need to be sure that I am ready.  With. God's wisdom and guidance, I can be ready.

Dear Lord, I pray for Your wisdom and guidance so that I may honor and glorify You here on earth and the do the same in Heaven.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Humbleness

Matthew 23:12 - "But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

There are two types of people in the world.  Those who are humble and those who are about to be.  God loves and rewards true humility as exemplified by David.

Do I exhibit enough humility towards God?  I hope so.  I know I accomplish nothing without Him and He has great plans for me.

Dear Lord, thank You for the amazing lessons in humility that You have taught me through the story of David.  I pray that I will live up to Your expectations of me.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Chosen

Matthew 22:14 - "For many are called, but few are chosen."

This illustration by Jesus was powerful.  We must all be ready for Jesus' return so that we may dine with Him in Heaven.  He has called all of us to be His disciple, but those who aren't ready when He returns will not be chosen for the feast.

If I was called today, would I be chosen?  Is my relationship with God what He wants it to be?  I need to stay focused on His will.

Dear Lord, give me the strength and wisdom to stay focused on You.  I need Your guidance and wisdom above anything this world can provide.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Proper Fruit

Matthew 21:43 - "What I mean is that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit."

If we refuse to believe in Jesus and His salvation for us, God will not allow us into His Kingdom.  God wants us with Him, but if we refuse His invitation, we will not be let in.

I am so blessed to have accepted the invitation of salvation from Jesus.  It was the best thing I ever did for my life.  Every day with God in my life is better than the last.

Dear Lord, thank You for giving an unworthy sinner like me an invitation into Your Kingdom.  I hope and pray that I can show You the praise and glory that You deserve.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Servant

Matthew 20:28 - "For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."

Jesus came to save us and show us the way into the Kingdom of Heaven.  He did not come to show us what we could not have, but what we would have if we repented our sins and believed in Him.

What a gift.  I have been so blessed to realize Jesus' love for me, and His desire to have me in the Kingdom of Heaven.  He deserves all the praise honor for His gift of salvation.

Dear Lord, thank You for the blessings of Your eternal and unfailing love for me.  I am not worthy of Your salvation, but You have blessed me anyway.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Defending His Honor

Psalm 106:8 - Even so, He saved them - to defend the honor of His name and to demonstrate His mighty power.

Despite Israel's foolish behavior in the wilderness, God protected them.  He resisted destroying them, because He didn't want anyone to think He led them out to just humiliate them.  He showed that it was in His power to forgive as well as destroy, and that forgiveness takes more power than destruction.

What an amazing display of His unfailing love that God demonstrated.  I want to be like this.  Love costs.  It's easier to hate than to love.  But I am willing to pay price to see His favor.

Dear Lord, instill in me that spirit of love and forgiveness that You display so very prominently.  Teach me to love and forgive like Jesus.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Should I?

1 Chronicles 14:10 - So David asked God, "Should I go out to fight the Philistines?  Will You hand them over to me?"  The Lord replied, "Yes, go ahead.  I will give you the victory."

God loves to reward true faith.  David was a great example of this.  He never hesitated to go to the Lord first, and God was certain to reward him.

Do I ask God first?  Being a human, it is natural for me to rely on my own wisdom and understanding when making a decision.  But that doesn't make it right.

Dear Lord, please forgive me for not always seeking Your counsel first.  Please help me to remember to seek You first in all I do.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Rescue

Psalm 68:20 - Our God is a God who saves!  The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death.

Our faith in God saves us from an eternity spent without Him.  Eternity does not begin when we physically die.  It begins when we accpet Christ as our Savior.

I am so thankful for God's rescue.  I am not sure how I made it so long without Him in my heart, but I know He will be with me always through eternity.

Dear Lord, thank You for my eternity with You.  I know I am unworthy of Your love and grace, but I am eternally grateful for it.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Certain Victory

2 Samuel 5:19 - So David asked the Lord, "Should I go out to fight the Philistines?  Will You hand them over to me?"  The Lord replied, "Yes, go ahead.  I will certainly give you the victory."

David had the best Counselor and Advisor.  He knew he would accomplish nothing without God's help or God's will.  He sought His counsel and advice first and foremost.

I know God is the wisest and that I am only here according to His plan and design.  I need to make sure I am seeking His advice and counsel first.  Only then will I be successful.

Dear Lord, thank You for Your guidance and wisdom as I follow the path You have put before me.  I know that I will accomplish nothing without You.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Honor

Matthew 15:8 - "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away."

Jesus was speaking directly about the Pharisees here, but He was also referring to all fair-weather believers.  We must believe and follow and honor God with our hearts and actions.  Just talking about it isn't good enough.

Am I good enough?  I know I have always struggled with this.  Go has worked wonders on me and my heart, and I have gotten better.  But it's not good enough.

Dear Lord, please continue the work You have started in me.  I am clay in Your hands.  Mold me how You want me to be so I may honor You with my heart completely.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

My Refuge

Psalm 142:5 - Then I pray to You, O Lord.  I say, "You are my place of refuge.  You are all I really want in life."

This is great prayer to the Lord.  He is indeed our refuge when we seek safety from sinning.  Not only is He all we should want in our lives, but He is all we will ever need.

Am I seeking God when I need refuge to protect me from sin?  No doubt I do.  But do I seek Him to give Him the honor and praise He deserves for giving me more than just protection?

Dear Lord, thank You for saving me.  Not just from sin, but from myself as well.  I know that I cannot do it without You.  You are all I want, and You are all I will ever need.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Understanding

Matthew 13:12 - "To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge.  But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them."

Jesus was speaking of more than having an open mind.  He was also speaking of having an open heart to God's Word.  That is the best way to have true wisdom from the Lord.

Are my mind and heart open to God's Word and Jesus' teaching?  Do I keep my mouth shut and my eyes, ears, and heart open to God?  Yes.  Do I do it enough?  I can do better.

Dear Lord, please continue to give me the strength to tune this world out and listen only to You and Your guidance for my life.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Family

Matthew 12:50 - "Anyone who does the will of my Father in Heaven is my brother and sister and mother!"

Jesus wasn't denying His earthly family, He was adding to His eternal family.  If we follow and do God's will, we will be Jesus' brothers and sisters in heaven.  I could live with that.

Am I following and doing God's will?  I so desperately want to be counted with Jesus' brothers and sisters in heaven.  I need to make sure I am following God's will in my heart.

Dear Lord, I desperately want Your will for my life.  Please speak to me and show me what You want for me and from me.  I am Your humble and eternal servant.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Understanding

Matthew 11:15 - "Anyone who is willing to hear, should listen and understand."

We know there is a difference between hearing and listening.  We tell someone, "You heard me, but you weren't listening."  Listening breeds understanding.  We will never understand God's complete plan for our lives or this world.  But if we have listened, we understand that God loves us and wants only good for us.

I know I used to only hear.  But now, I have listened and now I understand.  I will obey and I will honor and praise God forever.

Dear Lord, thank You for opening my heart to listen and understand Your unfailing love for me.  All praise and glory to You forever.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Finding It

Matthew 10:39 - "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it."

This earthly life we have is meaningless.  If we aren't living our lives for the Lord, then our lives aren't worth living.  We should be living to honor Him.

One of the hardest things I had to understand in my new life with Jesus, was the meaning of this passage.  I'm pretty confident I get it now.  But am I doing it?

Dear Lord, help me down this path You have put me on.  Help me to have the wisdom and courage to live for You only.  You are all I need forever.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Thirsty

Psalm 63:1 - O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for You.  My soul thirsts for You; my whole body longs for You in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

David knew that God was the water of life.  He realized that nothing on this earth could satisfy his thirst like God could.  It was as if there was no water on earth at all.

What a tremendous understanding David had.  We should all, myself definitely included, look to God to satisfy our thirst for life, wisdom, and salvation.

Dear God, please come into my heart and satisfy my thirst for You.  Nothing in this world could ever satisfy me like You do.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Believing in Hope

Matthew 8:13 - Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, "Go on home.  What you have believed has happened."  And the young servant was healed that same hour.

Another way to put this quote of Jesus', is to say "Because you have believed, it has happened."  That's the point of verses 11 and 12.  Gentiles will be in the Kingdom of Heaven because of their faith, and many Israelites will not be, because of their lack of faith.

I love that God decreed this.  He gave hope to those that had none.  Including me.  I am so thankful for His salvation.

Dear Lord, thank You for giving me hope when I had none.  I am so blessed to have this relationship with You.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Ask, Seek

Matthew 7:8 - "For everyone who asks, receives.  Everyone who seeks, finds.  And the door is opened to everyone who knocks."

Jesus' instructions on prayer were great.  If you seek the relationship with God, He will be there waiting for you.  You have to look, but you will find Him.

Do I seek God?  Am I asking the right questions?  I seek Him every day in His word and through prayer.  And the only thing I ask for is guidance and wisdom.  I know He hears me.  He will guide me where He wants me to be.

Dear Lord, thank You not just for watching out for me, but for also watching over me.  I know I cannot do this without You.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

No Worries

Matthew 6:33 - "Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern."

Jesus' instructions here were so beautifully put.  God knows what you need to get through every day, and He will make sure you have it if you are living for Him and make Him your first concern.

Have I made God my first priority?  I believe I have.  He has provided for me in more ways than I can count.  I am eternally grateful to Him, and I will gladly spend my life serving Him.

Dear Lord, thank You for Your amazing provisions for my life.  I know that I cannot accomplish anything without You, and I am happy to serve You forever.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Love

Matthew 5:44 - "But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!"

This, to me, is the true definition of love.  As Jesus said, if we only love those who love us, where is the glory?  The true spirit of God's word tells us to love everyone.  Even, and especially, the ones who hate us and perecute us.

I love this passage.  I have gotten so much better about following this command from Jesus.  I have been wronged and treated badly by others, especially recently, but I won't allow myself to get angry and vengeful.  It won't solve anything and that is not what God wants from me.

Dear Lord, I cannot thank You enough for teaching me about the true meaning of love.  This is something I needed to learn so badly.  All praise and glory to You.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Safety

Psalms 59:9 - You are my strength, I wait for You to rescue me, for You, O God, are my place of safety.

Let go and let God.  God is our everything.  Our fortress and our rock.  He willl give us what we need to survive, and He will protect us from harm as we fulfill His plan for us.

I can never read enough about David.  Although he wasn't perfect, he was a man of great faith.  He knew to let God handle things and to stay true to Him.  This is how I want to be.

Dear Lord, please continue to support me as I continue my walk with You.  I know You will keep me from harm because of Your gracious and unfailing love.  Amen!

Protection

Psalms 11:1 - I trust in the Lord for protection.  So why do you say to me, "Fly to the mountains for safety!"

David knew where his faith and trust were.  They were in God.  He knew that with God, he was protected.  He didn't understand why the people who told him to flee didn't have the same trust.

I had a friend recently going through some really tough times receive a couple of amazing blessings from God.  She seemed overwhelmed by the good fortune God had bestowed on her.  I reminded her that because she remained faithful during her trials, that God was blessing her.  I said God wasn't just watching over her, He was watching OUT for her as well.

Dear Lord, thank You for protecting us during our trials and continuing to watch over watch out for us all.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

God's Soldier

1 Samuel 17:45 - David shouted in reply, "You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord Almight - the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied."

Goliath had absolutely no fear or reverance for the God of Israle, and David was having none of it.  He let Goliath know that even though Goliath had all those weapons, David had God on his side, and that was the only weapon he needed.

I love this amazing example of faith by David.  I want my faith to be like this, and I want to be able to demonstrate it like this too.  Not for my glory, but for His.

Dear Lord, please continue to give me the faith I have in You and continue to build it and make it stronger for Your glory.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Immediate Obedience

Matthew 1:24 - When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord commanded.  He brought Mary home to be his wife.

This is a great example of Immediate Obedience to God's instructions.  Joseph was upset with Mary.  But when God spoke to him while he was sleeping and told him what to do, he didn't question or ask for clarification.  He just got up and did it.

Am I immediately obedient to God?  I hope I have been.  Only God knows if I have found favor with Him.  I pray that I will never question the Lord's commands.

Dear Lord, give me the wisdom to be immediately obedient to You and Your instructions at all times.  So that I may honor You completely.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Doing Right

2 Corinthians 13:7 - We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong.  We pray this, not to show that our ministry to you has been succesful, but because we want you to do right even if we ourselves seem to have failed.

Paul's prayer here is very powerful.  He wanted them to do right for the glory of God.  Not for the glory of his ministry.  He wanted them to find favor with God because of God leading them down the right path, not because of Paul's teaching.

Do I demand credit when I feel I deserve it?  It is never and should never be about what I want and feel I deserve.  It is always and should always be about glorifying God.

Dear Lord, thank You for teaching me humility.  Thank You for showing me that it is always and should always be about Your power and glory.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Weakness

2 Corinthians 12:9 - Each time He said, "My gracious favor is all you need.  My power works best in your weakness."  So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.

Paul asked Christ to eliminate his weakness, because he felt it would make him a better messenger for Christ.  But Jesus corrected him by letting him know that Paul's weaknesses are what made him the better messenger.

Jesus didn't come to save the righteous, He came to save the sinners.  He didn't come to save the strong, He came to save the weak.  Boy did I luck out, because I certainly am a weak sinner in need of saving.

Lord, thank You so much for thinking of me when You were on the cross.  There is no way I could've made it without You, and I am so thankful.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

A Special Nation

1 Samuel 12:22 - The Lord will not abandon His chosen people, for that would dishonor His Great Name.  He made you a special nation for Himself.

Samuel was warning the people to be mindful of their sins and not to worship false gods.  He was reminding them that they were God's special people and if they stayed faithful to God, He would not abandon them.

Do I honor God the way I should?  I hope so.  I would never abandon my faith in Him.  And I know He will never abandon His love for me.

Dear Lord,  even though I don't deserve Your love and blessings, thank You so much for bestowing them on me.  I could not make it without You.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Boundaries

2 Corinthians 10:13 - But we will not boast of authority we do not have.  Our goal is to stay within the boundaries of God's plan for us, and this plan includes our working there with you.

Paul was very careful to not accept credit or take authority over anything.  Just because God sent Paul to help the Corinthians, he remembered that God was still in charge, not him.  And he was just a humble servant of the Lord's.

Being a supervisor at my job, do I take credit and assume authority that isn't mine?  I strive to be humble before God every day, knowing that He is the One I serve.

Dear Lord, thank You for allowing me to serve You.  Please give me the strength, courage, and wisdom to continue to be Your humble servant forever.  Amen!

God Bless!!!