My people

Scripture:

^{Jeremiah 2:13} "My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

Observation:

"My people have forsaken me..." the truth is, we spend way too much time trying to find ways to not have to depend on the Lord. We try hording, saving, storing up all in the name of responsibility. Sometimes i wonder if the underlying issue is that we don't want to have to trust in a spring that the Lord says will sustain and provide for us. We create cisterns to hold what the Lord intended to give us daily.

Application:

I need to spend time daily drinking from the spring of living water. The spring that never disappoint or fails

Prayer:

Lord i need you today. I need to drink deep of you today. Help me stop trying to create cisterns that will never hold what i think they will. I love you my Jesus

Search my heart

Scripture:

Psalm 139:²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. ²⁴ Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Observation:

nothing is hidden from the Lord. Nothing! Even the darkness is light to him. I love here how the Lord is so aware of all i say and do. He even knows the number of my days. He even knows the wickedness in my heart. Yet He still loves me.

Application:

Knowing He knows me, has to lead me to a place of response to him. What will my response be? Like David, to see the Lord on my heart condition

Prayer:

Lord, search my heart and know my ways... I love you my Jesus

Live life knowing

Scripture:

Matthew 11:² John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, ³ “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting,^{a]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]} or should we keep looking for someone else?”

Observation:

Are you the Messiah? I love this question only because it reminds me that all of us need a savior. even John (his cousin). you  would think that after the "I'm not worthy to untie his sandals..." remark that John would have had a pretty good idea who Jesus really was. I am always surprised when i read this passage because i always think he should have known better. It leave me to wonder myself, do i know the Savior of my life? should my actions match up with what i say i believe and have confessed in the past. I am no different than John who knew better

Application:

I want to live my life knowing and showing that i know the Messiah my savior. I want to live and have it be seen by all that he has marked me both my past and my future. God is so good. even I'm my times that i feel "locked up" like John. i never want to loose sight of my master

Prayer:

Lord, Hello me to always see you, and recognize you even in the hardest times of my life. John knew you. it was only in his imprisonment that he questioned you. Help me to live knowing. I love you Jesus

Vengeance in the Lords

Scripture:

Psalm 141:8-10 ⁸ I look to you for help, O Sovereign Lord. You are my refuge; don’t let them kill me. ⁹ Keep me from the traps they have set for me.  from the snares of those who do wrong. ¹⁰ Let the wicked fall into their own nets, but let me escape.

Observation:

I love how vengeance is always to be the Lords. So often i feel like my responsibility is to be the "justice bringer" to the church. My Job is really to bring people to Jesus and let him deliver the justice.

Application:

I need to be be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry for starters. secondly is to not feel it my job to be the one to deliver on my own version of Justice. My calling is to run to You my rock and deliver. My strength and peace

Prayer::

Lord i need you to help me in this. I want to walk in purity and wholeness as i deal with others. I will trust you in your delivery of justice. I love you my Jesus

A heart for the lost

Scripture:

Matt 9:12-13 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” ¹³ Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’^{e]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">[e]} For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Observation:

i think its funny that Jesus came for those who "know thay are sinners" yet we in church spend the majority of our time with those "who think they are righteous". What is our problem? When are we finally going to see what matters most to the Lord?

Application:

I want a heart for the Lost! I want a heart for those who know they are sinners. 

Prayer:

Lord change me inside and out. I want to be more like you with a heart for the lost. I love you my Jesus

No stealing Gods thunder!

Scripture:

Acts 13"22-2322 The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!”23 Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.

Observation:

Wow!!! I think it is funny that the Lord didn't strike the people for worshiping man with worship that belonged to him. Instead, he struck the man who took the worship unto himself. 

Application:

When will we ever learn. God is God. He alone is to be worshipped. He alone is to be praised. He alone can receive worship. Over and over in the New Testament, we see people falling down and worshiping Jesus. although he says Get up or rise, he never rebukes them. The times when people see and angle and they fall and worship the angle quickly states don't worship me!

Prayer:

Lord help me to never take your worship. People are people, they will worship what and who they want. I however need to make a choice to receive or divert the worship or glory back to you. I love you Jesus

Scripture:

Acts 9:15-16 Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

Observation:

"... I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake." No one ever seems to talk about this "suffering" some how we think that a walk with the Lord is to be void of any suffering. My guess is that if you were to talk to Paul, he would tell you he lived a blessed life. In fact He said "my life is poured out like an offering to the Lord" IOW: my life is only here to bring glory to the Lord. All along, Paul lived blessed

Application:

I want to embrace the life that was preordained by the Lord that includes its share of suffering. I don't really like to write this, but i know it is true

Prayer:

Lord, help me to love you and love the life you have planned for me. Your will is good. very good. I love you my Jesus

A clean heart

Scripture:

Psalms 51:10 (NIV)

¹⁰    Create in me a pure heart, O God,

    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Observation:

the words of this passage of scripture come from a heart crying out to be brought back into right relationship with the Lord. the obvious answer to the request is obviously "Yes". God always seems willing to create in us clean and pure hearts. the real issue is will we ever allow him access

Application:

Truly, I want a clean heart. I find my cry for this is when i pull myself away from you and begin to dabble in sin. I want a new heart that wants only you. Is it possible? I want to please you.today. This day. only. tomorrow I will again cry out to you my Lord

Prayer:

I love you today. I need you

Scripture:

Psalm 27: 13

13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.14 Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous.Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Observation:

I love the fact the the Lords goodness is not dependant on my willingness to wait. the Lord invites me to wait (in confidence knowing that he will show up). What a secure place it is to know the greatness of the Lord who will never let me down. 

Application:

I need to remember to wait and always remember when i cant see the other side of an issue, that the Lord is working. He is truly in control and willing to work out his good pleasure and plan

Prayer:

Lord, I need you. You say in your word that if i learn to wait on you I will find new strength. I need your strength. I love you my Jesus

Scripture:

Rev 19:10b... For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.^[d]”

Observation:

Far too often we seem to have this notion that "Prophecy" is for telling the future. and that future is all about us. How selfish we are. I know that you say in in the Bible that Prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus. IOW: the prophetic word given should lead us back to Jesus. All the time

Application:

I want to be careful to listen to the word of prophecy given from me and to me, that it give clear witness to Jesus. that he gets the glory and not I

Prayer:

Lord thank you for your word. Thank you for the words of the Bible that correct me and keep me on track. Far too easily, I read your word with self-centered glasses. I only usually want to read it for whats in it for me. That is so selfish. Help me see your words both written and prophetically given to always lead back to you. I love you my Jesus

Questioning the Lord is never a good idea

Scripture:

Job 38:1-3

38 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

2 "Who is this that questions my wisdom

with such ignorant words?

3 Brace yourself like a man,

because I have some questions for you,

and you must answer them.

Observation:

"Brace yourself like a man" wow! I can honestly say that I never want to hear those words from the Lord. When it comes right down to it, God is God and there is no further discussion. Somehow we feel justified in our approach to telling God what he needs to do or fix. When I think of how silly that is, I am embarrassed

Application:

How dare I approach the Lord and demand an answer. He is the Lord. I want to trust him because he is the Lord

Prayer:

Lord, help me to know you and your Lordship. I love you 

True Discipleship

Scripture:

1 Cor 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ

Observation:

When will we start to live lives that intend t be followed? when will we start out each decision with the fact that i plan on people watching and seeing the right way of doing things. for some reason we seem to think that our lives are our own and our decisions are all but ours to defend. I want to establish a walk that can be followed and sought after. Paul says to follow me as i follow Christ without any notion that he has personal feelings one way on another. it is almost as if Paul believed that his life would never be his own. What is our problem? Isn't this what the Lord wanted us to think? Is not the life lived for Christ to be a life lives in front of the world? I want to live a life as an example to follow.

Application:

I want today to be a day where I live for others. Not a day lived for my self. I want to make choices that truly believe that people are listening and will follow. 

Prayer:

Lord, help me to make wise choices today. With a boldness, I want to tell the world, follow me as i follow Christ. I want to mean it with all of my heart. I love you my Jesus

take this opportunity

Scripture:
Acts 3:12 12 Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd...

Observation:
what is it that keep us from taking advantage of an opportunity like Peter did? What is it that keeps us from speaking up with words that have the power of life and death? I wonder if we took the opportunity to speak up and just brought clarity to situations, what life may come

Application:
I want to speak to the times we live in. I want to take advantage and speak clarity to the confusion that is all around.

Prayer:
Lord, would you help me to see the opportunities all around me to speak up and tell the words of hope to a world who, like the people in the story, just days before shouted crucify!? I want to speak to the lost and lead them to you. I love you my Jesus

I need your strength

Scripture:
Psalms 10 He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might.11 No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Observation:
He takes no pleasure in Human might... Truly, the Lord doesn't need my strength or might. He is completely capable to do anything he chooses when or how He wants. Even when i think i can bring my gifts to the table and help Him out a bit, He reminds me that it was He who gave me those gifts.

Application:
I need to remember that when i operate in my strength i am left with results, some good but relying on me to sustain. when i rely on Him to provide the strength, the sustaining is all His. Whatever he creates He has to sustain... whatever I create i have to sustain

Prayer:
Lord, help me always stop and remember that i am nothing without you. I need your strength for my family, for my walk for my ministry. I need you. I love you

I want what you want

Scripture:
John 14:25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

Observation:
If you want to be my disciple? Wow! what an invitation. You know Jesus never says here is the requirement for you to be a true Christian you have to do this or that. He simply gives an invitation, If you want to be my disciple you need to put everything lower than me. Why would Jesus say such a thing? I believe He know that anything that we could come up with would never satisfy at all!

Application:
He says here that you even need to hate yourself. IOW: to truly know Him your wants and desires need to pale in comparison.

Prayer:
Lord, I want to want what you want. I want to desire more of you and less of my way. would you give me a hatred for the things that get in the way of that? I love you my master

Who's your daddy

Scripture:
Luke6:46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?

Observation:
When I call the Lord "Lord" I am sure it is intended to mean that he is the one with complete authority in my life. Today you ask me why i call you Lord if i don't obey what you say? In so many places in my life i call you Lord and do what i want. I am not good at being Lord. You are.

Application:
Today I call you Lord. I want to allow you to be Lord. I need you to be Lord.

Prayer:
Lord, Help me to allow you to be Lord in my life. Help me to become less so you will be more. I love you

God is in control

Scripture:
Psalms 145:13 For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations.

Observation:
In the middle of such economic chaos it is good to know that you are the everlasting God. You are not afraid of what the world can bring. I know that you are the God of history and the God of the future. You are so good. I find myself being fearful in the light of the unsettling events of the world economy. You have already been in the future and i know you will be there when i get there. I love you and am at peace knowing that you are in charge

Application:
Prepare to live here in on the planet and be aware of the surroundings i live in, but never allow them determine how i will respond. IOW: knowing God is in control is the good news and worthy of trust

Prayer:
Jesus i want only to be afraid of you and what you can do to me. I have hope and i am thankful for that. I love you

Keep secret

Scripture:
Rev 10:4 When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Keep secret[b] what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down.”

Observation:
"keep secret". not sure why this leaped off the page to me this morning. I wonder if it has to do with the fact that the Lord often wants to speak "secret things"to us that are only for us? When was the last time i listened to the heartbeat of the Lord and kept our time together a secret? like the intimate times a husband gets to spend with his wife, can i keep secret the intimate thing the Lord and I share?

Application:
I want to spend time with the Lord. I want to build a relationship with the Lord that He can trust. I want to listen to the secret things that he wants to share with me and keep it in that place of intimacy

Prayer:
Lord, I want to develop that secret place with you. I want to hear your heart beat and know what i can share and what you want me to keep between you and i. Would you help me learn and know how to develop that place with you? - I love you my Jesus

Tears in Heaven

Scripture:
Revelation: 7:17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Observation:
Will there be tears in Heaven? It says here in Rev. that there will be tears in Heaven. What kind of tears will they be? I wonder if they will be tears of regret. tears of what should have been, tears of what might have been. tears of what should have been while life was in the balance.

Application:
What if i lived life without regret? Can life really be lived without regret so that the tears that will fall from my eyes will be few? I want that. I want to life to my potential and life in obedience.

Prayer:
Lord will you help me to live life without regret? life with the fullest of response to your voice.
I love you

Make a decision

Scripture:
Revelation 3:19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. NLT

Observation:
The passage just before this one talks about being lukewarm. neither hot nor cold. completely indifferent.
How is it that we would ever decide to be indifferent? Why would we ever allow ourselves to be placed into a position of non-opinion. Is it because we don't want to fight? Is it because we don't want the conflict with those from one side on the other? Perhaps it is because we want everyone to be in agreement with our decisions and be left alone. Whatever the case, indifference is a poison that, if swallowed will only Merritt the pain on non movement. like mold that grows on a rock that hasn't moved, indifference will produce mold and pain that will eventually choke and kill.

Application:
Make a decision! right or wrong. make one.

Prayer:
Lord i know you are calling me to a place of persistence. this is the word given to me as of late. With this word and this devotion, I want to be a person that will be a person of action and not indifference.

I love you Lord