Our Daily Devotional
September 1, 2009 by Pastor Bobby
Filed under Discussion
Click the link above (title) to read Pastor Bobby Amezcua’s Daily Devotional.
Warrior Center Christian Fellowship - Bellflower, CA | A local church with a world vision
We are a local church with a world vision.
In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your
meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that
when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you,
and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be
differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.
(1 Cor 11:17-19 NIV)
Prayer: LORD, individuality is good, but like anything, it can be
taken to extremes. Everyone has different talents and abilities, but
sometimes we allow our differences to divide us. Show us all how to
be diverse without being divided. Show us how to live and love each
other and You in unity, the way You intended. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth
was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. And the Spirit of
God was hovering over its surface. Then God said, “Let there be
light,” and there was light. (Gen 1:1-3 NLT)
Prayer: LORD, I feel empty and cloaked in darkness at times too.
Cause new light to be in my life and overcome every dark place with
the radiance of Your Spirit. Do whatever You need to do to bring me
in agreement with Your vision and purpose for my life. In Jesus’
name, Amen.
But oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would
follow me, walking in my paths! How quickly I would then subdue
their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes! (Psa 81:13-14 NLT)
Prayer: LORD, so many prayers involve crying out to You for help in
crisis, intervention in difficult circumstances, and so on. But I
wonder if You hear many prayers asking for help in hearing You and
following Your instructions. Today, help me hear You clearly,
understand what You are saying to me, and follow it with all my
heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart, that I may honor you. With all my heart I
will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name
forever, for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me
from the depths of death! (Psa 86:11-13 NLT)
Prayer: LORD, I ask You the same thing David asked: Teach me Your
ways. Grant me purity of heart. Help me praise You with all my
heart. I want to learn and grow in You. Teach me Your ways, O LORD.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my
purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions,
sufferings–what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium
and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from
all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in
Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (2 Tim 3:10-12 NIV)
Prayer: LORD, some people think, even teach, that to experience
problems and difficulties is a failure of faith. But You said
difficulties will come to everyone who pursues a relationship with
You. So rather than be discouraged and depressed by them, help me
look to You to show me the way through them and learn from them. In
Jesus’ name, Amen.
Paul denied the charges. “I am not guilty,” he said. “I have
committed no crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the
Roman government.” Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked
him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me
there?” But Paul replied, “No! This is the official Roman court, so
I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty.
If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die. But
if I am innocent, neither you nor anyone else has a right to turn me
over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!” Festus conferred
with his advisers and then replied, “Very well! You have appealed to
Caesar, and to Caesar you shall go!” (Acts 25:8-12 NLT)
Prayer: LORD, when people put me in difficult circumstances -
between the proverbial “rock and a hard place” – help me be wise in
how I respond. Sometimes it seems there is no good solution, but You
always have one. Show me the path through the circumstances and how
to avoid the trap. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Levites who signed were Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui from the
family of Henadad, Kadmiel, and their fellow Levites: Shebaniah,
Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, Zaccur,
Sherebiah, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu. (Neh 10:9-13 NLT)
Prayer: LORD, those names do not mean anything to me, yet, they
played a role in Your plan for the future. I am in relationship with
You today in part because of what they did centuries ago. Centuries
from now, no one may know my name, but I am important in Your plan
today. Help me do what You have for me to do like the future depends
on it, because for someone, some-when, it may! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Ever heard, “I don’t get mad, I get even.”? Sounds cute, but…
Next time you feel that way, go to God instead. If someone needs to “get got”, He can do it without your help, and you avoid the damage in the process.
Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. (Psa 37:1-3 NIV)
Prayer: LORD, sometimes I do more than just fret because of evil people. I get downright angry, lose my peace and composure, and sometimes even my reputation. When people do mean things, help me trust the certainty that my well being depends on You and not on what they do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly
to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name
lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for
you are my refuge. (Psa 31:1-4 NIV)
Prayer: LORD, someone not facing difficulties does not need a refuge
or a safe place. I am glad some do not – but I do! Regardless of
what happens in my life, I can survive because I trust in You and
You will make a way for me. Thank You for being my Rock, my safe
place. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man
who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding
a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Mat 13:23 NIV)
Prayer: LORD, if the ground could speak, it might say that being
broken, plowed, and prepared to receive seed is painful! I want to
produce a good harvest of what You sow into my life. Do whatever You
need to do to enable me to receive what You sow and produce a good
harvest. In Jesus’ name, Amen.