Let Him Remain in Me - John 15

S - John 15:7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!
O - Jesus promised His disciples that as long as they remained in Him that they could ask for whatever they wanted and it would be granted!
A - Just as this promise was given to the disciples, it is also given to me and to my family. The key behind all of this is that we consistently and persistently remain in Him. This means that we are under submission to Him and that we invite Him into our lives. When we invite Him into our lives it also means that we listen to Him and do what He asks us to do. When we do all of this, He remains in us, and He wants to bless us.
P - God, You are awesome! I ask you to come and stay in my heart and direct my life. Help me today and everyday to follow what you have said and continue to tell me and to be in submission and obedience to you and your word. I thank you for your promise that you will grant whatever I ask when you remain in me. I pray that my wife and children would also be open and willing to have you guide their lives and to be under this same promise. Help, protect, and bless me as I go about my day today and let me be a person that shines your light so brightly that they wonder where my light comes from.

Asking in Jesus' Name - John 14

S - John 14:13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
O - Jesus is saying that if the disciples ask anything in the name of Jesus, He will do it.
A - This promise is for more than the disciples as Jesus is the same today as He was back then. Because of this it means that this promise is for me and my family as well. I can stand in faith that when I ask for something in my prayers to God in the name of Jesus that He will do it. His will is to do what I ask as long as what I am asking for doesn't not go against anything in the Bible. What an amazing promise and one that I need to remember especially in times of struggle.
P - Heavenly Father, thank you so very much for your Son Jesus Christ. I ask in His name that you bless my wife and my children today and give them complete health. Bless our thoughts, words and actions today and help us to bring encouragement to everyone that we are in contact with. Give us words to speak that will bring hope and peace to others. You are awesome! Praise God!

Showing Love to Others - John 13

S - John 13:35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
O - Jesus has just finished washing His disciples feet at the last supper and has said that they are to love one another. This love that they were to show one another would be a sign to all who would see that they were following Jesus because of the love that He had shown throughout His life.
A - Just like His disciples, I need to show true love to Christians and non-Christians. I can and do easily show a shallow love for just about everyone but I need to find God's deep and agape love and show this to people. This type of love tells those around me that I truly care and love them and will be an example of the love of God that they may not see many other places.
P - God, I ask for your love to fill my life so that I can give it away to others. Help me to feel those feelings that others around me are feeling so that I can love them in a way that is most helpful. Help me to especially love my wife and children and be able to feel the needs and desires that that are having so that I can love them in the way that they desperately need my love. I love you Lord and thank you for all the blessings in my life. Bless and protect my family and me today.

Show and Live My Fatih - John 12

S - John 12:43 For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.
O - Jesus had come to Jerusalem for the Passover and knew that He would be killed there. However, many people came to believe in Him in those last days including some of the Jewish leaders. These leaders wouldn't admit this though as they were both afraid for their lives if they admitted they believed in Jesus but also that they would lose their seat of power as a leader if they professed their belief in Him.
A - I don't necessarily have to worry about my life or my position at work or home if I don't admit that I believe in Jesus, but I still have this same type of fear as the Jewish leaders had at times. My fear is that people will think less of me if they know that I am a God-fearing man. I need to be confident in who I am because of God that lives in me and stop worrying about what others might think of me and not worry about human praise more than the praise of God.
P - God, I worship you this morning and ask you for help. Help me to have the confidence in standing up ALWAYS for you and my faith in you. Just because I know there are those that don't believe in you or might think less of me this doesn't give me an excuse to allow a moment to pass in that I don't profess my faith in you. Give me guidance as you did with your Son in knowing what to speak and when to speak so that I can be used as a vessel for your kingdom. Protect and bless my family and me today.

Everlasting Life - John 11

S - John 11:25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.
O - Jesus is telling Martha and the crowd mourning Lazarus' death that Jesus is the true resurrection and life. Even when Lazarus had died He is explaining that He is the only life after death.
A - In all of life's hectic nature it is sometimes difficult to remember that He is really the true life-giving one and that all of the busyness that we have in our lives can sometimes be distractions to what is really important, Him. I need to remember that Jesus in the resurrection and life and even if I am a very good person, or raise excellent kids, that is still not what is going to matter at the end of time. Only because of Jesus am I saved!
P - God, Thank you for sending your Son Jesus! I am blessed to know of His sacrifice for me and I don't take this for granted. Help me to live my life in a way that is both pleasing and in obedience to your calling. I ask that you put a hedge of protection around me and my family today and bless us but more important, help me children and my wife see you for the true resurrection and life that you are so that they too will be in eternity with you some day.

Jesus Heals - John 10

S - John 10:21 Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
O - People were debating whether or not Jesus was truly the Messiah. One side of the argument was that he was demon possessed while the other side said he did miracles and that a demon possessed man couldn't perform miracles. Even the unbelievers knew of His miracles and couldn't deny these.
A - God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. This means that these miracles that He performed then, He is still working today. Jesus heals! I need to have faith in this healing regardless of whether it is healing for a stuffy nose or a fatal disease.
P - Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending your Son Jesus to show us your amazing works through Him on this earth so that we can more easily believe in your awesome power. Thank you for your healing power that you continue to pour out on us. I pray this over my entire family and that they have long life on this earth. I praise you this morning and ask that you bless my family and me.

Standing Up For Him - John 7

S - John 7:13 But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.
O - The people of Jesus' day were afraid to declare that they thought He was the Messiah because they feared for their lives.
A - I don't need to fear for my life but yet there are times that I'm not bold enough in proclaiming my faith in Him. The consequences I face instead are potentially, but not 100% sure, laughing or thinking less of me. How can I be afraid of this? I need to be bold with Him that lives within me and let others know of His goodness.
P - God, Help me to be bold and confident in dealing with others and proclaiming your goodness and your sacrifice for all of the world. Help me to shine your light but not have a judgemental spirit about me that makes people flee from me before they are able to hear your good news. Bless my family and me today and I pray for healing on all of us and your peace to be on us all.

Work Harder Than Anyone Else - 1 Corinthians 15

S - 1 Corinthians 15:10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.
O - Paul is talking about how he has been blessed. He worked harder than any one else but is quick to point out that it wasn't him that got these results but instead it was God working through him.
A - Paul worked harder than anyone else and had special favor in his life. I too need to work harder than anyone else in everything that I do and just like Paul I will have special favor on my life as God is not a respecter of people. However, when this special favor is on men and both others and I notice this I need to be humble, just as Paul was, and point out that this favor is not me but that it is God working through me that gave me this favor. God is looking for a vessel to use for His kingdom and He will only use someone that is moving and working.
P - God, Help me to focus on the work that you have laid out for me and to not do it begrudgingly or out of obligation but instead out of a desire to do your will and to work harder than anyone else. Use me for your purposes and put your special favor on me. Guide me through my journey and help me to love, guide, and protect my family as well and to teach them to have this same passion and drive for you. Bless my family and me today and be with us and protect us.

True Wisdom - 1 Corinthians 3

S - 1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.
O - The world's wisdom is foolish to God.
A - All throughout the world we are taught to learn and to excel in wisdom. Although I think that this is true and that there are benefits to this wisdom, I feel that this verse is really talking about understanding why wisdom is being sought. If wisdom is being sought for personal gain only or for recognition purposes, then I think that is where it becomes foolishness to God. The wisdom of this world tells us how to be better, how to take care of ourselves and how to win. However, these three areas actually are all taken care of by God as we see throughout the Bible. He promises to bless us and to protect us and all we need to do is to follow Him and obey Him. I need to keep it simple and look to Him for His wisdom daily.
P - God, You are the true provider of wisdom. Thank you for your wisdom and your sacrifice. I ask you to help me to keep you first and to look for you and your wisdom instead of trying to gain this worldly wisdom myself. Be with me and my family today and bless us all.

The Mind Of Christ - 1 Corinthians 2

S - 1 Corinthians 2:16b But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.
O - Paul is talking to the Corinthians and telling them that he spoke to them simply because he wanted them to know Jesus not because of a good speaker or wisdom but instead by Jesus Himself. However, he talked to mature Christians with wisdom given to him through the Spirit of God. Because of the Holy Spirit we now have the mind of Jesus Christ.
A - What an encouraging and powerful thought to think that we have the mind of Jesus Christ. In order for me to have this mind of Christ, I need to continue emerging myself in His word and to talk with Him constantly. Just like any relationship, to be close to Christ and have His mind, I need to spend time with Him in fellowship and communication. This is also vital for me to pass this truth on to my children so that they too may have the mind of Christ.
P - God, Thank you for your Holy Spirit and for your word so that I may be close to you and know you intimately. I pray for your protection, guidance, and courage as I go about my day today. Help me to live a life that is pleasing and successful for you and to shun the life of mediocrity. I know that this life will be more appealing and attractive to others and will be a weapon to fight off the devil and also be a light that others want to follow and learn about you. Bless my family and me today.