God Encourages - 2 Corinthians 7

S - 2 Corinthians 7:6 But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.
O - Paul was discouraged but he was encouraged when Titus arrived. Paul credited God for sending Titus to him at a time that he needed him most.
A - God will and does encourage us as well when we are discouraged. God doesn't want us to be down or discouraged as we are His children and he wants the best for us. He will also encourage us when we are down with someone or something that will bring us peace. He truly is amazing and worthy of all the praise in the world!
P - God, You are amazing and I praise you this morning. Thank you for always looking out for my family and me and sending encouragement when it is most needed. I pray for healing over my family and extended family today and I pray for encouragement for my wife and her family as they go through some struggles. Give us peace and comfort knowing that you have all things under control. In Jesus' name I pray.

Others Are Watching - 2 Corinthians 6

S - 2 Corinthians 6:3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry.
O - Paul was talking to the Corinthians that they are living a life that contained hardships so that they could both teach others about Jesus and so that the present followers wouldn't be led astray by anything that they did.
A - I have people depending on me and watching what I do. Because of this, I need to be extra careful with what I do and say and think as these individuals will follow me in my thought, words, and actions regardless of whether it is right or wrong. In addition, there are thoughts that are not being led by me but may still know that I'm a follower of Jesus Christ and if my thoughts, words, and actions don't line up with the Bible or give these people a view of someone that is not living an upright life, I'm giving Christians and Jesus a bad name in which they will never want to be associated with.
P - God, Help me to always be aware of how my thoughts, words, and actions affect other people around me, either directly or indirectly. Give me the strength and courage to do what is right all of the time regardless of what others might think or the consequences of my actions. I praise you for all that you have done and the love that you constantly give to me and those around me. Bless my family and me today.

Troubles Are Only Temporary - 2 Corinthians 4

S - 2 Corinthians 4:18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
O - Paul is talking about how troubles and cares of this world were coming against him but he continued to preach anyway. This is because of the fact that the things of this world and the troubles, perceived or real, are only temporary. The things that really matter are eternal.
A - I also have these cares and troubles. God didn't promise to take all of these away but instead said that He would bless and protect me. This means to me that the troubles of this world are temporary, like Paul said, but also that they are temporary in this life, not just in death. He dies so that I might live and live victoriously here on this earth. I'm able to cast my cares on Him because He cares for me. Whether these cares are extremely temporary or last a bit longer, I can have confidence that God is in control and knows how all of these things will turn out for His and my good.
P - God, I thank you for the sacrifice that Jesus did for me and all the world. I give you all my cares and worries today and I will step out in faith and do those things that I feel you have called me to do even though they may scare me. I know that you are bigger than the world and certainly bigger than my little fears. I need you, Lord, and expect your hand to be upon me and my family during these moments and days of faith and stepping out in the direction that I feel you are leading me. Help me to hear your voice daily and clearly. I praise you this morning and so desire to be with you always! Bless my family and me today!

Live in Jesus' Image - 2 Corinthians 3

S - 2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
O - Paul is talking about the difference between the old covenant and the new covenant. With the old covenant there was only law and there was a veil put over Moses so that the glory of God on his face would not hurt the Israelite's eyes. The new covenant removed that veil because with the new covenant brought the Holy Spririt.
A - The law is important to understand and to show that no one was good enough to fulfill it 100% of the time except for Jesus Christ. However, the law is no longer the covenant that we have with God. Since Jesus fulfilled the law we can now stand before God in Jesus' sacrifice and be looked at as clean as snow. Even as important, since the Holy Spirit lives inside me, I am transforming into the exact same image of Jesus and as He said, "Even greater things will you do". I need to act in that way; live a life full of perfection and expecting miracles daily as He has given us that ability.
P - Heavenly Father, Thank you so very much for the new covenant that you have given us through your son Jesus. I praise you today for the sacrifice that He gave for me and I want to show you my appreciation by living a life to the fullest and to fulfill your plan for me. Guide me today and give me strength to do what you have asked of me. Give me a heart for others and to understand what they may be going through and the courage to say and do something to help me. Bless my family and me today.

Make God's Will Your Will - 2 Corinthians 2

S - 2 Corinthians 2:17 You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.
O - Paul was conveying to the Corinthians that he was not preaching for his own gain but instead for God's gain.
A - Whatever I am doing, and I truly mean whatever, I should be doing for God's gain and not my own personaly profit. This world tells me that I deserve it and do what makes you happy. However, this couldn't be farther from the truth. The truth is that I am on this earth to bring honor and glory to my heavenly father. This doesn't mean that I can't enjoy things in life nor strive for excellence and gain, but if this is the main motivator, this is a very slippery slope. At what point do those things then become my idol? And people that I need to help me achieve these things also see that they are just resources that I need. Instead, by focusing on others and most importantly, Jesus Christ, I will be driving toward success and gain as a by-product of serving and helping people and serving God's kingdom.
P - God, Help me to always remember what is truly important in life and why I do what I do. Help me to keep in mind that everything I do is being watched by others, especially my family. I want to impact your kingdom and spread your good news to everyone I meet. Help me today and everyday to keep my eyes focused on you. Bless my family and me today.

Give God Control and He will Guide and Comfort - 2 Corinthians 1

S - 2 Corinthians 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.
O - Paul is saying that God is the source of all comfort in our lives no matter what is going on. And because of this, we are to praise and honor Him.
A - I need to ALWAYS remember this. God is in control and will comfort and guide me through things that may not make sense or are trying. When I give control to God and rely on Him for guidance and comfort, this is when my life will be meaningful and when I can truly fulfill the plan that He has for me and impact peoples lives. Rely on HIM!!
P - God, I praise you today and stand before you in thankfulness and gratitude for all that you have done in my life and all that you will continue to do in my life. Help me to step out and do what you have called me to do and bless my actions for your good and your glory. Bless my family and me today.

Living A Way That Is Pleasing To God - Psalms 24

S - Psalms 24:3 Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols
and never tell lies.
A - I know that this is the old testament and that Jesus had not yet died on the cross and redeemed the people that David was talking to here, but this is a good verse to hold up as a standard for my life. My hands and my heart should be pure; this means to me that all of my thoughts and actions should be full of integrity and love for God, others, and myself. Do not worship idols; this means that I should not let anything, and I mean anything, be put in front of God. This includes my wife and children even and also money, even though I may be saying that I'm just being a good steward of what He has given me. Lastly, never tell lies; this means never, ever tell a lie. I NEED to ALWAYS be a man of integrity and honesty.
P - God, Through David you have laid out a good plan to live a life that is pleasing to you. I have not lived up to this standard everyday and I am sorry. Thank you for your son who died on the cross and took these sins away from me so that I can be in your presence. Help me and give me the strength to change my standards to live in a way that is pleasing to you. Bless my family and me today.

I'm Not a Grasshopper - Numbers 13

S - Numbers 13:33 We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!”
O - The twelve spies returned after looking through the promised land for 40 days and the report was that the land was good but the people living there were strong. In fact, there were giants which made them feel small and bacause of that these giants thought they were small as well.
A - Throughout life there are times that my confidence is not very high and because of that I show this to others and they lose confidence in me as well. However, much like the Israelites should have done by knowing that God was on their side and would give them the strength to overcome these people, I too have God living inside me and He has promised to protect me and bless me. With this knowledge, I should have confidence that is extremely large and this confidence will show to others, no longer making people see this self-concieous person.
P - God, You are good; all the time! I praise you this morning and give you praise and thanks. I welcome you into my heart and ask that you continue to give me strength and courage and to help me also remember that with you no one or nothing can overcome me. I am so thankful that your son came and paid the price so that I could be in your precence and have your Holy Spirit living in me. Help me teach this to my children and wife and model this behavior and attitiude daily. Bless my family and me today.

God Will Be With Me and Answer Prayers - Exodus 33

S - Exodus 33:14 The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”
O - The Lord has said that the Israelites were to get up and take possession of the promise land but that He would not go with them but instead would send an angel ahead of them to destroy their enemies. Moses has talked with God and asked Him to come with them and here His response is that He will indeed go with them.
A - I too have the ability and the authority, through Jesus, to ask God for what I need or desire. Because I am now washed clean from my sins through Jesus, I can come into the presence of God and ask for what i need/desire. He has said that whoever asks of Him he will answer and pour out liberally as well; so I will ask of Him. Additionally, just as He said He would personally go with Moses, He has promised the same to me that He will be with me always until the very end of the age. What a great and powerful promise! How can I fear anything with Him by my side?
P - Heavenly Father, Thank you for the promises that you have made to me to be with me and to answer my prayers. I ask specifically for faith and to remove any fear of failing in my life. Give me extra courage to do what you have called me to do and to not let fear creep in and slow me down. I also thank you for always being with me. Help me to remember that as well when fear comes into my life. For when you are with me who/what can come against me? I praise you and worship you! Bless my family and me today.

Tell the Truth - Exodus 32

S - Exodus 32:23 They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.’ 24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has gold jewelry, take it off.’ When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire—and out came this calf!”
O - Aaron created a golden calf for the people to worship because they didn't understand what had happened to Moses. When Aaron was confronted as to why he created these idols for the people he fabricated the story a bit to say he did lead them away to some extent but the calf just appeared out of the fire.
A - I make mistakes and am confronted with them. When this happens I need to remember this account and realize that I need to tell the truth 100%. Aaron didn't lie about requesting the gold and putting it in the fire but he didn't tell the whole truth. I need to fess up and just take what may be coming for the wrong that I commit. Most people would rather just hear the truth and I owe it to them.
P - Heavenly Father, Help me to stand in righteousness, integrity, and honor every single minute of my life. Give me the strength and courage to admit the wrong that I do and to have the desire to change my ways when being confronted and not be defensive. I ask that you pour out your favor on my family and me today and guide us and keep us safe.

Follow His Word - Exodus 19

S - Exodus 19:24 But the Lord said, “Go down and bring Aaron back up with you. In the meantime, do not let the priests or the people break through to approach the Lord, or he will break out and destroy them.”
O - The Lord was coming down on Mount Sinai and was warning Moses to not let the people come up the mountain or they would die. I don't know why He wanted them to stay off the mountain but God was very stern about this command. Once everything happened all the people trembled and were afraid so they naturally wouldn't come up the mountain but God told Moses multiple times to not let them up the mountain.
A - There are and will continue to be times in my life when I hear from the Lord something that doesn't make sense to me. I have a decision at that time just as the Israelites did with Mount Sinai; listen and obey the word from the Lord or decide to follow my own thinking or logic. It's easy to say now thinking about what the Israelites were facing to follow what the Lord had said but in the think of the battle I need to e ingrained in my head to follow Him no matter what so that I don't need to make that potentially difficult decision and possibly choose to go against what He said.
P - God, Thank you for your continued word and guidance on my life. Help me to follow your path every single minute and not to question your distinct voice. Give me wisdom and help me be the warrior and man that my wife, my children, my family, my business, and my work needs me to be. I want to be a man full of honor, integrity and light for all to see and ask where this strength comes from. Not for my glory but for yours and your kingdom. Bless my family and me today.

Remembering What Life Was Truly Like Before Jesus - Exodus 16

S - Exodus 16:3 “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”
O - Only one month into the journey, this was the complaint of the Israelites. How quickly they forgot how hard they were worked and how miserable they were being slaves in Egypt. Then to say they were better off there than be free with the Lord guiding them?
A - I sometimes do the same thing. I complain about how hard it is to be a Christian and think about the things I used to do when I wasn't saved. However, how quickly I too have forgotten how those sinful things may have given me a very short-term pleasure but there definitely wasn't joy in my life because of the way that I was living. I need to remember the true joy that I now have because of Him and to also remember the pain and lack that I had in my life before being saved to remember the whole picture and not to over glorify my situation before knowing Him.
P - Heavenly Father, Thank you so very much for coming into my life and saving me. Help me to daily remember this awesome gift and to help me to remember ALL of my life before really knowing you so that my picture isn't skewed and looking better than what it was. Help me to use this experience to touch other people's lives to give them true joy instead of just chasing the world's pleasures. Bless my family and me today.

Stop Crying Out and Get Moving - Exodus 14

S - Exodus 14:15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!
O - Moses and the Israelites were camped on the shore of the Red Sea and God had just told Moses to camp there and that He would save the people. However, when the Israelites saw that the Egyptians were approaching they became afraid and questioned why Moses brought them out of Egypt to die. God told Moses to stop being afraid and complaining and start moving.
A - Just like the Israelites, I face challenges and have a tendency to complain and question why things may be happening. I need to be just as Moses and stop crying out to God and start moving. God has promised to be with me always and to protect me. If I just stop complaining and crying out to Him and start moving, I have confidence that He will bless my actions and also guide me in the way that is best for me.
P - God, Thank you for your promise to be with me always and to protect me. Help me to stop questioning and crying out to you and stopping any progress that I could have taken. Instead give me the courage and confidence in knowing your plan for me and being able to step out and take those steps to get moving. Thank you for all of my family and all of the blessings that you have showered down on me. Continue to bless my family and me and guide us through today.

God's Perfect Plan - Exodus 7

S - Exodus 7:3 But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.
O - God will harden Pharaoh's heart so that He can multiply His miraculous signs. This had to be a bit concerning to Moses since He didn't really want to lead the people out of Egypt in the first place and now God is telling Him that it's not going to be easy to get the permission to leave.
A - God orchestrates many things and people in life so that His will takes place. When I think I have everything all planned out and things don't quite go according to plan, I need to remember that God may be arranging things a bit differently so that He can show His power or mercy or give me an opportunity to grow in an area that I need to. I just have to remember that He knows what is best for me and through all of life He will guide me.
P - God, you are truly amazing! You Took the opportunity to show Egypt and the whole world that you are the true God. I ask that you take the same opportunity in my life to use me as a vessel to show your goodness and your power. Guide me today and help me to remember that you are the author and perfecter in my life; I surrender the control to you. Bless my family and me today.

Fear God - Exodus 1

S - Exodus 1:21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.
O - Pharaoh told the midwives to kill the baby boys as they were delivered but they refused. Because of this God blessed them with their own families.
A - With this journey of adoption that we are going through, there are definitely times that I question how this is all going to work out. This gives hope that if God gave a family to the midwives for fearing God, He will do the same thing for us. The key behind this is fearing Him. Even when things don't make sense, much like in the times the midwives were living in, I need to trust, love and fear God. He is the source of all things and unquestionably can bring another child into our lives.
P - God, I come to you today in fear, trust and respect. You are the creator of all things and I am just a speck of your creation. However, you have promised that you will provide and protect me, no matter how big or small, and I look to you today to give us wisdom, faith and patience in this journey. I know that you will provide! Thank you!

Doing What's Truly Important - John 20

S - John 20:7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.
O - Jesus had risen and He now appeared again to His disciples. When Peter learned who was on shore talking to them, He jumped out of the boat, leaving all of the fish that they just caught and swam to shore to see Jesus. Fishing was still their livelihood so abandoning 153 fish was a big deal, but Peter thought it was more important to see Jesus than worry about the fish.
A - I also have many things in my life that I'm doing and I continuously have a choice between doing what is "important" and spending time with Jesus. Just like Peter, I need to spend this time with Jesus with excitement and enthusiasm. There are things that can wait and in the end maybe aren't really that important or needing to be done right then. Time spent with Him will be far better!
P - God, I thank you for this time with you this morning and showing me the importance of being with you. Remind me daily of this and help me to make the choice of being with you and maybe putting off those things that may not be as important as I had once thought. Bless my family and me today.

Believing Without Seeing - John 20

S - John 20:29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
O - This is what Jesus told Thomas when he wouldn't believe that Jesus was alive and had visited the disciples unless he saw Him.
A - I fit in this category. Since I live in a time that Jesus no longer walks this earth I have a choice; believe in him without seeing Him or not believing in Him because I can't see Him. What comforting word He spoke, "Blessed are those who believe without seeing me." I choose to believe in Him and live a blessed life. Even without seeing Him, He has sent the Holy Spirit that makes it extremely easy to believe in Him as He speaks to me.
P - Heavenly Father, I thank you today for the sacrifice that Jesus made for us and that you have sent your Holy Spirit in my life and those around me. Help me to continue to strengthen my faith so that when any attack from the enemy comes up I have the necessary faith to withstand it. Bless my family and me today.

Make the Right Decision - John 19

S - John 19:4 Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.” 6 When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
O - Pilate had come to the realization that Jesus was not guilty of any crime and announced this to the people outside. The priests wouldn't take this as the answer so they continued to demand that He be crucified. Eventually, Pilot did indeed cave in and crucify Jesus.
A - Pilot had all the power to stop this crucifixion from happening but He was afraid of the people. I too will have decisions where the "right" choice is unpopular but being unpopular doesn't make it the wrong choice. Pilot's inability to do what was right was all a part of God's plan to sacrifice His son for our good, however, I need to stand for what is truth always.
P - God, Give me the wisdom and strength to make the tough decisions even when these decisions may face opposition. Help me to always see the truth and what you want instead of focusing on what others may want from me. Bless my family and me today.

Always Speak the Truth - John 18

S - John 18:20 Jesus replied, “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people[e] gather. I have not spoken in secret.
O - Jesus was being questioned by the high priest on what He was preaching to the people and He answered saying that what He was preaching was no secret. Jesus knew that what He was opening sharing could cause Him harm but He kept preaching and sharing anyway.
A - I will most likely not face harm by sharing and preaching His name and the word of God. However, I may face criticism or laughter. This small amount of "suffering" shouldn't stop me from telling others about Him. I just need to remember Jesus' lead in that He faced death for telling people the truth; I just face minor rejection for telling this same truth.
P - God, you, and you alone, are truly God and worthy of my praise! I thank you for your Son Jesus who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that I may be one of your children. I pray for strength and courage to ALWAYS speak the truth to people even when I may face some criticism or laughter or rejection. Help me to remember your son's real sacrifice for this same truth. Be with my family and me today and guide and bless us.