Pray Continually - Ephesians 6

S - Ephesians 6:¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
O - The direction for the Ephesians was to pray persistently for all believers and to pray in the Spirit at all times.  I think the reason that they were encouraged to pray in the Spirit at all times was because when praying in the Spirit, the person doesn't necessarily need to know what is being prayed for but the Spirit is directing the prayers that are needed.
A - I will be diligent in following this command as well.  Both portions of this command are areas that I can improve on and really need to as God can do way more than I can by myself.  I need Him to help me and other believers and by praying continually for other believers and in the Spirit this will be more beneficial than most things that I could do.
P - God, you are truly amazing.  I thank you for the blessings, the healing, the protection, and the guidance that you give me and my family every single day.  I pray for my family, my friends and all the other believers in the world that you would continue to bless, protect, and guide us all.  Help me to be the man that you have called me to be and to step out and really do what you need me to do.  I praise you Heavenly Father!

Understanding What God Wants - Ephesians 5

S - Ephesians 5:¹⁶ Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. ¹⁷ Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
O - Instead of being fools, the people were encouraged to understand what the Lord wanted them to due and to make the most of every opportunity.
A - Am I making the most of every opportunity that is in front of me?  The key to doing this is to truly understand what the Lord wants me to do.  I need to continue to seek this out in His word and in communicating with Him.  When I know His desires then I can and will make the most of every opportunity.
P - God, I come to you today asking and praying for your wisdom and your understanding.  I want and need to know what you want me to do, especially with this baby.  I pray that your word be ever so apparent and understandable to me.  I then ask for your strength and courage to go out and do what you have asked of me.  I love you Lord and I ask for strength, courage, patience, and love for everyone in this house during this transition.  I ask pray for quick and complete healing over everyone's body.  I pray all this in Jesus' name.

I'm God's Child - Galatians 4

S - Galatians 4:⁷ Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.
O - Paul was talking to the Galatians in that they were bond to their false gods before he came and preached the good news.  This meant that they were slaves.  Once they accepted God as their savior, they then became God's children and now have the rights of an heir.
A - This was the same thing for me before I was saved.  Now that I am born again, God is treating me like a son.  This means that He is looking out for me and my best interests and wants to protect and bless me.  Everything that I want for my children, God wants for me and can even give better.  What a great thing for me to remember every single day!
P - God, I thank you for saving me and for now treating me as your child.  I can never repay you for what you did for me.  I want to live a life that is pleasing and expands your kingdom, not to win your blessings and eternal life, but to show my appreciation for what you did for me.  I pray that you continue to watch over me and my family and bless us and keep us all healthy and free from disease.  I pray this in Jesus' name.

Can't Win Heaven Through the Law - Galatians 3

S - Galatians 3:3 How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?
O - The Galatians were trying to earn God's favor and love through trying to obey the laws perfectly.  Paul says here that they were born again and received His Spirit but are now trying to win again eternity through obeying all of the laws.  This is foolish.
A - I have the Holy Spirit inside of me.  I don't need to win eternal life through being holy and perfectly obeying the law.  I am to be holy just as God is holy but not to win God and eternal life but instead to be a witness and example of what God has done in me and to show God that I am thankful and grateful for what Jesus sacrificed on the cross for me.  There is a big difference in trying to win God and trying to thank Him through my actions.  I need to be reminded of this daily and remember that just because some other Christian may not be following one of the laws this doesn't mean that the person is not going to heaven but instead that they aren't bound to the law and only God know the heart.
P - God, I thank you so very much for what your son Jesus sacrificed for me and my entire family on the cross.  I want to thank you by my words and actions every single day and to proclaim your name by my words and actions.  I pray for your guidance today and that you would speak into my life regarding which way you want me to go.  Bless my family and me today and every day and I pray for protection and healing over us all today.

Winning God's Approval - Galatians 1

S - Galatians 1:10 Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.
O - Paul is warning the Galatians to be careful to not follow anyone who is teaching something contrary to the good news of Jesus Christ dying on the cross and raising from the dead.  He was being very bold with the warning that he was giving to both the Galatians and those that are preaching falsely.  Because of this he knew that some people may not like him but that was not his concern; it was pleasing God that was his concern.
A - Am I doing things to win the approval of people or of God?  This should be a question that I continual ask myself and measure my thoughts, words, and actions against.  God is the one that I always needs to be thinking of.  If people don't like me or think I'm a fool but God is pleased with me, then I have succeeded in life even though others may think differently.  God will either bring success in my life here on earth for following and pleasing Him or will be successful in my eternal life with Him.  Either way is a win for me!
P - God, I ask for your forgiveness for the way I sometimes look to please others instead of you.  I also ask for forgiveness in how I treated my children yesterday.  Please help me to be a better husband and father every single day.  I pray for your wisdom and guidance throughout the day today.  I want to live a life for you and will go about looking to win your approval today and everyday.  Bless, protect, and heal each one of my family members.

True Friend - 1 Samuel 18

S - 1 Samuel 18:³ And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. ⁴ Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.
O - Verse 1 of this chapter says, "There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David."  Jonathan loved David, as he loved himself.  This is more than just a friendship, this was a true friend; one that would lay his life down for his friend.
A - Do I have a friend like this?  And more importantly, am I a friend like this to someone else?  I know for sure that I am this to Christa and would do anything for her.  However, am I giving of myself to anyone else?  And do I have anyone else that would sacrifice for me?  I am going to set out and be that for someone.
P - God, I thank you so very much for my amazing wife and my wonderful family.  I pray that you would bless them and protect them every single day.  I pray also that you would use me to be a friend to someone else that desperately needs one.  I also pray that you would put a person in my life that I can depend on and be a friend to.  Together, we will be stronger and able to accomplish more than if we were separate only; all for your glory!

A Man After His Own Heart - 1 Samuel 13

S - 1 Samuel 13:¹⁴ But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.
O - This is Samuel's response to Saul offering the sacrifice before Samuel arrived.  The key part of this is that the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart.  Samuel was telling Saul that the king of Israel should have a heart like that of God.
A - If God wanted a man after His own heart to be king of Israel, then I should also be a man after God's heart.  To me, having a heart like that of God is to be a man that is lead by God, has compassion for others, wants others to be saved, and a man that will lead those that God has placed under his authority.  This is a tall order but with the Holy Spirit living inside of me and guiding me, I know that I can be this man.  I owe it to Him for the ultimate sacrifice that His son Jesus gave for me as well as I owe it to my wife and my children that are depending on me.
P - Lord, I pray that you would speak ever so clearly into my life.  I desire to be the man after your heart and I know that without your guidance I would miserably fail.  I pray protection, healing and blessings over myself and my family today and everyday.  Give me wisdom, especially today, as we are making one of the hardest decisions that we've ever made in our lives and we want to make sure that we are doing what you want us to be doing.  I praise you and thank you for always being with me, for speaking to me and leading me, and for your saving grace through Jesus Christ!

God is My Leader - 1 Samuel 10

S - 1 Samuel 10:¹⁹ But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your God today and have said, ‘No, we want a king instead!’ Now, therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by tribes and clans.”
O - The Israelites wanted a king even though God had been leading them and saved them from all of their enemies and helped them defeat the enemies.  This was actually them rejecting God and wanting to be like the other peoples around them.
A - I don't need to look to anyone else to lead me.  God is my ultimate leader and I can be confident that He will continue to look out for me. 
P - God, I come before you this morning and submit myself to you.  I ask that you look out for me and protect me.  Lead me in the direction that you want me to take and I will step out in faith and follow you.  Protect, heal and bless me and my family today.

God Speaks - 1 Samuel 3

S - 1 Samuel 3:¹⁹ As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.
O - Samuel heard the voice of God throughout his life and whatever Samuel said came to pass because this ultimately came from the Lord.
A - I too can hear the voice of the Lord.  He speaks but sometimes I'm not listening well enough.  I need to always be open to Him and willing to wait on Him to hear His voice.  Whatever He says is what I should take to the bank as it will come to pass.
P - God, I submit myself to you today and I pray that you continually speak to me and into my life.  I want to follow what you have called me to do and I ask that you be very clear and speak to me so that I know what your will is.  We need to understand what you want us to do with our family and especially this little one.  Help me to be the husband and father that Christa and my children desperately need me to be.  I pray a blessing over all of us and health as well.