Everlasting Father - Isaiah 9

S - Isaiah 9:⁶ For a child is born to us,
    a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
    And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
O - This is a very familiar prophecy of Jesus coming to this world and being the savior.  One thing that really stood out to me today was the phrase "Everlasting Father".  He is said to be our father.  A father is someone who cares so deeply for his children that he would lay down his life for them.  Jesus is even one step more than just a father; he is an everlasting father.  He is a father that spans generations and centuries and will be a father forever.
A - Jesus is my everlasting father.  What a comforting thought.  No matter what and no matter when, Jesus will always be my father and I don't need to question whether He is doing things for my good or not.  I know that everything He does is for my good, even if it may be trying or stretching, I know it's for my good.  He is always there for me to run to and sit in His presence and feel His comfort.
P - Heavenly, everlasting father, I come to you today and praise you and thank you for always being there for me and for always looking out for me.  You are amazing and I stand in awe of your goodness and your glory.  I pray for your guidance and your protection today.  Bless everything that I put my hands to and let it be a testament for you.  I also pray that you would heal, bless and protect my entire family as I am away today and bring us all back home safely tonight.

Accept Things From God - Ecclesiastes 7

S - Ecclesiastes 7:¹³ Accept the way God does things,
    for who can straighten what he has made crooked?
O - The written makes the statement to accept what God does because man doesn't have the ability to fix something that God did for a reason.  Because God is all powerful, no matter how hard we may try, we are unable to change what He did.
A - This is sound advice that is simple to understand but sometimes hard to implement.  Especially for someone like me that wants to be in control of the situation, I need to step back for a moment and hear God's voice to understand why a situation is like it is.  If God says that He did it this way I need to understand why and accept this.  Even when God allows trials to come my way that I need to work through I need to understand that God allowed this and accept it.  Then I can ask for His help and guidance to fix the situation.  This reminds me of the serenity prayer, "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference".
P - God, I truly pray this prayer today.  Help me to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference!  I understand and acknowledge that I do not know all that you do and those things that you have placed in my life, I accept.  I ask for your help and guidance to change those things that are in my life to help build character.  Help me to teach and show an example to my children so that they to look to you for their guidance.  Bless, protect and heal my family and me today and everyday.

Fulfill My Purpose - Ecclesiates 5

S - Ecclesiastes 5:⁴ When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him.
O - God takes no pleasure in fools and fools are those people that make a promise to God and don't follow through or delay in following through.
A - Have I made any promises to God that I haven't kept or that I have delayed in following through?  I think delaying in carrying out my purpose in life when I know without a shadow of doubt what my purpose is is similar to delaying in following through in a promise.  I know what my purpose in life is and I need to start today to make it my habit again and to pursue it with passion that is only behind pursuing God, my wife and my children.  I NEED to do what He has called me to and without delay!
P - God, I am sorry for dropping the ball when it comes to fulfilling the purpose that you have placed on my life.  I ask for your forgiveness and thank you for it.  I also ask that you help me and give me strength and courage to go out and pursue this purpose.  I want to fulfill this purpose for you and my family and the betterment of those that I touch in the process.  Please bless, protect, and heal me and my entire family today.

Obey Authorities - Ruth 4

S - Ruth 4:¹⁶ Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. ¹⁷ The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.
O - In the last chapter, Naomi told Ruth to go to Boaz and that he would do what was right.  In this chapter Boaz followed through and redeemed the land that belonged to Naomi's son and also took Ruth to be his wife.  Because Ruth obeyed and did what Naomi told her to do, both Ruth and Naomi were blessed and Ruth had a son named Obed who become the grandfather of David and was in the line of Jesus.
A - Just as Ruth obeyed what her mother-in-law told her, I need to obey the authorities in my life.  God blesses those that follow the authorities that He has enabled to be in positions of authority.  Ruth's allegiance to Naomi was outstanding and she not only obeyed her but wanted to do even more for her.  I will have that same spirit towards the authorities in my life, especially towards my Heavenly Father.
P - God, I come to you today and want to serve, honor and obey you.  Please speak to me so that I know the will that you have for me.  I love you and want more than anything to follow you and to hear "well done".  Not entirely for my satisfaction but to also know that I have placed an example that my children can look at and follow.  Bless me and my family today in all that we do.  Heal and protect us as we go about our day. 

Live Virtuously - Ruth 3

S - Ruth 3:¹¹ Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman.
O - Boaz is talking to Ruth here and explaining what he will do to redeem her and become her husband.  He reassures here that everything will be ok and that he will do what is necessary to protect her.  He is confident that it will be ok since she is a virtuous woman.  The way that she lived her life must have given such a air about her that no one had any question of what she did was right.
A - Am I living a virtuous life?  Does anyone question whether what I do is right or good or full of virtue?  I need to ensure that my life screams virtuous.  I need to do this first, and foremost, for God.  He has done so much for me.  The least I can do for Him is to live a virtuous life in which people see a person that lives different than others which may lead them to question what I have in my life that they may not.  Secondly, I need to live a virtuous life for my wife.  I need her to look at me with love and respect and living a life that she never has to question whether I'm virtuous or not will only help her be able to easier.  Thirdly, I need to live my life like that as a Godly example for my children.  This example will then become the measuring stick and guideline that they will live their life according to.  And finally, I need to live my life virtuously for my business, my community and my church.  I need to be a man that others around me can look to as a leader and a man that can always be counted on to do the right thing and to work hard and smart.
P - God, I come to you this morning with praise and thanksgiving.  I praise you for your goodness and your greatness!  I thank you for all that you have done and sacrificed for me.  I thank you for my amazing wife and children.  Help me to be a husband and father that they are proud of and want to be around.  Help me provide and protect them and show them what it truly means to be a Christian.  Guide me and my words, thoughts, and actions today and everyday and bless all that I put my mind and actions to today.

Fulfill My Calling - Nehemiah 6

S - Nehemiah 6:³ so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”
O - Nehemiah was under constant stress and threats during the 52 days it took to rebuild the walls.  When they were nearing completion of the wall, he was sent a letter four times for him to come meet with the enemies as they were frightened of him and this new wall around Jerusalem.  Nehemiah's response left no question as to what he thought of these people's request for him to come to them and be potentially harmed.  He wasn't going to stop his great work to meet with them.
A - I need to have this same perspective when doing the work that God has called me to.  It's easy to say this to the things that I don't want to do and to those things that will harm me, but what about those things that may stroke my ego or may be fun or relaxing.  These are the things that I need to be very aware of and "sacrifice" for the good of the calling that God has placed on my life.  The "well done, good and faithful servant" reply from God will be much more rewarding than anything else in this world that may bring a quick pleasure.
P - God, I praise you and thank you this morning for all that you have done for me and my family and for all that you promise to continue doing for us.  I pray that you give me courage and a resolution to go out and persist in doing what you have called me to do and push away those things that are distractions, even if they are good things to do.  I want to please you and serve you with my life; I just need you to keep me on track and to help and bless my work.  I pray for guidance with our family and clear words on the direction we should be taking.  I love you!

Fight - Nehemiah 4

S - Nehemiah 4:¹⁴ Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”
O - Nehemiah was talking to the people of Jerusalem here and giving them encouragement to continue on building and to protect themselves and their families.  One thing that he points out is that the Lord is on their side and He is great and glorious, implying that He will help protect them and bless their rebuilding efforts.
A - When I am afraid or getting tired or wondering if what I am doing will work, I need to remember this same phrase and speak it aloud,  “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”  Even if I am not facing a physical enemy I am always facing a spiritual enemy and he is coming against me to kill, steal and destroy.  I need to stand and fight, remembering that God is with me and fight for my wife, my children, and my entire family and community.
P - God, I thank you for always being with me and I take comfort in knowing that you are great and glorious!  Be with me today and everyday and give me the courage, strength and stamina to continue that fight and the work that you have placed on me.  I desire to do what you have asked and to do it well and I just need your help and your blessing on my work.  I pray also for protection, healing, and blessing over myself and my entire family today and everyday.

Needing Others - Nehemiah 3

S - Nehemiah 3
O - This chapter in the Bible tracks the individuals that were responsible for rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem.  One thing that I noticed was that it didn't just take one person to do the actual work but instead many, many people led by a handful of leaders.
A - When there is a large task in front of me, there are some times that I can do this task by myself, other times it will take many others to help me.  I need to look to God to have enough guidance and direction to know when is a time for me to do something alone and when I need others to help.  However, even when I may do something alone, I still need to remember the Proverbs that said "a wise man has many counselors".
P - God, I pray to you today to give me strength and courage and determination to complete the calling that you have placed on my life.  I look to you also for guidance and direction to know when to involve others to help me along in my journey.  I submit myself before you and lay down all of my preconceived ideas of how something should be done and I will follow you all the days of my life and do things the way that you say.  I have complete confidence that by me following Your will my actions will be blessed and I will be protected.  I love you Heavenly Father!  I praise you and thank you for all that you have done in my life and will continue to do.

Encourage Others - Acts 27

S - Acts 27:³⁶ Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat.
O - Paul had just finished telling all 276 people on board the ship that no one would die even though the storm they were in was still raging.  After he did this he broke a piece of bread off and ate it.  The words and the food encouraged all of the people on board and gave them hope.
A - I also need to be an encouragement to people around me.  But this encouragement needs to words and more.  Words alone will only encourage so much.  Giving a person hope and encouraging words plus what they are desperate need for will bring more encouragement than just words alone.
P - God, I acknowledge you as the true source of encouragement and provider.  I pray that you would help me to be an encouragement to others and that I could provide them what they need as well.  Help me and my family today and provide and protect us.  I pray a blessing over us all in Jesus' name.