Tag Archives: our daily bread

“Seeking God’s Face” (Daily Devotions 2.14.11)

by • on 4:48 PM • in 320, Life Journal

S – Scripture

“Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? and who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face-even Jacob. Selah.

O – Observation

King David sought to answer the most important question in a man’s life - “Who may dwell in the presence of the LORD?” David realized that there could be no greater place to be than in the presence of God. David realized the holiness of the LORD and declared that only those with clean hands, a pure heart and one who has not slandered or secretly hated his neighbor may dwell in the presence of the LORD. God is holy and only those who live a holy life may enter and abide in His presence through daily consecration. David declares the blessing of the LORD are upon this type of person.

A – Application

If I want to dwell in the presence of the LORD today, then I must have clean hands, a pure heart, and not be living in deceitfulness. The blessing of God are waiting to be poured out upon my life today, if I will do these things – as I seek the face of my LORD! God promises to bless me with His righteousness and His blessing today as I abide in Him.

P – Prayer

“Lord today I seek You with all of my heart, mind and being. Today Lord, I seek Your face. I seek to abide in Your holy hill and to stand in Your presence. Guard my heart, mind and lips that I may not secretly allow any sin to break my fellowship with You! I love You and surrender to live a holy life to You alone!” Amen.

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“Ulitmate Burnout” (2.9.11 Devotions)

by • on 3:48 PM • in 320, Life Journal

S – Scripture

Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them and they died before the LORD.  Leviticus 10:1-2

O – Observation

Nadab and Abihu were son’s of Aaron and men who were called of God to fulltime ministry. Although they were called of God to be in the ministry, they failed to the LORD and experienced the ‘Ultimate Burnout’ from ministry because they relied on ‘strange fire’. God had provided His Holy fire to empower them for the work of the ministry. But instead of relying on God’s strength to fulfill their ministries, they relied on the ‘strange fire’ of their fleshly strength and ended up paying the ultimate price – Total Burnout!

A – Application

Where God guides, He provides. Whatever God calls me to do, and wherever God calls me to serve, He has already provided for me His ‘Holy Fire’ which is the power of being filled with His Spirit! When i am consumed by His ‘Holy Fire’, I will never burnout in serving my LORD, but if I begin to rely on the ‘strange fire’ of my fleshly strength, i will quickly burnout. the key for me to keep from burning out is to daily be filled with God’s Holy Fire. The only way that i can be consumed by God’s Holy Fire is for me to constantly dwell in His presence.

P – Prayer

“Father, thank You for Your Holy Fire. I pray that today You would fill the firepan of my soul with Your Holy Fire! Fire me up with joy, excitement and a heart that anticipates great and awesome things that you have planned for me today! By faith, I receive a fresh filling of Your Holy Fire as I draw near to You.”  Amen.

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How to Journal your Devotions

by • on 5:10 PM • in 320, Life Journal

What you need to journal

  • Bible
  • Journal
  • Pen
  • Day planner or a note pad (use for writing down distracting thoughts as you journal)

 

Creating a Journal

  • If you cannot afford to purchase your own journal, you can easily make your own by using a spiral notebook or a three ring binder. Or simply use any generic book designed for journaling.
  • Begin by creating a table of contents in the front of your journal. At the top of each page of the Table of Contents, write down: Date, Scripture, Title/ Topic, and Page. If you are using a spiral notebook, be sure allow several pages in the front of your journal to list all of your journal entries.
  • Create your daily journaling pages. At the top of each of the journal pages, write down: Date, Scripture, Title and Page. You will journal on each of these pages using the S.O.A.P. acronym.
  • At the back of your journal create a personal prayer list. Allow several pages for all your prayer requests. Write down Date, Prayer, Date Answered.

 

Beginning to Journal

  • Spend the first few minutes praying, asking God to speak uniquely and specifically to your heart for that day. Begin by thanking Him for the day and the opportunity to hear from Him. This is the key to making the most of your journaling time. Ask God for your daily bread, and then allow Him to open your ears to His Word as you read.
  • Spend the first 20 minutes reading the daily assigned portion of scriptures and read for one thought. Read for you. Don’t think about others and how your reading might apply to someone else. Be selfish during your devotional time, focus on hearing what God has for you. Ask God for one thought and as you are reading, be open to God causing a single verse to really be your focal point for that day. God will no doubt show you many insights as you read, but read for the one main thought God has for you that day. Be open to God speaking uniquely to your present circumstances. Often we approach God with an idea of what we think we need to hear from Him, when in fact God will often speak to another issue that may be even deeper than we realize.
  • Allow the Holy Spirit to mentor you through the men and women of God’s Word as you read. Don’t become overly focused on coming up with an idea of what to journal. Just relax and enjoy the presence of God as you read. Sometimes the first verse you read may be your thought for the day, but keep reading and be open to God showing you other truths.
  • Often I have felt as though a certain verse and thought was going to be my focal point for the day, but as I read, God changed it and gave me another even deep insight in another area. God knows exactly what you need today, and He promises to meet you every day as you seek Him. Trust Him, knowing that He desires to equip you and empower you each day.
  • Spend the next 20 minutes journaling on that one thought that God is speaking to your heart about for that day. Use the acronym ‘S.O.A.P.’
  • Give your devotional a title
  • End your journal daily bible journaling with 20 minutes of prayer, and then share with someone what the Lord gave you during your time of journaling.
  • Be sure to record the Date, Scripture, Title & Page number in your Table of Contents

 

S.O.A.P.

 

S          for Scripture

Open your Bible to the reading found under today’s date of your Bible bookmark. Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal.

O        for Observation

What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Paraphrase and write this scripture down in your own works, in your journal.

A    for Application

Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write how this scripture can apply to you today.

P    for Prayer

 This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out.

  

Sample Journaling Page

 

Title:

 

S_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

O___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

P___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Daily scripture readings for the month of February

6th   [] Lev. 1-3; Acts 13                                  19th [] Num. 5-6; Ps. 22; Acts 26

7th   [] Lev. 4-6; Acts 14                                  20th [] Num. 7; Ps. 23; Acts 27

8th    [] Lev. 7-9; Acts 15                                  21st  [] Num. 8-9; Acts 28

9th   [] Lev. 10-12; Acts 16                              22nd []Num. 10-11; Ps. 27; Mark 1

10th [] Lev. 13, 14; Acts 17                             23rd [] Num. 12-13; Ps. 90; Mark 2

11th [] Lev. 15-17; Acts 18                              24th [] Num. 14-16; Mark 3

12th [] Lev. 18-19; Ps. 13; Acts 19                  25th [] Num. 17-18; Ps. 29; Mark 4

13th [] Lev. 20-22; Acts 20                              26th [] Num. 19-20; Ps. 28; Mark 5

14th [] Lev. 23-24; Ps. 24; Acts 21                  27th [] Num. 21-23; Mark 6-7

15th [] Lev. 25; Ps. 25-26; Acts 22                  28th [] Num. 24-27; 1 Cor. 13

16th [] Lev. 26-27; Acts 23

17th [] Num. 1-2; Acts 24

18th [] Num. 3-4; Acts 25

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