Stand Firm!

Scripture: 19By standing firm you will gain life.

Luke 21:19

Observation: People are going to be against us because of the hope that we have. By standing firm and keeping our faith, we will gain life!

Application: I need to keep my faith strong by reading God’s word and praying.

Prayer: God – I put my faith and trust in You. Thank You for all that You are doing and have done in my life.

Tough Times

Scripture: 17Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: " 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone[a]'[b]?

Luke 20:17

Observation: Of course – this is talking about Jesus being God’s plan for salvation and how we should build everything on Jesus (our foundation). But right now, this is speaking to me in my life. I feel like a stone that has been set aside at some point in my life and now I am being put in leadership situations. It’s a struggle. I can’t imagine what Christ went through. He was rejected and hated and all he stood for was love.

Application: Remember that God is going to allow us to go through certain things in our lives. He can use the worst of situations to reveal some really cool stuff to us!

Prayer: God – thank You for allowing me to go through tough times. It only makes my faith stronger in the end. When I get on the other side of something that I know I can’t do, I only have You to praise!

Welcome to my House, Jesus - I'm a Sinner

Scripture: 5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "

Luke 19:5-7

Observation: Even though we are believers, we are all still sinners. Despite who we are, the Holy Spirit has come to “stay in our house” so to speak.

Application: The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. We can’t forget that. We shouldn’t judge people based on what they do or what they have done. Christ set this example for us.

Prayer: God – you saved me and You forgive me of my sins. Thank You for loving me! Help me to remember not to judge people and to follow the example that You set.

Impossible + God = Possible

Scripture: 27Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

Luke 18:27

Observation: NOTHING is impossible for God.

Application: When we feel the pressure of life or we think that everything is against us, we need to pray and ask God’s favor in out lives and on our circumstances. Nothing is too big or too small to bring to God.

Prayer: God – thank You for making the impossible possible!

Trust me...

Scripture: 10"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

Luke 16:10

Observation: When God sees that He can trust us with the small things, He will then pour out even greater things on us. This could be anything – but I am thinking mainly about responsibility.

Application: I need to take inventory of the small things that God trusts me with so that I can move on to the bigger things.

Prayer: God – You know my heart. You know me better than I know myself. I look forward to the responsibilities that You have for me in the future.

"Paging Dr. God...."

Scripture: 3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

Observation: God is our healer. We can give anything to Him and be set free from any habit, hurt or hang-up.

Application: Not only do I need to remember this – I need to remind others of this!

Prayer: God – thank You for healing me. When there are things in my life that I cannot overcome, I know and trust that I can count on You to get me through it.

The Living Word

Scripture: 12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

Observation: God’s Word is alive in us. It is a weapon that helps to separate our flesh man from our spirit man.

Application: This is a reminder that I need to stay in God’s Word daily.

Prayer: God – Thank you for Your Word! Help me to keep the desire to read it every day.

The Narrow Door

Scripture: 24"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

Luke 13:24

Observation: We need to seek God’s will in our lives. We also need to spread the good news of Jesus so that others have a chance to enter through the narrow door. Once it is closed, it is too late…

Application: I commit to daily prayer and ask God to reveal His plan for my life to me.

Prayer: Lord – thank You for saving me despite who I am. Reveal Your plan for my life to me.

The Number of Hairs on my Head (or the lack thereof...)

Scripture: 6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Luke 12:6-7

Observation: Sometimes, we may feel that our lives are meaningless – like we have been forgotten by God. The truth is, God knows more about us than we know about ourselves.

Application: I need to remember this scripture and thank God for loving me as much as He does.

Prayer: God – help me to remember that my life has a purpose. You put me here for a reason and You know me better than anyone does.

In The Light

Scripture: 34Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you."

Luke 11:34-36

Observation: As we start to spiritually mature, it becomes obvious to the people around us that something has changed. This is also true in reverse – when we start to deviate from our spiritual walk, others can (and will) pick up on it.

Application: We need to stay in the word everyday. Reading and journaling is so vital to our spiritual growth. FEED YOURSELF!

Prayer: God – Thank You for Your word and for revealing truth to me.

More Than Enough

Scripture: 12Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here."
13He replied, "You give them something to eat."
They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd." 14(About five thousand men were there.)
But he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each." 15The disciples did so, and everybody sat down. 16Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people. 17They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Luke 9:12-17



Observation: Sometimes, what we have to offer up doesn't seem like much. What we have falls short of what we think we need. When we offer up what we have to God and give thanks, He can do so much more than we could ever dream of doing! In this example, 5000 people were fed from 5 loaves and 2 fish. Not only were they fed - they were SATISFIED! And to top it all off - there was food left over...



Application: We need to remember to thank God for what we have and offer it up to Him daily.


Prayer: Lord - thank You for all You have given me in my life. I commit to seeking You daily and I offer up my life to You.