Nate's Daily Devotionals (old)

Day 8 Observations Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive  the crown of life,  which God has promised to those who love him. (v12) Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. (v13) But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. (v14) Then desire  when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and  sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (v15) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above (v17) Of his own will he  brought us forth by the word of truth,  that we should be a kind of  firstfruits of his creatures. (v18) Meaning Those who remain steadfast when life gets tough will be blessed - and moreover, they will receive the crown of life God does not tempt people - thus we can never blame God when we are tempted r when we fall into temptation In f...

Day 7 Read: Count it all joy, my brothers, [ b ]  when you meet trials  of various kinds,   3  for you know that  the testing of your faith  produces steadfastness. (v2-3)  let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be   perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (v4) If any of you lacks wisdom,  let him ask God,  who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (v5) So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits (v11b) Reflect: Count it joy when we meet trials of different kinds, because we know that the faith we show in these times produces steadfastness James tells us that this steadfastness will then lead to a perfect and complete soul that lacks nothing We should also be searching for wisdom through God and not ourselves. James reminds us that God is a generous God, and will give to those without reproach (a quality that is described to be given when we remain stead...

Chapter 3: Discipline of Marriage I'm reminded what the true meaning of marriage is and what a marriage actually entails. Hughes goes through what it looks like to be the man in a marriage and mainly how that love is one that is modelled after how Jesus loved the Church (Eph 5). Christlike love is one that comes from the willingness and conviction to live under the authority of God's directives regarding how we, as men, are called to love our wives. We are called to a sacrificial love , and more specifically a love with a willingness to sacrifice, even unto death. I'm reminded that marital love claims everything, and involves not only giving all that you have, but also all that you are. Hughes reminds me that even within a marriage there will be many ups and downs that Jesus just die for us, but he also suffered . We are also called to consistently pray for our wives. Do I pray consistently and purposefully for Jess? Do I have a list of her needs, spoken and unspoken, w...

Day 6 Psalm 19 Read: The law is: perfect sure right pure clean true more desired than gold sweeter than honey In keeping them there is great reward (v11) Application: God's law and thus plan is so much more perfect and pure than my own plan. Trust that he knows what he's doing Obedience leads to great reward - however this might not be great reward on this side of eternity Prayer Dear God, please change my heart to see that your ways are always better. I'm sorry that I trust my own plan rather than yours. Give me courage and strength to not obey my fleshly thoughts and desires, and instead do the work you have called me to do. 

Day 5 Observations Cast all your anxiety on him  because he cares for you. (v7) Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around  like a roaring lion  looking for someone to devour (v8)   Resist him,  standing firm in the faith,  because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (v9)   And the God of all grace, who called you  to his eternal glory  in Christ, after you have suffered a little while,  will himself restore you and make you strong,  firm and steadfast. (v10) Meaning We are called to cast our worries and anxieties onto Christ This is because Christ  cares  for us - he isn't just a God who rules us, but is like a father who loves his children However, we are to be on guard because the devil is always looking for a chance to strike We can find encouragement through our faith family. As Christians, we will all face the ...

Day 4 Dear heavenly father, I'm sorry for my sinful ways. Lord I pray that you would fix my pride issue. Lord please transform my heart that I wouldn't serve others and do things just to make myself happy. God, I'm please help me love others like you have called me to. Show me what it looks like to be able to have self control with my emotions in a way that doesn't lead to conflict and arguments with others. Lord please help me with this issue, that I would look to the cross and look to your son as an the sole example of how to live. Thank you that no matter what happens in this life, no matter how much pain is endured, I know that my eternity is secure in heaven because of what you did on the cross. Amen

Day 3 Dear heavenly father, I'm sorry for not delighting in your creation and in your perfect plan. Please fill my heart with love and peace that doesn't come from worldly success or objects but in the salvation through Christ. I pray you would give me rest and comfort amidst hardship and work and continue to create in me a heart that is solely devoted to sitting under your feet and your Word so that I might continue to grow to love you more. I'm sorry and repent for often being bitter and discontent with the life that you've given me. Lord please humble my heart to see your grace and mercy. Show me and give me rest that I know all the work for my souls salvation has already been done at the cross. Would I continue to come to you first with my anxieties instead of the comfort and people of this world.

Day 2 Observations   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  According to his great mercy,  he has caused us to be born again to a living hope  through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (v3) inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and  unfading,  kept in heaven for you (v4) who by God's power are being guarded  through faith for a salvation  ready to be revealed in the last time.  6  In this you rejoice (v5-6a) though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by  various trials (v6b) so that  the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes  though it is tested by  fire—may be found to result in  praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (v7) Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,  9  obtaining  the outcome of your fa...

Chapter 2: Three Dangers to Avoid We wake up most days not trying to serve, just trying to survive We have more opportunity than ever before The major danger from busyness isn't physical - its spiritual Danger: Busyness can ruin our joy As Christians we are to be: marked by joy, taste like joy and be filled with the fulness of joy Busyness is like a sin: kill it or it will be killing you Busyness can rob our hearts Busyness can be like thorns to a seed (parable of the sower) Thorn 1: "The cares of the world" Thorn 2: Desire for other things The seed of God's Word won't grow to fruitfulness without pruning for rest, quiet and calm Busyness can cover up the rot in our souls What does it say about me if I'm always overwhelmed? What do I need to learn about myself? What biblical promises am I not believing? What's going on in my soul, so that busyness comes out as my chief challenge every year? The presence of extreme busyness in our ...

Day 1 Observations: The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst (v3) they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.  5  Now  in the Law, Moses commanded us  to stone such women. So what do you say?” (v4-5) his they said  to test him,  that they might have some charge to bring against him. (v6) And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them,  “Let him who is without sin among you  be the first to throw a stone at her. (v7) But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. (v9) Jesus said,  “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on  sin no more." (v11) Meaning The pharisees came to Jesus to test him again as they were foiled in their previous attempt in the previous chapter (v3-6) Jesus is not referring to being sin...

Pivotal Questions: What does it say about God? God is a holy God. Our sin deserves punishment and judgement. However it also shows God is also a God of love and mercy that he would send his son to die so that I might be saved and live with him. What has God decreed? Those who set their mind on the flesh cannot hope to please God. However those who set their mind on the Spirit is given life and peace. What does this mean for me? Because God is a holy God, I have a God who not only loves me but who I know will never sin against me and who is absolutely perfect. If this God is a God who is for me, then who can be against me. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Observations There is no longer any condemnation for those who belong Christ Because the Spirit of life has set us free in Christ from law  of sin and death It is impossible for us to earn our own freedom according to t...