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DAVID'S DAILY
DEVOTIONAL
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This devotional blog is a weekday "non-fluffy" devotional in the Word based on the two greatest commandments: "Love the Lord, love your neighbor." Each devotion will answer these three questions: What does the message speak to me (the author) today? What is it saying to you (the reader)? And what are we going to do about it? The Bible will speak to us every day if we will let it. So what is it saying today?
You can just come to this page every morning to see the latest blog post, but if you prefer email, subscribe below to have the link to the daily devotion dropped in your email inbox every morning.
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Head Battle
Read Romans 7:18-19 (NKJV) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. What it is speaking to me: Paul had the same battle in his own head that I have. You know the thing. You decide you are not going to say that thing to your spouse, your kids, your co-worker, or the guy on the intern
David Ayres
12 minutes ago2 min read
Slow Cooker
Read Galatians 6:7-10 (KJV) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. What Is It
David Ayres
1 day ago2 min read
Stamina
Read Hebrews 12:1–3 (ESV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against H
David Ayres
2 days ago2 min read
Where Do You Run?
Read Psalm 63:1-4, 7-8: O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
David Ayres
3 days ago2 min read
Awaking Idols
Read Habakkuk 2:18-20 "What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it, The molded image, a teacher of lies, That the maker of its mold should trust in it, To make mute idols? Woe to him who says to wood, 'Awake!' To silent stone, 'Arise! It shall teach!' Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, Yet in it there is no breath at all. "But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him." What It Is Speaking to Me Idolatry. Ancient weird st
David Ayres
4 days ago2 min read
Empty Voice
Read 1 Timothy 6:20–21 (NKJV) O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen. What it is speaking to me The greek word for "idle babblings" is two words slammed together: empty and voice. It only appears twice in the whole Bible, once here and once more in Paul's other letter to Timothy. He may have
David Ayres
Aug 282 min read
The Meekness Misunderstanding
Read Matthew 5:5 (NKJV) “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Numbers 12:3 (NKJV) Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. What It Is Speaking to Me Meek. Rhymes with weak. It can make us think of someone quiet, timid, or easily pushed around. But Moses was called “very meek, above all men who were on the face of the earth,” and Moses certainly was not weak. He stood before Pharaoh. He led a massive group of p
David Ayres
Aug 272 min read
Conquering Fear
Read Romans 8:37–39 (KJV) In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. What It Is Speaking to Me We are pretty good at imagining worst-case scenarios. Give us a quiet moment, and ou
David Ayres
Aug 262 min read
A Rat To A Cheeto
Read Proverbs 17:22 (KJV) A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: But a broken spirit drieth the bones. What It Is Speaking to Me Those of you who know me know that I am always good for a quick laugh. I wish I could say it was because I am really good and intentional about following the good part of this verse. That may be true in part, but I also just really enjoy laughing. Humor is one of my favorite gifts from God, and I am drawn to funny people like a rat to a Cheeto. L
David Ayres
Aug 252 min read
Text: Kind — Ephesians 4:32
Read: Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV) And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. What it is speaking to me "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted." I've read that verse many times and usually feel like "check, got that one." I file it under things I basically already do. I'm not generally rude to people. I hold doors open. I say please and thank you, I tip well, are friendly with waiters and grocery clerks. Kindness felt like a
David Ayres
Aug 242 min read
Rock vs. Calendar
Read Psalm 61:1-3Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.From the ends of the earth I call to you,I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. What It Is Speaking to Me You ever been in the spot where there aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish the things that need to be done? What about the week? The month? You ever feel like you're in a season of being overworked, with too much
David Ayres
Aug 212 min read
Resolved in the Unresolved
Read Psalm 37:7-8 (ESV) Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. What it is speaking to me David wrote this psalm watching wicked men prosper while he, the anointed king, was still dodging spears and hiding in caves. He was writing from the middle of the injustice, telling himself (and us) to
David Ayres
Aug 202 min read
Recall Shifts
Read Lamentations 3:18-26 And I said, "My strength and my hope have perished from the LORD." Remember my affliction and roaming, the wormwood and the gall. My soul still remembers and sinks within me. This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I hope in Him!" The LORD is good to those
David Ayres
Aug 193 min read
Naive Kindness
Read: Matthew 10:16 (ESV) "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." What it is saying to me: As an adolescent, it seemed to me that kindness and wisdom lived on opposite ends of a spectrum. You could be sharp and witty, or you could be soft and kind, but not necessarily both. Of course, if you read this verse, it becomes clear that Jesus wasn't stuck in that kind of binary thinking. He's sending his disciples
David Ayres
Aug 182 min read
Peace vs. Plan
Read Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. What it's speaking to me I'm a fixer. Who isn't? Give me a problem and I want to solve it. So when a worry shows up, my first move isn't always prayer, it's strategy. I'll lie there at 1am running the number
David Ayres
Aug 171 min read
Show Me
Read: Exodus 33:18-22 And [Moses] said, "Please, show me Your glory." Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." But He said, "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live." And the Lord said, "Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by
David Ayres
Aug 142 min read
Thunderstorms
Read James 1:2-4 (NIV): Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. What it is speaking to me: We have been in a season of thunderstorms, and I don't mean figuratively. I mean literally, there have been a lot of storms. And somewhat fairly they have a cloudy reputation (
David Ayres
Aug 132 min read
Hammer Tongue
Read James 3:5–10 (NKJV) See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Fathe
David Ayres
Aug 123 min read
Spouting Off First
Read Proverbs 18:13 (NLT) Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish. Proverbs 18:17 (ESV) The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him. What it is speaking to me: Picture this: A friend comes to you upset about a falling out of some kind with someone else you know, and by the time they finish talking, you've decided who's right and who's wrong. You haven't heard the other person's side. Most of you thinks
David Ayres
Aug 112 min read
Time Audit
Read Ephesians 5:15–17 (KJV) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. What it is speaking to me: "Redeeming the time." I like that phrase a lot more than "managing your time," because redeeming sounds like you're getting something back. Rescuing it from where it got lost. That's about right, isn't it? Because most of us aren't losin
David Ayres
Aug 102 min read
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