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DAVID'S DAILY
DEVOTIONAL
Photo by Andrik Langfield on Unsplash
WELCOME!
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.
"Wonderful" Layers
Read Proverbs 2:1–5 My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. What it is speaking to me: Humans learn in layers. Each additional layer of learnin
David Ayres
3 days ago4 min read
It's Meta Man...
I probably should have written this as the very first devotional. To wait until I have written over 100 of these seems a little late to explain my process. But these verses struck me today, and in a sense, these devotions follow the pattern laid out in these verses. So here we go: Read: Joshua 1:7-8 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left,
David Ayres
5 days ago3 min read
Purloined Peace
Read Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength. What it is speaking to me: If you were alive in the 90s, you might remember those 3D illusion drawings. You know, with the really weird patterns, and you had to cross your eyes or squint just right and this 3D image would emerge from the crazy background and form something. I remember as a
David Ayres
Jun 52 min read
Patience Produces
Read Romans 5:3-5 (KJV) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. What it is speaking to me: I hate waiting. As children, we hate waiting and we are generally terrible at it. Then we grow up, and I know that you all got better, but there are still times I
David Ayres
Jun 42 min read
Liberally Without Reproach
Read James 1:4-6 (NKJV) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. What it is speaking to me: It is obvious perhaps that we think of these verses in the context of seeking wisdom for
David Ayres
May 282 min read
Non-Performance Seal
Read 2 Corinthians 1:21–22 (NKJV) Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. What It's Speaking to Me Have you ever been in a performance-based relationship? Whether a romantic relationship, or perhaps with a family member or friend? A relationship like that at your job with your boss is to be at least somewhat expected, but if you have ever experienced that kind of dyna
David Ayres
May 212 min read
The Hope Within You
Read 1 Peter 3:14–16 (NKJV) But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled." But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. What it is speaking to me: I
David Ayres
May 132 min read
Mind the Gap
Read Isaiah 55:7–9 (KJV) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. What it is speaking to me: I am a planner. Just kidding, I am not
David Ayres
May 52 min read
Pneumatic Self-Inflation
Read 1 Corinthians 8:1–3 (NKJV) Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. What it is speaking to me: Read this: The apostolic pronouncement under consideration constitutes a penetratingly incisive epistemological corrective: that the mere accumulation of theologically p
David Ayres
Apr 293 min read
REFLEX vs. CHOICE
Read Philippians 2:4–6 (KJV)Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. What it is speaking to me: Growing up with a brother, you beat on each other a lot. We were always pushing, smacking, and hitting each other. Not in anger or trying to cause pain (most of the time), more just typical boyish horseplay. There was a season where we were always coming up behind each other and either
David Ayres
Apr 282 min read
Traffic Meditations
Read Psalm 1:1–3 (KJV) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. What It Is Speaking to Me Don't get jealous, bu
David Ayres
Apr 232 min read
Stinking Saying
Read Colossians 2:8–9 (KJV) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. What It Is Speaking to Me Have you ever heard a fellow believer say something that smells bad? You can't necessarily put words and verse to why what they said about the Bible, Jesus, or the church is wrong, but it doesn't pass the sniff test.
David Ayres
Apr 152 min read
Detox the Dome
Read Romans 12:1–3 (KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he o
David Ayres
Apr 82 min read
Prepare the Vessel
Read 2 Timothy 2:20-21 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. What it is speaking to me: When I worked at the coffee shop, there would be busy and slow times. Busy times were all the commuters and pre-work coffee people coming in for
David Ayres
Apr 13 min read
Hearing Test
Read Proverbs 18:12–13 (KJV) Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. What it is speaking to me: There is a real danger in getting older. You have seen and experienced many things, and often seen them repeated. People begin to surprise you less and less. The danger is not in that, but in starting to think you know it all. Or if not all, certainly that you can
David Ayres
Mar 252 min read
Two Things to Learn
Read 2 Peter 3:15-18 Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that
David Ayres
Mar 182 min read
A Tale of Two Thoughts
Read 1 Timothy 1:7 NKJV "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." What it is speaking to me: I wake up with a start. It's 3:30 AM. Some thought woke me up and filled me with dread. What have I forgotten? I forgot to do something, but what is it? The devotional. I forgot to publish it. I start racking my brain: why didn't I publish it? What did I do yesterday that made me forget? Did I even WRITE it?! Now I am replaying the even
David Ayres
Mar 162 min read
Chess-Minded?
Read 1 Corinthians 2:15-16 NKJV "But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For 'who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?' But we have the mind of Christ." What it is speaking to me: I am a thoroughly average chess player. I learned to play as a kid and occasionally get a few games in during any given year. I have never studied the game. I don't know the names of any official openings or moves. I know what each p
David Ayres
Mar 112 min read
Mind Sunglasses
Read Philippians 4:8–9 (KJV) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you. What it is speaking to me: I am not a big sungla
David Ayres
Mar 42 min read
Small Surrenders
Read Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” What It Is Speaking to Me I’m reminded of the story of two boys at the breakfast table fighting over the last pancake. Their mom reprimands them, reminding them to do what Jesus would have done. The older boy looks at the younger and says, “I’ll let you be Jesus first.” I think we’re really glad that Je
David Ayres
Feb 252 min read
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