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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.
Vain Labor
Read Psalm 127:1–2 (KJV) Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. What it is speaking to me: I love new ideas. I love the beginnings of things. A new idea shows up, and something in me wants to just go. Spreadsheets get built. Brainstorms fly in all directions. Timelines
David Ayres
4 days ago2 min read
Wise Crossroads
Read Psalm 119:104–105 (KJV): "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." What it is speaking to me: When I first moved to St. Louis, I would drive around a lot. This was in a time that predated smartphones and the invention of Google Maps. You got directions one of two ways. The tech-savvy would use a now-outmoded website called MapQuest that would give you road-by-road directions, w
David Ayres
5 days ago3 min read
Unite My Heart
Read Psalm 86:10–12 (KJV) For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. What it is speaking to me: Perhaps you already know this, but in the Old Testament when you see the word "fear" used in conjunction with God, like "the fear of the Lord" or as in these verses, it most often
David Ayres
Jul 142 min read
Joy in the Morning
Read Psalm 30:4-5 Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. What it is speaking to me Have you ever had one of those terrible nights of dreams? You know the kind, where your brain decides that 1-4am is the perfect time to give you one or a series of bad dreams. You wake up once or twice, heart pounding,
David Ayres
Jul 92 min read
When the Bear Attacks
Read Psalm 119:10–12 (KJV) — With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes. What it is speaking to me: Usually when I think of the phrase "weaponizing scripture," it is used for one Christian or group of Christians lobbing Scriptures at each other in judgment. Or they are lobbing Scripture at the world. There is a lot of co
David Ayres
Jul 22 min read
Riding on the Rim
Read Psalm 84:1-2 How lovely is Your dwelling place, O LORD of Hosts! My soul longs, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. What it is speaking to me: You ever had a slow leak in a tire? Before the days of tire pressure monitors being built into your dashboard, there was a world where you didn't know moment by moment how much air was in your car tires. I know, crazy right? How did anyone drive???? You could get a slow leak,
David Ayres
Jun 302 min read
Ocean Perspective
Read Psalm 24:1–2 (NIV)"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters." What It Is Speaking to Me Today, I stood at the edge of the ocean. Maybe you have too. I am more of a mountain guy myself, but I have to admit the ocean really is stunning. It's scale puts humanity in perspective. There are places in the ocean deeper than Mount Everest is tall. There are entire ecosystems do
David Ayres
Jun 292 min read
Trampoline Bird
Read Psalm 121:1-4 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. What It Is Speaking to Me We have a trampoline in our backyard. Growing up, they were open-air. You could launch yourself off in any direction you wanted. Now they have these 6-foot-tall nets around the ou
David Ayres
Jun 182 min read
Lord of the Busy
Read Psalm 143:8–10 "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." What it is speaking to me: "I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer" is a quote attributed to Martin Luther. According to some, he
David Ayres
Apr 272 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
The Ol' Ticker
Read Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" What it is speaking to me: I am the generation that grew up in what is considered "The Renaissance" of Disney animation. It kicked off with the Little Mermaid in 1989 and carried through the 90s to Tarzan in 1999. The Little Mermaid was a staple growing up, telling the story of a teenage mermaid who followed
David Ayres
Apr 102 min read
Mathing Your days
Read Psalm 90:12 (KJV) So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. What it is speaking to me: Perhaps you have heard the phrase, "The days are long but the years are short." More importantly, you probably can identify with that statement. People have postulated for centuries why this effect exists, and according to the never-wrong internet there are two popular explanations. I will get the one involving math out first, as I don't like math and wa
David Ayres
Apr 93 min read
Identify Thirst
Read Psalm 42:1–3 "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, 'Where is your God?'" What Is It Speaking to Me? You ever been really thirsty? I mean really thirsty? If you have ever worked outside in a Missouri summer all day, you know what I am talking about — where your throat feels like a
David Ayres
Apr 62 min read
Dainties
Read Psalm 141:3–4 (KJV) "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties." What it is speaking to me: Sometimes the King James Version just says it in a way you can't forget. I used it here specifically for the word dainties — an old-school way of saying something delicious or tasty. And that word perfectly captures the problem wi
David Ayres
Mar 232 min read
Forget Not
Read Psalm 103:1–3 (KJV) Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; What it is speaking to me: Memory is a wonderful thing. If I were to ask you, "What is the best meal experience you have ever had?" a few experiences would likely come to mind. Now that I have asked, I am thinking of one of mine, and I am going to share
David Ayres
Mar 173 min read
Our Monday Lot
Read Psalm 73:25–27 (KJV) Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. What it is speaking to me: It’s Monday. I don’t know how you feel about Mondays. Perhaps you love them, perhaps you hate them. Maybe you’re coming into your week full of energy, vision, and excitement. Or maybe you’re four cups of coffee in and still trying to open your ey
David Ayres
Mar 22 min read
Everyday I'm Hustling
Read Psalm 62:1–2, 8 “Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.” What It Is Speaking to Me Hustle is good… most of the time. My first few jobs were in the food service industry—and those jobs are all hustle. On your feet, constantly moving, always working. I loved it.
David Ayres
Feb 242 min read
Sinned Against Who?
Read Psalm 51:3–4, 10 “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done this evil in Your sight… Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” What It Is Speaking to Me David penned this psalm shortly after Nathan the prophet called him out for his sinful actions with Bathsheba and her husband, Uriah (you can find the story in 2 Samuel 11–12). David was so twisted in his heart and
David Ayres
Feb 232 min read
Going to Make It
Read (For context, read all of Psalm 105.) Verses 5 & 8 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced. He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations. What it is speaking to me We are pretty diligent about safeguarding what our children watch on TV. Every once in a while, though, we end up watching something suspenseful enough that my son becomes worried and keeps asking, “What is going to happen? Are they
David Ayres
Feb 42 min read
Silent Souls
Read Psalm 62:1-2, 5-7 Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. What it is speaking to me: I have been in some crazy storms—and
David Ayres
Jan 272 min read
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