The Daily Devotional That You Wished You Had Yesterday

By Charles Hampton

In THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL THAT YOU WISHED YOU HAD YESTERDAY, Charles Hampton gives you meditations that are encouraging, and they will also help you make it through your financial struggles. This devotional has merged financial principles, and practices with the word of God. A combination that will increase your knowledge of God, draw you closer to Him, transform your mind and assist you with becoming a better steward of Gods resources. It is a devotional that will help you get started on the road to financial freedom by applying the financial principles, and practices found in it that relates to saving, working, budgeting, retirement, marriage, debt, and areas of financial planning.

All glory to God

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512766578

Charles Hampton

Charles Hampton is currently self- employed in the real estate profession. He is active in the local church as a Sunday School Teacher for teenagers and adults. He is a certified dean, and instructor in the Christian Leadership Institute where he teaches adult classes including Debt Free Living. Charles is a graduate of Lane College in Jackson, TN. He lives in Memphis, TN, married to Juanita, and they have four sons and two grandchildren.

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Copyright © 2017 Charles Hampton.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Unless another Bible is noted, all scriptures are taken from The Nelson Study Bible, New King James Version, Copyright 1997 by Thomas Nelson Inc., Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, by Thomas Nelson Inc.

And The Scofield Reference Bible, King James Version, Copyright 1909, 1917, Copyright renewed 1937, 1945 by Oxford University Press, Inc.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-6656-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-6658-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-6657-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016919901

WestBow Press rev. date: 1/17/2017

CONTENTS

Work

Wealth

Contentment

Encouragement

Give

Budget and Plans

Debt

Lending

Prayer and Praise

Children

Transformation

Save

Marriage

Dedicated to the late

Bobbie Carpenter

Mary Isaac

Mary McNeill

Thank you for everything. It is very true that God will bring special people into a person’s life to give Him glory. You made this project possible.

MY DAILY MEDITATION, WORK

AS AN EMPLOYEE you sometime come to work and do not perform at your best. Not only do you not do your best when you get to work, but you are late some days for no apparent reason and other times you take unapproved days off. The times when you are at work, you give 100% if your employer is looking and less when he is not around. The apostle Paul under the guidance of the Holy Spirit was on target in Colossians 3:23 when he instructed the Colossians to do All work heartily as to God and not unto men. When your work is done unto God, He is pleased. When you please God, your work will always please your employer.

Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all thy might because there is no work, device, knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going (Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJV).

MY DAILY MEDITATION, RETIREMENT

HAVE YOU THOUGHT about retiring and leaving the work force? If you have, what will you do? Will you increase the time you spend on the golf course? What about taking that long vacation you have not taken up to this point? Maybe you will just sit around from day to day and do nothing because you have worked hard and long most of your life and deserve to rest from any and all labor. But before you go to these extremes consider that working is important to God, so do not retire and leave the work force but retire and work in another work force, the building up of God’s kingdom. In God’s kingdom there is no retiring but there is a change or reduction in responsibility. Consider the Levites in Numbers 8:23-26, they served in the tabernacle of meeting until a certain age, and afterwards they ministered with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, and did no service. So keep this in mind when you are thinking about retirement. Do not discontinue your service or stop working but put your gifts and talents to use in God’s kingdom.

MY DAILY MEDITATION, PAY WORKERS

YOU HAVE EMPLOYEES working for you and you have agreed to pay them a certain amount on a certain day. These workers have been faithful and obedient to their jobs and performed to your expectations. But when it was time for them to be paid, you decided to hold their wages because you wanted to use the money to invest in your company or pay them at your convenience. These selfish actions went against what Moses wrote in Leviticus 19:13. Moses made it clear that You shall not cheat your works and the worker’s wages shall not remain with you until morning. These workers will cry out to God and when they do, God will hear them. So, God’s command to you is to pay the workers at the time and date you have agreed to pay them.

MY DAILY MEDITATION, WORK (VERSES TO MEDITATE ON)

THE SOUL OF a lazy man desires and has nothing (Proverbs 13:4 NKJV).

In all labor there is profit, but idle chatter leads only to poverty (Proverbs 14:23 NKJV).

The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing (Proverbs 20:4 NKJV).

The writer of Proverbs 24:30-31 says, You will know the field of a lazy man because it is grown up with thorns.

MY DAILY MEDITATION, WORK

I WENT BY the field of the lazy man and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surfaced was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down (Proverbs 24:30-31 NKJV). Lazy or idle, you pick. They are cousins to each other. For each one when you participate in them, the results are the same and the evidence speaks for itself as with the overgrown field and broken down walls. You may not have fields, walls, or nettles but your grass in the front and back yards may need to be cut, your home may have chipping paint or repairs that need to be made, your room may be disorganized and you may from time to time over sleep and miss work. It is ok to rest and sleep for a while, but do not be consumed by them to the point where your surroundings will tell off on you in the form of overgrown grass, failing grades, and not getting the job you desire.

Lord, please give me the strength to get up and take care of the work that need to be done each day. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

MY DAILY MEDITATION, LAZY

I WENT BY the field of the lazy man and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down (Proverbs 24: 30 and 31 NKJV).

Why are you not where you desire to be financially? Is it because your spiritual life is out of order and all over grown with the problems and cares of the world? You have allowed doubt, fear, riches, laziness, lack of order and I will do it tomorrow to replace peace, organization, work, Godly living and dependency on God. Ask God to help you to get your spiritual life right and your financial life will fall in place as you obey God.

Lord, I turn my life over to you right now. Use me as you see fit. At the present, my finances are in bad shape, but I know that with your help I can get them in order. In Jesus name. Amen.

MY DAILY MEDITATION, SABBATH

WHAT IS JESUS doing?

Jesus wanted to know, if you had a sheep and it fell into a pit on the Sabbath, would you get it out of the pit on the Sabbath? Then he asked, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath? Jesus got tired of asking the Pharisees questions concerning the Sabbath and not getting answers, so he asked the man who needed to be healed to stretch out his hand. The man stretched out his hand and Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:9-14, Mark 3:1-6, Luke 6:6-11). Jesus left the Pharisees and went to another location. Matter of fact, He was teaching in the synagogues and saw a woman who had an infirmity for eighteen years and was bent over and could not raise herself up. Seeing the woman Jesus called to her and said, Woman you are loosed from your infirmities. Jesus laid His hands on her and at that point she was made straight and the woman glorified God (Luke 13:10-17). This was also done on the Sabbath. Jesus did what was right on the Sabbath, leaving this example for us to follow.

Lord God, right now I am working on Sunday, but it is my desire to have Sunday off. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

MY DAILY MEDITATION, COMMITMENT

JACOB MADE A vow to God at Bethel (Genesis 28:20-22) that if God would bring him back to his father’s house in peace and give him bread and clothing, he would make the stone God’s house and give a tenth of all to God. Later Jacob returned to Bethel and built an altar at the Bethel location and called it El Bethel (Genesis 35:7). Honoring your word should be of utmost importance to you. When you are hired by an employer and the two of you agree that you should perform a certain task, work a certain number of hours, then you should follow through on this commitment because you are not only making a vow to man, you are also making a commitment to God.

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not unto men (Colossians 3:23 NJKV).

MY DAILY MEDITATION, WORK FOR GOD

ALL THE WORK you do, do it as unto God and not to man. Can you imagine a world with everyone working to please God? The mechanic working on your car will not overcharge you and will provide the best service possible, the realtors you selected to help find a home will work for you and not so much for the commission that he is going to make, the tax preparer will do the research so that you can get all the deductions you are entitled too and he will also do more tax planning, the home builder will not try to cut corners on building material and will use quality material to build your home. Just imagine, trying to work and serve to please God in all you do. (1 Thessalonians 4:10-12)

MY DAILY MEDITATION, WORK

FRIEND, I AM doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius…Is it not lawful to do what I wish with my own things (Matthew 20:1-16).

John Stevens shared a story about the father whose son quit his job because he thought he was working more than his co-workers. Each day when he went to work he gave his employer a good eight hours of work while his co-workers were talking and taking long lunch breaks. He got fed up with them getting paid the same as he was getting even though they worked less hours. This went on for months. It wasn’t long before he resigned his job.

Do your job as if you are working for God. After all your employer has the right to pay his employees what he has agreed to pay them regardless of how it may appear to you.

Heavenly Father you are my employer and I work for you. Please control my work habits. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

MY DAILY MEDITATION, WORK

BUT THE LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and he gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper (Genesis 39:21-23 NKJV).

If you are giving your best effort and you are trusting God to give you wisdom in all of your work endeavors, watch for the ways in which the Lord will cause others to bless you so you can be a blessing to others. And be as productive as you can be. Do all you know to do; then trust God to do in you and through you that which you cannot do by your own strength.

Charles Stanley, Understanding Financial Stewardship page 54 and 57

God will bless all the work of your hands and at the same time build your character.

MY DAILY MEDITATION, LEADER

LEADER, GOD EXPECTS you to lead with His power and with His authority. God wants you to have order as you lead those under your authority. The same principles He established over 2000 years ago apply to how you manage people today. Jehoshaphat, when he ruled as king of Judah, followed the same leadership principles (2 Chronicles 19:10-11) that God had given to His servant Moses. The organization (Exodus 18) that Moses used was used by Jehoshaphat except for a few changes. Jehoshaphat put judges in place, the Levites, the priest, and the chief of the fathers to manage certain issues and the chief priest over other matters. God’s principles for a just leader (you) have not changed. They are the same today as they were years ago. Use them and apply them to your leadership style. The principle that is referred to here is the principle of delegation.

Moses chose able men who feared God, men of truth who hated covetousness and he delegated responsibilities to them (Exodus 18:21-23).

MY DAILY MEDITATION, EMPLOYER

THERE WAS A man who got up early in the morning so that he could get to work on time. He had to get up early because he had to walk to the bus stop. He had to ride several blocks and transfer onto another bus that would drop him off at the door of his job. He worked hard and was faithful and obedient to his job. He did what he was asked to do in his job description and the other duties assigned to him by management. At the end of the day, he was promised a fair wage for the work he had done but this didn’t happen. He wasn’t paid at all that day, but he was paid days later.

Do not withhold goods from those to whom it is due when it is in the power of your hands to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, go and come back and tomorrow I will give it, when you have it at hand (Proverbs 3:27-28 NKJV).

MY DAILY MEDITATION, POVERTY

IT IS NOT God’s desire that you continue in poverty. Regardless if it is material or spiritual poverty, God wants you removed from it. You can come out of spiritual poverty by admitting that you do not have God in your life and receiving his love and forgiveness freely.

There is no reason for you to remain in material poverty because you are the child of a king who owns the earth and everything that is in it. He is open to share it with you if you will go to Him in prayer and give your life to Him and continue in His statues and His laws. Also allow Him to lead you and go forward with the Holy Spirit guiding you. As you move forward, do not look back but stay focused on and have faith in Him. God will bring you out of your material poverty and into material and spiritual success and prosperity. He will also give you the work He desires for you.

MY DAILY MEDITATION, LEADERS

GOD APPOINTED JOSHUA leader of Israel after the death of Moses, a position Moses started preparing Joshua for before Moses’ death. He prepared Joshua by giving him responsibilities and by making him his assistant. In this example, God is making it clear to you that you should assign your successor responsibilities now and let him train in the job that he will be taking over after you leave or when you are promoted. Turn over to him assignments and work groups for him to be in charge of daily. This way he will be better prepared for his new job and you can leave knowing that the ministry or organization has a qualified person to follow your foot steps and a leader who has trained under you. This principle was instituted by God years ago. It was effective then and will work now if used. Prepare the person that is coming after you by assigning him work now.

MY DAILY MEDITATION, WORK

YOUR BOSS SENT you an email and a text message. In them he was informing you that he would not be in to work. After reading these you decided that the first half of your morning would be spent visiting your co-workers, discussing sports, catching up on what had been going on in the office, making plans on the telephone for the weekend, and taking an extended lunch. When you got back from lunch, you were about to repeat the morning activities when a co-worker had a conversation with you about what is said in Proverbs 6:4-9. These verses talks about the ant who has no captain, ruler or overseer but yet the ant goes about the day working and providing supplies in the summer. Even though your manager is not around to watch your work habits, God sees you, so do all your work as unto Him (Colossians 3:23). God is your manager and overseer. He will reward you as you work to please Him.

The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy