The Doggy Bag Devotional: A 52-Week Study Based on Everyday Life Lessons

By Brian A. Hetzer

"As a devotee of the precepts method, I truly appreciate the depth of Brian's devotional. He gives a subject for the week and then guides you to deeper depths using bite-sized daily study. For anyone who has limited time but longs for more than someone else's daily commentary, this is the devotional for you."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Nov 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9798887380506

Brian A. Hetzer

Brian is the founder and president of Seed2Life International-a faith-based nonprofit that helps equip Gospel-focused ministries. Over the years, Brian has also served in a wide range of capacities, both church ministry and secular, including six years in the US Navy. His life experiences have provided a broad basis for his love of writing. He is a passionate follower of Christ, committed to helping people through life's challenges. Brian and his wife, Debra, enjoy the outdoors, exercise, and traveling.

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Dedication

This fifty-two-week devotional is dedicated to those who, like me, can struggle with our Bible reading being as effective and life-impacting as God intended. My prayer is that this study will help bridge the gap between God’s Word and our daily lives. My hope is that you fall in love with the Bible all over again (or maybe even for the first time).

Acknowledgments

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the many people who helped me see the vision of writing this devotional become a reality. The journey challenged me in ways I would have never imagined, but I’m thankful for every step. Being able to walk with each of you has surely made it an amazing learning experience. To all who provided support, inspiration, humor, a listening ear, feedback, and assistance in the editing, proofing, and design of this project, a huge thank you to:

First and foremost, Jesus Christ. Without His unconditional love and grace, I probably wouldn’t even be here to tell my stories.

My friend and mentor, Jon Oletzke, whose wisdom and fun, witty personality continues to inspire me. Tim Wallace, the guy who initially encouraged the idea of writing this devotional. My kindred spirit, Dave Deeney—I’m thankful you are in my life. Tim Lidster and Michael Chad Bonnell, whose smiles and encouragement helped urge me to keep going. Carl Block, who challenged me to look at things from a different perspective. Lila Nelson for her editing expertise and creativity. Janine Hernandez for her writing experience and wisdom.

My wife, Debra, who continued to persuade me and encourage me to see this project through, believing in me and the gift of writing God blessed me with. My mom, who always puts a smile on my face with her abundant positive attitude. And my dad, who taught me the value of setting priorities and hard work. I dedicate this devotional to all of you and the many others who have impacted me along the way. You’ve certainly made this a team effort, helping me to create something I never thought possible.

Preface

I don’t know if it’s my (advancing) age, my seemingly always busy schedule or what, but I find that I often have a difficult time retaining what I read and truly grasping how to apply what I’m reading to my day-to-day life. I can see how people give up on the Bible so easily—It doesn’t make sense, I can’t remember what I read anyway, I don’t see how it applies to me in this century, etc. What I’ve discovered, however, is that if I really want to take hold of, comprehend, and apply what I am reading, I must be intentional about developing a plan that works for me. I often need to read the same thing multiple times, maybe even from different angles or perspectives, to get the material to really sink in. So, why even read the Bible in the first place? Why devote time and energy to a book full of stories that challenge even the most devout believers? Certainly, fair questions.

Have you ever questioned the meaning of your own life? Ever looked around this crazy world and wondered, Why? The Bible has the answers to these questions and many more. If we believe that God is real and has a say and influence in the world around us, then desiring to know what He’s all about and what He wants our own lives to look like would make sense. We need to go to the source. The Bible is God’s autobiography to us. And if we choose to read it, endeavor to understand it, and intentionally apply it to our lives, it also becomes a natural pruning tool. This tool is made to trim and shape us into what God desires our lives to be—an intimate relationship with Him lived out in our everyday lives.

Jesus summed it up in John 15:3 (TLB) when He said, He [God] has already tended you by pruning you back for greater strength and usefulness by means of the commands I gave you. To get to know God’s Word is to get to know God Himself and the purposes and plans He has for our lives.

Over the last couple of decades, as I’ve tried to intentionally engage myself in Sunday church/worship services, I often found come Monday morning really wishing I could remember more of the message. In an attempt to resolve this issue, I became an avid note-taker. I’d then take those notes and feed off of them throughout the week. Each morning I’d pull out my notes from the service and begin chewing on them—reading a different verse from the sermon, maybe reading the entire chapter surrounding a verse the pastor used, or maybe reading a verse from several different translations. I’d scour the scriptures and the accompanying message notes for little morsels of goodness that I could remember and apply to my life. I coined this my doggy-bag principle—getting my main course at church, taking home a doggy bag of notes to spiritually nourish myself on throughout the week. It works! In fact, not only does it just work, but it has proven to work great! This doggy-bag principle is the framework I’ve built this devotional around.

My objective with the doggy bag devotional is to dive into one topic each week, looking at that week’s theme from multiple angles and perspectives as the week progresses. Just like turning over soil prior to planting a garden, the goal is to have turned over the subject matter within us enough times that the planted seeds of God’s Word have an opportunity to sprout and produce some awesome fruit in our day-to-day lives.

Introduction:

How The Doggy Bag Devotional Works

The devotional is divided into fifty-two different weekly topics. At the beginning of each week, there’s a short perspective to read. These perspectives are short stories, insights, and thoughts from daily life rooted in biblical truth. Then for the next five days, there are opportunities to look at the same subject or theme from different viewpoints, such as reading the central verse from different translations, keyword definitions, reading the whole chapter for a foundational perspective, discovering elements of God’s nature/character in Scripture, or possibly reading other supporting verses throughout the Bible.

Another reason for keeping on the same theme or subject for an entire week is for those of us who are often short on time. Just five to fifteen minutes a day, focusing on the same subject for a week greatly increases the probability of God’s Word sticking with us in a life-impacting way.

This devotional format is based on the principle that the Bible is not meant to be read and digested like we are in a feeding frenzy. It’s much better to slowly eat, chew, and absorb so that the nutrients of God’s Word can be taken in and applied to our daily life. It is then that we’ll know His word has truly made a difference in our own lives and in the lives of those around us. The Bible is not much more than an entertaining storybook (novel) without applying it to our life.

With each day, you will be encouraged to dig deeper into your own life, pray to the Holy Spirit (building that relationship with Him), journal thoughts that come to mind, and do a brief what I’ve learned summary on the last day of the week. The goal is to keep it simple yet effective in helping us gain a grasp on God’s Word and how it applies to our lives. I’d strongly encourage you to have a separate notebook for writing your daily thoughts/answers to questions, so they can be reviewed at the end of each week (or you can write directly in the book).

Lastly, one of the things that continues to amaze me about the Bible is how I can read the same scriptures at different times in my life and take away completely different things. It truly is a living document and speaks to us with just what we need for the season of life we are in. As such, this devotional is not meant to puff us up with Bible knowledge but rather is to provide an opportunity for God to use His word to mold us, shape us, and lead us into the fullness of life He intended.

May God richly bless you as you grow in your understanding of how much you are truly loved.

I have never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you wisdom to see clearly and really understand who Christ is and all that He has done for you. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can see something of the future He has called you to share. I want you to realize that God has been made rich because we who are Christ’s have been given to Him! (Ephesians 1:16–18, TLB).

Week 1

Day 1 Perspective: Presence

I can remember years ago, at the age of seventeen, preparing to go to the Navy recruiter’s office in my hometown. I was anxious, a little fearful, and apprehensive. After all, I was a kid who didn’t know what to expect and felt very intimidated by the upcoming experience. Looking back, now it seems a bit silly, but as I sat before the recruiter, I was overwhelmed, stuttering as I nervously answered his questions. What saved me, however, was my dad, who had gone with me. He sat with me in the recruiter’s office, offering assistance in answering questions, asked the recruiter to clarify some things, and ultimately helped me feel confident in the recruiter’s presence.

These same kinds of feelings and emotions can happen when we come to God with our concerns, fears, and desires. Have you ever stuttered in prayer? Have you felt anxious, fearful, apprehensive, and overwhelmed? I have. Sometimes I need to remind myself that I’m not going into God’s presence alone. If I believe and trust in Jesus, then the Bible says that He goes with me as an advocate. He intercedes for me in my fear, doubt, or when I don’t know what to say. Being with Jesus, in God’s presence, there should be nothing to fear. In fact, we’re encouraged to come boldly as God welcomes us with open arms. Now we can come fearlessly right into God’s presence, assured of his glad welcome when we come with Christ and trust in him (Ephesians 3:12, TLB).

One of the names of God is Jehovah Shammah, which means the God who is present. Even in those uncertain times when we may feel alone, we must remember that God is there, strong and able. That should reassure us when we are in the midst of difficult situations.

Pray, asking God how today’s perspective applies to your own life, and add any other requests and expressions of gratitude you have.

Day 2: God’s Nature

Pray: God, open the eyes of my heart to the wonders of Your word. Help me to see You and me in Your Word.

Read the full chapter that the Day 1 Perspective Bible verse comes from. As you read Ephesians 3, look for elements of God’s nature (character, qualities, temperament, and what He values).

After reading the chapter, pray. Ask God to help you view your life through the elements of His nature as revealed in today’s reading and add any other requests and expressions of gratitude you have.

Day 3: Keyword Study

Study the underlined keywords in the verse below for deeper understanding. Reread that verse using keyword definitions instead of keywords. Personalize it by placing your first name within the context of the verse.

Now we can come fearlessly right into God’s presence, assured of his glad welcome when we come with Christ and trust in him.

Ephesians 3:12 (TLB)

Fearlessly: Greek—a (no) & phobos (fear); boldly, bravely, undaunted, unafraid to speak and to act in confidence.

Presence: Greek—panim; also translated face, implying a close and personal encounter with the lord, as if face to face; to gain free access to, being in the midst of, closeness.

Trust: Greek—pisteuo (verb); to rely on, rest in—truth, ability or strength of.

Ponder: How have the keyword definitions and personalizing scripture given you a deeper understanding and life application of this scripture?

Pray: Ask God how the verse, with its deeper definitions/perspectives, applies to your own life, as well as any other prayer requests and expressions of gratitude you may have.

Day 4: Broader Perspectives

Read through these other translations of the key verse, as well as other scriptures on the same subject, and note any thoughts, ideas, or different perspectives that come to mind.

Pray: God, open the eyes of my heart to the wonders of Your Word.

Other translations of Ephesians 3:12:

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly

and confidently into God’s presence (NLT).

When we trust in him, we’re free to say whatever needs to be said,

bold to go wherever we need to go (MSG).

In him and through faith in him we may approach God

with freedom and confidence (NIV).

Other scriptures on the same subject:

God’s there, listening for all who pray, for all who pray and mean it.

Psalm 145:18 (MSG)

You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13 (NASB)

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Hebrews 10:22 (NIV)

Pray: Ask God to help you apply what you have learned to your life, as well as any other prayer requests and expressions of gratitude.

Day 5: Reflect

Reverse the verse:

Now we can come fearlessly right into God’s presence, assured of his glad welcome when we come with Christ and trust in him.

Ephesians 3:12 (TLB)

By rephrasing the above verse to the opposite tense, the verse could read:

If we try to come into God’s presence without trusting Christ and coming with Him, we will not be assured of God’s glad welcome and will come in fear.

How does this reverse perspective give you a different viewpoint?

Personal reflection. Answer the following questions:

1. In what areas do I struggle with coming to God without fears or anxieties (unresolved sin, hurt, pain, regret, shame, unworthiness)?

2. Can I be more confident that I am welcomed with open arms by God, knowing he accepts even my smallest steps?

Repentance is an important key to moving forward. When you pray, ask God with confidence to forgive you for the sin in your life, to help with specific areas of personal struggle identified throughout this week, and to help you apply what you’ve learned to your day-to-day life.

Day 6: The Week’s Summary

Reread the perspective at the beginning of the week.

Read through your daily notes/thoughts.

Have you noticed a consistent theme in your notes/prayers this week?

Have you discovered anything different or surprising about yourself?

How have you handled things differently based on what you’ve learned?

Pray: Ask God to help you apply what you have learned to your life, as well as any other prayer requests and expressions of gratitude.

Day 7: Day of Reflection

Hopefully, you are part of a church community where you are being spiritually fed, building life-giving relationships, and growing with Jesus.

Allow the Holy Spirit to use what you’ve learned this week to shape you into what He desires your life to be.

Week 2

Day 1 Perspective: Chocolate Cake

I’ve heard it said that it doesn’t really matter what religion we follow because we are all trying to get to the same place anyway—all roads lead to heaven. As all-inclusive and non-judgmental as this may sound, as much as we might want it to be true, it simply can’t be.

For analogy purposes, say life’s journey—the path, purpose, and place we are all trying to reach (heaven), is a chocolate cake. The only people who will end up actually arriving at a chocolate cake are those who, in fact, have a recipe for, well, chocolate cake. And this includes having the right ingredients. Grabbing any recipe we choose will not end up producing a chocolate cake. Yes, we might make our favorite cheesecake, casserole, bread, cookies, chili, or whatever… But if a chocolate cake is the goal, only the right recipe and ingredients will produce a chocolate cake.

Life’s goals are the same. If heaven is that same place we all desire to reach, let’s make sure we have the right recipe and are careful to follow it. It would be a culinary disaster to hope and plan for a chocolate cake but find out too late, like right before the birthday party, that we’ve been following the recipe for tuna casserole all along.

Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6 (GW)

Pray, asking God how today’s perspective applies to your own life, and add any other requests and expressions of gratitude you have.

Day 2: God’s Nature

Pray: God, open the eyes of my heart to the wonders of Your word. Help me to see You and me in Your Word.

Read the full chapter that the Day 1 Perspective Bible verse comes from. As you read John 14, look for elements of God’s nature (character, qualities, temperament, and what He values).

After reading the chapter, pray. Ask God to help you view your life through the elements of His nature as revealed in today’s reading and add any other requests and expressions of gratitude you have.

Day 3: Keyword Study

Study the underlined keywords in the verse below for deeper understanding. Reread that verse using keyword definitions instead of keywords. Personalize it by placing your first name within the context of the verse.

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6 (GW)

The way: Greek—hodos (noun); road, journey, path, voyage, passage.

The truth: Greek—alétheia (noun); truth as spoken reality, but also truth of idea, sincerity, truth in the moral sphere, divine truth revealed to man, straightforwardness.

The life: Greek—zöé (noun); both of physical (in the present) and of Spiritual (future) existence.

Ponder: How have the keyword definitions and personalizing scripture given you a deeper understanding and life application of this scripture?

Pray: Ask God how the verse, with its deeper definitions/perspectives, applies to your own life, as well as any other prayer requests and expressions of gratitude you may have.

Day 4: Broader Perspectives

Read through these other translations of the key verse, as well as other scriptures on the same subject, and note any thoughts, ideas, or different perspectives that come to mind.

Pray: God, open the eyes of my heart to the wonders of Your word.

Other translations of John 14:6:

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (KJV).

Jesus told him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (ISV).

Yeshua said to him, I am the living God, the way and the truth and the life; no man comes to my Father but by me alone

(Aramaic Bible in plain English).

Other scriptures on the same subject:

Jesus told her, l am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.

John 11:25 (NLT)

…for it was through reading the Scripture that I came to realize that I could never find God’s favor by trying—and failing—to obey the laws. I came to realize that acceptance with God comes by believing in Christ.

Galatians 2:19 (TLB)

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23 (NLT)

But now you have arrived at your destination: By faith in Christ, you are in direct relationship with God.

Galatians 3:25 (MSG)

Pray: Ask God to help you apply what you have learned to your life, as well as any other prayer requests and expressions of gratitude.

Day 5: Reflect

Reread the verse from the Day 1 Perspective—John 14:6.

Personal reflection. Answer the following questions:

1. How does this verse reflect the way you’ve been pursuing God/heaven?

2. Do you believe Jesus is the only way to a relationship with God/heaven? Why or why not?

3. The most important question you will ever answer is who Jesus is, for everything else in your life flows from this answer. So, who is Jesus to you? Why do you believe/think this way?

4. Do you find personal value in pursuing and following Jesus, in knowing more about who He is? Why or why not?

Repentance is an important key to moving forward. When you pray, ask God with confidence to forgive you for the sin in your life, to help with specific areas of personal struggle identified throughout this week, and to help you apply what you’ve learned to your day-to-day life.

Day 6: The Week’s Summary

Reread the Perspective at the beginning of the week.

Read through your daily notes/thoughts.

Have you noticed a consistent theme in your notes/prayers this week?

Have you discovered anything different or surprising about yourself?

How have you handled things differently based on what you’ve learned?

Pray: Ask God to help you apply what you have learned to your life, as well as any other prayer requests and expressions of gratitude.

Day 7: Day of Reflection

Hopefully, you are part of a church community where you are being spiritually fed, building life-giving relationships, and growing with Jesus.

Allow the Holy Spirit to use what you’ve learned this week to shape you into what He desires your life to be.

Week 3

Day 1 Perspective: Transformation

Change is difficult—especially when we put the cart before the horse. Ever seen someone start an exercise program but then quit after a short time? Or maybe you decide to learn a new skill but then give up after it gets too difficult. We’ve all been there. The challenge is that many of us choose to make a change in our lives without really understanding the steps to actually get there. We begin with high hopes, envision what could be, and, like a shot from a cannon, we launch ourselves with good intentions. Without an understanding of what it takes, we find ourselves pushing through the dark with forced behavior modifications. And we find that it doesn’t take long before we hit that brick wall.

...be a new and different person with a fresh newness

in all you do and think.

Romans 12:2 (TLB)

Yes, personal transformation in any area of our life does take action, but just as important is our thinking. The doing without the change in our thinking is a sure way to fail. Like the person trying to lose weight getting frustrated and saying, I’m never going to lose this weight, as the proverb goes—if we tell ourselves we can’t, is it any wonder why we don’t?

Paul writes, "Instead, let the Spirit renew your [mind] thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy."

Ephesians 4:23–24 (NLT)

Let’s make it a daily choice to ask the Holy Spirit to help us renew our minds—to begin thinking on what’s good and positive. Being motivated by the change in our thinking is a powerful, unstoppable force. We can’t just start to do something, hoping our thinking will eventually catch up. Letting the horse (our minds) pull the cart (our actions) will get much farther down the road.

Living the full life that God intended requires being diligent in gaining control over our mind and thoughts. That’s how genuine, lasting, and healthy personal transformation happens.

Pray, asking God how today’s perspective applies to your own life, and add any other requests and expressions of gratitude you have.

Day 2: God’s Nature

Pray: God, open the eyes of my heart to the wonders of Your Word. Help me to see you in Your word.

Read the full chapter that Day 1 Perspective Bible verse comes from. As you read Ephesians 4, look for elements of God’s nature (character, qualities, temperament, and what He values).

After reading the chapter, pray. Ask God to help you view your life through the elements of His nature as revealed in today’s reading and add any other requests and expressions of gratitude you have.

Day 3: Keyword Study

Study the underlined keywords in the verse below for deeper understanding. Reread that verse using keyword definitions instead of keywords. Personalize it by placing your first name within the context of the verse.

Instead, let the Spirit renew your [mind] thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Ephesians 4:23–24 (NLT)

Renew: Greek—ananeoo (verb); reform, renovate, make strong again, restore.

Mind: Greek—noos (noun); "the part of a person that is their intellect—the capacity to