DATE POSTED
Friday, June 5, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Proverbs 28:9 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the New International Version (NIV).

If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

Isn’t it fascinating how, even when faced with the clear Word of God, we can still be surprised by the reasons He chooses to remain silent? Scripture explicitly shows us that God will not answer the prayers of those who insist on “doing their own thing” while completely disregarding His commands.

If you have been following this series, you know my deep conviction that the Bible contains the answers to absolutely every question or dilemma we will ever face in this life. Given that truth, it is heartbreaking to sit among hurting people and hear them complain that God simply refuses to answer their prayers, without them ever looking at the state of their own hearts.

As fellow believers, our natural instinct is to turn to God in times of trouble, doubt, disappointment, and desperate need. But we must stop and honestly ponder a difficult question: Are we asking for God’s help while knowingly ignoring, disobeying, or refusing to accept His commands in other areas of our lives?

The Holy Spirit leaves us a very sobering warning about this through the words of King Solomon and the Prophet Jeremiah:

‘If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable’. – Proverbs 28:9

“They have returned to the sins of their ancestors, who refused to listen to my words. … Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them.” – Jeremiah 11:10-11

The Danger of a Divided Life

Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly reminds us of a fundamental truth: He will not allow us to ignore Him in one corner of our lives, while expecting Him to rush to our rescue as a last resort in another.

Our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is perfectly just and fair. He cannot tell us how grieved He was by the disobedience of Judah and Jerusalem, yet turn around and overlook our own willful sin just because we are in a tight spot.

Let’s look at this in a very practical, everyday sense. If your spouse was consistently unfaithful to you – showing absolutely zero concern for your feelings and routinely doing the very things they know you despise – would you be anxious to jump up and grant their every wish? Of course not. Why, then, do we expect God to instantly respond to our urgent requests when we are acting like unfaithful, disobedient children?

The bottom line is that the Bible is clear: God will not be mocked. He distances Himself from the prayers of the disobedient when they have the audacity to approach Him without a spirit of repentance.

The Beauty of a 180-Degree Turn

The grandest hope of the Christian faith is that we serve an incredibly loving, merciful, and forgiving Father. We are His creation, but we are a far cry from His perfect holiness. We live in a broken world and face temptation at every single turn.

But the Bible is filled with stories of Jesus stopping a sinner right in their tracks. Think about Saul on the road to Damascus. Through a devastating moment of physical blindness, Jesus got the undivided attention of one of the worst persecutors the early church had ever known. In that moment of desperation, Saul turned from his wicked ways, made a radical, 180-degree turn, and chose to follow Jesus with everything he had.

Saul went from total, aggressive disobedience to spending the rest of his life preaching to the lost about their need for a Savior. This total transformation of character was so profound that it was even marked by a new name: Paul, the author of much of the New Testament.

Do you suppose God changed the way He listened to and answered Paul’s prayers after that turn? The proof is scattered beautifully across every single one of Paul’s letters.

God wants to do the exact same thing for you. But let me encourage you from the bottom of my heart: don’t wait for a crisis to get your attention. Don’t wait for your family, your finances, or your health to hit rock bottom before you decide to listen to His voice.

Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you. Obey His commands, follow the perfect example Jesus set for us on this earth, and prepare your heart to praise Him for the answers that are sure to come. When you give Him every single aspect of your life, He will faithfully be your God through it all – until the day He calls you home to glory!

PRAYER
Search me today and show me if there is any area of my life where I am turning a deaf ear to Your commands. Forgive me for the hypocrisy of ignoring Your Word many days, yet begging for Your intervention in times of desperation. Lord, I don’t want a divided heart. Wash me clean, and give me the courage to make a total, 180-degree turn away from my own willful choices and toward Your perfect will. Thank You for being a God of second chances, just like You were for Paul. I desire to draw close to You today in full obedience, trusting that You hear my cries and care for my soul. In the holy and obedient name of Jesus, Amen.

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!

DATE POSTED
Thursday, June 4, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Matthew 21:22 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the English Standard Version (ESV).

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

What would be the point of praying if you didn’t actually believe your prayers could be answered? Praying in doubt is a sure way of going through the motions—saying the right words with our lips while our hearts quietly question whether God is even listening, let alone willing to respond.

God’s Word speaks very directly about the connection between our faith and His answers. In the Gospels, Jesus gives us a staggering promise:

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” — Matthew 21:22

But the Apostle James provides the sobering flip side of that coin, explaining what happens when we let doubt creep into our conversations with the Father:

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” — James 1:6-7

To connect with God in a meaningful way, we must first know Jesus and truly believe in Him. However, this presents a real challenge for someone who refuses to submit to Him. They might acknowledge that He exists and even recognize that He has the power to answer prayer, viewing Him merely as someone they want on their side when things go wrong. They treat Him like an emergency line to call only in times of desperate trouble.

From Acquaintance to Intimacy

Think about it this way: Someone who has known my wife since early childhood might feel like they can call her up out of the blue to ask for a favor, expecting a positive response simply because they are familiar with her.

But our relationship is entirely different. We have shared our very lives, navigating the ultra-highs and the deepest valleys together for over 50 years of marriage. We know each other so intimately that we can almost speak for one another. There is absolutely nothing we wouldn’t do to bring joy and contentment to each other’s lives.

Without that kind of intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, a person will naturally feel a sense of hesitation or even shame when trying to lay their burdens on Him. Because they lack personal proof of His faithfulness, they doubt His unproven ability to handle their requests. After all, human nature makes us extremely cautious about sharing our deepest, rawest vulnerabilities with a total stranger.

The Confidence of a Child of God

For the believer, things look completely different. We aren’t guessing about God’s power—we have seen it, felt it, and personally experienced His miracles. We are students of His Word, where we read about the incredible wonders He has performed throughout history.

On top of that, we hear our pastors share fresh stories of miracles on the mission field, and we listen to the moving testimonies of fellow believers sitting right next to us in the pews at our church services.

All of this builds an unshakeable confidence within us. We know that the very same God who blessed us on the mountaintops of life is standing right beside us in the darkest valleys. The One who answers our prayers for the small, seemingly minor things, is the exact same God who possesses the absolute power and willingness to step into our major health, family, or financial crises when we are completely helpless.

Our God isn’t just waiting around for a massive disaster to strike before He listens to us. He loves us enough to care about the smallest details and the greatest hurdles alike. We are His children, and He values us so highly that He sent His only Son to bear the heavy crushing weight of the sin we lay on Him when we accept His salvation. No greater love exists than the love God has for His children! The big question today goes far beyond why a specific prayer might seem unanswered. The real question is: Do you have a personal, intimate relationship with the One who answers? Is your relationship with Jesus strong enough that you can confidently place your burdens into His hands, believing with all your heart that He can and will work things out? God doesn’t want you to just know about Him based on second-hand stories from your parents, your spouse, or your friends. He wants you to know Him personally. Accept Him as your Lord and Savior today, and find perfect peace in bringing every single need before Him—knowing without a shadow of a doubt that He hears you and will always respond in the way that is best for you.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Forgive me for the times I have approached Your throne with a double-minded heart, letting the winds of doubt toss me back and forth. Lord, I don’t want to just know about You; I want to know You intimately. Thank You for 50-plus years of spiritual lessons, for mountaintop victories, and for Your steady hand in the deep valleys. I anchor my faith today in Your proven track record of miracles and Your perfect love displayed on the cross. I lay my current needs at Your feet, completely letting go of doubt, and resting in the absolute assurance that You hear me and will answer in Your perfect way.

In the faithful and powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!

DATE POSTED
Wednesday, June 3, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read James 4:3 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in The Voice (VOICE).

³ And if you ask, you won’t receive it for you’re asking with corrupt motives, seeking only to fulfill your own selfish desires.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

Sometimes, the most profound truths are the hardest ones to write down because they require us to look deeply into the mirror of our own hearts. Today, we are tackling a reason for unanswered prayer that hits very close to home: our underlying motives.

The Apostle James lays it out with painful clarity in our focal verse today.

I believe the most practical way to detect when we are asking God for something with the wrong motive is when we catch ourselves using a simple, two-word phrase in our prayers: “so that.” Think about those times when you might ask God to give you a financial breakthrough or a massive harvest, so that you might have enough money to bless the poor in your community. On the surface, that sounds incredibly holy. But is that really what happens?

Look at how the world handles generosity. When the wealthy give, it is almost always marked with a press release, a plaque, or a public recognition of their status. In those moments, is God really the one being praised for His goodness, or is the spotlight firmly fixed on the human giver?

The Posture of True Humility

We have all seen God bless us in absolutely amazing ways when we humble ourselves before Him. Scripture gives us a beautiful blueprint for this kind of heart-posture in a very familiar verse:

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” — 2 Chronicles 7:14

When we pray this way, we are seeking the King of all kings in absolute humility. We are acknowledging that we are nothing without Him, and we are recognizing that our own righteousness doesn’t come anywhere near His holy standards. We are choosing to turn away from our own selfish ambitions and completely dedicate ourselves to His sovereignty over our lives.

If God chooses to use us as a pipeline to bless someone else, that person will be truly blessed. But we must understand a hard reality: no matter how hard we try in our own strength, human effort alone cannot bless someone enough to make them recognize God. If we are operating out of our own pride, the person receiving the help will only ever see our hands passing the gift to them.

A person whose heart is truly aligned with God will be fully usable by Him, but they must be content with a sobering truth: you may never receive a single ounce of earthly recognition for doing something praiseworthy. God sees every human need. In His absolute sovereignty, when He chooses to answer a prayer and bless someone in need, He will always do it in a way that ultimately brings glory to Him, not to us. We are simply the servants of an almighty, righteous, and holy God. We can never out-give Him, we can never out-love Him, and we must never try to steal the credit that belongs solely to Him.

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The Silent Giver Challenge

When we look back at 2 Chronicles 7:14, we realize that when we are in a state of true humility—earnestly seeking the face of God for His mercy—He is the only One we want. Nothing else in this world can take His place. For the person who is truly chasing after the heart of God, the goal is simply to imitate His goodness, not to collect earthly applause. No amount of public giving or praise-seeking will ever make us look more like Jesus. Only a heart filled with quiet humility and grace can do that. He is God, and He alone deserves the praise for everything accomplished on this earth—even the things He kindly allows us to participate in.

So, I want to leave you with a challenge over the coming weeks and months:
The next time you hear someone praising God for a sudden blessing, a financial rescue, or a answered prayer—and you know that you were the anonymous vessel God used to make it happen—be entirely willing to stand by and say absolutely nothing. Do not drop a hint. Do not take a bow. Instead, use that private moment as a beautiful opportunity to quietly praise God in your heart for His lordship, His mercy, and His faithfulness! His accolades on Judgment Day will be worth infinitely more than any temporary pat on the back man can offer you today.

May this be the song that we continuously echo through every single area of our lives: “To God be the glory, great things HE has done!”

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Search my heart today and expose any hidden motives lurking in my prayer life. Forgive me for the times I have used the phrase “so that” to mask a selfish desire with a holy excuse. Lord, I want to humble myself, seek Your face, and turn from any wicked ways of pride or self-seeking. If You choose to bless me, let me be a hidden channel of Your grace, completely content to stay in the shadows so that the spotlight shines entirely on You. Give me the strength to be a silent giver, looking only for the reward of Your approval on Judgment Day. To You alone be the glory for every great thing accomplished in my life. In the self-emptying and beautiful name of Jesus, Amen.

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!

DATE POSTED
Tuesday, June 2, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Luke 6:12-13 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Amplified Bible (AMP).

¹² Now at this time Jesus went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. ¹³ When day came, He called His disciples and selected twelve of them, whom He also named apostles.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

As we dive deeper into our prayer lives and seek to follow the personal example of Jesus, we first need to clear up a common misconception about another passage of Scripture. In Matthew 6:7-8, Jesus warns His listeners not to babble or mutter “vain repetitions” when they pray.

Without a personal relationship with Jesus, it is easy to fall into the trap of merely repeating a script. For example, many of us as parents teach our very young children a classic bedtime rhyme: “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.” It’s a sweet start for a child.

However, as we mature and accept Jesus as Lord, we are meant to grow into a living, personal, and intimate relationship with our Savior. He knows us inside and out. As we gain knowledge about Him and spend real time in His presence, our prayers should naturally shift into sharing our deepest, innermost thoughts with Him.

Look at the radical example Jesus sets for us in our focal Scripture today.

We must stop and consider: what could Jesus possibly have found to talk to the Father about for an entire night?

At some point, you have probably timed your own prayers and realized how quickly you make your requests known, say a hurried “Amen,” and move right along to the next item in your busy day. But is that how you have a conversation with a friend standing right in front of you?

Men often joke about women having the ability to talk endlessly when they get together with a friend. Of course, plenty of men do the exact same thing—and our wives certainly notice and comment on that, too! We can talk for hours with people we love, so why do we struggle to talk with God?

Breaking the “Santa Claus” Attitude

I dare say the biggest obstacle preventing us from having extended, meaningful conversations with our Heavenly Father is our “gimme” attitude. We have become so accustomed to treating Almighty God like a child treats Santa Claus. We approach His throne merely to hand over a wish list of things we can’t buy or problems we can’t solve on our own.

But we don’t treat our earthly friends that way. We don’t pull up to a friend’s house, scream a list of demands at them, and immediately drive away. We value their company, not just their help.

How do we correct this? Jesus explicitly gave us a model prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 (and again in Luke 11:2-4 when the disciples directly asked Him how to pray the right way). Right after warning them not to use mindless repetitions, He provided a beautiful, structured blueprint.

When we are persistent in prayer, it’s because we are bringing things that genuinely weigh on our hearts to God’s attention. That is completely different from vain repetition. True persistence means a concern stays on our mind until we finally receive God’s answer to our prayer, or His supernatural peace to endure it. For us to simply drop a major burden after one quick prayer and never bring it up again is a sign that other worldly matters have taken precedence.

God is never impressed by the sheer number of words we pray, but He is always moved by the sincerity of the heart praying them. Based on the model prayer Jesus left us, here are six pillars to guide your daily conversations with God:

• Honor God: Start by praising Him for who He is.
• Seek His Will: Align your desires with His kingdom purposes.
• Depend on Him Daily: Ask for your physical and spiritual needs.
• Confess and Receive Forgiveness: Keep a short account with God regarding your sins.
• Extend Forgiveness to Others: Release bitterness and malice.
• Ask for Spiritual Protection: Request His guidance to steer clear of temptation and the enemy’s traps.

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Learning to Hear His Voice

You might wonder, “I can hear my own voice when I pray, but how do I actually hear back from God?” Remember that the Bible is the living Word of God. While we speak to Him audibly or in the quietness of our hearts, we must read His Word to understand His heart. Scripture is where He has already recorded everything we need to know from Him.

He also speaks and confirms things throughout our day. Have you ever read a scripture in the morning, and then heard a sermon later that day that perfectly explained exactly what God wanted you to know? Or maybe another believer, without even knowing your private concerns, shared a biblical truth that gave you the exact answer you were looking for? God loves to confirm His voice through His people and His Word.

Where we fail in spending quality time with God is simply due to the bad habits we’ve picked up from the world. How long can you sit with a friend without feeling forced to say something, even if it’s unrelated? More importantly, how long can you sit quietly without instinctively reaching for your phone or electronic device?

Time alone with God is most enjoyed when it’s just the two of you, completely free from interruptions. Notice how even Jesus routinely left the noise behind to climb a mountain or sit in the stillness of a desolate garden before His Father.

Have you ever pulled over on a seldom-traveled country road at night? When you turn off the engine, you can suddenly hear the crickets and see the brilliance of the stars. In that stillness, there are no distractions. Imagine escaping to a quiet place like that just once a month, leaving your devices behind, simply to experience Jesus and the fullness of His presence. Oh, that we might get away from the noise of this world and just experience Jesus – His love, His deep concern for our burdens, and His encouragement for our future! I truly believe that is exactly where real revival begins in our busy, stubborn hearts.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Forgive me for the times I have treated You like a vending machine or a Santa Claus, rushing through a list of demands before running back to my busy life. Lord, I want to move past mindless repetitions and grow into a deep, intimate friendship with You. Teach me how to be still. Help me to unplug from the noise, the screens, and the distractions of this world so I can truly hear Your voice through Your Word. Thank You for being a Father who never grows tired of listening to me. I lay my heart open before You today, trusting Your perfect wisdom and desiring Your will above my own. In the beautiful, conversational name of Jesus, Amen.

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!

DATE POSTED
Monday, June 01, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read James 4:2 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Amplified Bible (AMP).

² You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your lust goes unfulfilled; so you murder. You are envious and cannot obtain [the object of your envy]; so you fight and battle. You do not have because you do not ask [it of God].

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

It sounds incredibly basic, but God doesn’t want us to overlook the foundational truths of our faith: you must actually ask Him! Think about a baby. When they want something, they cry for it, and they are fiercely persistent in their screams until their needs are met. As adults, we need a similar kind of persistence in our prayer lives, though maturity allows us to articulate exactly what we need.

Unfortunately, when human beings don’t get what they want right away, our fallen nature kicks in. The Apostle James reminds us that instead of turning to God, most people will resort to personal force to get their way. This is where murder, stealing, conniving, deceiving, and a lifelong sense of deep mistrust come from.

We expect this kind of behavior from the world. After all, those without a relationship with Christ have no fixed moral compass, nor do they respect the Creator of this universe or care about what He thinks of their actions. Sadly, this grasping, forceful attitude is most prevalent where money is at stake.

Guarding the Church from Selfish Ambition

Regrettably, even our churches are sometimes impacted by this dreadful departure from the ways of God. As long as we are here on earth and subject to the temptations of the enemy, we must remember that our human minds are weak and naturally selfish. If we aren’t careful, we can easily be tempted to step out on our own and try to force an outcome, foolishly assuming that God isn’t paying enough attention to our situation.

We all dread hearing stories of money being stolen or misappropriated at a local church, and many reading this can probably remember heartbreaking, first-hand situations where this has occurred. It all stems from the exact same root: refusing to trust God and trying to force our own hands.

I love how vividly James 4:2-3 is presented in The Message translation:

“You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way.”

When we willingly share our deepest thoughts, wishes, and desires with God, it is like running them through a divine filter. If God looks at our request and sees it as a genuine need—something that will help us accomplish His perfect will for our lives—He will make it happen in His perfect timing.

But when we bypass that filter, we start demanding things. And when our demands aren’t met, we immediately jump to “Plan B” to force the issue ourselves. That path always ends in disaster and brings consequences we never wanted to face.

Aligning Our Hearts with His

If we truly belong to God, our desires will naturally begin to align with His. We won’t want the things that He despises or sees as unfit for our Christian walk. Doing the will of God should always be our greatest ultimate desire.

Think of it like a healthy marriage: a loving spouse is constantly looking for ways to please their partner and make them happy. It should be even more natural for the heart of a believer to want to please God!

Recently, during a pre-service rehearsal and again with our praise team, I heard a song with lyrics something like: “After all You’ve done for me, I could never turn my back on You.” What a powerful sentiment. I believe it would be just as fitting for us to sing, “I could never allow sin to interfere in my relationship with You.”

If we made that our main goal this week, we would all be much more determined to honor, obey, and please God in every single thing we say and do. We would learn to truly respect His wisdom, His infinite knowledge, and His keen awareness of what should be granted to us—and what we should stay far away from! To play it safe, let’s just do exactly what He tells us to do in His Word: humbly, faithfully ask for what we need, and trust Him with the rest.

Psalm 125:1 – Those who trust in the Lord are steady as Mount Zion, unmoved by any circumstance.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Forgive me for the times I have let my selfish desires take the driver’s seat. Forgive me for jumping to “Plan B” and trying to force my own way when I felt like You weren’t moving fast enough. Lord, I want what You want for my life. I bring my requests, my hopes, and my worries to You today, intentionally running them through the filter of Your perfect will. Give me the grace to respect Your wisdom when You say “no” or “wait.” Keep my heart pure, protect my local church from the traps of the enemy, and help me to live a life that honors everything You have done for me. In the precious and holy name of Jesus, Amen.

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian Walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!

DATE POSTED
Sunday, May 31, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Matthew 7:7-8 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the New Living Translation (NLT).

⁷ “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

There is much said throughout the Bible about prayer, but at times, it can be confusing to understand why God doesn’t always seem to answer us the way we expect. On the surface, it might even look like He isn’t keeping His word in these two famous verses.

When taken out of context – isolating just these two verses – we might think this is an open-and-shut case: whatever we ask for, we get. Because of this common misunderstanding, I must beg your indulgence today as we delve into the Scriptures to fully understand the heart of God in this matter.

Often, we get our best explanations from the Bible itself, rather than relying on the varying opinions of mankind. If we read just a few verses further in Matthew 7, Jesus beautifully clarifies His point:

“Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” — Matthew 7:9-11

The Wisdom of a Loving Father

Let’s apply these verses directly to our prayer lives. If our child asked us for a loaded gun, or begged to have chocolate cake for breakfast every single day, would we freely grant that wish just because of our undying love for them? Of course not!

Imagine the Creator of this universe, who perfectly sees the past, present, and future. Will He really give us everything we demand without first considering what is truly best for us? Remember, He loves us more than any earthly father loves his child. He will not give us something that is contrary to His perfect will, or that He knows will ultimately harm our future, our health, or our spiritual growth. After all, He is a good and perfect God.

One big reason why God may seem silent is our own misconception of who He is. We often have a misguided view of the big picture. God has promised to provide for our needs, to hear our cries, and to answer our requests when He knows it is in our best interest. This is a huge reason for us to never try and tell God what to do. Sure, we can—and should—make our requests known to Him. But trying to dictate the outcome to Almighty God is like begging Him for a dingy, or any old boat to get across the pond to work each day, when it is His full intent to provide a dependable, fast, and safe speedboat!

Trusting His Big Picture

A Christian brother once shared a deeply personal story with me. He and his family begged God to let a relative survive a terrible accident so they could have more time with him. The young man did survive, and they got their extra time—but he lived as an invalid who required grueling, constant care.

It is always better for us to place our concerns before the Master and ask Him to handle them in His perfect way. He already knows what is best for us in every single circumstance of life.

I have another good friend who is blind. He will tell you himself that he has no regrets about his blindness, because God has used it to allow him to see things much deeper than any of us with perfect physical sight. Yet, so often, our very first point of prayer for a blind person is to ask God to restore their eyesight. We ask, but we are asking through the limited eyes and hearts of flesh, rather than trying to see through the heart of the God who created them.

Over the next few days, we are going to look deeper into God’s guidance regarding how and when He answers our prayers. In the meantime, spend some time prayerfully considering the requests you’ve been placing before the Father that seem to have hit a brick wall. My prayer is that our eyes will be opened to understand the heart of our God better than we ever anticipated.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Thank You for being a good, loving, and all-knowing Dad. Forgive me for the times I have treated prayer like a shopping list, or tried to tell You how to fix my problems instead of trusting Your wisdom. Thank You even for the “no’s” and the “waits” in my life, knowing that You shield me from things I cannot see. Lord, I lay my current worries and prayers at Your feet today. I ask that You handle them in Your perfect way and in Your perfect timing. Open my eyes to see Your hand at work, and give me a heart that rests contentedly in Your big picture. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian Walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!

DATE POSTED
Friday, May 29, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Revelation 21:1 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Living Bible (TLB).

4 He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever.”

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

Five Things That Won’t Be in Heaven (Part 5) – One of the most amazing facts found in the Bible is how God gave His prophets vivid insight into what will come to pass in the future. Centuries before the New Testament was written, the prophet Isaiah foretold a breathtaking promise:

“The Sovereign Lord will destroy death forever! He will wipe away the tears from everyone’s eyes and take away the disgrace his people have suffered throughout the world. The Lord himself has spoken.” — Isaiah 25:8

Fast forward to the Book of Revelation, and God tells the Apostle John the exact same thing. In Heaven, the final enemy – death – is completely eradicated.

Every single one of us has experienced the sting of death through the loss of a family member or friend. For the believer, this separation is still incredibly painful. Even though we rejoice knowing our believing relative has gone to a far better place to be with the Savior they faithfully served, we still mourn their absence. Special family get-togethers and holiday meals simply aren’t the same without them.

But for the unbeliever who passes away without ever seeing the urgency of accepting Jesus as Lord, it is eternally too late. As believers, we mourn because we know we will never see them again, and our hearts are doubly broken knowing the reality of the eternal separation they now face.

How Might This Impact Us

This heavy reality reinforces a vital point: we must be actively busy about the Lord’s work today. I believe each of our desire is to be with Jesus in Heaven, but we also want our loved ones right by our side around the throne. We know what He wants from us, and we can read about His desires for our lives clearly in Scripture, yet we are too often content to let other things take priority. It is virtually impossible for us to encourage a lost loved one to accept Jesus if they don’t see a strong indication in our own lives that we truly know and love Him. If Jesus is truly our Lord, then we must be His faithful servants—obeying His commands and following closely in His footsteps. The Apostle Paul boldly told his listeners to imitate his example. Can we honestly say that to the people we are trying to witness to?

Please understand, this isn’t about comparing yourself to your neighbor or a fellow church member. Jesus called us to be His light—His living example—in a dark and lost world. That light shines brightest and most effectively when we are faithfully reading His Word, speaking to Him in prayer every day, and faithfully attending church to be among fellow believers, as the Bible teaches.

At church, we rub shoulders with the family of God. We encourage them by sharing our victories from the past week, and we gain strength from their testimonies/victories, knowing we face similar challenges.

Whenever we miss church, we should try being radically honest in our prayers. Instead of telling God we “didn’t have time,” what if we said, “Lord, coming to worship You with Your church today was just not a priority for me”? In most cases, that is the uncomfortable truth.

To the men reading this, let me encourage you to step into the role God assigned you: be the spiritual head of your household and lead your family to church. We will be held accountable if we fail in this Christ-given responsibility. Jesus is the head of the church, and He delegated men to lead their homes in a similar fashion. Don’t disappoint Him; follow His commands.

Ready for the Glorious Day

Let me remind you: going to church will not save anyone. However, if you are truly saved, you will naturally desire to obey God’s Word, and you will want to be around His children.

As long as we live on this earth, death will eventually come to us all. Let us use the time we have left to get ready for that unexpected day and hour. Let us live in such a way that we will see our saved relatives once again, standing before the Savior who loves us, cares for us, and stands ready with open arms to receive us unto Himself.

It is a glorious thing to realize that in Heaven, the worries of this world will be gone forever. To look upon the face of Jesus—that is the greatest desire and the ultimate reward we could ever hope for. I pray with all my heart that you feel the exact same way today!

PRAYER
Thank You for the magnificent promise that a day is coming when death will be destroyed forever. Thank You for the hope of Heaven, where no graves will ever be dug and no final goodbyes will ever be said. Lord, break my heart for the lost. Shake me out of my complacency and help me to make Your work my absolute priority. Let my life be a bright, unmistakable light to my family and neighbors. Give me the humility to prioritize fellowship with Your church, and give the men reading this the courage to faithfully lead their households. I fix my eyes on the day I will see You face to face. In the holy and victorious name of Jesus, Amen.

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian Walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!

DATE POSTED
Thursday, May 28, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Jude 1:24-25 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Living Bible (TLB).

And now—all glory to Him who alone is God, who saves us through Jesus Christ our Lord; yes, splendor and majesty, all power and authority are His from the beginning; His they are and His they evermore shall be. And He is able to keep you from slipping and falling away, and to bring you, sinless and perfect, into His glorious presence with mighty shouts of everlasting joy. Amen.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

This is part 4 of a series I am writing, with God’s help, about the things we will not find in Heaven!

I have always known that Jesus is the only sinless man to ever walk the earth. And I have always been deeply reassured that when Jesus saves us from our sin, His sacrifice covers our past, present, and future mistakes/sins – because He alone is able to present us faultless before the Father. What an absolute joy it is to be reminded of this truth in the closing verses of the book of Jude:

Right from the very beginning, Satan was the one who tempted Eve to sin. Of course, he was also the one who kept Adam’s mind so engrossed in the beauty of his bride that Adam gave in to sin as well. As believers, we know that Jesus saves us from all our sin when we submit to His lordship. But have you ever wondered why even the most faithful believers still find themselves falling into sin today?

It is because we still live in a fallen world where Satan roams around, trying his best to make us doubt our salvation and the One who saved us. He constantly throws temptations into our path, trying to convince us that we have no choice but to conform to the world around us.

A Reality Beyond the Reach of Sin

Despite this daily battle, isn’t it glorious to know that one day we will be safely in the arms of Jesus? In the presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, there will be absolutely zero influence from Satan or any other brokenness to pull us away from our faith and our determination to glorify the Father endlessly.

We will stand before the One who created us in His image, loving us far beyond anything we have ever experienced from our fellow man. This is the God who prepared a place in Heaven – His very home – so that we could pass from this earth into a beautiful eternity with Him!

His love is immeasurable, unconditional, and completely inclusive. Think about the scope of His power: He created the people we honor as world leaders, presidents, kings, queens, and prime ministers. Yet, He also created the beggar on the street corner, the lonely soul dealing with illness in a nursing home, and every single person reading this devotional today. He applies His love across the board to anyone who believes in and accepts His precious Son. There are no filters on the cross; Jesus died for all who believe. Furthermore, no one has priority over you for His love and attention!

Making the 180-Degree Turn

So, what do we do with this truth today? Let me remind you that there is no way into Heaven without a personal, one-on-one conversation with God, where you accept Jesus as your personal Savior.

When you come to Him, ask Him to give you the power to leave behind the ways of this world. Ask Him for daily strength and determination to walk in His ways—the only way to Heaven. Scripture assures us that He will answer this prayer because He gives us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us as our helper, comforter, and encourager.

Choosing to follow Jesus is like making a 180-degree turn in your life:

• The Old Path: As a sinner, you are heading down a road carefully cut out by the enemy to draw you away from God.
• The New Path: As a believer, you make a complete U-turn. Empowered by the Holy Spirit within you, you determine to walk a path that imitates the life and practices of Jesus Christ, and to follow His commands left for us in His Word.

The best news of all? When you step through the gates of Heaven, the tug-of-war is over. Satan and his demons are not welcome there. The fight to draw you away from the things of God will be gone forever, and you will finally rest in perfect, uninterrupted peace.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Thank You for being the One who is able to keep me from stumbling and present me blameless before Your glorious presence with great joy! Lord, the spiritual tug-of-war in this world can feel so wearying at times. Forgive me for the moments I give in to temptation, and thank You that Your grace covers my past, present, and future. Holy Spirit, help me to live out a true 180-degree turn today towards the commands, and life of Jesus Christ. Give me the strength to reject the paths of this world and walk closely in the footsteps of Jesus. I pray urgently for those who are still walking the enemy’s path; break through their doubts and draw them into Your life-changing love today.

In the victorious name of Jesus, Amen.

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian Walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!

DATE POSTED
Wednesday, May 27, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Revelation 7:14,16 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV).

¹⁴ ….And the elder said, “These are the ones who have come out of the great suffering. They have washed their robes with the blood of the Lamb, and they are clean and white. ¹⁶ They will never be hungry again. They will never be thirsty again. The sun will not hurt them. No heat will burn them.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

Thank you for the opportunity to present Five Things That Won’t Be in Heaven (Part 3). For those who belong to Jesus Christ, Heaven is described as a place of perfect peace, healing, joy, holiness, and eternal fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is a realm completely free from suffering, sickness, fear, and death.

In our primary verses today, we get a beautiful description of the redeemed who have endured the hardships of this life:

“These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb… ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat.” — Revelation 7:14, 16

God has packed His Word with so much reassurance that points us directly to the glories of Heaven—a future completely detached from the suffering we face here on earth. Let’s look at a few powerful promises He gives us:

• No More Sickness: On earth, we seem to spend way too much time sitting in doctors’ offices, managing symptoms, and worrying about diagnoses. But look at the incredible reassurance found in Isaiah 33:24: “And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick…” Imagine a world where the word “illness” doesn’t even exist!
• No More Death, Sorrow, or Pain: Some of the heaviest, darkest times we face come through the death of a loved one, or when we are caught in the grip of intense physical or mental pain. Yet, Revelation 21:4 reminds us: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” If you need more comfort today, look up Isaiah 25:8 and Isaiah 35:10—they both promise that eternal joy will overtake us, and sorrow will flee away forever.
• Our Struggle is Only Temporary: As human beings, we can generally handle a difficult situation if we are reassured that it is only temporary. God knows this about us, so He placed that exact reassurance in His Word. 2 Corinthians 4:17 reminds us that “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” And in Revelation 21:5, Jesus declares, “Behold, I make all things new.” When I look at these scriptures, I get incredibly excited! Every single day of suffering we endure here on earth will ultimately end in perfect peace and harmony. No pain, no sorrow, and no suffering. Instead, we will enjoy eternal peace with our Maker, Protector, Friend, Savior, and Lord, joining in a beautiful, lifelong song of praise and worship to our King—the King of all kings!

A Sincere Disclosure

However, I believe that God would have me add a serious disclosure for those who are saying “No” to Jesus every day that He speaks personally to your heart. God has a lot of promises in His Word, but because you choose to say “No” to Him here on earth, He will ultimately say “No” to you regarding Heaven. In fact, the Word of God warns that He may say words that pierce the soul: “Away from me, I never knew you.” Please understand, you don’t just get to remain here on earth and continue in the normal trials that Satan sends your way. On the day of Judgment, the suffering heats up, because Hell is the only alternative for those who refuse Jesus as Savior. Crude? Yes. Truthful? Yes. Has to be this way? Absolutely not. If you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today, all the beautiful promises of Heaven will be yours as well. Any Bible-teaching pastor, or any genuine messenger of God, will gladly sit down with you, explain the truths of Scripture, and guide you into the way of eternal Life. The choice is entirely yours. What will you decide today?

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the breathtaking promise that Heaven is a place entirely free from suffering, sickness, pain, and thirst. When the troubles of this world feel heavy and my physical body grows weary, help me to anchor my soul in the truth that these afflictions are only light and momentary. Thank You for achieving for me an eternity of glory! Lord, my heart breaks for those who are still walking in darkness and saying “No” to Your grace. I pray that today would be the day they break down their defenses, surrender to Your love, and choose the path of life. Fill us with Your joy today as we look forward to that eternal song of praise around Your throne. In the powerful and saving name of Jesus, Amen.

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian Walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!

DATE POSTED
Tuesday, May 26, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Revelation 21:4 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the New International Version (NIV).

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

This is the second in a five-part series of devotionals I hope to share with you, focusing on five things that won’t be in Heaven, supported by the truth of God’s Word.

In this world, tears are a natural response to the heavy weight of sadness. So many things can trigger this emotion: the devastating loss of a loved one, the sudden illness of someone close to you (or your own health battles), deep physical or mental pain, or the crushing disappointment of seeing life turn out contrary to what you had been praying and hoping for. Think about your own journey—how often have you ever reached a stage in life where you felt completely settled, totally satisfied, and so at peace that absolutely nothing bothered you? On this side of eternity, those moments are few and far between.

But in our verse today, we are given a breathtaking glimpse through the Apostle John of how radically different things will be in the presence of Almighty God. In Heaven, the old order of things, the horror of things past, they will all be completely gone.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” — Revelation 21:4

Consider the character of the God who promises this, and whose presence will find ourselves. He is the One who created us, the One who loved us even when we were entirely unlovable, and the One who opened the doors of Heaven so that we could be with Him eternally. He did this by sending His precious Son as a sacrifice for the sins of everyone who accepts Him as Lord.

This same God will make His presence known to us, showering us with a pure love unlike anything we have ever experienced. He will gently wipe away those tears—the very ones that were once witnessed only in your most private, lonely moments—and He will replace that lingering sadness with an everlasting joy that is only possible through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! What a day that will be!

The Peace of a Parent’s Arms

Think about a small child who is crying. They don’t usually stop crying because someone explains the situation to them; they stop when they realize their parents are right by their side. The moment they are scooped up, all fear evaporates. They rest in the comforting assurance that their mom or dad is in total control of the circumstances, and they can finally be at peace in those loving arms.

That is exactly how I envision the peace we will experience in the very presence of our God.

While it is challenging to totally understand or explain this kind of peace to someone else, we know as believers that Jesus never lies. He never misguides us, and His Word explicitly promises this future reality. If it weren’t for the brokenness of sin that surrounds us here on earth, I believe we could taste that pinnacle of peace even today. But John reminds us that this absolute perfection is exactly what is being reserved at the throne of our Master for those who love Him, accept Him, and allow Him to be Lord.

An Invitation to Reflection and Action

My prayer today is that as you imagine the glory of God and begin to anticipate the joy of His presence, you will have a little talk with Him. Ask Him if there is anything standing in the way of your relationship with Him today.

To the one who has wanted nothing to do with Jesus: please realize that He is a loving God who will not force Himself on you. On Judgment Day, He will ultimately honor your choice, even if it brings tears to His eyes to see you choose an eternity separated from His goodness.

I deeply love and pray for those reading this, and my earnest desire is that you do not let your eyes close tonight without making things right between you and God. I want nothing more than for us to worship God together around His throne one day! But as Scripture tells us, there is only one way to Heaven, and that is through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. He died for you so that you might live eternally with Him and the Father.

Salvation is not automatic, but it is a free gift. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, accept Him as your Lord and Savior, and He will receive you into His eternal kingdom. That single decision will make all the difference for your eternity. It’s your choice, dear one. Choose Jesus Christ today.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Thank You for being a God who sees my private sorrows and counts every tear I shed. In a world filled with pain, disappointment, and loss, I cling to the beautiful promise that a day is coming when You will wipe away every tear from my eyes. Lord, help me to experience a taste of that perfect peace today—the peace of a child resting safely in their parent’s arms. I examine my heart before You now; if there is anything blocking my fellowship with You, I surrender it. I also pray urgently for those who do not yet know You. Break through their defenses, draw them to Your cross, and give them the courage to choose You today before time runs out. In the saving and comforting name of Jesus, Amen.

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian Walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!