DATE POSTED: Tuesday, October 13, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. Please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org to find and read all episodes shared over the years.

SCRIPTURE: Romans 8:5-8 ~ ⁵ Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. ⁶ So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. ⁷ For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. ⁸ That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

DEVOTIONAL: One of the most important questions a believer can ask is this: Who is controlling my mind and directing my life? In Romans 8:5-8, Paul contrasts a mind governed by the flesh with a mind governed by the Holy Spirit and reveals that the difference affects both our daily walk and our eternal perspective.

Jesus spoke of this same truth when He rebuked Peter in Matthew 16:23, saying, “You are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

To be carnally minded is to allow sinful desires, worldly thinking, and human reasoning to direct our attitudes, decisions, and actions rather than submitting them to God’s truth and authority. Paul warns that a mind controlled by the flesh leads to death because it is hostile toward God and unwilling to submit to Him.

The wonderful news of the Gospel, however, is that God never leaves us to conquer our carnal nature through willpower or in our own strength. Through Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit, He grants us divine power to grow and walk in His ways.

To be spiritually minded—or Spirit-filled—means allowing the Holy Spirit to influence, guide, teach, correct, and empower us daily. Rather than letting the flesh dictate how we live, we continually yield our minds and actions to God’s leadership.

Paul instructed believers in Ephesians 5:18 to “be filled with the Spirit.” This goes beyond merely having the Holy Spirit present in our lives. It speaks of yielding ourselves daily to His influence and leadership. The Holy Spirit is not merely an occasional resource for trouble; He is the living presence of God within us, actively transforming us to honor Christ.

When He reigns in our thoughts, the evidence becomes visible. As Paul notes in Galatians 5:22–23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

Why did Paul place such strong emphasis on this distinction? Because the battle for the mind remains just as real for us today as it was for the early church. The fundamental question every Christian must ask is: Who is in charge?

While each of us is responsible for stewardship over our own life, we must be diligent to discern which direction we are moving. Inwardly, in the quiet places of our heart before God, we know whether our daily walk is yielding the fruit of a Spirit-led life.

If you feel an internal tug-of-war today, remember that you have an infallible Guide. As Jesus promised in John 14:26: “…the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Take a few quiet moments today and honestly examine your heart before the Lord. What has been influencing your thoughts, attitudes, decisions, and actions lately? Do they reflect the work of the Holy Spirit or the pull of the flesh?

God has not left us without help. He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us in truth and empower us to walk in obedience. Ask Him today to reveal any area of your life that is not fully surrendered to Him and then commit yourself afresh to following His leading.

The mind governed by the Spirit leads to life and peace. Choose today to walk in that direction.

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PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving us enough to not leave us under the control of our sinful nature. Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to dwell within us, teach us, guide us, and empower us to live for Your glory.

Search our hearts today and reveal any area where we have allowed worldly thinking, selfish desires, or human reasoning to take precedence over Your truth. Help us to surrender every thought, attitude, and decision to Your authority.

Fill us afresh with Your Spirit. Produce within us the fruit that reflects the life of Christ and help us to walk in faithful obedience to Your will. May our lives point others to Jesus and bring honor to Your name. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Next Steps & Resources

• Taking a Step of Faith? If today’s devotional prompted a decision in your heart, visit the To Know Jesus page, speak with a local Bible-teaching pastor, or reach out to me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray you find help and encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Christ.
• Explore & Subscribe: Browse past devotionals or sign up for daily email updates at NuggetsFromGodsWord.org.
• Find Community: I warmly encourage you to join a local Bible-teaching church. Gathering with fellow believers is essential for growing in faith, finding encouragement, and serving others as God works through His church.

DATE POSTED: Monday, October 12, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. Please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org to find and read all episodes shared over the years.

SCRIPTURE: Romans 8:3-4 ~ ³ The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. ⁴ He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

DEVOTIONAL: It is fascinating how Apostle Paul touched on a truth that still confuses many people today – a misunderstanding that often leads to a false sense of hope.

Many people still believe that keeping the Law, or relying on good deeds, is either the way we earn God’s approval or an impossible standard that leaves us hopelessly short of heaven. When asked about their assurance of salvation and eternal life with God, we may hear responses like:

• “Well, the doors of my church hardly ever open without me being there!”
• “Did you see our church’s mission giving last year? A large chunk of that came from me. I am a faithful giver.”
• “I take a lot of personal pride in keeping the church building and grounds clean and presentable.”

If we pause and search the Scriptures, can we find anywhere that says these commendable acts are enough to forgive our sins or earn our entry into heaven?

That is why God did what the Law could never do. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take on human flesh and become the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus accomplished what no amount of religious effort or personal goodness could ever accomplish.

Friend, God lovingly provided the only way for sinners to be forgiven and reconciled to Himself. Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Eternal life is not earned through our performance. It is received through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

When we place our faith in Him, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. He changes our hearts, directs our steps, and produces in us a growing desire to obey God and serve others. Good works then become the evidence of our faith, not the basis of our salvation.

The Law is good because it exposes our sin. Good works is valuable because it demonstrates a transformed life. Yet neither can save us. Salvation belongs to Jesus Christ alone, the One who fulfilled the Law and paid the penalty for our sin.

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Take a moment to consider where you place your confidence. If someone were to ask why you believe you will spend eternity with God, would your answer focus primarily on your good deeds, religious activity, or church involvement? Or would your answer point to Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross?

James reminds us, “I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18). Good works is not the root of salvation; it is the fruit of salvation. Thank God today for the gift of faith and ask Him to help your life visibly reflect the work He has already done in your heart.

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PRAYER:Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us enough to provide the way of salvation through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You that our eternal hope is not based on our ability to keep the Law or perform enough good works, but on the finished work of Christ on the cross. Help us never to place our confidence in religious activity or human effort, but in Jesus alone. May the faith You have given us produce lives that honor You and point others to the Savior. Strengthen us through Your Holy Spirit to walk in obedience and gratitude each day. In Jesus’ precious and holy name, I pray, Amen.

Next Steps & Resources

• Taking a Step of Faith? If today’s devotional prompted a decision in your heart, visit the To Know Jesus page, speak with a local Bible-teaching pastor, or reach out to me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray you find help and encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Christ.
• Explore & Subscribe: Browse past devotionals or sign up for daily email updates at NuggetsFromGodsWord.org.
• Find Community: I warmly encourage you to join a local Bible-teaching church. Gathering with fellow believers is essential for growing in faith, finding encouragement, and serving others as God works through His church.

DATE POSTED: ^day, October ^, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. Please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org to find and read all episodes shared over the years.

SCRIPTURE: Romans 8:1-2 (NLT) ~ ¹ So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. ² And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

DEVOTIONAL: I love the helpful clarification that the New King James Version adds to verse 1: “…who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

Today, it is easy to assume that everyone instinctively understands what it means to “belong to Jesus.” However, belonging to Christ involves far more than simply agreeing with certain truths about Him. It means surrendering our lives to Him as Lord and allowing Him to transform us from the inside out.

When a person genuinely comes to Christ, there should be evidence of a changed direction. The old way of living according to the desires of the flesh is replaced by a growing desire to walk in obedience to God and under the guidance of His Spirit.

Sadly, many believers never receive the discipleship needed to fully understand what this new life in Christ means. Following Jesus requires a daily surrender of our plans, desires, and ambitions. It involves seeking God’s wisdom for our decisions and learning to depend upon the leadership of the Holy Spirit rather than relying solely upon ourselves.

What wonderful encouragement! The Christian life is not merely about trying harder to overcome sin. It is about living under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. We can walk forward with confidence, knowing that we are no longer condemned and no longer enslaved. Through Christ, we are forgiven, freed, and forever His.

While “condemnation” isn’t a word we use every day, we often see its opposite in modern culture when people say, “No judgment here!” But as believers, walking in the Spirit means more than just overlooking sin or going along with the crowd. True Christian love encourages a brother or sister to walk in the freedom and righteousness that Christ paid for. Our goal is to ensure that our own lives are led by the Spirit so that when friends or loved ones ask for advice, we can point them straight to God’s truth.

Verse 2 gives us the key to living this out: “Because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”

While we live in a world where sin is all around us, we do not have to be bound by it. We have the life-giving Holy Spirit dwelling within us! Day by day, as we depend on His power, He guides our steps toward holiness until Jesus returns to welcome us home.

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Take time today to thank God for the freedom you have in Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you surrender every area of your life to His leadership. Rather than leaning on your own understanding, intentionally seek His guidance in your decisions, attitudes, and relationships. Live today in the joy of knowing that there is no condemnation for those who belong to Jesus, and no greater privilege than following Him.

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PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible gift of salvation through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You that because of His sacrifice, I stand forgiven and free from condemnation. Help me not to merely acknowledge You as Savior, but to joyfully follow You as Lord. Teach me to submit daily to the leadership of Your Holy Spirit and to depend upon His strength rather than my own. Guide my thoughts, words, and actions so that my life reflects Your goodness and grace. May others see Christ in me as I walk in obedience to You, and may they have a growing desire to also know You. I ask these things in the precious and powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Next Steps & Resources

• Taking a Step of Faith? If today’s devotional prompted a decision in your heart, visit the To Know Jesus page, speak with a local Bible-teaching pastor, or reach out to me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray you find help and encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Christ.
• Explore & Subscribe: Browse past devotionals or sign up for daily email updates at NuggetsFromGodsWord.org.
• Find Community: I warmly encourage you to join a local Bible-teaching church. Gathering with fellow believers is essential for growing in faith, finding encouragement, and serving others as God works through His church.

DATE POSTED: Saturday, October 10, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. Please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org to find and read all episodes shared over the years.

SCRIPTURE: Romans 7:18-25 (NLT) – ¹⁸ And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. ¹⁹ I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. ²⁰ But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
²¹ I have discovered this principle of life – that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong^. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. ²³ But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. ²⁴ Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? ²⁵ Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

DEVOTIONAL: We could spend all day discussing the lives of Bible characters and the lessons God teaches through them. God’s Word never returns void. But there is also great power in sharing our own testimony of what Jesus Christ has done, and continues to do, in our lives.

That is one reason Paul’s words in today’s Scripture are so powerful. He doesn’t simply tell us what others struggle with. He opens his heart and describes the battle within himself. He wants to do what is right, yet finds himself doing the very things God hates. Most honest Christians can identify with that struggle.

Deep inside of our personal lives, let’s try and appreciate the dilemma that Paul is presenting here.

Many of us were blessed to grow up in Christian homes where we learned right from wrong and saw faith lived out before us. Yet it didn’t take long to discover that not everyone lived by those standards. At school, in our neighborhoods, and later in the workplace, we encountered people who seemed to prosper and often became influential, but their choices often seemed very inconsistent with God’s Word.

But Paul takes us deeper than the influences around us. The greatest battle is not merely around us. It is also within us.

Paul loved God’s law and desired to please God. Yet he honestly confessed that another power was at work within him. He knew what was right, wanted to do what was right, and still struggled with sin. Is it any wonder he cried out, “Oh, what a miserable person I am!”

Doesn’t that sound familiar?

No matter how long we have known Christ or how faithfully we serve Him, we are not immune to temptation. We have all said things we regret, made wrong choices, or entertained thoughts that did not honor the Lord.

But thank God Paul doesn’t leave us there.

His answer is immediate: “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

That is our answer as well.

Our hope is not that we will someday become strong enough to conquer sin through our own determination. Our hope is Jesus Christ. When we fall, He restores us. When temptation comes, He is our strength. Jesus is not only the source of our salvation; He is the daily strength for our sanctification.

So when the battle becomes discouraging, don’t give up. Don’t allow Satan to convince you that your struggle means God is finished with you. Instead, join Paul in looking away from yourself and toward Jesus.

“Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

That was Paul’s answer, and dear friends, He is still our answer today.

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Perhaps today you are disappointed in yourself because you have failed in an area where you genuinely wanted to honor God. Don’t remain buried beneath that disappointment. Take your failure to Jesus, confess it, and ask Him for the strength to walk differently today.

Thank God for the sacrifice of His Son, who came to save us from our sin and make the way for us to spend eternity with Him. As believers, may our desire continually be to live in obedience to His Word.

The struggle with sin is real, but praise God, Jesus Christ is greater! Let us keep our eyes fixed on Him.

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PRAYER: Father, thank You for allowing us to see through Paul’s honesty that we are not alone in our struggles with sin. We confess that there are times when we know what is right, yet we fail to do it. There are times when our words, thoughts, attitudes, and actions fall far short of what You desire for Your children.

Lord, please forgive us. Help us never to become comfortable with sin, but neither let us become so discouraged by our failures that we forget the victory found in Jesus Christ.

Thank You for sending Your precious Son to bear our sin and provide the only way for us to be reconciled to You. When temptation comes, strengthen us. When we fall, draw us back to Yourself. When the world tries to entice us away from You, remind us that nothing it offers can compare with knowing Jesus as Savior and Lord.

May our hearts increasingly desire what pleases You, and may our lives reflect the One to whom we belong. We agree with Paul today: Thank God, the answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord!

In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Next Steps & Resources

• Taking a Step of Faith? If today’s devotional prompted a decision in your heart, visit the To Know Jesus page, speak with a local Bible-teaching pastor, or reach out to me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray you find help and encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Christ.
• Explore & Subscribe: Browse past devotionals or sign up for daily email updates at NuggetsFromGodsWord.org.
• Find Community: I warmly encourage you to join a local Bible-teaching church. Gathering with fellow believers is essential for growing in faith, finding encouragement, and serving others as God works through His church.

DATE POSTED: Wednesday, October 7, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. Please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org to find and read all episodes shared over the years.

SCRIPTURE: Romans 7:14-17 – ¹⁴ So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. ¹⁶ But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

DEVOTIONAL: In several translations of the Bible, the Apostle Paul describes himself as “carnal” or “all too human.” Because of this, some readers might wonder if he is describing the life of an unbeliever. But this passage serves as a vital reminder for every believer: accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior does not mean our struggle with sinful desires instantly disappears.

As believers, the Holy Spirit lives within us. He guides us, directs us, warns us of sin, and convicts us when we disobey God. Although the blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin, our sin still grieves the Holy Spirit and hinders the closeness of our fellowship with God. When we knowingly sin, it demonstrates not only our human weakness, but also our stubbornness in resisting the voice and direction of the Holy Spirit within us.

Perhaps this is why Paul’s words in verses 15–16 are so easy for many of us to understand: I know what is right. I want to do what is right. So why don’t I always do it? Why do I sometimes find myself doing the very thing I know is wrong?

What an honest description of the struggle that takes place within us!

Paul was not trying to excuse his sin or deny personal responsibility for it. Rather, he recognized the terrible power of sin that continued to wage war within him. There was a struggle between his desire to obey God and the sinful flesh that still wanted its own way. I believe every honest Christian knows something about that struggle.

The very fact that sin troubles us should cause us to examine what is happening in our hearts. We should never become comfortable with that which God calls sin. Instead, conviction should lead us back to God in confession and repentance.

My prayer is that we will grow stronger in our walk with Jesus each day. Through daily communion with Him, we become spiritually robust and deeply committed to His revealed Word. As we draw near to Him, our hearts become sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s voice, igniting a desire for a fuller, richer obedience—resulting in more of Jesus and less of self.

Jesus is the ultimate answer to our sin problem. Oh, that we would yield daily to His call of repentance, grace, and obedience!

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE: “Draw close to God and He will draw close to you.” (James 4:8)

As I share in our Nuggets From God’s Word Bible Study at Mariposa Apartments, keep these three spiritual pillars priority in your daily walk:

1. Daily in the Word — Feeding your heart on Scripture.
2. Daily in Conversation with God — Maintaining open, continuous prayer.
3. Regular Fellowship — Worshiping and gathering faithfully with other believers.

When these habits become priorities in your life, the pull and allure of worldly desires will naturally begin to fade. Draw Me Close To You, Heavenly Father!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit who convicts, guides, and comforts us. Forgive us for the times we have been stubborn and ignored Your gentle voice. Wash us clean and restore to us the joy of sweet fellowship with You. Strengthen our hearts each day through Your Word, through prayer, and through assembling with fellow believers. Teach us to yield to Your Spirit so that our lives reflect more of Jesus and less of our old sinful nature. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Next Steps & Resources

• Taking a Step of Faith? If today’s devotional prompted a decision in your heart, visit the To Know Jesus page, speak with a local Bible-teaching pastor, or reach out to me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray you find help and encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Christ.
• Explore & Subscribe: Browse past devotionals or sign up for daily email updates at NuggetsFromGodsWord.org.
• Find Community: I warmly encourage you to join a local Bible-teaching church. Gathering with fellow believers is essential for growing in faith, finding encouragement, and serving others as God works through His church.

DATE POSTED: Tuesday, October 6, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. Please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org to find and read all episodes shared over the years.

SCRIPTURE: Romans 7:11-13 – ¹¹ Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. ¹² But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good. ¹³ But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.

DEVOTIONAL: Why is it often so challenging for us to leave sin behind? To stir your thoughts, consider a few subtle traps:

• Sin falsely promises satisfaction – offering temporary pleasure that leaves us spiritually empty.
• Sin falsely offers an adequate excuse – convincing us that our circumstances justify our actions.
• Sin falsely promises an escape from consequences – whispering that no one will notice or care.

In Romans 7, Paul pulls back the curtain on this deception. He reminds us that sin is a master deceiver. It takes what God meant for good and attempts to turn it against us. Satan delights in convincing us that God wants to deprive us of the “good” things in life. But that is a lie. God’s law is “holy,” and His commandments are “holy and right and good.” The problem is not God’s Word—the problem is how sin twists what is good to lead us away from the Life-Giver.

Isn’t that still one of Satan’s great lies today?

From the beginning, Satan has tried to convince mankind that God is withholding something desirable from us. His deception suggests that obedience will deprive us of something good, while disobedience will provide the satisfaction we are seeking. Yet God’s Word shows us just the opposite. Sin promises life but ultimately produces death.

And still, our gracious God calls us back to Himself!

God does not give His commands because He wants to rob us of life’s pleasures. He gives them because He created us, loves us, and knows what is best for us. And when our sin separated us from Him, the Father demonstrated the depth of His love by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to provide the way for sinners like you and me to be reconciled to Him. What an awesome God!

Paul therefore makes it clear that we cannot blame God’s law for our sinful condition. Instead, God’s commands help expose the condition of our hearts. They cause us to look inward and recognize just how far we have wandered from God’s direction.

That’s not always easy, is it?

It’s much easier to blame someone else, our circumstances, our upbringing, the pressures we’re under, or even the devil. We’ve probably all heard someone jokingly say, “The devil made me do it!” But ultimately, each of us must come before God and acknowledge our own sin.

Perhaps this would be a good time to ask ourselves: What excuses am I using today?

What have I allowed to stand between me and wholehearted trust in Jesus Christ? Is there something I know God has spoken about in His Word, yet I continue trying to justify doing things my own way?

Remember, sin deceives. It makes wrong appear right, harmful things appear harmless, and temporary pleasure seem more important than eternal consequences. But God’s Word lovingly exposes the lie.

Perhaps there’s something you’ve been holding tightly today. A habit. An attitude. Pride. Unforgiveness. Self-reliance. A desire to control your own future. Whatever it might be, why not place it before the Lord?

The wonderful news is that we don’t come before an angry God who delights in condemning us. We come before the God who loved us enough to give His Son for us. He already knows where we have failed. He knows the condition of our hearts. Yet He lovingly calls us to turn from sin and come to Him.

Don’t wait until you’ve “cleaned yourself up.” Come to Him now. Surrender yourself completely to the One who knows you, loves you, and desires that you walk closely with Him.

Sin will deceive you, but God’s Word will reveal the truth. Sin will lead you away from God, but Jesus Christ calls you home.

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Take a few quiet moments today and ask God to reveal anything you have allowed to come between you and wholehearted trust in Jesus Christ.

Are you making excuses for something God’s Word has already addressed? Have other priorities been given first place in your life? Are you still holding tightly to the reins, insisting on determining your own direction?

If so, release them.

Place the reins of your life squarely into the hands of Jesus. Don’t wait until you believe you’ve made yourself worthy of Him. Come just as you are, confess your need, and allow Him to begin changing what needs to be changed.

The safest place for your life is in the hands of the One who created you, loves you, died for you, and will never deceive you.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You that Your Word is holy, righteous, and good. Please forgive me for the times I have allowed sin to deceive me into believing that my way is better than Yours. Search my heart and reveal anything I have tried to excuse, justify, or hold back from You. Help me recognize sin for what it truly is and trust that Your commands are given from a heart of perfect love. Lord Jesus, I surrender the reins of my life to You. Guide my thoughts, my choices, and my steps so that my life may bring honor and glory to You. Thank You for loving me, forgiving me, and continually calling me back into fellowship with You. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Next Steps & Resources

• Taking a Step of Faith? If today’s devotional prompted a decision in your heart, visit the To Know Jesus page, speak with a local Bible-teaching pastor, or reach out to me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray you find help and encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Christ.
• Explore & Subscribe: Browse past devotionals or sign up for daily email updates at NuggetsFromGodsWord.org.
• Find Community: I warmly encourage you to join a local Bible-teaching church. Gathering with fellow believers is essential for growing in faith, finding encouragement, and serving others as God works through His church.

DATE POSTED: Saturday, October 3, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. Please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org to find and read all episodes shared over the years.

DEVOTIONAL: Imagine driving down an open highway, feeling relaxed and moving at whatever speed feels comfortable. There seems to be no restriction—until suddenly, you pass a posted speed limit sign. In an instant, you realize you were speeding. The sign didn’t make you a speeder, but it clearly exposed that you were breaking the law.

That speed limit sign operates much like the Law of Moses that Paul describes in Romans 7. God’s Law acts as a moral spotlight. It opens our eyes to covetousness, pride, and the many subtle ways we fall short of His holy standards every day. Standing before the mirror of God’s Law, we quickly realize we cannot measure up on our own strength, leaving us burdened down and without hope in ourselves.

Praise God, that is not where the story ends! God knew our sinful condition, and in His great love He did for us what we could never do for ourselves. He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to save sinners. God’s law exposes our need; Jesus provides the answer to that need.

Sin cannot exist in the presence of a holy, righteous God, which means left on our own, we face eternal separation from Him.

Yet salvation requires a personal, deliberate decision. John 3:16 reminds us that whosoever believes in Jesus will not perish but have everlasting life. Salvation isn’t inherited from godly parents, nor can anyone else make the choice for you. It requires a personal commitment to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, turn away from sin and place your trust entirely in Christ.

And please don’t make the mistake of waiting until you feel you’re good enough to approach God. If becoming good enough were possible, we wouldn’t need a Savior! We come to Christ precisely because we aren’t good enough. We confess our sin and trust the One who died and rose again to save us.

What a difference there is between having God’s law reveal our guilt and having Jesus forgive that guilt!

The law says,“Here is your sin.”

Jesus says,“Come to Me.”

Dear friends, there is no greater gift than salvation, no greater assurance than knowing that we belong to Christ, and no greater hope than knowing that eternal life is ours through Him.

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE: If nothing else has touched your heart in today’s devotional, I pray that it would be the fact that sin cannot enter heaven. The Law cannot save you; it only reveals your need for a Savior. Only Jesus saves. Salvation requires a personal step of faith—believing on the Lord Jesus Christ to cleanse your heart and fit you for heaven.

I know Jesus as my Savior, and I have the blessed assurance that eternity with Him awaits me. Dear reader, my heart’s desire and prayer is that you will know Him personally and have that same assurance.

The law reveals our need for a Savior. Jesus is that Savior!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for Your Word and for Your law that reveals the sin in my heart and shows me how desperately I need You. Thank You that You didn’t leave me condemned and without hope, but sent Your one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to do for me what I could never do for myself. Lord Jesus, thank You for bearing the penalty for my sin and offering me forgiveness and eternal life. For anyone reading this who has never placed their faith in You, I pray that today they would recognize their need, turn to You, believe in You, and receive the precious gift of salvation. And for those of us who already know You as Savior, may the realization of what You saved us from, cause us to love You more deeply and live each day in gratitude for Your amazing grace.  In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Next Steps & Resources

• Taking a Step of Faith? If today’s devotional prompted a decision in your heart, visit the To Know Jesus page, speak with a local Bible-teaching pastor, or reach out to me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray you find help and encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Christ.
• Explore & Subscribe: Browse past devotionals or sign up for daily email updates at NuggetsFromGodsWord.org.
• Find Community: I warmly encourage you to join a local Bible-teaching church. Gathering with fellow believers is essential for growing in faith, finding encouragement, and serving others as God works through His church.

DATE POSTED: Thursday, October 1, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. Please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org to find and read all episodes shared over the years.

SCRIPTURE: Romans 7: 4-6 (NLT) – ⁴ So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God. ⁵ When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. ⁶ But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

DEVOTIONAL: Back in chapter 6, Paul explained how believers in Jesus Christ are freed from the power of sin. Here in chapter 7, he goes a step further to explain how we are also freed from the burden of the law.

Before we rejoice over being free from obeying the laws of our land, let me quickly clarify! Paul is not giving Christians permission to ignore governmental laws, nor is he suggesting that God’s law is somehow bad. Rather, Paul is teaching that we cannot make ourselves right with God by keeping a set of laws or religious rules. Our salvation does not depend on how successful we are at checking all the right religious boxes. It depends entirely upon what Jesus Christ has done for us.

When you examine your daily spiritual life, what drives the things you feel obligated to do? If you are carrying heavy spiritual expectations that have no biblical foundation and bring no genuine fruit to the Kingdom of God, you may be bound to man-made traditions rather than walking in the freedom of Christ.

Now, this is certainly not an invitation to ignore instruction from your pastor or church elders. Rather, it is an encouraging call to anchor your faith directly in the truth of God’s Word. As Paul later reminds us in Romans 8, nothing can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. If nothing can separate us from His love, then man-made religious pressures should never stand between us and the rich, unconditional grace God poured out when He gave His Son as our substitute.

Notice the beautiful contrast Paul sets up: verse 5 reminds us of our former lives under the law, where performance only exposed our sin and produced spiritual death. But verse 6 brings the ultimate good news—we are released from that captivity! We no longer serve God out of fear or rigid obligation, but out of a joyful, Spirit-led relationship with the resurrected Christ.

Even on days when life feels heavy and stressful, we can join the angels in heaven rejoicing over the glorious future God has prepared for us. All glory and praise belong to the only true and living God!

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Take time today to evaluate your walk with God. Are you serving Him out of love and gratitude, or out of religious obligation? If you have not yet placed your faith in Jesus Christ, know that He offers you freedom, rest, and a peace that surpasses all understanding. You don’t have to clean yourself up or fulfill a list of rules to come to Him. If you want to know more about beginning a real relationship with Jesus, please reach out to a local Bible-teaching pastor, a trusted Christian friend, or message me directly—we would love to introduce you to Him!

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PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You that my salvation does not depend upon my ability to perfectly keep Your law, but upon the finished work of Jesus Christ. Thank You for sending Your Son to do for me what I could never do for myself. Please help me never to use Your grace as an excuse for careless living, but instead empower me through Your Holy Spirit to live a life that bears fruit for Your glory. And Lord, for the one reading this who has never trusted Jesus as Savior, please open their heart to understand and receive Your wonderful gift of salvation today.  In Jesus’ precious name, 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. For my earlier devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional. 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, September 30, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. Please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org to find and read all episodes shared over the years.

SCRIPTURE: Romans 7:1-3 (NLT) – Now, dear brothers and sisters – you who are familiar with the law— don’t you know that the law applies only while a person is living? For example, when a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive. But if he dies, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her. So while her husband is alive, she would be committing adultery if she married another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law and does not commit adultery when she remarries.

DEVOTIONAL: Having studied Paul’s teaching concerning sin, grace, and the law, we now find him helping those who were very familiar with the law of Moses understand an important truth. The law had served its God-given purpose, but it could never provide the salvation that sinful mankind desperately needed. Only Jesus Christ could do that.
Paul uses marriage to illustrate his point. A husband and wife are bound together in marriage as long as both are living. However, when one dies, the surviving spouse is released from that marriage covenant and is free to marry another. Death has changed the relationship.

In the verses immediately following today’s Scripture, Paul applies this illustration to the believer. Through our identification with the death of Christ, we have died to the law as the means by which we attempt to become right with God. We now belong to Christ. What an important distinction! We are not saved by how well we keep religious rules; we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ and what He accomplished for us on the cross.

While it may be easy for us to look back at the Jews of Paul’s day and wonder why some found it so difficult to loosen their grip on the law, perhaps we should pause and examine our own hearts. Could we possibly be guilty of doing something similar today?

Do you find it easier to follow the rules and traditions of your church and its leaders, or are you committed first and foremost to following the teachings of God’s Word? Churches, pastors, teachers, and denominations can be tremendous instruments in God’s hands, but none should ever take the place that belongs to Christ alone.

Please don’t misunderstand me. God’s Word teaches us how His children should live. Grace is certainly not permission to disregard God’s commands or live however we please. Rather, obedience should flow from a heart that has already been changed by Christ, not from an effort to earn salvation or God’s favor.

You may have been saved in a church, but you were not saved by the church. You may have learned about Jesus from a preacher, teacher, or Christian friend, but none of them could save you. Only Jesus can do that.

Without the Word of God, a church risks becoming little more than a gathering of like-minded people. Without Christ, even our most sincere religious efforts cannot make us right with God. Paul wanted his readers to understand that their hope was no longer found in their ability to keep the law. Their hope was found in Christ alone.

Friend, could it be that you have become more attached to a denomination, a church tradition, or a list of religious expectations than you are to Jesus Himself? There is nothing wrong with godly traditions that agree with Scripture, but they should never become a substitute for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ or take precedence over the authority of His Word.

Therefore, please allow me to invite you to examine your heart today. Don’t place your hope in religion, church membership, good works, or your ability to follow the rules. Place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, because you belong to Him, allow His Word and His Spirit to guide the way you live.

Churches may point us to Christ, but only Christ can save us. God’s Word may reveal our sin, but only Jesus can make us right with God.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Ask yourself honestly: Am I following Jesus Christ, or am I simply following the religious practices with which I have become comfortable? Choose Christ above tradition, His Word above human opinion, and obedience that flows from love rather than an attempt to earn God’s favor.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for Your Word and for revealing to me that I could never make myself right with You through good works or religious observance. Thank You for Jesus, who accomplished for me what I could never accomplish for myself. Please search my heart and reveal anything I have allowed to become more important than Christ or the truth of Your Word. Help me to appreciate the church and those You have placed in my life to teach and encourage me, while always remembering that my salvation and my hope are found in Jesus alone. May my obedience flow from a heart of love and gratitude for all You have done for me. In Jesus’ precious name, 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. For my earlier devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional. 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, September 9, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. Please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org to find and read all episodes shared over the years.

SCRIPTURE: Romans 6:19-23 (NLT) –.¹⁹ Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy. ²⁰ When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. ²¹ And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. ²² But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

DEVOTIONAL: Paul often followed Jesus’ teaching method by using everyday illustrations his audience could easily understand. Because slavery was deeply familiar in first-century Rome, Paul used it to explain a profound spiritual reality: our allegiance to, and the one to whom we commit to serve, determines our destiny.

Although Paul recognized the limitations of using human terms to describe heavenly truths, he was eager to become “all things to all men” to reach hearts with the Gospel. His imagery makes one reality crystal clear: if we expect different results in life, we must serve a different Master.

In verse 19, Paul contrasts who we were with who we are now in Christ. Imagine leaving one employer and going to work for another yet continuing to show up every morning at your old workplace! Why would you continue taking instructions from your old boss when you no longer work for him?

Jesus has freed us from the power of sin, yet there are times when we wander back to the old workplace and begin taking instructions from our old boss. Old habits call. Old attitudes return. Old desires try to regain our attention. And before we realize it, we may find ourselves behaving as though nothing has changed.

But everything has changed!

Paul reminds us that our old way of life produced things of which we are now ashamed, and ultimately that road leads to death. But serving God produces an entirely different result. As we surrender ourselves to Him, He leads us in righteousness and holiness, and the end result is eternal life.

What a difference our new Master makes!

Paul had already addressed the dangerous idea that God’s grace somehow gives Christians permission to keep on sinning. Absolutely not! Grace isn’t permission to return to our old master. Through Christ, we have been set free from sin so that we might now live for God.

That doesn’t mean Christians will never stumble or sin. But it does mean that sin is no longer our rightful master.

So perhaps the question for us today is not simply, “Am I doing something wrong?” Maybe the better question is, “Whose instructions am I following?”

When bitterness tells me how to respond, am I listening to the old boss?

When pride tells me that I must have my own way, am I reporting back to the old workplace?

When temptation calls me to something that doesn’t honor God, have I forgotten who my Master is?

On the other hand, when God prompts me to forgive, love, serve, obey, and pursue righteousness, am I willing to follow His instructions?

Child of God, we have changed employers! Let’s stop reporting for duty at the old workplace. Let’s surrender ourselves completely to the One who purchased our freedom and gave us new life.

Our old master paid wages, and those wages were death. But our new Master offers something we could never earn: the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Now that’s a benefit package that is out of this world!

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TODAY’S CHALLENGE: As you examine your heart today, and every day, honestly consider your thoughts, attitudes, intentions, actions, and words.

Who has been influencing them?

Do they look like instructions coming from your old boss? Or is there growing evidence that you are listening to, respecting, and obeying your new Master?

Let’s remember whose we are, and let’s live like we belong to Him!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for setting me free from the power of sin through Jesus Christ. Forgive me for those times when I return to old habits, old attitudes, and old ways of thinking, as though my old master still has authority over me. Please help me remember that I belong to You. Guide my thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions so that my life reflects Your righteousness and brings glory to Your name. Thank You that eternal life is not something I could ever earn, but a precious gift You have given me through Jesus Christ my Lord. May I live today like someone who truly belongs to You.  In Jesus’ name, 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. For my earlier devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional. 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!