Scripture: Ezra 9 – 10.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Ezra 9:6-7 (NLT)

6 I prayed, “O my God, I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you. For our sins are piled higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached to the heavens. 7 From the days of our ancestors until now, we have been steeped in sin. That is why we and our kings and our priests have been at the mercy of the pagan kings of the land. We have been killed, captured, robbed, and disgraced, just as we are today.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Ezra was so overwhelmed in his heart and in his mind about all the sin that he saw all around him, that he tore his clothes and pulled his hair and beard. He found it critical to get before God Almighty to seek His forgiveness for him and his people. As Christians today, we can look around us and see two things to consider: 1) Do nothing but join in the fun and worldly acceptance of all that is going on around us or 2) Be so burdened for those around us that we come before the Almighty God and pray like Ezra did, for forgiveness for ourselves and for those that we come into contact with and the rest of the world around us that just ignore God and His commands. We see the effects of sin every day, we are affected by the effects of sin so it is time that we rise and shine to not only give God the glory for His wonderful and thankful acts of mercy, but to thank Him for being so patient with us and giving us another day of opportunity to share His love with an unsaved person. In Ezra’s case he chose to do what he could to plead before the only One that could make a difference. I feel like it is time for myself and other believers to let our lights shine and to get before the King and plead for forgiveness for, and protection from the rampant sin that is so evident all around us.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, You are Holy and You are just. How this wicked world must stink to high heavens in Your nostrils. Oh how You must mourn to see how lax Your children, who are called by Your name, who have acknowledged You as King of their lives, have become. It seems like we have accepted, or are prepared to overlook the sin of this world. Please forgive me for not being bolder in my Christian walk, and not presenting these sins before You in constant prayer and from a concerned heart. Lord, may this be a day that I might humble myself before You, seek Your holy and loving face, turn away from my sin and allow You to truly have Your will and way in my life. I want to be like You in every way dear Father, and I have such a long way to go. Please fill me with Your love today and a true desire to see this world live as You taught us to.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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Scripture: Ezra 7.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Ezra 7:6-10 (NLT)

6 This Ezra was a scribe who was well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given to the people of Israel. He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the Lord his God was on him.

7 Some of the people of Israel, as well as some of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple servants, traveled up to Jerusalem with him in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes’ reign.

8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in August of that year. 9 He had arranged to leave Babylon on April 8, the first day of the new year, and he arrived at Jerusalem on August 4, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. 10 This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Ezra demonstrates how a gifted Bible teacher can move God’s people forward. He was effective because he was a well-versed student of the law of the Lord and because he was determined to obey those laws. He taught through both his speaking and his example. Like Ezra, we should determine both to study and to obey God’s Word. I don’t believe that there is anything more effective than an obedient teacher/leader/pastor and/or followers. Too often I believe that we shrug off the truths of the Word by saying that it applied to a people and time way back when. As I read God’s Word I can see where the same truths that applied back in the day of Ezra and other prophets, still apply today. In verse 10, just as Ezra was so determined to study, obey and teach the Law of the Lord, I believe that church leaders, teachers and pastors should do the same today and I believe that this will result in a revival where God’s hand will be busy at work in and through His people so that the lost of our towns can be influenced for, and won to Christ. God must find worthy vessels through whom He can work.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, I believe that this passage speaks directly to me, my church and the people of the community in which I live. We must stop playing church, and become a people who not only opens Your Word and preaches or teaches from the highlights, but who truly studies the Word in detail and obeys it. I believe that You will then find us worthy of carrying Your Word out to a lost and dying world. Please begin this revival in me today, and please touch the other leaders in the church so that we may be more committed to the real purpose of Your church. Our city is lost and in need of our Savior, may we be found worthy of carrying the Word out to them and seeing them won to the Lord.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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Scripture: 2 Chronicles 34.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

2 Chronicles 34:1-5 (NLT)

1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. 2 He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.

3 During the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. Then in the twelfth year he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem, destroying all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles, and the carved idols and cast images. 4 He ordered that the altars of Baal be demolished and that the incense altars which stood above them be broken down. He also made sure that the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images were smashed and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5 He burned the bones of the pagan priests on their own altars, and so he purified Judah and Jerusalem.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

I have read so much about how various kings came to power, one not following the will of God, but the next one being pleasing in God’s sight. I found it very interesting in these verses how young King Josiah was destined in his heart to do what was pleasing in God’s sight, and he found it necessary to ‘purify the cities‘. It seems like our world has become so evil anymore that something would have to happen to see some surrender their hearts to God. I believe that Josiah got it right, for I believe that if we expect to impact this world for Christ, we must purify ourselves, then purify our churches, our city, our state and our country. My interpretation of this is that we need to rid ourselves of anything that gets in the way or distracts our worship of God and/or service to God. In each of our lives this will be different as to the idols, images, shrines, or Asherah poles that stand in the way of us being pure before our holy and just God. I believe that as we pray to Him and ask for Him to direct us, He will show us those things that have gotten in the way. I believe that deep down inside we know those things that have wrongly taken priority over our efforts to serve God with all that we have and all that we are and with all that we should be for Him. Sometimes our hearts become so hardened, and our eyes so fixed on the wrongs that others are doing that we find it difficult to concentrate on our own weaknesses. We know what to do to draw close to God, I believe that it is time for us to tear down the obstacles, seek God’s face, totally surrender ourselves to Him and allow Him to purify us so that we may be of service to Him and have a bigger impact on those that we come into contact with.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, I’m sure that You must look at us and shake Your head in despair at how stubborn we are, how selfish we are, how self-righteous we are and how easy it is for us to see the fault in others, in spite of the ‘board’ in our own eyes and lives. Please forgive me for not seeking Your face more to purify my own life so that I could be closer aligned to Your will, Your character and Your desire for my life. I am reminded of a song, “I want to be just like you”, and even though the song refers to a son wanting to be more like his dad, I want to be more like You each and every day, and to do this there is much cleansing that must go on in my life. Please give me a daily desire to be “Just like You” in all that I do and say and in the way that I act in the presence of others.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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Scripture: 2 Chronicles 32.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

2 Chronicles 32:17-21 (NLT)

17 The king also sent letters scorning the Lord, the God of Israel. He wrote, “Just as the gods of all the other nations failed to rescue their people from my power, so the God of Hezekiah will also fail.”

18 The Assyrian officials who brought the letters shouted this in Hebrew to the people gathered on the walls of the city, trying to terrify them so it would be easier to capture the city.

19 These officers talked about the God of Jerusalem as though he were one of the pagan gods, made by human hands.

20
Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to God in heaven.

21 And the Lord sent an angel who destroyed the Assyrian army with all its commanders and officers. So Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace to his own land. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him there with a sword.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

It was refreshing to read this passage, particularly the verses that I bolded, and be reminded that regardless of the circumstances; regardless of the overwhelming odds; regardless of what the people might be saying; regardless of the threats from the enemy; when we place our faith and trust in the Almighty God, and when we look to Him for His protection, and when we show true, sincere, unadulterated, faith in Him for our needs, He will see us through. King Hezekiah had done a lot to humanly prepare and possibly prevent king Sennacherib from just walking into Jerusalem and overtaking his people, but when it came time for this wicked king to actually make the move, King Hezekiah pulled his friend, prophet Isaiah in along with him and they got before the throne of God in prayer. Friends, this is the same God that I serve today, and if you have accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, you can claim Him as your protector and Lord today also. To those that may not have the assurance of my Savior as your King, please allow me to remind you that He came so that ALL might know Him, accept Him and be saved. It’s a simple matter of totally surrendering your life to Him today. If you would like to have that assurance today and would like some help or direction in accepting Jesus as Lord of your life, please use the email link at the foot of this devotional to drop me a note, and I will gladly get in touch with you. God loves you as much as he did Hezekiah and his people. Please allow this awesome God to manifest Himself in your life today!

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, what an awesome reminder today! There is so much going on all around us today, and much of this often makes us overwhelmed as we have no control or power over the things of this world. Thank You for reminding us that help is as close as a bent knee and a sincere prayer offered up to the Master of this universe, our Savior, our Lord, our Redeemer, our King. What an awesome God that we serve today and every day!

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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Scripture: 2 Chronicles 30.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

2 Chronicles 30:6-8 (NLT)

6 At the king’s command, runners were sent throughout Israel and Judah. They carried letters that said: “O people of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he will return to the few of us who have survived the conquest of the Assyrian kings.

7 Do not be like your ancestors and relatives who abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and became an object of derision, as you yourselves can see.

8 Do not be stubborn, as they were, but submit yourselves to the Lord. Come to his Temple, which he has set apart as holy forever. Worship the Lord your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

King Hezekiah had such a concern for his people and their spiritual condition that he prepared the temple and the occasion, then he sent runners out with personal invitations to the people to join him in worship so the Lord God would return to them. How badly do we want to see our family, neighbors and friends in church? I believe that my church, my neighborhood, my city, my state and my country needs to return to the Lord. The Bible says that as we draw nigh to God, He will draw nigh to us. Hezekiah warned that the people not become an object of derision (horror) but to submit themselves to God. To submit means to obey Him first, yielding our bodies, minds, wills, and emotions to Him. His Holy Spirit must guide and renew every part of us. Only then will we be able to temper our stubborn selfishness. Friends, it is time that we place our priorities in order. It is time that we place God first in our lives and to have such a strong desire to see our relatives and friends surrender their lives to Christ, that we would be willing to run a marathon to encourage them, witness to them, show them that we care about their eternal destination and their current relationship with the Lord. If we (God’s people) would humble ourselves, draw near to Him, be more like Him, then our hearts and our minds will become like Him and we will have a natural desire to see others come to Him. I believe that we want to see God’s anger held at bay, but in our world of instant commands we would rather not have to do the personal bit. God wants us in totality and without side distractions. Revival of Christians must come before we could expect the unsaved to see the Light and turn to Him

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, I believe that You have placed Your Word in my path this morning so that I may see the error of my ways and understand what is needed in my life so that I may draw closer to You, more committed to You, and that I will not be a stumbling block to Your work in the lives of those that I hold dear. Please forgive me where I have been selfish and uncommitted. Please give me the wisdom and personal desire to place You first in my life and obedient to Your commands so that You may have freedom to work in and through me.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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Scripture: 2 Chronicles 5-6.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

2 Chronicles 26:5 (NLT)

5 Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God. And as long as the king sought guidance from the Lord, God gave him success.

2 Chronicles 27:6 (NLT)

6 King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

There are so many cases in the Bible where we read about God being so intimately involved and allowing His mighty hand to work powerfully in the life of an individual. In these two verses I noticed that King Uzziah was successful as long as he kept his eyes on God and respectfully feared Him. It wasn’t until he became cocky and took the view that it was his power and wisdom that brought him success, that he began to fail. This was so disappointing to God that He struck Uzziah with leprosy and caused him to be placed in isolation. Lesson #1: When we realize that God is no longer effective in our lives, or that we have become powerless or ineffective in our witness, let’s look deep inside and allow God’s Holy Spirit to reveal to us the error of our way – the sin that separates us from God.
In the case of Uzziah’s son King Jotham, it appears like he learnt from his father’s error, for he lived in obedience to God and he became a very powerful King. Lesson #2: Obedience – consistent obedience to God brings the blessings of God and subsequent success in our efforts to follow Christ and live in His ways. We can see from previous chapters that often sons inherited the throne of their fathers and they personally chose their fate by whether they would follow in the way of their obedient dad, or follow their own evil ways. Jotham learned from his dad’s mistakes and chose to follow God persistently in in total obedience to Him.
Today we have the same choices to make. We know that obedience to the Word of God will bring honor to God and subsequent success to His ministry. Oh that we will commit ourselves to following His will, His Word, His love, His example and His witness so that others may see and believe. I believe that ministry to the lost would be so much more successful if the people could see and believe, and not just hear the Word, but seeing the messengers off doing as they please.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, You have established Your kingdom for Your children to abide with You. I am convinced that You will not build Your kingdom with disobedient kids. Please help me to live daily in total obedience to the Savior that I have committed my life to, and as a result of my obedience may You find a vessel that You may successfully witness through. I would never desire to see success come with any strings to something I may do, but rather that You may receive full credit for all that is accomplished through me. Thank you for the life of Your servant Jotham who, in spite of a pompous father, yet he chose to follow You and be obedient to You. Please help me to look for no other example to follow other than Yours.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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Scripture: 2 Chronicles 24.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

2 Chronicles 24:17-20 (NLT)

17 But after Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice.

18 They decided to abandon the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead! Because of this sin, divine anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem.

19 Yet the Lord sent prophets to bring them back to him. The prophets warned them, but still the people would not listen.

20 Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands and keep yourselves from prospering? You have abandoned the Lord, and now he has abandoned you!”

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Jehoiada had been a very dedicated and loyal high priest to King Joash and his ancestors, having just restored the temple before his death. After his death, King Joash listened to the wishes of the leaders of Judah, who abandoned the Temple and returned leading the people back to worshipping Asherah poles and idols instead. I thought that verse 19 reflected the love of my God in such a powerful way, for it says that in spite of the people turning away from worshipping the one true God, yet He loved them enough to still send prophets to warn them and give them another opportunity to see their sin, turn from it, and return to worshipping Him. After seeing their stubbornness, God sent Zechariah to warn the people that because they had abandoned God, He would now abandon them. Oh my, I hope that in all the years that my Lord might bless me to remain here on this earth, that I would never see such a disaster – for the love of God to be withdrawn from my daily life. I would encourage all that may read this devotional today to step back and try to count the endless blessings that God showers on us each day. There is so much that we take for granted – good health (compared to many), a loving family (blood family and church family), a job (yes even the job that we despise waking up to go to, but would we rather be on the unemployment lines or the social services lines?). Friends, we are a blessed people and the sooner we stop and realize that and learn to give God thanks for that the better off we will be. Please don’t tempt God to withdraw His watchful eye on you and His protective hand upon you. A good old traditional hymn is entitled “I Need Thee Every Hour”, and the sooner I realize and accept that this means every hour – whether I have a job or not and whether I am in good health or not, the better off I will be. Thank God that He sends his messengers to remind me and warn me, as He did with sending His prophets to King Joash, the leaders of Judah and the people who abandoned Him.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, I truly do need You every hour. I pray that You will constantly remind me when I stray. I pray that You will redirect me when I follow paths that will weaken my witness for You, but most of all I pray that You will keep me in the center of Your will so that I may never be abandoned by You. You are my Rock and my steadfast Hope oh God. Thank You for loving me so much that You gave everything just so that I may have eternal life with You and witness Your love every day.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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Scripture: Acts 21.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Acts 21:10-14 (NLT)

10 Several days later a man named Agabus, who also had the gift of prophecy, arrived from Judea.

11 He came over, took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, “The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.'”

12 When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.

13 But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.”

14 When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Paul was prepared to follow the will of God no matter what might happen to him. Others were worried about him and tried to get him to change his mind, but instead Paul gave a very bold statement “I am prepared/ready not just to be possibly jailed at Jerusalem, but even if this leads to death, all for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” Wow, I wonder how many of us stay at home because we don’t want to face the challenge at our church with Satan’s interference through disagreements or fights! I wonder how many of us refuse to witness to someone, because of the fear of rejection – just words that may challenge us or possibly hurt us! I wonder how many of us would agree to meet in a public place, like a street corner or mall, to sing praises to God, witness to the lost or even worship with the saved of the community! This prophecy made clear to Paul what might possibly happen to him in Jerusalem, but this didn’t phase his decision to go there anyway to minister. He made it clear that he would do it even if it meant that it could possibly lead to his death. Oh that Christians today, yes you and I, would commit ourselves to serving our God every day – yes through thick and thin, in good times and bad, in areas that we approve of as well as areas that God might just say “trust me son, so that I might flourish in that area because of your commitment”!

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, You know the lousy excuses we use when it comes to serving You and ministering to others. You know they are lame and mostly used by Satan to stop the blessings we could receive from wholeheartedly serving You in every situation, not just the ‘no-brainer’ circumstances such as attending church, calling a friend going through a hard time, or visiting a friend in hospital. If we are to truly reach the lost for You and allow Your light to shine through us to a lost world, we will need to be intentional about visiting those who may not be our best buddy, ministering to those that may not come to church with us, or witnessing to those that may seem very hardened to the gospel. I need Your power to do this; Your direction to speak with the folk You desire of me to minister to; the boldness to warm up to and share my faith with someone I may not know or feel close to; the wisdom to discern Your direction and feel Your presence with me. In other words, I believe that in Christ, I can do all things! Please help me to never turn back from serving You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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Scripture: Acts 20.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Acts 20:22-27 (NLT)

22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. 25 “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again.

26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

So often if we are able to do any work around the church, or if we are successful in witnessing to an acquaintance, we may receive praise from a fellow Christian or even recognized at church. I found from this passage today that where the real peace of mind comes in, is when we can honestly say to God, like Paul did, “I declare today that I have been faithful, and if anyone that I came into contact with suffers eternal death and damnation, then it’s not because I didn’t do my part. For I never held back in declaring all that God wanted the brother or sister to hear”. Friends, I don’t know about you, but God would strike me down dead if I said something like that right now, because I have not been as faithful as I could have been in all the circumstances God has placed before me. Look at verse 22, even being very convinced in his spirit that jail and suffering was ahead for him, yet he prepared himself to go on to Jerusalem to minister/witness/preach/encourage anyway. Will I be so persistent in spreading the Word? Will you sacrifice all earthly things and be so committed to doing the work, like Paul did? Wow, what an example set before us, and what a reminder for us today that only one thing matters in the end, and that is that we first of all know Jesus as Lord, and that as we stand before Him on judgment day that we can honestly say to Him, I have been faithful and did all that I could to share Christ with all that I came into contact with. Lord, please grant this desire to me today, please?

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, thank You for providing the means for me to have eternal life with You in heaven. Thank You for placing me in a place where I come into contact with many that do not know You as Lord of their lives. Please give me the desire and boldness to not be selfish, timid or weak in sharing the best thing that could ever happen in a person’s life with those that I have opportunity to do so. Please also touch the lives of those that will read this devotional and give them the same boldness and desire to share Your love with others. Thank You for the work of Your servant Paul. Please give me the same boldness and desire that he shared with us in this passage.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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Scripture: 2 Chronicles 15.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

2 Chronicles 15:1-4 (NLT)

1 Then the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded,

2 and he went out to meet King Asa as he was returning from the battle. “Listen to me, Asa!” he shouted. “Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin! The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.

3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach them, and without the Law to instruct them.

4 But whenever they were in trouble and turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him out, they found him.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

I bolded the section of these verses where God got my attention. I have found over my lifetime that whenever there were urgent things in my life, I found it necessary to draw close to God and really seek His help. Thankfully God showed His presence to me and met my needs, but in these verses I am reminded that it would be so sweet to always trust Him, always seek His face and always allow Him to work miraculously in and through my life. I know that God is always with me, but way too often I tend to do all I possibly can before turning to God for help and/or direction in a particular situation. God is never too busy for us and I believe that He is always ready and available to walk by our side and help us with our situations whether good or bad.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father God, I am guilty of particularly drawing close and seeking Your help when there are urgent news. Please help me to walk so closely with you each and every day that I will be very conscious of Your touch in all aspects of my life, the huge things (in my view) and the simple things that I feel I could handle on my own. I need to totally surrender everything to You so that I will always seek Your will and way. Please show me how to do this, and make me mindful of this as I make decisions every day. If I expect You to work in and through me, then I need to be walking in Your path each and every day. Please help me to do this loving Savior!

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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