Scripture: Job 28.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Job 28:23-24 (NLT)

23 “God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found,

24 for he looks throughout the whole earth and sees everything under the heavens.

Job 28:28 (NLT)

28 And this is what he says to all humanity: ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.'”

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

Job is a marvel, in that he went through the ringer and yet he is able to still stand and recognize the Almighty and His awesome power over this world and of life itself. I know that we often wish we had more wisdom so that we could better handle certain circumstances, but friend I believe that God provides adequate wisdom to us already. I believe that any inadequacies we may fell in the area of wisdom, is a strong indicator that it is a right time to surrender our will to God and allow His mighty hand to work in our situation. We are dependent on Him and we must therefore look to Him in all things. Unfortunately we often wait until we have exhausted all personal efforts before surrendering to God and seeking His guidance and wisdom. When we consider that He is our Alpha, our Omega, our Designer, our Master and our Lord, we must be obedient and look to Him in ALL things at ALL times. Let’s not wait until we have tried everything humanly possible, screwed things up, then surrender the situation to God. Let’s approach Him in all our circumstances. Let’s give God control of our decisions each and every morning and allow Him to direct our paths each day. His wisdom is the ultimate wisdom. One that considers everything in the scenarios that we find ourselves in.

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

Father I surrender my day to You. I surrender my decisions to You today. You are wisdom and as reminded in verse 24 above, You see everything under the heavens, so You know exactly how every decision will effect everything today. Please direct my paths so that I will not mess things up, but rather allow You to be glorified because of decisions made in and through me this day by You.

 

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: Romans 13.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Romans 13:11-14 (NLT)

11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.

13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.

14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

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

In the past few devotionals I believe that God has challenged me to think of things that I must do to have a greater influence for Him in my daily walk in 2012. In this passage I believe that God is reminding me how urgent it is for me to straighten things out in my life and, for those of my family and friends that have not yet accepted Jesus, how urgent it is that I work with; pray for; earnestly encourage and example God’s love to them, to help them get their lives in order, as time is running out. When we consider clothing ourselves with the presence of Jesus, I think of us isolating ourselves from the evils of this world and allowing Jesus to consume us, cover us, protect us from the darkness of this world and fill us with His power, His strength and His boldness so that we may live as children of the Master, representing Him in a light that would promote Him and advance the kingdom of God. Bottom line is that we must get our act together, stop pretending and earnestly seek God’s face and His protection so that He may envelope us with everything we need to live holy and godly lives. Secondly, we must remind ourselves that time is quickly running out for us to advance the love and ministry of Jesus to our unbelieving family, friends and coworkers. Now that we have received our marching orders, and shown our priority, we should have a very busy, but fruitful day!

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

Father, we are Yours and I look forward to the day when You will call me home to be in Your very presence. While here on this earth, please help me to stay focused on living a godly and holy life, one that is pleasing to, and honored by You. I have loved ones and friends that have not openly accepted You as Lord of their life yet. Please place one of Your children in their presence today that would encourage them to surrender their life of darkness/sin to You in exchange for a glorious bright life filled with the presence of Jesus. You alone are God, please help us as man to strive to be more like You each and every day, until the day You shall call us home to be with You eternally.

 

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: Romans 12.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

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

Oh Lord how great You are! Your Word is nothing short of powerful; amazing; unbelievable; mind sobering; encouraging; loving and aimed at making me the kind of person that will represent You perfectly to a lost world. This whole chapter of Romans was so filled with ‘Nuggets’ this morning that I feel like I will bookmark it to read over and over again, especially those times when I feel poorly about myself or feel like I am being picked on by the world. While Jesus loved the world, He didn’t let the world stop His ministry or prevent Him from doing good. Paul reminds us in this chapter, and particularly in the verses chosen, that when sacrificing an animal according to God’s law, a priest would kill the animal, cut it in pieces, and place it on the altar. Sacrifice was important, but even in the Old Testament God made it clear that obedience from the heart was much more important (see 1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 40:6; Amos 5:21 -24). God wants us to offer ourselves, not animals, as living sacrifices—daily laying aside our own desires to follow him, putting all our energy and resources at his disposal and trusting him to guide us. We do this out of gratitude that our sins have been forgiven. We do this in response to God’s perfect will for our lives.

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

Dear Jesus, I am reminded this morning of Your powerful Word, for I found so many truths contained therein that I must apply to my heart today. If I am to truly be Your messenger, Your representative, Your encourager to others, then I will have to do more than just what meets the eye, but I must open my heart to Your will and surrender my life whole heartedly, knowing that You will only accept a pure and holy heart, not one that will easily fly off the handle when provoked by evil, or tempted by Satan. I pray that You will tender my heart to truly be transformed by You, used by You and available to You. Please forgive me for those times that I have allowed self to get in the way, and please give me Your strength to still represent You well, even at those times when I am persecuted for doing what I thought was good. May You look at my life this day and find it good and pleasing and perfect, even as You are good and pleasing and perfect.

 

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: Job 21-22.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Job 22:21-23 (NLT)

21 “Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you.

22 Listen to his instructions, and store them in your heart.

23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored— so clean up your life.

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

Job had gone through an awful lot and was convinced that God had turned away from him. There were a few friends that stood by him and tried to comfort him and give him direction. In this piece of advice given to Job, I found a ‘Nugget’ that I believe will serve us well as we enter into the unknown and possible challenges of 2012. For if we submit our lives to God, yes, when we submit our will and our challenges to God, we will have peace and things will go well for us. We should read God’s Word, and listen to His teachings at our home churches, and store these words in our heart. Friends, we store them so that we could bring them back to remembrance when, and as needed. Our strength comes from the Lord, and since He is Love, we know that He will look out for our very best interest. For those who have accepted Christ, but have drifted away, in verse 23 you are encouraged to return to your relationship with God and be restored in that relationship. Clean up your life and live so that the world will see that the Christ that you speak about, actually resides in you and affects your every word and action. Entering 2012 with God as our Guide, Protector, Deliverer and Friend could make a world of difference for us.

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

Father God, You are awesome and the love that You have for us is way beyond anything we could imagine or possibly understand. For we are unworthy of such love and could not possibly warrant the sacrifice You made at Calvary. Please forgive me of my sin, my shortcomings, my inadequacies and my pride. I pray that You will empower me each day to surrender myself to You and submit my life to You afresh so that I will consistently experience Your peace. Thank You for loving me so much to do this. Please touch the lives of my friends that may read this devotional so that they too may be impacted by this ‘Nugget’ from Your Word just as I was.

 

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: Job 19.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Job 19:25-27 (NLT)

25 “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.

26 And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!

27 I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!

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

Having just gone through chapter after chapter reading about Job in a deep depression because he felt that God’s hand had been removed from him, I was almost caught off guard when I came to these verses. Reading Job’s testimony reminds me that I must be so careful to not only place my faith and trust in Jesus each and every day, and never to forget to praise Him for answered prayer, but I must also be careful to recognize Him and thank Him for not always answering my prayer in a manner that I may ask for, as I may very well ask selfishly and in a manner that may not be for my ultimate good. However, God is in control of my future, and He alone knows what tomorrow holds, yes He knows already what 2012 holds for me. So when I ask Him for things I must always remember that the answer will not always be positive, but could mean ‘not now’, or even ‘no’ this is not right for you. At the time, Job felt like God was against him, his family was against him and his friends and the whole world was against him, BUT there was one thing for sure, and that is that his Redeemer, our Lord and Savior lives, and when everything is dealt with here on this earth, we too can be assured that we will see Him face to face, with our own eyes! What a glorious thought, and what a joy to look forward to such a day, such a wonderful moment!

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

Like Job, I am overwhelmed at the thought in knowing that one day all of our worries and concerns and pressures of this old earth will be left behind and we will see Jesus face to face, in all of His glory! Thank You Jesus for providing such an opportunity for us. Friends, I want to see Him, and I am ready to see Him! Are you ready? Have you surrendered your life over to Him and asked His forgiveness of your sin, your shortcomings to His Word and His teaching? Why not start off 2012 with this assurance? Please contact me by using the email hyperlinked below if you would like for me to pray with you about this most important decision. It would be a joy to say with confidence, like Job did, that in spite of the daily challenges we may face, yet we know that our Redeemer lives and that one day when He calls us home to Himself, we will be ready to live in His glorious presence! There is no greater joy than truly living with this confidence, friend.

 

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: Romans 11.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Romans 11:19-22 (NLT)

19 “Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.”

20 Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen.

21 For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.

22
Notice how God is both kind and severe.
He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.

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

God’s Word was so full of ‘Nuggets’ this morning until it became challenging to choose a particular one to share in my devotional. However, the particular verse that I bolded above was really an eye-opener as I considered the opportunity granted to me to enter into yet another New Year. I am reminded how important it is for me to maintain a sincere relationship with my Master and place my faith and trust in Him daily, through the little things and the big things, the little decisions and the decisions that I have absolutely no control over. I am reminded that I serve a living Savior who loves and cares for His children, for me, and therefore He is not one who is only available when I am in dire straits. I am so happy to introduce my Lord and Savior to all that might read this devotional, for John 3:16 reminds me that He loved the ‘world’ (everyone) so much that He gave is one and only Son, Jesus, so that we might enjoy the kind of relationship spoken about above, and be assured of our eternal destiny with Him. Why not consider accepting this free gift today friend? If you are unable to chat with a fellow Christian leader today, please feel free to contact me using the email hyperlinked below. I would be overjoyed to pray with you!

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

Father, thank You for all You have done for me during 2011, for revealing Yourself to me in so many situations and protecting me in every way on the roads, in my health and in all walks of life. Please help me to stay centered on Your truths and Your love to me during 2012, and please help me to allow Your goodness to flow through me to others that I come in contact with, rather than keeping it bottled up inside. Please help me to always trust in You and keep a close relationship with You. Thank You for loving me so much that You gave everything so that I may enjoy life eternal. Please touch the lives of those I love and for all those that may read this devotional, I pray that You might humble and tender their hearts unto salvation.

 

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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