May I encourage you to get your spiritual ‘Nuggets’ to start your day off right? Pretty amazing that our awesome God would consider feeding even us with His Word! May I encourage you to read the whole devotional, and look for a blessing, friend!………

Today’s Bible Reference: Isaiah 41:10; 13; 20

Today’s Bible Text: ¹⁰ Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.    ¹³ For I hold you by your right hand – I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.    ²⁰ I am doing this so all who see this miracle will understand what it means – that it is the Lord who has done this, the Holy One of Israel who created it.

The Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take Away: I find it amazing how God points us to scripture that He knows we need, or that someone else could benefit from the ways we share with them! In our scripture today, God was trying to convince the Israelites that because He was available to them and would be with them every step of the way, they were safe to return to their homeland, Jerusalem. After seeing this message hammered twice, then a verse to help understand why God was doing this, I got the message! Friends our human tendencies often lead to question “why me Lord”. In fact, so much so, that a song was written, and it became pretty popular, because it hit on such a powerful mindset of many people. This is therefore a message that we need to stop and think about for a moment. We often feel sorry for ourselves, because we might be going through some circumstances that others are free of, but what if you knew beforehand that God would be lifted up through your scenario? What if you foreknew that a loved one you had been praying for will come to know the Lord because of seeing Him so active in your circumstance? God is not just saying that everything will be OK, but He is telling us to not be afraid, but be encouraged in knowing that your Savior and Lord has taken on your concern and made it His business to be there for you because He wants you to know Him more intimately. In fact, He would even encourage you, strengthen you and hold up a flag of victory for you to be convinced of His presence and concern. Now here’s the piece we might struggle with most, for we want our cares taken care of, our sorrow turned into happiness, our future turned completely around for a promise of happiness and success. However, in verse 20 God tells us that our circumstance may be used for something totally outside of our family or our home, for He may very well use His intervention to convince our world (our family or our friends) that Jesus is alive and that He desires a deep relationship with them. Friends, I would encourage you to always look for ways that God might be using your circumstances for His glory, and I want to invite you to find peace in knowing that God is with you at all times, and that He will offer you assurances of His love and His protection. In all circumstance, let us learn to give thanks to our God, and not be afraid.

Prayer: Lord God, we are such a blessed people. It is hard to fathom that You, the God of this universe; our creator; would use simple man to accomplish Your will for this earth and all that is in it. None of us care for circumstances that cause us to worry, but none of us who care about others want to see them die hopeless and lost either. When we commit to having You use us for Your glory Lord, we may never think that it may be in circumstances such as the way You used Job. We are reminded that You may use us through great things, or perhaps through tough times, but praise to the Lord Almighty, You have promised that You would be with us in every case. Please help us to always find comfort in that, also knowing that Your ministry is reaching way beyond us to touch lives that need a Savior. Thank You for loving me through the good times and the challenging times, may Your kingdom come oh Lord and may Your people rise up to worship and adore You, not just for what You can give us, but for all that You can accomplish through us. I am blessed, and thank You for Your unending love and mercy. Amen!

Footnote: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

2016