DATE POSTED
Monday, June 9, 2025, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read James 5:13-18 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the New Living Translation (NLT).

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
It seems like troubles abound in the lives of our friends, family, and yes, even in our own lives as well. It seems extremely frustrating at times, for just when we thought we have heard of the greatest challenge a person could possibly reach; a friend will approach us with a challenge unlike any other we may have heard before. Of course, if we listen to the media, we will possibly hear THE worst, but media hype seems unreal at times! As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Bible assures us never faces something that surprises Him, we must rest assured that All Things are possible with God. Unfortunately, many times I believe we enjoy sharing the challenging times with friends, for it really produces shockingly interesting conversations as we watch for their mouth to open wide and jaws drop to all-time lows! Thankfully, I believe that believers often possess such confidence in the power of God that we naturally alleviate the frustrations and disappointments of those with no hope, for we know a Man who can, as referenced in the old gospel song. Friends, we know the Creator of this world and of all mankind. We know the Healer of all diseases affecting His created ones, for the Bible tells us of the lame man who walked again, the ruler’s son whom the people had declared dead, yet Jesus raised him up, and the leper whose skin became perfectly pure with just one touch of the Master. But in our focal verses today, James, a servant of Jesus Christ, reminds us through several points and their corresponding answers, to help us face the uncertainties of life. Let me spell them out again, with hopes that these things will stick with us, especially when trouble comes:

• Are you suffering hardships? You should pray.
• Are you happy? You should sing praises. 
• Are you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.

Verses 16 thru 18 goes on to remind us of a few other tips that will help us decide to step out in faith:

• Share with believers, what may seem like, the ugly sin, or faults, that you feel guilty of. For this brings healing to your burdened soul!
• Pray for one another, especially those who are struggling with the challenges of sin and life as a whole. For this produces wonderful results!
• Think on past answers to prayer, where God showed His power and grace to His children, such as the example James offered about Elijah and his prayer for the rain to stop and start back up again. This helps to instill confidence in following the commands of God, even in challenging times. Start by first reflecting on past answers to your prayers – even the small ones, for this will remind you that if God did it before, we know He is quite capable of doing it again!

For the unbeliever, God wants you to listen and obey the voice of the Holy Spirit as He calls you to repentance. As an unbeliever, you can try to follow all of the above, but it will be superficial, unless you know the One to whom you are praying. Know Jesus today and know that peace of which I have explained above. However, for the fellow believer reading this devotional today, I trust that this devotional will serve as a reminder that there is great power in knowing Jesus Christ, and believing that He loves and cares for you, especially in those areas of life where you may question if you could possibly overcome the tactics of Satan. As for Your Lord, please consider allowing Him to have His will and way in your life and in all of life’s circumstances. He will never lead you astray, but rather in the center of His will for you. As you study His Word you will find the peace of God and be led by the Holy Spirit to all truth and the perfect will of God.

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for saving my soul and leaving me here on earth to share that miracle with others in search of hope and a future for eternity. Thank You also for Your servant, James, and for him sharing the wisdom needed for us to best look at challenging circumstances and to help others who may call on us for that kind of wisdom. Lord, I pray that we will be faithful and dedicated to You in all areas of life here on earth, for as we display our confidence in You, I pray that it will serve to lift others up and draw them to the foot of the cross to seek salvation in You alone. For the unbeliever who may happen upon this devotional, I pray that they may be drawn to You and develop a desire to know You personally. Please encourage fellow believers to look to You for all things we face every day and help us to gain strength through Your Word as we meditate on it. You deserve our praise, honor and worship. Be lifted up because we are fixing our eyes on things eternal and the only One who can open the doors of heaven for our journey. You are lord, and we seek Your face, oh Lord. 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. One of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals or subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. 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 make every effort to be a blessing to 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!