DATE POSTED
Thursday, June 4, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, 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 Matthew 21:22 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the English Standard Version (ESV).

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

What would be the point of praying if you didn’t actually believe your prayers could be answered? Praying in doubt is a sure way of going through the motions—saying the right words with our lips while our hearts quietly question whether God is even listening, let alone willing to respond.

God’s Word speaks very directly about the connection between our faith and His answers. In the Gospels, Jesus gives us a staggering promise:

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” — Matthew 21:22

But the Apostle James provides the sobering flip side of that coin, explaining what happens when we let doubt creep into our conversations with the Father:

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” — James 1:6-7

To connect with God in a meaningful way, we must first know Jesus and truly believe in Him. However, this presents a real challenge for someone who refuses to submit to Him. They might acknowledge that He exists and even recognize that He has the power to answer prayer, viewing Him merely as someone they want on their side when things go wrong. They treat Him like an emergency line to call only in times of desperate trouble.

From Acquaintance to Intimacy

Think about it this way: Someone who has known my wife since early childhood might feel like they can call her up out of the blue to ask for a favor, expecting a positive response simply because they are familiar with her.

But our relationship is entirely different. We have shared our very lives, navigating the ultra-highs and the deepest valleys together for over 50 years of marriage. We know each other so intimately that we can almost speak for one another. There is absolutely nothing we wouldn’t do to bring joy and contentment to each other’s lives.

Without that kind of intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, a person will naturally feel a sense of hesitation or even shame when trying to lay their burdens on Him. Because they lack personal proof of His faithfulness, they doubt His unproven ability to handle their requests. After all, human nature makes us extremely cautious about sharing our deepest, rawest vulnerabilities with a total stranger.

The Confidence of a Child of God

For the believer, things look completely different. We aren’t guessing about God’s power—we have seen it, felt it, and personally experienced His miracles. We are students of His Word, where we read about the incredible wonders He has performed throughout history.

On top of that, we hear our pastors share fresh stories of miracles on the mission field, and we listen to the moving testimonies of fellow believers sitting right next to us in the pews at our church services.

All of this builds an unshakeable confidence within us. We know that the very same God who blessed us on the mountaintops of life is standing right beside us in the darkest valleys. The One who answers our prayers for the small, seemingly minor things, is the exact same God who possesses the absolute power and willingness to step into our major health, family, or financial crises when we are completely helpless.

Our God isn’t just waiting around for a massive disaster to strike before He listens to us. He loves us enough to care about the smallest details and the greatest hurdles alike. We are His children, and He values us so highly that He sent His only Son to bear the heavy crushing weight of the sin we lay on Him when we accept His salvation. No greater love exists than the love God has for His children! The big question today goes far beyond why a specific prayer might seem unanswered. The real question is: Do you have a personal, intimate relationship with the One who answers? Is your relationship with Jesus strong enough that you can confidently place your burdens into His hands, believing with all your heart that He can and will work things out? God doesn’t want you to just know about Him based on second-hand stories from your parents, your spouse, or your friends. He wants you to know Him personally. Accept Him as your Lord and Savior today, and find perfect peace in bringing every single need before Him—knowing without a shadow of a doubt that He hears you and will always respond in the way that is best for you.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Forgive me for the times I have approached Your throne with a double-minded heart, letting the winds of doubt toss me back and forth. Lord, I don’t want to just know about You; I want to know You intimately. Thank You for 50-plus years of spiritual lessons, for mountaintop victories, and for Your steady hand in the deep valleys. I anchor my faith today in Your proven track record of miracles and Your perfect love displayed on the cross. I lay my current needs at Your feet, completely letting go of doubt, and resting in the absolute assurance that You hear me and will answer in Your perfect way.

In the faithful and powerful name of Jesus, 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. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. 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, June 3, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, 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 4:3 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in The Voice (VOICE).

³ And if you ask, you won’t receive it for you’re asking with corrupt motives, seeking only to fulfill your own selfish desires.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

Sometimes, the most profound truths are the hardest ones to write down because they require us to look deeply into the mirror of our own hearts. Today, we are tackling a reason for unanswered prayer that hits very close to home: our underlying motives.

The Apostle James lays it out with painful clarity in our focal verse today.

I believe the most practical way to detect when we are asking God for something with the wrong motive is when we catch ourselves using a simple, two-word phrase in our prayers: “so that.” Think about those times when you might ask God to give you a financial breakthrough or a massive harvest, so that you might have enough money to bless the poor in your community. On the surface, that sounds incredibly holy. But is that really what happens?

Look at how the world handles generosity. When the wealthy give, it is almost always marked with a press release, a plaque, or a public recognition of their status. In those moments, is God really the one being praised for His goodness, or is the spotlight firmly fixed on the human giver?

The Posture of True Humility

We have all seen God bless us in absolutely amazing ways when we humble ourselves before Him. Scripture gives us a beautiful blueprint for this kind of heart-posture in a very familiar verse:

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” — 2 Chronicles 7:14

When we pray this way, we are seeking the King of all kings in absolute humility. We are acknowledging that we are nothing without Him, and we are recognizing that our own righteousness doesn’t come anywhere near His holy standards. We are choosing to turn away from our own selfish ambitions and completely dedicate ourselves to His sovereignty over our lives.

If God chooses to use us as a pipeline to bless someone else, that person will be truly blessed. But we must understand a hard reality: no matter how hard we try in our own strength, human effort alone cannot bless someone enough to make them recognize God. If we are operating out of our own pride, the person receiving the help will only ever see our hands passing the gift to them.

A person whose heart is truly aligned with God will be fully usable by Him, but they must be content with a sobering truth: you may never receive a single ounce of earthly recognition for doing something praiseworthy. God sees every human need. In His absolute sovereignty, when He chooses to answer a prayer and bless someone in need, He will always do it in a way that ultimately brings glory to Him, not to us. We are simply the servants of an almighty, righteous, and holy God. We can never out-give Him, we can never out-love Him, and we must never try to steal the credit that belongs solely to Him.

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The Silent Giver Challenge

When we look back at 2 Chronicles 7:14, we realize that when we are in a state of true humility—earnestly seeking the face of God for His mercy—He is the only One we want. Nothing else in this world can take His place. For the person who is truly chasing after the heart of God, the goal is simply to imitate His goodness, not to collect earthly applause. No amount of public giving or praise-seeking will ever make us look more like Jesus. Only a heart filled with quiet humility and grace can do that. He is God, and He alone deserves the praise for everything accomplished on this earth—even the things He kindly allows us to participate in.

So, I want to leave you with a challenge over the coming weeks and months:
The next time you hear someone praising God for a sudden blessing, a financial rescue, or a answered prayer—and you know that you were the anonymous vessel God used to make it happen—be entirely willing to stand by and say absolutely nothing. Do not drop a hint. Do not take a bow. Instead, use that private moment as a beautiful opportunity to quietly praise God in your heart for His lordship, His mercy, and His faithfulness! His accolades on Judgment Day will be worth infinitely more than any temporary pat on the back man can offer you today.

May this be the song that we continuously echo through every single area of our lives: “To God be the glory, great things HE has done!”

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Search my heart today and expose any hidden motives lurking in my prayer life. Forgive me for the times I have used the phrase “so that” to mask a selfish desire with a holy excuse. Lord, I want to humble myself, seek Your face, and turn from any wicked ways of pride or self-seeking. If You choose to bless me, let me be a hidden channel of Your grace, completely content to stay in the shadows so that the spotlight shines entirely on You. Give me the strength to be a silent giver, looking only for the reward of Your approval on Judgment Day. To You alone be the glory for every great thing accomplished in my life. In the self-emptying and beautiful name of Jesus, 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. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. 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, June 2, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, 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 Luke 6:12-13 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Amplified Bible (AMP).

¹² Now at this time Jesus went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. ¹³ When day came, He called His disciples and selected twelve of them, whom He also named apostles.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

As we dive deeper into our prayer lives and seek to follow the personal example of Jesus, we first need to clear up a common misconception about another passage of Scripture. In Matthew 6:7-8, Jesus warns His listeners not to babble or mutter “vain repetitions” when they pray.

Without a personal relationship with Jesus, it is easy to fall into the trap of merely repeating a script. For example, many of us as parents teach our very young children a classic bedtime rhyme: “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.” It’s a sweet start for a child.

However, as we mature and accept Jesus as Lord, we are meant to grow into a living, personal, and intimate relationship with our Savior. He knows us inside and out. As we gain knowledge about Him and spend real time in His presence, our prayers should naturally shift into sharing our deepest, innermost thoughts with Him.

Look at the radical example Jesus sets for us in our focal Scripture today.

We must stop and consider: what could Jesus possibly have found to talk to the Father about for an entire night?

At some point, you have probably timed your own prayers and realized how quickly you make your requests known, say a hurried “Amen,” and move right along to the next item in your busy day. But is that how you have a conversation with a friend standing right in front of you?

Men often joke about women having the ability to talk endlessly when they get together with a friend. Of course, plenty of men do the exact same thing—and our wives certainly notice and comment on that, too! We can talk for hours with people we love, so why do we struggle to talk with God?

Breaking the “Santa Claus” Attitude

I dare say the biggest obstacle preventing us from having extended, meaningful conversations with our Heavenly Father is our “gimme” attitude. We have become so accustomed to treating Almighty God like a child treats Santa Claus. We approach His throne merely to hand over a wish list of things we can’t buy or problems we can’t solve on our own.

But we don’t treat our earthly friends that way. We don’t pull up to a friend’s house, scream a list of demands at them, and immediately drive away. We value their company, not just their help.

How do we correct this? Jesus explicitly gave us a model prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 (and again in Luke 11:2-4 when the disciples directly asked Him how to pray the right way). Right after warning them not to use mindless repetitions, He provided a beautiful, structured blueprint.

When we are persistent in prayer, it’s because we are bringing things that genuinely weigh on our hearts to God’s attention. That is completely different from vain repetition. True persistence means a concern stays on our mind until we finally receive God’s answer to our prayer, or His supernatural peace to endure it. For us to simply drop a major burden after one quick prayer and never bring it up again is a sign that other worldly matters have taken precedence.

God is never impressed by the sheer number of words we pray, but He is always moved by the sincerity of the heart praying them. Based on the model prayer Jesus left us, here are six pillars to guide your daily conversations with God:

• Honor God: Start by praising Him for who He is.
• Seek His Will: Align your desires with His kingdom purposes.
• Depend on Him Daily: Ask for your physical and spiritual needs.
• Confess and Receive Forgiveness: Keep a short account with God regarding your sins.
• Extend Forgiveness to Others: Release bitterness and malice.
• Ask for Spiritual Protection: Request His guidance to steer clear of temptation and the enemy’s traps.

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Learning to Hear His Voice

You might wonder, “I can hear my own voice when I pray, but how do I actually hear back from God?” Remember that the Bible is the living Word of God. While we speak to Him audibly or in the quietness of our hearts, we must read His Word to understand His heart. Scripture is where He has already recorded everything we need to know from Him.

He also speaks and confirms things throughout our day. Have you ever read a scripture in the morning, and then heard a sermon later that day that perfectly explained exactly what God wanted you to know? Or maybe another believer, without even knowing your private concerns, shared a biblical truth that gave you the exact answer you were looking for? God loves to confirm His voice through His people and His Word.

Where we fail in spending quality time with God is simply due to the bad habits we’ve picked up from the world. How long can you sit with a friend without feeling forced to say something, even if it’s unrelated? More importantly, how long can you sit quietly without instinctively reaching for your phone or electronic device?

Time alone with God is most enjoyed when it’s just the two of you, completely free from interruptions. Notice how even Jesus routinely left the noise behind to climb a mountain or sit in the stillness of a desolate garden before His Father.

Have you ever pulled over on a seldom-traveled country road at night? When you turn off the engine, you can suddenly hear the crickets and see the brilliance of the stars. In that stillness, there are no distractions. Imagine escaping to a quiet place like that just once a month, leaving your devices behind, simply to experience Jesus and the fullness of His presence. Oh, that we might get away from the noise of this world and just experience Jesus – His love, His deep concern for our burdens, and His encouragement for our future! I truly believe that is exactly where real revival begins in our busy, stubborn hearts.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Forgive me for the times I have treated You like a vending machine or a Santa Claus, rushing through a list of demands before running back to my busy life. Lord, I want to move past mindless repetitions and grow into a deep, intimate friendship with You. Teach me how to be still. Help me to unplug from the noise, the screens, and the distractions of this world so I can truly hear Your voice through Your Word. Thank You for being a Father who never grows tired of listening to me. I lay my heart open before You today, trusting Your perfect wisdom and desiring Your will above my own. In the beautiful, conversational name of Jesus, 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. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. 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
Monday, June 01, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, 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 4:2 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Amplified Bible (AMP).

² You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your lust goes unfulfilled; so you murder. You are envious and cannot obtain [the object of your envy]; so you fight and battle. You do not have because you do not ask [it of God].

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

It sounds incredibly basic, but God doesn’t want us to overlook the foundational truths of our faith: you must actually ask Him! Think about a baby. When they want something, they cry for it, and they are fiercely persistent in their screams until their needs are met. As adults, we need a similar kind of persistence in our prayer lives, though maturity allows us to articulate exactly what we need.

Unfortunately, when human beings don’t get what they want right away, our fallen nature kicks in. The Apostle James reminds us that instead of turning to God, most people will resort to personal force to get their way. This is where murder, stealing, conniving, deceiving, and a lifelong sense of deep mistrust come from.

We expect this kind of behavior from the world. After all, those without a relationship with Christ have no fixed moral compass, nor do they respect the Creator of this universe or care about what He thinks of their actions. Sadly, this grasping, forceful attitude is most prevalent where money is at stake.

Guarding the Church from Selfish Ambition

Regrettably, even our churches are sometimes impacted by this dreadful departure from the ways of God. As long as we are here on earth and subject to the temptations of the enemy, we must remember that our human minds are weak and naturally selfish. If we aren’t careful, we can easily be tempted to step out on our own and try to force an outcome, foolishly assuming that God isn’t paying enough attention to our situation.

We all dread hearing stories of money being stolen or misappropriated at a local church, and many reading this can probably remember heartbreaking, first-hand situations where this has occurred. It all stems from the exact same root: refusing to trust God and trying to force our own hands.

I love how vividly James 4:2-3 is presented in The Message translation:

“You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way.”

When we willingly share our deepest thoughts, wishes, and desires with God, it is like running them through a divine filter. If God looks at our request and sees it as a genuine need—something that will help us accomplish His perfect will for our lives—He will make it happen in His perfect timing.

But when we bypass that filter, we start demanding things. And when our demands aren’t met, we immediately jump to “Plan B” to force the issue ourselves. That path always ends in disaster and brings consequences we never wanted to face.

Aligning Our Hearts with His

If we truly belong to God, our desires will naturally begin to align with His. We won’t want the things that He despises or sees as unfit for our Christian walk. Doing the will of God should always be our greatest ultimate desire.

Think of it like a healthy marriage: a loving spouse is constantly looking for ways to please their partner and make them happy. It should be even more natural for the heart of a believer to want to please God!

Recently, during a pre-service rehearsal and again with our praise team, I heard a song with lyrics something like: “After all You’ve done for me, I could never turn my back on You.” What a powerful sentiment. I believe it would be just as fitting for us to sing, “I could never allow sin to interfere in my relationship with You.”

If we made that our main goal this week, we would all be much more determined to honor, obey, and please God in every single thing we say and do. We would learn to truly respect His wisdom, His infinite knowledge, and His keen awareness of what should be granted to us—and what we should stay far away from! To play it safe, let’s just do exactly what He tells us to do in His Word: humbly, faithfully ask for what we need, and trust Him with the rest.

Psalm 125:1 – Those who trust in the Lord are steady as Mount Zion, unmoved by any circumstance.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Forgive me for the times I have let my selfish desires take the driver’s seat. Forgive me for jumping to “Plan B” and trying to force my own way when I felt like You weren’t moving fast enough. Lord, I want what You want for my life. I bring my requests, my hopes, and my worries to You today, intentionally running them through the filter of Your perfect will. Give me the grace to respect Your wisdom when You say “no” or “wait.” Keep my heart pure, protect my local church from the traps of the enemy, and help me to live a life that honors everything You have done for me. In the precious and holy name of Jesus, 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. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. 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!