Talk to God – A Key Path to Happiness over Stress

On 2026-05-17 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Sunday, May 17, 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 Philippians 4:6 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Good News Translation (GNT).

Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.

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.

In our previous look at Philippians 4:6, we talked about God’s blueprint for overcoming anxiety: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.” But have you ever wondered what happens when people don’t have this wonderful advice – or choose to ignore it? When life doesn’t go the way we expect or demand, our natural human instinct is to panic, spiral, or immediately look for someone or something to blame.

True peace doesn’t mean life is free of storms; it means having an anchor in the midst of them. To show you what I mean, look at how the grace and love of God carried two of my close relatives through terrifying health crises over the past year.

The Interrupted Vacation

My sister works long, grueling hours under extreme stress. Last year, she took her annual vacation, fully expecting to get some much-needed rest and completely de-stress. But by the third day of her trip, our family had to call emergency services. She had blacked out for no apparent reason.

After a week in the hospital, doctors discovered an unexpected, underlying heart condition and performed a procedure to protect her future health. Humanly speaking, she had every right to be upset. Her hard-earned vacation was ruined. There was no pool time, no extra sleep, and no rest for our family, who spent those days sitting by a hospital bed.

Yet, as a believer, she found an unshakeable peace. She chose to speak to her Creator and ask Him to intervene. She recognized God’s hand in the timing: she was near a top-tier hospital, surrounded by expert medical care, and wrapped in the undivided attention of her family. She knew that the God we were praying to was working directly through those doctors to uncover the root cause and provide a modern medical solution. Without God, she could have been consumed by bitterness. With Him, and through His miraculous touch, she found calm reassurance from talking with Him, the One who designed her body.

The Journey Through the Valley

My brother-in-law is a strong, hardworking young man with a young family to support. Out of nowhere, he began suffering from terrible headaches and blackouts. Over the past 11 months he ended up spending many weeks at a time in the hospital, battling brain lymphoma.

It would have been easy for him to curse God. His healthy life was completely interrupted. He was temporarily unable to provide for his family, missed out on his teenage son’s milestones, and couldn’t be the active husband he wanted to be. But instead of bitterness, he chose a deep connection with God. He didn’t just talk to God; he surrendered his care to Him and committed to walking in obedience.

Throughout this challenge he described this past year as “quite the journey,” but just days ago, he was released from the hospital, celebrating being completely cancer-free! He is living proof today that when you place your faith in God, talk to Him, and surrender your will to Him, He will reveal Himself in ways you never could have imagined.

The Invitation

Perhaps you are reading this today and your life looks very different. You might not need a medical miracle right now, or maybe you are still struggling to believe that God works this way. My responsibility as a servant of God isn’t to argue, but simply to remind you of what God’s Word promises and show you how He still fulfills those promises in real time.

We serve an awesome, all-powerful God. Don’t wait for a crisis to catch up with you before you finally share your heart and soul with Him. His arms are outstretched right now, waiting for your call out to Him. He is ready to comfort you, guide you, and forgive you if you simply ask Him and commit to a personal relationship with Him.

Jesus is indeed Lord of all. I pray that you will make Him the Lord of your life today.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, You are the Master, and I am Your servant. Forgive me for the times I have allowed worry and stress to consume me instead of bringing my needs to You. Thank You for Your unlimited power, Your perfect timing, and Your amazing love. Today, I lay down my anxieties and present my needs to You with a grateful heart. I thank You for the blessings I already have, and I trust Your answers—whether they are yes, wait, or no. Let Your peace rule my heart today, and let my life reflect Your goodness to the world around me. In Jesus’ name, 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!

From Worry to Worship

On 2026-05-16 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Saturday, May 16, 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 Philippians 4:6 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Good News Translation (GNT).

Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.

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.

There’s a famous secular song that tells us, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy!” It’s a catchy tune, but it leaves us with a massive challenge: how exactly do we stop worrying, and how do we stay happy when life gets heavy? Another song tells us, “Don’t worry about a thing.” Again, it sounds nice, but human advice can only take us so far.

Many people don’t realize that the Word of God contains practical instructions for every single aspect of life. It comes straight from the Creator of the universe—the One who designed you and me. Who better to fill in the blanks of our lives than God Himself?

In our focal verse today, Philippians 4:6, God speaks through the Apostle Paul to the church at Philippi. This verse wasn’t included in the Bible just to give us a nice story to read; God knew we would face the perplexing challenge of stress and anxiety, and He wanted us to have the ultimate antidote.

Paul gives us the exact strategy His children need: Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. Notice that God wants us to be intentional. This isn’t about wishing on a star or chasing wild imaginations; it’s about bringing our genuine, heartfelt needs to Him. Often, we get frustrated with the world because we desire things we don’t need or can’t afford. But when it comes to our actual needs, the stakes are higher. We become desperate, and stress creeps in because we don’t see a way out without divine intervention.

If you take away nothing else today, remember this: Simply ask God for what you need, and do it with a thankful heart. Does that sound too simple? Perhaps. But if you believe in God’s unlimited power and His amazing love for His children, you can rest assured that He is always true to His Word. He will come through for us.

To help us approach Him with the right heart, here are four keys to asking with the right attitude:

1. Remember Who He Is – He is God, and we are not. Approach Him as a servant approaches a master—with deep reverence. A servant never dictates terms to the master. We are in no position to tell the Lord, Creator, Healer, and Deliverer of this universe how to do His job. We simply make our request and trust His authority.

2. Seek His Will First – We ask because we want God’s perfect will to be done. Sometimes, He has a purpose for us to fulfill or a ministry to grow within us before He lifts the trial or provides the physical healing. Trust His process.

3. Trust His Answers – We ask because we recognize that we cannot provide these things for ourselves. When we surrender our needs to Him, His answer may come in one of three ways:

Yes: An immediate, timely provision.
Wait: His timing is flawless. When the breakthrough finally comes, it will be undeniably clear to everyone that God alone answered that prayer.
No: Because He loves you, He will withhold things that might ultimately harm you or others. His “no” is protection.

4. Lead with Gratitude – This key is right there in the verse—ask with thanksgiving. Be grateful that the Master of the universe allows us to have a personal relationship where we can bring Him anything. For example, if you are seeking relief from a painful arm, thank Him first for the blessing of your other healthy, pain-free arm. Then, ask Him to restore the one that hurts. Avoid complaining about how easy everyone else has it. Instead, focus on His current blessings.

Final Thoughts – We serve an awesome, all-powerful God who has already blessed us beyond anything we could think, imagine, or deserve. Let’s start taking even the smallest stressors to Him. When we learn to rejoice over His answers to the little things, our faith grows, preparing us to trust Him with the much larger needs of life. Remind the world whose you are today by how you respond to life’s circumstances. Don’t let anxiety and stress rule your day. Instead, take it to God from a heart of deep thanksgiving. He is waiting to hear your cry and respond as only He can!

Guard Your Heart – It determines Your Output

On 2026-05-14 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Thursday, May 14, 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 Proverbs 4:23 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in The Voice (VOICE).

²³ Above all else, watch over your heart; diligently guard it because from a sincere and pure heart come the good and noble things of life.

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.

In the preceding verses, we are reminded of the importance of listening to and obeying the Word of God. But then comes this powerful verse that reminds us of something very important: guard what goes into your heart, because it will affect the outflow of your whole life.

This is much like military personnel being warned to pay close attention to Central Command. If they ignore, twist, or manipulate the instructions given, they could end up harmed by what should have protected them.

I believe God is reminding us here to guard what enters our heart — our thoughts, our minds, and our decision-making. When the love, peace, and joy of God fill our hearts, then our words, attitudes, and actions will naturally reflect those things. But when we constantly surround ourselves with hateful, selfish, angry, or ungodly influences, it begins to affect us also. Before long, we may find ourselves speaking, thinking, and behaving in ways that do not honor God.

The same is true for the movies we watch, the Facebook posts we entertain, the music we listen to, the conversations we entertain, and the places we choose to spend our time. All these things influence the heart and mind. Sometimes we may even wonder, “Where did those thoughts come from?” or “Why did I respond that way?” Many times, it is because we allowed unhealthy influences to settle into our hearts.

Some may try to justify sinful behavior by pointing out that terrible things happened in the Bible too. But the greater message of the Bible is this: although sin brought destruction to individuals, families, cities, and nations, God still loved us enough to send Jesus Christ into the world to save sinners. Jesus came so that we might be forgiven, changed, and restored through Him. So that we might have pure and righteous hearts.

God gives each of us a choice. We can continue living life our own way and reject Him, or we can recognize the grace and mercy offered through Jesus Christ, accept Him as Lord and Savior, and receive the promise of eternal life with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit forever. To me, the choice is clear. Jesus is the only One who can truly cleanse our hearts and guide our lives. He is my Savior and Lord, and I pray that you will choose Him fully and allow Him to guard and direct your heart each day. What a joy it would be to worship at the feet of Jesus together throughout all eternity!

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Thank You for reminding us of the importance of guarding our hearts. Help us to be careful about the things we allow into our minds and spirits. Fill our hearts with Your love, peace, wisdom, and truth so that our words, attitudes, and actions will reflect You. Lord, remove anything from our lives that pulls us away from You. Help us to recognize the grace You freely offer through Jesus Christ and to choose obedience over sin each day. Strengthen us to walk closely with You and to honor You in all we say and do. Thank You for sending Jesus to save us and to give us the hope of eternal life. May our hearts remain fixed on You until the day we worship You face to face. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Trading Worry for Peace

On 2026-05-13 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Wednesday, May 13, 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 Philippians 4:6-7 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Living Bible (TLB).

⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. ⁷ If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.

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.

If you’re married, your spouse can usually tell when you’re worried before you even say a word. They ask because they love you and want to help. God is the same way, only He’s a step ahead—He already knows your thoughts before they even form.

So why do we worry? Usually, it’s because we feel like we’ve run out of options. We try to fix things ourselves first—like taking a pill for a backache or trying a new exercise. We only turn to the “Doctor” when our own solutions fail. But if we have a relationship with a God who loves us perfectly, why wouldn’t we talk to Him first?

When we keep our struggles to ourselves, we end up “moping” in our troubles. We might even mistakenly feel like God doesn’t care because He hasn’t stepped in yet. But Paul tells us the secret: Tell Him. Present your needs to Him with a thankful heart.

The “thanksgiving” part is key. Most of us wait until the prayer is answered to say thank you. But Paul suggests we thank Him while we are asking. This shows we have total confidence that our problem is in the right hands. It’s like saying, “Father, I’m giving this to You because You’re the only one who can fix it, and I’m thanking You now because I know You will handle it better than I ever could.”

That kind of faith brings a peace that doesn’t even make sense to the world. If you aren’t there yet, don’t be discouraged. Revisit the cross and commit yourself fully to the Savior. Remember how much He has already done for you and start sharing your heart with Him today.

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for knowing me better than I know myself. Forgive me for making You my last resort instead of my first response. Today, I bring You the things that are weighing on my heart, and you already know them individually, but I will mention them each privately. I choose to thank You right now—not because the problem is gone, but because You are in control of it. Fill my mind with Your peace that passes understanding. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Lifestyle of the “Always”

On 2026-05-12 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Tuesday, May 12, 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 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the New Living Translation (NLT).

15 … always try to do good to each other and to all people. 16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

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.

Before we dive in, let’s establish two things: first, the command to “do good” applies to everyone – not just fellow believers or the people who are kind to us. But to do good to those who may not be good to you. Second, these instructions are specifically for those who belong to Jesus. Following Christ isn’t about church attendance or trying to do good; it’s about a transformed nature. When Jesus is Lord, obeying Him becomes our new “natural.”

The Standard of Kindness How can God expect us to be good to everyone? Look at the Cross. God accepted us while we were still “clothed in our sin.” If we claim to be His children, our goal is to mirror His character. If we can treat others unkindly without feeling a stir in our hearts, we must stop and ask: Do I truly know Him? A heart that belongs to Christ is a heart that the Holy Spirit constantly prompts toward love.

The Lifestyle of the “Always” Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances. This sounds impossible if we view it as a checklist, but it’s actually about attitude.

Constant Prayer: This isn’t about being on your knees 24/7; it’s an ongoing conversation with God while you drive, work, and live. It’s keeping Him involved in every detail.
Constant Joy: Joy isn’t a reaction to good news; it’s a deep-seated security in Christ that circumstances can’t touch.
Constant Thanks: We often lose our gratitude when life doesn’t go our way. But when Jesus is Lord, we trust that He sees the “tomorrow” we cannot see.

When we struggle to give thanks, we are essentially saying we could run our lives better than God can. But for those who belong to Christ Jesus, this lifestyle of joy, prayer, and thanks is God’s perfect will. Let’s stop trying to control the outcome and start trusting the One who is in charge.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for accepting me even when I was far from You. Holy Spirit, stir my heart today. Help me to do good to everyone I encounter, regardless of how they treat me. Shift my attitude from self-reliance to constant prayer, and let Your joy be my strength even when circumstances are hard. I surrender my ‘right’ to be in control and trust Your perfect will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Sermon Without Words: Sharing Jesus “As You Go”

On 2026-05-11 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Monday, May 11, 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 Mark 16:15-16 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in The Passion Translation (TPT).

¹⁵ And he said to them, “As you go into all the world, preach openly the wonderful news of the gospel to the entire human race! ¹⁶Whoever believes the good news and is baptized will be saved, and whoever does not believe the good news will be condemned.

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.

Verse 15 reminds me of all of us on a Monday morning. We’ve spent Sunday with Jesus—refreshed by His Word and encouraged by our church family. Now, we are redirected to let that enthusiasm flow out of us to everyone we meet this week. It’s a good reminder that whatever we let flow into our hearts is exactly what will “spill out” through our words, actions, and attitudes.

I specifically like this translation, because it encourages us to share the Good News “as we go.” And though many Bibles use the word “preach,” I want to be clear: this isn’t just a command for pastors or evangelists. If you know Jesus as your Savior, you are His disciple, and this command is for you.

Sharing the Good News “as we go” means we don’t have to wait for a church service or a private prayer meeting. It means that in the middle of our daily errands and activities, we carry the love of Christ with us. Just this morning, I heard a story about someone sharing Jesus’ love with another person. They didn’t even have to quote a specific chapter or verse. When Jesus touches us on the inside, His love overflows in a “sermon” that words could never fully explain. Finally, these verses remind us of the weight of this mission. Jesus reemphasizes a truth found throughout the New Testament: when we share the Gospel and someone believes, they are saved from the penalty of sin and promised eternal life. But if they continue to reject Him, they remain separated from Him forever. It absolutely blows my mind to think that our simple interactions could make the difference in someone’s eternal destiny.

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for the refreshment of Your Word. As I head into this week, help me to be mindful of what I am allowing into my heart, so that only Your love spills out. Give me the courage to share the Good News “as I go”—in the grocery store, at work, and in my home. Let my life be a sermon that points others toward Your eternal kingdom. Amen.

A Mother’s Love Reflects God’s Heart

On 2026-05-10 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Sunday, May 10, 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 Proverbs 31:28 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the New International Version (NIV).

²⁸Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

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.

Motherhood is one of the clearest reflections of God’s love that many of us will ever experience. A mother gives of herself daily — through sacrifice, patience, encouragement, prayers, and unconditional love. Even on the difficult days, a mother continues to pour into the lives of those she loves.

Today, on Mother’s Day, we honor and thank God for mothers, grandmothers, spiritual mothers, and every woman who has nurtured us, or others, with love, compassion, sacrifice and care. Their quiet acts of faithfulness often go unnoticed by the world, sometimes even by us, but never by God.

I grew up in a home where mom was the key figurehead inside our home while dad took care of everything outside of the home. My siblings and I always knew that we were loved, because we knew that we were prized and cared for by loving and caring parents. They were far from the richest in town, but their love paid much greater dividends than anything most other kids experienced. There was never a moment where our family felt unloved nor uncared for. As we grew to know Jesus and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we realized that He had been in our home for a very long time, as His qualities and His character were evident in mom and dad.

Then the time came where my siblings and I were put to the test. We were blessed with families of our own. And although we always wanted even better for our kids than anything we were ever blessed with, I’m sure that God’s direction to us through our parents came through loud and clear to our children.

But isn’t that the way it is with the love of Jesus? We always allow His love towards us, to be extended to those who have yet to accept Him as Lord. What goes in, must come out!

Just as a godly mother shapes hearts, teaches faith, offers wisdom, and leaves a lasting legacy through prayer and example. Many of us are walking with the Lord today because a mother or mother-figure prayed for us, encouraged us, and pointed us toward Jesus.

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, may we take time to honor the women who have impacted our lives and thank God for the gift they are. God sees your labor of love, and your faithfulness matters more than you know. May that kind of impact affect the lives of others as your love pours out of us in ways we can’t explain. And may the love of Christ who impacted your life, also miraculously shine through us to impact those that we interact with today and every day!

PRAYER
Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of mothers and for the love, strength, and care they give so freely. Today we ask You to bless every mother, grandmother, and woman who has lovingly cared for others. Encourage those who are weary, strengthen those carrying heavy burdens, and fill their hearts with peace and joy.

Lord, comfort those for whom today is difficult — those who have lost their mothers, those longing to become mothers, and those carrying hurts surrounding motherhood. Remind them that Your love never fails and Your presence is always near.

Help us to show gratitude and honor to the mothers and mother-figures You have placed in our lives. May their faith, kindness, and devotion continue to point others toward You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living as the Only Bible They Read

On 2026-05-09 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Saturday, May 9, 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 Colossians 4:5-6 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Good News Translation (GNT).

⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have. ⁶ Your speech should always be pleasant and interesting, and you should know how to give the right answer to everyone.

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.

Often, our circumstances have a way of showing us who we really are—our strengths, our flaws, and especially how we represent ourselves as children of the King.

When Paul wrote from prison, I believe the Holy Spirit gave him a fresh perspective on how to speak to the people around him. It’s easy for us to fall into a “church vocabulary” when we’re with other believers, but that language doesn’t always translate to those who don’t know Jesus yet.

We’ve all heard that we might be the only “Bible” some people ever read. The danger is when someone learns a little about Scripture and then looks at our lives, only to see a total contradiction. When they see us acting contrary to God’s Word, they’re left with two choices: they either think they misunderstood the Bible, or they decide we’re hypocrites.

It’s heartbreaking to hear someone say, “If that’s what Christianity is, I want no part of it.” While we can’t control their reactions, we can control our actions. If we live out the “Golden Rule” found in Luke 6:31-35, people will start to see Jesus instead of our flaws and prejudices.

Paul was surrounded by prisoners, a crowd much different from his usual circles. We never know who we’ll run into today, but if we strive to “hide behind the cross,” others will see His likeness instead of our own. If we make it our daily goal to represent Him well, people won’t just see us—they’ll feel like they’ve been in the presence of Jesus.

PRAYER
Loving Jesus, help me to be mindful of my witness today. Let my words and my actions match the heart of Your Word. Holy Spirit, please hide me behind the cross so that when others look at me, they don’t see my prejudices or flaws, but they see the beauty of Jesus. Make me a clear reflection of Your love to everyone I meet. I ask this in the name of Jesus, God’s only Son. Amen.

Accepting the Perfect Will of God

On 2026-05-08 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Friday, May 8, 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 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Living Bible (TLB).

¹⁵ ….. always try to do good to each other and to everyone else. ¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Always keep on praying. ¹⁸ No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

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.

I believe every believer desires to know and follow the will of God. Yet, as we all know, Satan works tirelessly to distract us from anything that draws us closer to the Lord. Unless we intentionally keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, we can easily become discouraged, distracted, and uncertain about how to truly please God.

In First Epistle to the Thessalonians 5:15–18, Paul gives believers several powerful reminders that reveal the heart of a person who is walking in God’s will: be joyful always, pray continually, and give thanks in every circumstance.

At first, some may wonder how this is even possible. How can we remain joyful during loss, hardship, sickness, disappointment, or uncertainty? But perhaps we must first understand the difference between happiness and joy.

Happiness often depends on circumstances. We are happy when life goes well—when a child succeeds, when prayers are answered the way we hoped, or when blessings overflow. But joy runs much deeper. True joy comes from knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Circumstances may change, but the presence of Christ within us does not. Because of that, even in difficult seasons, we can still possess a deep and steady joy that the world cannot take away.

Paul also tells us to pray continually. Many people once believed prayer could only happen while kneeling quietly in a certain place. But God is not limited by location or circumstance. He hears us wherever we are. Prayer is really a continual awareness of God’s presence and a heart that stays connected to Him throughout the day.

Whether driving to work, facing an emergency, celebrating a blessing, or grieving a loss, we can speak to our Father at any moment—and He hears us. Paul encourages us to live with hearts constantly turned toward God.

Finally, Paul says we are to give thanks in every circumstance. This may be one of the hardest commands of all, because it requires us to trust and accept the will of God even when life hurts.

It is easy to thank God when life is going well. But when sickness comes, when dreams fall apart, or when we experience deep loss, gratitude becomes an act of faith. Giving thanks during painful seasons does not mean we enjoy suffering; it means we trust that God is still present, still loving, still faithful, and still in control.

God never changes. The same God who walks with us through our victories also walks beside us through our tears. His desire is not that we pretend life is easy, but that we remain anchored in Him through every season of life.

I love Paul’s concluding reminder: “For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” What comfort to know that God has a plan for His children—those He loves deeply and for whom He is preparing an eternal home.

So today, let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to trust God completely? Can we accept His will not only in the joyful moments, but also in the difficult ones? One thing is certain: He remains faithful through it all.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
Teach me to trust You in every season of life. When circumstances are joyful, help me to praise You with gratitude. When life becomes difficult, help me to rest in Your promises and remember that You are still good. Give me a heart that rejoices in Your presence, a spirit that prays continually, and faith that thanks You even before I understand Your plans. Help me to surrender my own desires and fully accept Your perfect will for my life. Draw me closer to You through every victory and every trial. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

To Show our Unselfishness – God first, Others second, Me last!

On 2026-05-07 By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s WordLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
^day, May ^, 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 Philippians 2:3-5 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Living Bible (TLB).

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. 4 Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing.

5 Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ

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 Paul wrote to the believers in Epistle to the Philippians, I believe God filled him with wisdom about the attitudes and actions needed for His children to become more like Jesus. But we must be careful not to read this passage as though it only applied to the Philippian church long ago. God included these teachings in Scripture because He knew believers in every generation would struggle with the very same things.

Sadly, many of the sins, attitudes, and failures we read about in the Bible are still repeated today. Growing up, I remember how quickly the children in our home learned from the discipline of another sibling. Mom and Dad didn’t need to warn each child separately. If something was wrong for one, it was wrong for all. In much the same way, God uses the examples in Scripture to teach every one of His children. When He corrects sin or praises obedience in His Word, those lessons still apply to us today.

In verses 3–4, Paul teaches us not to live seeking attention, praise, or admiration from others. God already sees every thought, word, and action, so rather than trying to impress people, we should focus on humility. Pride causes us to elevate ourselves while looking down on others, but humility reminds us that any one of us could fail without God’s grace. Imagine how different our relationships would be if we truly valued others above ourselves.

Paul also teaches us to genuinely care about the needs of others. In today’s world, that can be difficult. Many people are distracted by devices, consumed with their own accomplishments, or too busy to truly listen. Yet one of the greatest gifts we can offer someone is our full attention.

Good listening means:

Allowing others to finish speaking before we respond;
Focusing on their words instead of planning our next reply;
Setting aside distractions;
Giving people the respect of our undivided attention.

When we truly listen, we hear more than words. We begin to understand another person’s heart, struggles, fears, and hopes. Instead of trying to outshine others with our own stories, we learn to love them the way Christ loves us.

I especially love verse 5, where Paul says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” It’s as though Paul is reminding us that whenever we are unsure how to treat others, we should look at Jesus. Think about how He treated people—with compassion, patience, humility, and love—and then follow His example.

The more we live with the mind of Christ, the more the world will see Jesus in us.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
Please remove pride, selfishness, and distraction from my heart. Teach me to love others the way Jesus loves me. Help me to listen carefully, serve humbly, and think more about the needs of others than my own desires. Give me the mind of Christ so that my words, actions, and attitudes may reflect You each day. May others see Your love through me and be drawn closer to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Nuggets From God's Word

Author: Ed Algreen

Talk to God – A Key Path to Happiness over Stress

From Worry to Worship

Guard Your Heart – It determines Your Output

Trading Worry for Peace

The Lifestyle of the “Always”

A Sermon Without Words: Sharing Jesus “As You Go”

A Mother’s Love Reflects God’s Heart

Living as the Only Bible They Read

Accepting the Perfect Will of God

To Show our Unselfishness – God first, Others second, Me last!