Category: Prayer

Jesus–The ‘Light’ at the end of your dark tunnel

On By Ed AlgreenIn Integrity, Prayer, PurityLeave a comment

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: Job 8:5–7
Today’s Bible Text: 5 But if you pray to God and seek the favor of the Almighty, 6 and if you are pure and live with integrity, he will surely rise up and restore your happy home. 7 And though you started with little, you will end with much.
The Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take Away: In reading the encouraging words from Job’s friend, Bildad, I believe that God gave me more wisdom to encourage and help those who have come through the past few years of discouragement due to losses – jobs, homes, families, vehicles, etc. For those who were blessed to keep their jobs, and therefore hang on to those things that are precious to us, it may be challenging for us to identify with these friends and/or family. Praise God, His Word is so applicable for every aspect of life, therefore I thank Him for directing me to this passage today and I am hoping this might especially encourage those folk who may have felt much like Job did, after losing everything. I am also hoping that this might also help those of us that God has chosen to walk alongside these individuals to encourage, and/or lift up, and/or restore, and/or redirect. For those that have, it is easy to say to those who have fallen: “Come on pull your socks up and move on with life” however, unless we can do that from a heart of love, or a heart burdened by God to really help that individual, our intended ‘encouragement’ may not be accepted as we hoped it would. Notice that Bildad pointed Job to God and gave him specific instruction on how to draw closer to God – the source of his help. This applied to Job, and could also apply to our friends seeking to overcome months and months of discouragement with loss of hope for the future. Here are tips given to Job by Bildad that I want you to consider:

  • Pray to God – Though earthly things may seem dismal, there is One who cares about every concern of His children. Pray, pray, pray to God;
  • Seek favor from the Almighty – God knows what you’re going through, but just as Jesus asked the blind man what was he seeking from Jesus, I believe He wants to hear your heart. Plead your case before Him. Ask Him for what you need in your life and the life of your family;
  • Put your purity and integrity in check – Our God is holy and righteous and pure. Please follow His ways and live your life in all purity and with full integrity as a child of God. Don’t let the circumstances of this earth interfere with the relationship you have with your Father. Live in such purity and integrity that the world will have no idea what you are presently going through. Even on the cross, and after suffering much cruelty and hurt, yet Jesus blessed the criminal hanging next to Him. Let that be your example friend.

Like Job, I believe that you too can see happiness restored to your home and your financial worth restored. My God loves you just as much as He loved Job. Let me encourage you to live like Job did, and see how God reacts to your dilemma!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I have no news for You today that You are not already fully aware of. Many of my readers and I have friends and/or family who are hurting because of the results of bad deals dealt to them by today’s society and perhaps bad choices by them. These are Your precious kids that You sacrificed Your life for at Calvary, so I beg You to touch them in a very special way today dear Lord. I dare not ask You how or why, but merely to trust in Your goodness to be the loving and caring God that You are. We will praise You tirelessly for Your goodness to these that we love and care about, 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

The Basics Of Prayer

On By Ed AlgreenIn Forgiveness, Glorify, Prayer, WorshipLeave a comment

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: Luke 11:2–4
Today’s Bible Text: Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say this:
‘Father: May your holy name be honored; may your Kingdom come. Give us day by day the food we need. Forgive us our sins, for we forgive everyone who does us wrong. And do not bring us to hard testing.’ ”
The Bible Translation: The Good news Translation (GNT)

My Take Away: There are some basic elements to this lesson from Jesus on how we should pray, that I believe, we should all pay close attention to, and incorporate into our prayer lives:

  • Father – Address the One to whom you are praying. This is not a general prayer to the church where you are asking for volunteers to help you with certain concerns of your life;
  • May Your holy name be honored – Our God is worthy, and is to be honored for the awesome God that He is. In spite of the most serious prayer concerns that we could possibly have for God, yet there is so much that we can recognize in His goodness and mercy towards us. Take time to glorify Him and worship Him;
  • May Your kingdom come – What’s your heart’s condition? Would you be ready to go with Him if His kingdom came today – if He came for you today?
  • Give us…, forgive us…. – Recognize that you are a needy person in desperate need of a most worthy God. Place your needs at His feet and ask His forgiveness for all your failures and shortcomings;
  • Forgive others – Recognize that you are asking God’s forgiveness because you have been faithful in forgiving others;
  • Hard testing – Know that the only thing that separates you from the challenges, trials and testing this world/Satan dishes out, is the grace of God. Ask for God’s strength to properly handle those things and to protect you from them. Remember, He is worthy!

Friends, I believe that many of you may struggle with how to pray. That’s not new, for Jesus responded to the same dilemma that His followers had – as in our subject verses today. I hope that this will help you.

Prayer: Praise God that we serve such an awesome, all-powerful God! Jesus, please touch our hearts again today as we deal with such elementary, yet very powerful, subjects as ‘prayer’. We are a needy people who desperately need an all powerful Savior to hold our hands and direct our thoughts, our actions and our words today. In thanksgiving, I ask these things for my readers and myself dear God, 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

Why do you still trust God?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Determined, Faith, Prayer, Stand FirmLeave a comment

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: Job 2:7–10
Today’s Bible Text: So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with a terrible case of boils from head to foot. Then Job took a broken piece of pottery to scrape himself and sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to be godly when God has done all this to you? Curse him and die.” But he replied, “You talk like some heathen woman. What? Shall we receive only pleasant things from the hand of God and never anything unpleasant?” So in all this Job said nothing wrong.
The Bible Translation: The Living Bible (TLB)

My Take Away: In this life we have choices. We can sit in our corner and cry “Why Me, Lord?” all day long, and we may even write a song about it like the one I linked to. However, when one is totally surrendered to Jesus Christ, and as long as we remain here on this earth, we know that there will be times that God will shower His blessings on us and answer our prayers just like we might expect, and as outsiders looking in might expect from our awesome God. But what if God needs our experience to teach someone close to us something about His grace, or His mercy, or even His stand for perfect, unadulterated holy living? Job was introduced by God to Satan as the finest man on earth, and a man of integrity who truly trusted God, yet God allowed Job to be tested and tried beyond, what appears to be, anything a man could truly bear. But we are still learning lessons from this man even today. Friends, I believe that when we place our faith and trust in God, we have to be prepared to stand firm in that commitment with the faith that proves that we are willing to go beyond the good times and the great answers to prayer that we expect, but we need to also be aware that as God, He might sometimes answer our prayers for our best and His glory, in ways that we didn’t ask for or expect. Think about this friend, why would we ask God about a need, if we think that He only has the same answers as we do? We ask because we want His divine direction and we want responses that will bring glory to God. What has God benefited if answers to our prayers serve to lift us up only? I know of friends who have traveled hundreds of miles to be prayed over by certain evangelists. Who has been getting the praise in that ministry? Friends, my God is everywhere and He hears the heart-cry of all of His precious kids. In His desire to reach more of His rebellious kids, He may have to test us and allow us to respond to His testing in ways that might prove to the world who our Master truly is. Are you sincere in your relationship with God? Will you uphold the test of fire in your life and still claim Jesus as your Lord? Our military has very stringent punishment for desertion by soldiers, May I encourage you to stand firm in your faith and never face desertion charges by God?

Prayer: Father, way too often pride steps in the way for us and we cave in to popular belief, or worldly expectations. It is so easy to brag on You when everything is ‘going our way’, and when our success is what the world is expecting. I believe that all of this is true when we keep You included, because Lord Jesus, we simply don’t have all of the answers. Lord, we want to be used of You in ways that will help unbelievers to see Jesus. I’m sure that this will not always be pleasant for us, just as we saw with Job, but Lord I pray that we will be constantly reminded of the unpleasant action You took on the cross at Calvary so that we might have eternal life in glory with You. It is so important that we maintain our faith and trust in You Lord. Please touch us today with Your grace, mercy and love for others. We want the world to see the Jesus that we love, adore and trust with all things in our life. You oh Lord, are my King. Thank You from the bottom of my heart for being Lord of all my decisions. Bless my readers to sincerely trust in You for all things, for I ask this in the precious and loving name of Jesus, 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

Rescue The Perishing

On By Ed AlgreenIn Caring, Holy Spirit, Prayer, Submission2 Comments

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: Jude 1:20–23
Today’s Bible Text: But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.
The Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take Away: Interesting how God used Jude to not only share this with his church as he prepared to leave them, but also to have this included in His Word for our ongoing benefit. Friends, have you ever stopped and thought real good about the folk that God directs your way for your weekend services? They are looking to escape the cruelty and hatred of their world, and hoping to find the opposite at your church – God’s House. As they walk in, some might look them up and down because their dress code may not be quite like that of your regular church membership, or perhaps they may not have had water turned on at their place for a shower. So let’s look at Jude’s advice here: “Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit” May I suggest that when you pray in this way, I believe God, through His Holy Spirit, will direct your thoughts to be better aligned with His thoughts, so that you might see the heart of that visitor, without being impacted by anything else. Fill yourself with God’s Holy Spirit and you will speak His words without having to worry about saying something that may ordinarily upset someone. You will quickly see the spiritual need of the individual without being distracted by, or worrying about their immediate physical needs. Friends, Jude also goes on to encourage us to deal with believers from a Holy Spirit filled heart. This is where we show mercy and love towards a Brother who is drifting away and not always living up to the mark. Satan is working seriously on the person and unless you intervene and gently speak to, and love on that person, they will be torn away by the forces of evil. In fact, it will be just like you are snatching that weaker Brother or Sister from the flames of Satan and his wicked and evil judgment. Please be concentrated on the heart today friend. The words and the actions may appear ugly and extremely sinful, but as the heart of the individual is touched, the outside stuff will be cleaned up as they invite God in. At the end of the day, this also helps you to reconcile with God about where your heart is. Interested in the restoration of a soul for Christ, or satisfied to see them fail and feel even more rejected by the world – and even worse, by Christ and His ‘representatives’?

Prayer: Lord, this is serious business for Your children, for our words and our actions can either serve to help restore one who has fallen, or one who is desperately looking for a better way, OR we could totally turn them off from ever wanting to know You at all. That’s quite a responsibility Lord Jesus, however we have been reminded that we must become better aligned with Your Holy Spirit so that we may be led daily by Him. My readers and I need You Lord Jesus, because we tend to be so critical of those that just don’t seem to have their act together quite as good as we think we do. Please forgive us for acting this way, for we have seen so often that mankind will fail in and of their own merits. Only things that are done for Jesus will last, and only things directed by Your Holy Spirit will lead to spiritual goodness that could be used for Your glory. Please have Your will and way in our lives this day, Oh Lord. For I ask these things in the all-powerful name of Jesus, my Lord, 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

Intimacy with God!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Daily communion with God, Guidance, Intimacy with God, Love, Obedience, Prayer2 Comments

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: Psalm 143:8–10
Today’s Bible Text: Each morning let me learn more about your love because I trust you. I come to you in prayer, asking for your guidance. Please rescue me from my enemies, LORD! I come to you for safety.  You are my God. Show me what you want me to do, and let your gentle Spirit lead me in the right path.
The Bible Translation: The Contemporary English Version (CEV)

My Take Away: The Psalms is filled with David’s intimacy with God. Sometimes David was upset at God because things happened that David felt like he could have done them a whole lot better than God, or at least different than He did. David was at times very close to God because it was evident in his writings, but then there were times that David felt like he had distanced himself from God. There are some Psalms that begin with David being very upset at God, and by the end he realizes that his God really is on top of things and has everything under His control. Throughout the book David found many ways to express his love to, and his respect of God, yet in these verses today he is still calling out for God to help him love and trust Him more. David is still asking God for guidance, protection and wisdom on how to best deal with his enemies. David is still surrendering himself to the safety and security of our awesome, strong, caring and loving God, for he reflects on, and feels assured of God’s love and security. Although he has a very intimate, lasting and proven relationship with God, yet David still pleads for direction, leadership and guidance so that he might travel down the right path where he may remain victorious, but true and committed to his God. So what about you friend, are you like me where, too often we tend to do our own thing and only seek God’s help when we run into trouble? Is there a time of daily intimacy with God? Do you carve out time to spend meditating on the Word of God so that you might be reminded of the heart of God and learn about His instructions and direction for you that day? Friends, intimacy with, and trust in God, is not something you can purchase at the local Christian Bookstore, or acquire at church over the weekend if you pay your tithes. This comes ONLY from an intimate two-way relationship with God. Pouring your wants, needs and desires out to God is one thing, but unless you are willing to stop, listen to Him, and obey His commands, then at best you have succeeded in pouring your heart out to Him without caring enough about what He has to say back to you. Intimacy is a two-way thing. May I encourage you today to seek two-way intimacy with God, each and every day? He created us, longs to be allowed to lead us while here on earth, and I believe that He can’t wait to have us in Heaven when we graduate from this earth! Let’s live with the end in mind, knowing that we can enjoy His presence here on earth also!

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for loving us enough to care about our every move, thought or word. For those who have accepted You as Lord, we are living life down here as just a taste of all that You have in store for us as we come to join You in glory! May we live in daily communion with You and may we always be obedient to Your call on our life, and the direction You point us in here on earth. May we love You more, listen to You more and then be totally obedient to all that You direct us in, so that Your glory might be fulfilled in and through us. I ask these things in the precious name of Jesus, 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

Things That Might Prevent Answers To Your Prayers

On By Ed AlgreenIn Forgiveness, Prayer, Respect, Unconditional loveLeave a comment

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: 1 Peter 3:7
Today’s Bible Text: 7 You husbands must be careful of your wives, being thoughtful of their needs and honoring them as the weaker sex. Remember that you and your wife are partners in receiving God’s blessings, and if you don’t treat her as you should, your prayers will not get ready answers.
The Bible Translation: The Living Bible (TLB)

My Take Away: In this instant, press-of-a-button type world that we live in today, there is little tolerance for the man praying to God without receiving a quick response. However, have you ever stopped to think why God would not be tuned in and ready to answer your prayers? Peter reminds us that God has placed husband and wife together as loving partners who are not just blessed to receive the love and care of each other, but they are also subject to receiving the blessings of God that will impact their lives in such a way that they would be a blessing to others. In fact, Peter emphasizes that this union is so important, that when they are no longer abiding by His instruction through His Word, and that a divide in spirit is obvious, that He may very well not answer their prayers that He intended to bless them both with. Let me suggest that you think of it this way: imagine that a relative sold some land and always intended to bless you and your spouse with a portion of the sale proceeds. However, before the funds are disbursed the relative learns that you and your spouse are separated because of circumstances that you can’t seem to work through. Do you suppose that the relative will reissue two checks – one to each of you, or that they will postpone the disbursement until you work through your differences? I dare say that I believe it is the latter that will probably occur. So friends, I believe that the idea that Peter is trying to teach us here, is that our ‘house’ should be in order before we go before a holy and righteous God asking Him to ignore our ‘mess’ and bless us because of His love for us. Remember, God gave of His very best for us. He sacrificed His very best for us, so that we might one day be united with Him in glory. How dare us think that we can come before Him in our filth – hatred, disunity, division, negative attitudes, and other sin. Holiness requires holiness, or at least a request for help to overcome our unrighteousness and to become holy, as He is holy. If you know Jesus as Lord, may I encourage you to clean up your act of disunity and disrespect for your spouse, before you go before God asking Him to bless anything you are doing, or to give you something from the riches of His awesome hand? If you have never accepted Jesus as Lord, may I encourage you to seek His hand of forgiveness and accept Him as Lord, Savior and Master of your life, before you ever attempt to ask Him for anything?

Prayer: Dear God, please forgive us for our littleness in thinking that You would overlook our pettiness, our sin, our unforgiveness, our deliberate disunity with our spouse and yet turn a blind eye and bless us anyway. Thank You for having Your servant Peter remind us of the importance of being holy when we approach Your holy throne of grace. It is so obvious that we need You in every aspect of our lives. It is so obvious that we need to stay so perfectly aligned with Your will, and obedient to Your commands, that You would welcome our petitions when we approach Your throne. Please forgive us for ever thinking otherwise. Please forgive our disrespect for Your holiness. Please give us boldness to seek Your help in our relationships, particularly the most important relationship you have ever blessed us with – our spouse. Thank You for demonstrating pure, unadulterated love to us. May we seek Your face as we endeavor to return that love to You and as we love our spouse. I ask these things in the precious and all-loving name of Jesus, 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

We Have Not, Because…..

On By Ed AlgreenIn Ask and Receive, Envy, Jealousy, Prayer2 Comments

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: James 4:2–3
Today’s Bible Text: You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
The Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take Away: I believe that many of us read these verses and sit back in disbelief that folk would actually do this! Whoa, wait a moment…. would we ever think that God had a message through James for everyone else…. but not for us? Something can’t be right with that analysis Brother, Sister, friend. So let’s look a little closer at this. I believe that fights, arguments and many evils in life can be traced back to times when we have felt that we were not treated fairly, or obtained our desires. In fact, we become downright envious, with a strong sense of covetousness, when we look at what others have, compared to what we have, or can afford, or perhaps that we didn’t see as a priority to purchase. Our lacking could also be a scripturally based issue, for perhaps we never saw the need to ask God for it! But what normally happens when these resulting feelings well up inside of us? Friends, this is the root of conflict and strife. In fact, there are feelings that sometimes overtake us and opens the door for Satan to push us into actions that we never thought possible. It might be quarrelling, fighting, or even conspiring to do things out of spite that could lead to crimes we never thought possible. But catch this thought friends, James is suggesting that we don’t have because we simply don’t ask God for it. Is he kidding? Of course we told God what we had to have? Ooops, did I just say that??? Friends, I believe that God is warning us that instead of looking horizontal at what others have, we need to start looking up – to God, for all that He would bless us with. Remember, we are His child, so He knows exactly what we need, and what we could handle, that won’t cause us to lose track of the important things in life. You see, we should never have those things that will distract us and cause us to lose our witness, so can we learn to give Him thanks in ALL things and in all of life’s circumstances – please? I believe that most often we tend to try and satisfy our deep, selfish desires when we ask God for things. It might even sound legitimate, such as more time, more money or more energy so that we could do the things we desire to do for God. But what if we asked instead for more desire for what God promises or commands of us? What if we asked for less desire to do those things that are contrary to His will for us? Which of these might bear the motive that best aligns with God’s will for us? It may be time for us to ‘Have A Little Talk With Jesus’ – a sincere and honest talk with Him as we seek His will, without any personal desires getting in the way of that. 

Prayer: Dear God, we are so twisted, and distracted by the things of this world, and our selfish desires. Is it any wonder why we often feel so unworthy of being used by You? Lord, You created us to worship You, obey You and example Your ways before a lost and dying world. Please help us to refocus on Your will for us, instead of our selfish desires for things that we think will benefit us. Please help us to make the adjustments necessary to focus more fully and more obediently on You and Your perfect will for us. Please help us to put self aside and allow You to minister in and through us to those who need You as Lord of their life. Please touch the lives of Your children – Your followers – Your servants today, so that we may be usable instruments in Your hands. I ask these things in the matchless name of Jesus, 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

Results of Sincere Prayer

On By Ed AlgreenIn Caring, Loving God, PrayerLeave a comment

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: 2 Chronicles 33:12–13
Today’s Bible Text: But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the LORD his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed, the LORD listened to him and was moved by his request. So the LORD brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the LORD alone is God!
The Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)

My Take Away: When we read about evil kings in the Bible, we normally see where thousands of people were impacted by their evil minds and deeds. King Manasseh was one of those kings who had a very rough beginning, for he did everything possible to fight against God and all that He stood for. However, like Manasseh, we have to be very careful how we trifle around with God. We can’t on one hand treat God any way we like, and then wonder why everything in our lives seem to always be in constant disarray. Friends, we will quickly notice that God is quite the gentleman, and will remove His hand from us, if we choose to live our lives without Him. That is a very sad state of affairs when that occurs, because we see where Satan then takes total control and what he does after that could often be disastrous. But, as in the story of this king, we are once again reminded of the awesome love that the Father has for His children. For in the middle of his distress, when Manasseh cried out for help, God was right there and showered His love on Manasseh. Friends, I believe it is very obvious that God does everything possible to win us into heaven, and not the opposite. In the last few words of the verses chosen today, we see where this response by God caused Manasseh to “realize that the Lord alone is God.”  Hopefully we will come to our senses today and realize that the Lord our God is an awesome, powerful, loving, trusting, immovable, solid as a rock, kind of God, who is always deserving of our praise and our worship. He alone has the power to bring the dead back to life and to handle every care or concern we may be burdened with. He cares about that loved one that we were about to give up on, and only God has the power to get their spiritual attention. Our part is to recognize Him as God and allow Him access into our lives so that He might accomplish His will and way in us. The prayer of a very wicked man moved God and immediately got His attention. Is there anything so great that you would hesitate in taking before His throne today? I encourage you to do it friend! He loves you way too much to see you hurt personally, or hurt over a loved one’s sin. Give it to Him in prayer today friend.

Prayer: Lord You are good, and Your mercies endures forever! Thank You for loving and caring enough for us that You listen to our humble plea even in our weakest condition, and especially in our times of shame and/or disgrace. Lord, You know our weaknesses and You also know our concerns for our loved ones. I am totally grateful to You for hearing my prayers and answering in ways that only You are capable of. Please keep me true to Your Word, and may my witness always portray the love and witness of You, to a lost a dying world. Please touch the unsaved today, especially my family and friends. May this be a day of decision and conversion for them. These things I ask in sincere humility and in the powerful name of Jesus, Your Son, 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

Oh To Have Leaders or Men Like This…

On By Ed AlgreenIn Leadership of the Holy Spirit, Prayer, SurrenderLeave a comment

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: 2 Chronicles 31:20–21
Today’s Bible Text: In this way, King Hezekiah handled the distribution throughout all Judah, doing what was pleasing and good in the sight of the LORD his God. In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow God’s laws and commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful.
The Bible Translation: New Living Translation  (NLT)

My Take Away: I can hardly imagine what our families, our churches, our cities and our nation would be like if we had men following the example of King Hezekiah! We are told in verse 21 that this king was extremely successful because….. everything he did was in a spirit of complete loyalty and devotion to God! Wow! What if we were to elect leaders for our country who practice what Hezekiah did? Can you even imagine what a country of peace and success would look like? Can you imagine how much better our workplaces would be if we (Christians) went to work with a spirit of complete loyalty and devotion to God. Friends, I know that many jobs will not allow Christianity to be advertised or practiced within its walls, but what is inside of us cannot be taken away! We take Christ into our jobs through our actions, our stands on certain issues, through our sincere dedication to our work and our bosses. Friends, this may sound like ‘pie in the sky’ to some that read this devotional today, but may I remind you that our God is still in charge, and He still has the power to touch the very heart of man, for His ultimate honor and glory. I firmly believe that what is missing in this old world of ours, is the commitment of our leaders to the grand leader of all mankind. Now before you say a loud Amen, may I also add that the other missing piece is the absence of the saints of God in constant prayer for our leaders. We expect them to lead us aright, but only God knows what tomorrow will bring, so if our leaders are to lead with tomorrow in mind, they must have the wisdom and direction of the only One who knows about tomorrow. Lord, may Your army assume our rightful position – on our knees, and seek Your perfect will for our own lives on mission for You, and for our leaders so that they may be drawn to You – the answer to all of life’s circumstances and challenges.

 

Prayer: Father in heaven, forgive us for our determination to manage our lives, our churches, our cities, etc. using only the weak and helpless abilities of self. Each of us face impossible situations everyday, because most decisions we make are impacted by things that could happen tomorrow – an unknown factor to mankind. It was so great being reminded today that Christians have a resource available to them that has the mysteries of tomorrow covered. Jesus, I was reminded once again how desperately we need You in every aspect of our life, especially in our decision-making. Lord, may You be glorified because of our surrender to You and our commitment to allow You to be King and Ruler over all things. Please impact our critical decisions this year as we vote, and also as we lift up our leaders in prayer. I ask these things in the all powerful, all knowing, yet all loving name of Jesus, my Savior. 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