Category: Promise

Embrace Humility: God’s Promise to the Humble

On By Ed AlgreenIn Blinded by Sin, Contrite, Humble, Obedience, Promise, Rewards, Righteous, SinLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Saturday, November 16, 2024, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) and found in Isaiah 66:2-3

THE SCRIPTURE READS
2 My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken! “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.
3 But those who choose their own ways – delighting in their detestable sins – will not have their offerings accepted…..

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
In our family homes we not only learn what is acceptable behavior to parents, but if they are godly parents, you will also learn what is acceptable to God. Now, over the years I have learned that even the best parents bring along traditions and beliefs from their respective families as well, so I have found that there is no substitute for us to individually build a personal relationship with God so that we could listen to His instructions directly as we meditate on His Word each day. In our Scripture today we can see that God clearly promised the Israelites a reward for their obedience, but a warning to those who chose to ignore His instruction. Let’s look at God’s specific instruction to each of the following positions:
a). Those who have humble and contrite hearts, and tremble at His Word – An individual with a humble heart, will come to the Master empty of any self importance or knowledge, knowing that God is totally supreme, all knowing, and loving. This makes one hungry for what God will instruct them, knowing that it is something they can trust, and that it will be for their own good. One with a contrite heart offers no excuses, and shifts no blame. Remember an old excuse used in our court system by criminals on trial ‘the devil made me do it’! Friends, don’t look around when you approach the throne of God, but rather quickly recognize that you are personally standing before the Creator of all mankind, the earth, and everything in it. This is a time that you want God to see you for who you truly are, not who you wish you could be, or for who you are at work, in your social club, or in this world. Remember, God goes straight for the heart, not for the fluff that everyone else might see or appreciate about you. In my family home, we loved and respected mom, but when dad walked in, we realized that he was the leader of our home and my siblings and I wanted to make sure that he found no fault with our behavior or actions that day. We didn’t literally ‘tremble’ when dad entered, but I believe it is just as God intended in this Scripture: learn to respect, understand, obey and honor the Word of our living God that He made available to us, for knowledge, understanding and guidance all the days of our lives. Many of our national laws were created and implemented, based on the teachings of the Bible, can’t you see the importance of us individually doing the same? THE REWARD: God promised that He would bless Israel if they did the above, and I honestly believe that He will bless us also as we adopt this principles into our lives. Let us strive towards holiness dear friends, and this is fed and achieved through obedience to God and His commands.
b). Those who choose their own ways and delight in their detestable sins – In short, I believe that God is saying that if the Israelites chose to do their own thing and disregard their Creator, then they obviously would see nothing wrong with the sins they had committed, or would commit, and would gloat over their actions before those they governed or came into contact with. There are many we will come into contact with who live out the same lifestyle that God is warning against here. We hear the results of this – ‘if you don’t like my attitude or my ways then move to a different part of town, or to a different job, or even a different church’. They are satisfied with who they have become and they don’t want you, or God, telling them otherwise. BUT, God said that He would not accept their offerings. In the Old Testament this may very well have applied to the many sacrifices/offerings made at the temple for various reasons or sins. Our sacrifices today tend to be the time we sacrifice to attend church occasionally, or the money that we write off against our taxes for giving to a non-profit organization, or even the money that we have our secretary send that big church in town every other month. However, when we do these things with a heart that doesn’t meet the standards mentioned in (a) above, God said that He would not accept them. Ever give someone a gift, and later found that they left it on their desk for anyone to pickup and assume, or they threw it in the trash can? If so, you may have just caught a glimpse of how God feels when we throw material things at Him instead of our heart, mind and soul.
I pray that you will conclude from the above what it is that God is looking for and expecting from you, then ask Him to help you overcome the constraints of the Evil one so that He could pour out His blessings on you. I offer good avenues for help in my below Footnote, should you require help in achieving my suggestion and plea.

PRAYER
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for creating us in Your own image. Although You created us with a specific purpose in mind, yet we have strayed to our own liking and subjected ourselves to the Evil one and his wicked and perverse ways, and they are contrary to Your ways. When our kids do this, we quickly conclude that they must have a ‘devil’ in them, yet it is almost impossible for us to discern the distance we have allowed ourselves to stray from the design and likeness of You, our Maker. Please forgive us Lord and constantly challenge us with our weaknesses so that we may search out the One in whom we can place our faith and trust for strength and power in overcoming our sin and disregard each and every day. You reminded the Israelites of what You require of them, and I’m sure that many will look at that and conclude how awful it was for those evil people to ignore the plea of God, without ever performing a self-examination and seeing our own many faults. I acknowledge that I have strayed from You in many ways on many occasions, so I ask that You begin a new work in me to help me identify those things that separate us and bring contention between us. My readers are much the same, I believe, so I ask that you complete a great work in the lives of ever nationality group reading this devotional, just as You did with the Israelites. Draw us close dear Lord, so that we may present ourselves daily with a humble and contrite heart as we read, respect, acknowledge and obey Your Word. Also, may we, every day, analyze our relationship and renew a right relationship with us, as necessary, so You may be glorified in every way through us. Amen!

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. I would also suggest that you speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com and share your good news! Perhaps one of God’s servants will pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby your home and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that, while also growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

The Promises of God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Promise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Thursday, 2023-02-02
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 132:11-12; 15-16;
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 11 The Lord swore an oath to David with a promise he will never take back: “I will place one of your descendants on your throne. 12 If your descendants obey the terms of my covenant and the laws that I teach them, then your royal line will continue forever and ever.”
15 I will bless this city and make it prosperous; I will satisfy its poor with food. 16 I will clothe its priests with godliness; its faithful servants will sing for joy.

APPLICATION: It is easiest for us to apply this to our president, or to our national leaders. Perhaps even to our pastor or local church leaders. But before we point fingers and try to fix everyone else, let’s see what God must be saying to us. Back in 2 Samuel 7:11-16 God made a promise to David about the successive reign of he and his descendants over Israel, if they stayed true to God. No doubt David thought of this promise very often, but in today’s Scripture the Israelites added this to one of their songs to make sure that it was always remembered. They had a vested interest in the ongoing leadership of their country. Does this seem too difficult to identify with, compared to all the fighting, backbiting, revenge, and insults that our citizens seem to have for our national leaders? The stage seems set by the way that we have drifted away from the teachings in God’s Word. God tells us to pray for our leaders because He has permitted their rule for specific reasons known only to Him. However, we seem to go overboard in trying to unseat our leaders, or at least tell them how to best do their job. What if God’s children, who are called by His name, would humble themselves and pray, seek His face, turn away from their sin and their wicked ways. Do you suppose that God would then forgive us our sins and heal our land? He promised this back in 2 Chronicles 7:14 because of circumstances at that time, and I have no doubt that such a move by God’s children today, would invite the move of His hand to heal our land also. Many of us today will turn off our television sets when we’ve heard too much of the political bickering and browbeating of our God-approved leaders. What’s your role dear friend? Are you a ‘knee-burner’ in prayer for our leaders, or are you one of the ‘browbeaters’? Perhaps our leaders are waiting for God’s children to turn away from their sin, humble themselves to Almighty God and stand ready to follow in full obedience to the teaching and commands of God in His Word. They may then feel support in their efforts to do the same when, and as, God deals in their hearts. The Holy Spirit really filled me to overflowing in the reminder that God will never revoke His promise! The old hymn said it all – ‘His promise is true, He will not forget You, for God is still on the throne’! What an awesome God we serve!!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God promised David that he and/or his descendants will reign over Israel forever, and we are reminded in vs 11 that God will never withdraw that promise! That’s just the kind of God we serve!

PRAYER: Many promises were made throughout Your Word, yet we fill our hearts and minds with doubt and uncertainty. Please forgive us Lord for placing You at a level where we are generally found. We need You Lord – every hour of every day. Please shape our minds to take You at Your word knowing that Your promises are secure and true. When we do this, I believe we will be more apt to show the world how great our God is. Your faithfulness lasts throughout all generations, so we have nothing to doubt or fear. Our political leaders have an awesome responsibility in leading Your children each day. Please draw them close to You so that they would depend on You in every decision and for every purpose. Please embolden us to show the world Jesus, as our Lord and King. Your power and your majesty are good for all times, please keep our minds fixed on You, precious Lord, and may the unsaved see, and believe! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please 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 might 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 Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Following In Your Footsteps

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Faith in Action, Follow Christ, Follower of Christ, Needs, Praise, Promise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2022-11-05
WRITTEN AT: Ormond Beach, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Kings 15:3-5
TRANSLATION: Good News Translation (GNT)

BIBLE TEXT: 3 He committed the same sins as his father and was not completely loyal to the Lord his God, as his great-grandfather David had been. 4 But for David’s sake the Lord his God gave Abijah a son to rule after him in Jerusalem and to keep Jerusalem secure. 5 The Lord did this because David had done what pleased him and had never disobeyed any of his commands, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite. 

APPLICATION: There are several ‘wow’ moments in this Scripture today:
1. God kept His promise that He made to David, even though his great-grandson, king Abijah, din’t live up to the commitment God saw in David. Often we will be compared to our parents, but isn’t it amazing how Abijah’s judgment, his actions and his character is being compared to his great-grandfather? I believe the same applies to our influence in the lives of generations that will follow is. Is there anything we need to work on now – before it’s too late? Guide us Lord, so that You might shine through us in every word and action.
2. Even in today’s Scripture, it acknowledged David was not perfect. But we know that David had a heart after God’s very own heart, and he was committed to following the ways of God. But God made a promise to David, and he was not about to renounce his promise. Long after David died, God was still keeping His promise. We may become downhearted about letting our guard down and messing up on something we may have promised God, but what a reminder that even long after we have left this life, yet God will still maintain His promise to us!
3. For each of David’s relatives who became king, notice that the Scripture always compares them to the standards set by David. Future history will show that our children, or their children may be compared to us. Those we taught in Sunday School may be reminded of something we said in a lesson we taught. Our coworkers may be questioned about their principles, even after being taught more justly by us. I wonder, will we hang our heads in shame, or will we proudly rejoice before the Father when He questions those with whom we interacted?
Friends, we are guided along in this life by whatever enters our heart, mind and soul. And we act out, and speak, according to that which we have taken in. If we fill ourselves with hatred and bad worldly ideas, then it becomes virtually impossible to act and speak in love. Conversely, if we fill ourselves with the teachings of Jesus and the love expressed by Jesus in all that He did, and if we will seek to imitate Jesus in every way possible, then God will fulfill a good work in those who come after us, or that we minister to. Perhaps each day as we stop to communicate with God, we should analyze whether our words and actions of that day may have helped others live like Jesus, or the Devil. I trust that you would join with me in desiring that we live more like Jesus every day, and when others interact with us, they would feel like they’ve been with Jesus, or at least one of His messengers. Our world needs this, and so do we. Let’s make sure that our lives are worthy of following and that our time on earth was worth our being here. May God’s Kingdom be richer because of our involvement on His behalf here on earth.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Just as our Father continued to fulfill His promise to David even into the second and third generations, I believe He will do the same for us! We serve an awesome God!

PRAYER: There is no God like our God, praise the wonderful name of Jesus! What a reminder in seeing You bless even an unfaithful servant like Abijah. But Lord, I believe that You will do the same for us as we pass along Your good works to all who follow us. Abijah certainly didn’t deserved Your blessing, or the gifts You gave to him, but because of Your faithful promise to David, You blessed him. Lord, please work on us so that we may be worthy of our children following in our footsteps. May they see Jesus evident in our talk and in our walk. I believe that many of the unsaved are also looking for evidence of the Great ‘I Am’, and Lord I pray that they will catch a glimpse as they interact with us. Fill us with Your love and blessings each and every day Lord, and may we do the same with those we come into contact with also, for Your Kingdom’s sake. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please 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 might 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 Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Are You Deserving of God’s Promise?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Committed, Needs, Praise, Promise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2022-10-21
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Kings 11:38
TRANSLATION: The Message (MSG)

BIBLE TEXT:  If you listen to what I tell you and live the way I show you and do what pleases me, following directions and obeying orders as my servant David did, I’ll stick with you no matter what.

APPLICATION: Having done a little in programming, I became educated on the purpose and use of conditional statements, so this promise to Jeroboam immediately caught my attention. We must also remember that God is always right, and He is always on time, all the time. We are the created, so we have no room to question the Creator when it looks like He went back on His word. I believe that we too are blessed by the mercies of God and that it is only through the grace of God that He sent us His Son so that we might seek forgiveness of our sin. We seem to follow very much in line with David and his son Solomon, for we are on fire for the Lord while in church, but hardly identifiable as a Christian during the week. We make promises, like marriage, before God and man, but then when the novelty wears off, many are back to their lifestyles before marriage. A preacher who’s on fire for the Lord, might preach a sermon where God, through His Holy Spirit, will nudge us to put away our evil ways and instead, stay true to the One who gave His life for us. But unless we stay connected, we will soon give way to the temptations of the world that bombard us endlessly. Friends, there are many who have chosen to play Russian-roulette with the promise of God that He will come again to take His church home to glory where He and the Son rules for ever and forever. Many will play recklessly with trying to second-guess when the day of Christ’s return will be, for they want to play Satan’s games until the hour before Christ returns. I believe that the promise made to us is very similar to what God made to David, Solomon and Jeroboam. If we accept the gift of salvation – Jesus Christ, and we live like we are His child, by obeying His commands and applying His teachings to our lives, then I believe that God’s promise to us is no different to that given to the aforementioned kings. For Jesus told us that He has gone to prepare a place for us, where we will live eternally with the Father and the Son. Please allow me to recommend that you recognize the King of all kings, the Great I Am, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and that you accept His precious Son Jesus as Lord of your life. Once you have done this, commit to acting like the Holy Saint of God that you are, and commit daily time to spend time with Jesus as you seek reminders from His Word and speak with Him as your Father. You then owe nothing to the advisory, for you are a child of the King. Show the world what your Father looks like through the way that you speak and live. Jesus promised never to leave you alone, when you live like His child!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: But for the grace of God, we would all be traveling the same path followed by David and Solomon. I want to follow a close and dedicated walk with my Master each and every day, God being my everlasting Helper, Guide and Deliverer.

PRAYER: Having created us in Your likeness, I can’t imagine the disappointment You must feel when you see us disregard the greatest gift ever given to mankind and still cave-in to the wickedness of the enemy, Satan. I have no doubt that You foreknew how we would suck at staying true to our decisions and our commitments, but I can’t imagine You ever thinking it would be this bad. Lord, please touch Your people once again. For those who have always turned a deaf ear to Your Word, and a blind eye to the goodness of God, I pray that You will soften their heart today and once again invite them to surrender their sin and the evil desires within them to the all-powerful Son of God, Jesus Christ. For those who once surrendered their life to Jesus, but then fell back into their sin, please Lord, re-invigorate their innermost desires and lead them wholeheartedly towards the Kingdom each and every day. May others see You and want to know You. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please 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 might 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 Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Promises Made, Promises Kept

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Promise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2022-08-26
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 9:6-8
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 6 …. When he arrived, Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, grandson of Saul, laid facedown on the floor and honored the king.
David: Mephibosheth!
Mephibosheth: At your service, my king.
David: 7 There’s no need to be frightened. I intend to treat you kindly for the sake of your father, Jonathan, who was my loyal friend. I will return to you all the territory that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always be welcome at my table.
8 Mephibosheth again prostrated himself before the king.
Mephibosheth: What am I to you that the king should look with favor on a dead dog like me? I am as one of your servants.

APPLICATION: Although we personally would never do this (ha ha), there are many who will make a promise on a whim, with little hope of ever fulfilling that promise, especially if the person is dead and gone. This might be expected from an unbeliever, because they have no basis on which to fulfill their promise regardless of the circumstances between them and the person they made a promise to. But with the child of God, I believe that we could read for ourselves how God was faithful in all that He promised. To our ancestors, God promised forgiveness of their sin through the sacrifices and blood of animals. Later He sent His only Son for the atonement of our sin, and at that same time, God promised that anyone who would believe in His Son and accept Him as Lord of their life, they would experience forgiveness of their sin, and be considered holy even in the presence of an omnipotent and holy God. One thing that God has always proven to mankind, even from the very beginning of time, is that anything He promises, can be considered complete – forevermore, right up to and until He returns or takes us home to heaven. In Acts 13:22, we are told that God considered David to be a man after His own heart. As such, perhaps it is easier for us to understand why David did what he did for Mephibosheth, for if he didn’t, would we ever think about counting him as a God-like person? I believe the challenge for Christians in today’s Scripture is that we also are expected to be Christ-like, and to live according to all that He teaches us in His Word. How do you suppose God might look at us? A man/woman after God’s own heart? Is it common for us to honor promises we made to our deceased parents, to our best friend? or even to God? Can the world say about us, compare us to David, and say about us – ‘he/she is or was a man/woman after God’s own heart’? Is it obvious in our promises, our actions and our words? Friends, God not only sees our outward actions and evidence of our promises, but He knows our very heart? Will you automatically respond from your heart like God would? If there is any doubt, may I suggest that you consider drawing close to God so that He might draw close to you and direct your path? Be sure that you have a ‘relationship’ with Jesus Christ, God’s Son, and not just had a passing glance at Him when you attended church once while under pressure from a parent or a friend. More of Jesus into your life, will result in more of Jesus out of your life through your words and actions. Daily intake from His Word and daily conversation with Him through prayer will make all the difference in this world, and the next.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: David allowed so much of God into his life, that his words, actions and promises reflected what God would do and say, not just what ordinary man would do.

PRAYER: Lord, only You really know the heart of man. Despite the failures by David, yet You knew that he had a heart that was compassionate, forgiving, loving unconditionally, sacrificial, and enduring – just like You. There are times that we wonder if we could ever be like You, for we cave into every trick of Satan and his demons, that seem to be on the lookout for us wherever we go. Forgive us Lord for assuming that You will just lay on Your goodness and Your character, while we continue to live like the world. Oh, that You would bless us with a heart like Yours, so that we may desire to know You better and to practice the instructions You gave to us in Your Holy Word. You made lots of promises to us who are called by Your name, please embolden us and give us strength and desire to always keep our promises in being Your faithful servants here among the evil that surrounds us much of the time. I want to be just like You, Lord, but I can only do that under Your strength, guidance and provision. Be glorified today through Your faithful servants, is my humble plea. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please 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 might 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 Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Trust In God, His Promises Are True

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Promise, Recognize God, Trust, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-07-04
WRITTEN AT: O Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Isaiah 40:31; 41:10,13
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 40:30      But those who trust in the Eternal One will regain their strength. They will soar on wings as eagles. They will run—never winded, never weary. They will walk—never tired, never faint.
41:10     So don’t be afraid. I am here, with you; don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, help you. I am here with My right hand to make right and to hold you up.
41:13     After all, it is I, the Eternal One your God, who has hold of your right hand, Who whispers in your ear, “Don’t be afraid. I will help you.”

APPLICATION: Often troubled times will face us and, we will automatically respond in certain ways, based on past experiences and on our support team at the time. However, all too often there will be a certain twist to our current dilemma that we are facing for the very first time. It seems to me that we respond, or react, based on information that we have fed to our brain over the years. I wish for you, my friend, what I would desire for myself, that there would be so much of God fed into my life each day from the Scriptures, such as the verses we are meditating on today, that I would respond to life’s circumstances in a way that is pleasing to God, and that I would submit to the authority of His all-powerful hand. It is so easy for us to assume the position of knowing it all, and that we only need God for those decisions that we are stumped on, but I pray that over the years you may have developed: faith in God; a trust in His all-powerful capabilities; a yearning for our all-knowing, all-loving God. As we meditate on these verses today, we are reminded that God has promised to care for us, protect us and direct us along the right path each and every day. The way we tap into that is by trusting in Him with all our heart, soul and mind, so that we might be encouraged to consult with our God, and be willing to obey what He leads us to. Trust God, my friend. He created us and this world in which we live, so He knows every little intricate detail about what is going on personally in our lives, and in man’s inability to deal with the many self-destructing moves that we make politically in our respective countries. If it’s from Scripture we already know, then I believe He will quickly bring it back to active memory. If it’s a new revelation, then I believe God will make it known to us and He will direct us. Let me encourage you to read over the above verses again, and allow God to saturate your minds with the assurance of His love, His wisdom and His direction for your life. He’s got this! All we need to do is to tap into His goodness and allow Him to be our Master and our God.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God cares for us and He will take good care of His own, if we trust Him to do it!

PRAYER: Praise the Lord we serve a God that can do the things that are impossible in man’s eyes! Not only am I convinced of the truth of Your Word in the above verses Lord, but I was also reminded of this in my New Testament reading today where You healed the sick, cast out demons and quieted their mouths. Praise God, You truly are a God who can do miraculous things, even those things that we think might seem impossible to us. Lord, with that confidence, please allow me to ask for You to touch the hearts of the unsaved in my community. Please open their hearts and minds to the message of Your Word, convince them of their sin, and create a desire within them to know You personally. Please convict the hearts of the saved. May we never be ashamed of the Gospel, and may we always be such examples of our Savior that the unsaved will see You and want to accept and serve You. Oh that You may be glorified through Your children today, and may the power of our awesome God be evident in all that we do and say. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please 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 might 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 Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Promises vs Threats – Both From God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Discipline, Needs, Praise, Promise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2022-05-16
WRITTEN AT: Jupiter, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Joshua 23:14-16
TRANSLATION: Good News Translation (GNT)

BIBLE TEXT: 14 “…… Every one of you knows in his heart and soul that the Lord your God has given you all the good things that he promised. Every promise he made has been kept; not one has failed. 15 But just as he kept every promise that he made to you, so he will carry out every threat. 16 If you do not keep the covenant which the Lord your God commanded you to keep and if you serve and worship other gods, then in his anger he will punish you, and soon none of you will be left in this good land that he has given you.”

APPLICATION: Those who tend to be rebellious really struggle in this life, because there are laws and rules in every aspect of life. Many are challenged by God’s Word because they are opposed to the laws, commands and rules set by God. But aren’t we always ready to celebrate and worship the Lord when we are blessed by the mercies of God and His undeserving, amazing goodness towards us? So if it was left up to us, what would you do for those who go their own stubborn way? Would you give them more rope to hang themselves, or would you strive in your efforts to correct them and try to turn them towards the teachings of the Master? I believe that we all know what should be done, even though in today’s world we tend to think of ‘doing it our way’, as that old song is titled! For a moment, think about the huge investment of time and self sacrifice that Joshua had with the Israelites. Think about His commitment to the Almighty God? I believe that when he spoke to the tribes in our Scripture today, he spoke from the heart of a father. Yes, he had a sincere commitment to God and he wanted to make sure that everything was done according to God’s perfect plan, but because he had invested so much of his life into a much brighter future for His fellow Israelites, everything he did or said came from a heart just like the heart of God. Wouldn’t it be awesome to reflect on a sermon, teaching, or advice from your pastor and just stand in awe at what he shared from God that’s all for your very best interest, even though some of it really ‘stepped on your toes’? My friends, let’s be reminded that when discipline is necessary, or when God has correction in store for us, it will be uncomfortable because it’s aim is to get us on the right track to do the things that are pleasing to God. Only one is perfect, Jesus our Lord. So when the Word of God is preached or taught, it will probably work at the rough edges in our lives – those scars caused by disobedience and/or our kicking against the principles of God. Because Joshua loved his people so much, he didn’t want to see them have to face the correction/discipline of God, so he warned them right at the very beginning of their new life in their new land. Our pastors are much the same way. As messengers of God, and with deep love for their parishioners, they stand in front of us each week and warn us about the consequences of disobedience to the Word and will of God. Some refuse to attend church for this very reason, for they would prefer a ‘pat on the back’ and only hear about the blessings of God. However, I believe that we all must remember one thing about God’s Word, it is designed to steer us in the direction that God has chosen for us. To redirect us at times, God may need to create a bump in our road to steer us to the right, or to the left. Without that, we will continue straight – along the wrong path. So let me encourage you to not just be thankful for the wise words of Joshua, but also for the Word of God as you read it, and for pastor and teachers as they merely help us to understand what God is saying to us. God has promised us a lot – right down to a heavenly home where we will spend eternity. However, He has threatened to discipline us when we allow our stubborn actions to overrule His perfect will for us. I want to enjoy the many promises of God in every aspect of my life! I pray that every reader/listener is very much aligned with my desire – God being our helper!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Every promise God has made, has been kept!

PRAYER: Gracious Lord, for the blessings and the good times we enjoy, we say thank You. For correction and discipline, we also say thank You, because You love us way too much to see us floundering along the wrong path, or doing those things that You disapprove of. Thank You for all You did for the Israelites, and we celebrate with them the rich mercies and gifts that You bestowed on them. Thank You for the challenging times mentioned by Joshua and about the disciplines You may found necessary to impose on our ancestors to get them back on track. We are well aware of our weaknesses and the many temptations that come to distract us from our persistent walk with You. Thank God that out of sincere love, You have decided to even use discipline to keep us straight as we walk towards You in a sinful and destructive world. May we always be gracious in accepting our discipline, and always loving and respectful of the God who loves us. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please 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 might 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 Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Promises Fulfilled & He’ll Do It Again!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Promise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2022-05-13
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Joshua 21:43-45
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 43 So the Lord gave to Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44 And the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies. 45 Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.

APPLICATION: Often divorces are the result of broken promises; children disappear, and remain separated, from parents because they feel like mom and/or dad never kept their promises. Unfortunately, some may wander away from God because they feel like His promises were not fulfilled the instant they insisted on receiving results. If you ever read the books, chapters and verses preceding today’s focal verses, you will know that the promises God made to Abraham and the forefathers of the Israelites could easily have come under the heading ‘Unanswered Promises’, for many years had passed since God first vocalized His promises. Do you suppose that’s where we tend to quickly jump to conclusions about unanswered promised? Funny how Satan is always there to promote negativity in our minds, especially when it comes to something that God has in store for our good. However, this comes as no surprise to God, for He knows our heart and our intentions. He blessed the Israelites in so many ways. He put one of their own in the king’s court, so that when the famine came, Joseph would influence the king into helping his family stay alive. God saw their suffering as slaves to the king in Egypt, so He raise up a spiritual giant to lead them away from their deprivation and into a land He had prepared for them. Through Moses and Joshua, God led them across the desert and provided for their every need, even though they often turned aside to idol worship and other sins. But God had made a promise, and He wasn’t about to turn His back on that. At the time of Joshua’s writing of our focal verses, he was able to see with human eyes that God had indeed fulfilled his promises – every promise that God gave to the Israelite fathers! In our world today, Christians are mum about how they might respond to their unsaved friends or coworkers. Often this is because they lack knowledge, understanding, and familiarization with the Word of God. But even of more importance in bragging about our God to others, is our personal testimony of what God has done for us, it’s first-hand, non-refutable, evidence of the impact that God has been in our life! Of course, we can support our personal experience with Bible stories that stand out as we reflect on the Word of God. About the Israelites, and how God parted the waters for them to cross; how He worked miracle after miracle through His servant Moses; how His Son was miraculously conceived; How Jesus performed miracle after miracle, including His choosing 12 simple laymen to work and minister alongside Him; how He was crucified, yet He rose from the dead 3 days later just as He had prophesied hundreds of years early through His prophets of old; and in like fashion to what He did for the Israelites in providing a Promised Land of peace and bounty, He also promised us an eternal home of unequaled beauty with the Father and the Son for evermore! Dear friends, a pastoral degree is not necessary to share what you know; what has happened in your life; and the bright future that you are looking forward to enjoying when your time on earth as ended. These are all exciting promises, just like those that Joshua witnessed! Our friends need to know what has impacted our life, so they could decide for themselves if they are ready to stop the train taking them to the pit of Hell. As cruel as it sounds, if they have not invited Jesus into their heart, then they have indeed chosen to continue following Satan on a path to his kingdom – Hell. May the promises of God have an everlasting impact on you, and your friends as you lovingly share the blessings of God in your life with them!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God’s promises are true and He will fulfill what He promised! Encourage each other towards a relationship with the King of all kings, as you confidently share His promises, knowing that He will always fulfill what He has promised!

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for reminding us that if You promised us something, You will fulfill it, just as You did for the Israelites! In spite of the ‘instant’ world that we live in – with microwaves, high speed cars, rail and jets, please help us to rest easy, but reassured, that Your promises are alway fulfilled in perfect timing. There’s no need for timers, or timely reminders, if You said it, we can ‘go to the bank’ with that, for it is true and will happen just like You said it would! Lord, we anxiously await fulfillment of a huge promise You made that one day soon, those who are Yours will leave this hardened, cruel and tumultuous world, and enter into our heavenly home. that You have prepared for us, as we take up our eternal residence with the Father and the Son for evermore! Oh, what a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see! Please Lord, place us in situations where we could share that promise with others who need You as Lord and Savior. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please 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 might 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 Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Expect the Unexpected From God, and Respond Quickly To Him!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Miracles, Needs, Praise, Promise, Recognize GodLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2021-09-24
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Judges 13:3-4; 13-14
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: 3-5 …. an angel from the Lord appeared to her and said: You have never been able to have any children, but very soon you will be pregnant and have a son. He will belong to God from the day he is born, so ….
13 “Your wife must be careful to do everything I told her,” the Lord’s angel answered. 14 “She must not eat or drink anything made from grapes. She must not drink wine or beer or eat anything forbidden by God’s laws. I told her exactly what to do.”

APPLICATION: There are times that we are given instructions that really surprise us, and we may ask for the instructions to be repeated so we could make sure we heard right. I actually smiled as I read this story today, because I identified with it in the lives of my wife and I! Manoah, from the tribe of Dan, was married and had not been blessed with children. In preparation for a future king for Israel, God had one of His angels appear to Manoah’s wife and give her the good news of a baby that she will give birth to – a very special baby. Of course this came as a shock to Manoah, and despite being told of all the special conditions given to his wife, Manoah needed to ask some questions of his own, and hear the instructions first hand, just in case his wife may have misunderstood anything. God agreed to this, and allowed the angel to reappear to Manoah and his dear wife. I’m of the opinion that the angel told Manoah that the instructions are precisely as he told his wife! This made me think of how I question my dear wife when she relays an encounter, or instructions, with me. Poor lady, right?? But I bet that many of my readers/listeners are very similar. When we find it challenging to believe something, we tend to question the message, and/or the messenger, and/or the originator! During my employment, it became comical when someone would come with interpretation of a new regulation, because we often found that we could get almost any answer we want, if we ask the question in the right way! But it didn’t seem like this may have been Manoah’s expectation, as the angel just confirmed exactly what was told to his wife. I believe the point of caution in this Scripture is that accepting the word, much like Mary did when she heard from the angel, and not doubting it’s origination or its intention, like Zachariah did when he was told that he and Elizabeth would bear a child in their old age, might actually help is to show God that we believe in His awesome power, no matter how impossible His end result seems to us. For you see dear friends, I believe that if God tells us to do something, only He has the power to help us accomplish that, and we would do best to not stand in the way. I believe that part of building our faith in the instructions given by God, is to know Him in such a powerful manner that we are ready to jump when He tells us to. When we doubt Him, we are actually saying ‘well I’m not so sure about that, could that really be God ordering me to do this, or that?’ Have faith in God my friends, for His power is unlimited, and His ways are way different to our ways. Expect the unexpected, but be ready to respond to His calling, no matter what His orders consist of.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Miracles will always seem impossible to us, because they are not our ideas nor performed under our power. Trust God, and do what He says!

PRAYER: Precious Lord, we often ask for things that only You can do, yet we tend to question Your response and Your awesome power to do miraculous things through us and for us. Please forgive us when we doubt, and help us to stay focused on Your great love for us, as You will always do what’s best for us, and for the things that will enrich Your Kingdom. Thank You for working miraculously in the lives of Manoah and his wife to produce a son named Samuel, that we study so much about even today. Lord, I know that You are still our mircale-worker today, and that You still have great things in store for Your people even today. Please help us to be open to Your call and to Your miracles that You may do through us. May we always be available for Your miraculous work. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please 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 might 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 Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Our Incentive Not Needed

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Promise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2021-09-23
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Joshua 11:29-31; 34
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: 29 Then the Lord’s Spirit took control of Jephthah, and Jephthah went through Gilead and Manasseh, raising an army. Finally, he arrived at Mizpah in Gilead, where 30 he promised the Lord, “If you will let me defeat the Ammonites 31 and come home safely, I will sacrifice to you whoever comes out to meet me first.”
34 When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, the first one to meet him was his daughter. She was playing a tambourine and dancing to celebrate his victory, and she was his only child.

APPLICATION: Often when we are given the right incentive, we will gain the confidence needed to accomplish much more than normal. But God is much greater than anything we could dream or imagine. It is not necessary for us to promise Him something in return for His favor, nor is it necessary for us to reassure Him of our good intentions, for He knows us by name and He also knows our very thoughts, word and actions. He will therefore give to us that which He knows is best for us and for those His blessings will touch. We cannot incentivize God to honor our request. I had a pastor who, while in the heat of battle overseas, made a promise as he petitioned God in desperation for his safe return to his homeland. Fortunately that pastor served out his promise to God and is still faithful to this very day. In today’s Scripture, Jephthah was very anxious about leading his people in war against the ammonites, because their king had mocked the idea of Jephthah ever facing such an army as his. So I would imagine that Jephthah was not just asking for victory, but also wanting to retain his pride before such a powerful king. But regardless of the reason, Jephthah made a very wild and potentially dangerous promise in the heat of the moment, for only those very near and dear to his heart would exit his house to greet him home after a tough battle. Regardless of the reason he did this, Jephthah was determined to live up to his promise. His beloved daughter, who was the first to exit his home, encouraged him to live up to his promise, and neither of them tried to wiggle their way out of the promise. Some may wonder, why didn’t God intervene and excuse Jephthah from his promise? Notice that God played no part in the promise. God didn’t condition His response on the promise, nor was He approached when Jephthah found himself in the dilemma of having to sacrifice his own daughter. I believe that our lesson here is to avoid the practice of, or the need for, swearing on anything to guarantee our word, or the need to promise something unrelated, to reinforce our request for something. God created us, and He loves us very much. He wants nothing but His very best for those who have accepted His lordship and honors Him in all that we do and say. Simply ask, and wait to see His response – the answer that is best for our good!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God heard the cry of Jephthah and honored his request to win the battle against the ammonites. It is so unfortunate that Jephthah saw the need to try and incentivize God.

PRAYER: Here I am Lord. Just me, with no hidden agendas or pride to mend. Please control my anxious fears and my pride to win in order to better my selfish gain. Many reading this devotional may be like Jephthah, and tempted to offer anything in order to win a battle they are fighting, or a job promotion they are wishing for, or a family situation they want desperately to see resolved. Lord, I believe that You know our hearts and You therefore know whether our intentions or our request is genuine, and You will respond lovingly without any further incentive thrown in by us. Forgive us Lord when we try to use our tactics to win Your approval and Your action. You know us way too intimately to need any more than our word in its simplest form. Thank You that Jephthah kept his promise, regardless of the outcome. I pray that You will help us to learn from his experience and just trust You with our requests. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please 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 might 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 Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!