Category: Worry

The Battle’s Not Yours, But God’s

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, Worry, Worship1 Comment

DATE POSTED: Friday, 2023-03-17
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Chronicles 20:15-17
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: 15 “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem, and you, O king Jehoshaphat!” he exclaimed. “The Lord says, ‘Don’t be afraid! Don’t be paralyzed by this mighty army! For the battle is not yours, but God’s! 16 Tomorrow, go down and attack them! You will find them coming up the slopes of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 But you will not need to fight! Take your places; stand quietly and see the incredible rescue operation God will perform for you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem! Don’t be afraid or discouraged! Go out there tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!’”

OBSERVATION: It may seem like a daily thing for you to stop and question how on earth will you handle the intensity of your situation. For some, it may be your finances, or a sick relative, or a son or daughter facing imprisonment, or your job coming to an end. But the ongoing effect of these issues may force you to doubt your future. How will you possibly go on from here? King Jehoshaphat was a firm believer in the God who created this universe, but he was right in the middle of his people begging for God’s help when the battle seemed larger than himself. Join me for my full devotional as we look into this.

APPLICATION: I believe there comes a time when each of us will face overwhelming challenges, circumstances, or battles, that appear much bigger than anything we have handled in the past or could possibly handle now. What do we normally do, and to whom do we normally turn to, when these things occur. As a child, we turned to mom, dad or an older sibling. As we grew older, it may still be one of these, or it might be a good friend or a pastor or a counselor. Along the way we may be introduced to Jesus. Some accept Him as Lord, and they choose to seek His help in times of overwhelming challenges. However, some find respite in friends, alcohol, drugs, or prescription drugs given for various illnesses, particularly mental illness. In the latter case, some try to drown, or cover up the challenges, since they have no confidence in their ability to properly handle the irregular, yet challenging aspects of life. King Jehoshaphat was told of an unusually large army headed his way and he immediately got nervous about the ability to overcome the humongous challenge ahead of him. The king called together all of his fighting men, but not to strategize their counterattack, but to pray at the temple. Normally, when we are frightened or very upset over something we nervously go before God and get straight to the point. The king did otherwise, for he reflected on the awesome works of God and His immense goodness. Interestingly, God gave His response to a Levite in the midst of those praying. God reminded the king who was really in charge. Why worry about a counterattack that’s not really yours to worry about? God wanted the king and his people to know that He would handle the situation, since this battle was to challenge His authority. Friends, how often do we immediately cry ‘poor me’, or ‘why is everyone picking on me’? How often do we do like Jehoshaphat and make it a priority to consult with God first and humble ourselves before Him for His kindness in spite of our sin and wickedness? Another point of challenge for us in this story is – how often will we trust God at His word and just believe what He said? Do you suppose that your faith is strong enough in the Almighty that you would leave all your ammunition behind and just head out towards the oncoming army with full confidence that God would do what He said He would do? Will you stop your helpers from bringing their weapons or their medications or any other defenses, because You know for sure that it’s God’s battle you’re heading into and you will simply do what He tells you to do? That requires extreme faith, and confidence in our God, my friend. However, King Jehoshaphat and his army did it, and God was true to His word, just as He always is. There’s no need for us to assume God’s battles, He’s got this. We can relax and just ready ourselves for the victory chant – celebrate His Goodness.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: The battle – you know, the thing that worries you most, is not yours, but God might be saying to You to truly trust Him to own it and take it on for the victory that only He could render.

PRAYER: Lord, so often we bring our concerns before You, then we sense Your response to reassure us of how You will assume our battles, but we keep hanging in there, worrying beyond anything we could handle, instead of surrendering the wheel of control to You. It boils down to lack of faith. Please forgive us Lord, for we are so human that we find it almost impossible to believe that You have the wheel and will do more than we could imagine or hope for. You are so much more powerful than us, but with just a small amount of faith, we could stand victorious knowing that You’ve got this. Please forgive us where we fail in this and help us to stand firm in all that You have promised to do for us. The unsaved are watching, so may our faith in the one true God show them why we feel it important to also know Him personally. 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!

Be Carefree in The Care of God!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worry, Worry no more, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2021-09-01
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 12:22-26
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 22 Jesus taught his disciples, saying, “Listen to me. Never let anxiety enter your hearts. Never worry about any of your needs, such as food or clothing. 23 For your life is infinitely more than just the food you eat or the clothing you wear. 24 Take the carefree birds as your example. Do you ever see them worry? They neither grow their own food nor put it in a storehouse for later. Yet God takes care of every one of them, feeding each of them out of the abundance of his love and goodness. Isn’t your life more precious to God than a bird? Be carefree in the care of God! 25 “Does worry add anything to your life? Can it add one more year, or even one day? 26 So if worrying adds nothing, but actually subtracts from your life, why would you worry about God’s care of you?

APPLICATION: Often we worry, because we can’t see what’s ahead, nor the outcome we could expect from our current circumstances. However, the Word of God says that God is our provider and He will care for us even better than He does for the beautiful birds of the air. The awesome encouragement in this is that God not only knows our current needs, but in providing for us, He takes into consideration everything that could possibly cross our paths in the future. Allow me to share a personal experience. There are two families in this story, a father and his son. The father had reached an age where his heart was beginning to give him trouble, but he was retired and since he had 5 children, I believe he felt relieved that he and his wife would be cared for. He was a Christian, so he also depended on God to watch over him and care for his every need. However, in the life of his oldest son, God began working on a plan to move him far away and continue his career in that foreign land. But his heart was broken when he told his dad about this move, because the dad felt like this would destroy his support system and separate his children, especially now as he was becoming older. Because of the direction felt from God, the son moved, just as he felt led by God. Within the first 18 months of being in his new home, his dad was rushed to medical professionals and hospitals very near to the son’s new location, where they saved his life from a heart attack that was misdiagnosed in the dad’s home country. Friends, I am the son in this story, and my dad sat down in tears after arriving home from the hospital and told me ‘now I could see what God was doing for me, when He opened doors for you to move’. You see, we absolutely cannot outdo God. He loved my dad, and was preparing a path for him to get the help that he needed when the time came. I felt like I was just blessed of God in how smoothly my move went, but God had a greater plan in mind for my dad, praise the wonderful name of Jesus! Please know that I may be blind to the very real challenges that you may feel pressed upon you at this time, but let me assure you that our God is greater than all our troubles and worries, and He has His children’s best interest in mind as they allow Him access. Be at peace my friend, that our hand rests in the hand of the creator of all things and He will never fail us. Trust in Him today and give Him access to the very intimate parts of your life. He cares for you!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Worry is a sign of the non-Christian. Trust in God with all your heart, soul and mind, and He will take care of you – guaranteed!

PRAYER: Lord God, it is humbling to say that I am amazed by You. Thank You for taking care of my dad, and thank you for touching the lives of so many that will read or listen to this devotional. Please open the eyes of those who tend to worry, because they don’t know the God who can do I all things. Please soften their hearts and cause them to surrender their life to You before it is eternally too late. Please embolden us with the strength and wisdom to live life without worry, knowing that there is nothing impossible with 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!

No Need To Worry About What To Say

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worry, Worry no more, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Tuesday, 2021-06-15
WRITTEN AT: Florence, IN

SCRIPTURE FROM: Mark 13:9-11
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 9 “When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. 10 For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. 11 But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

APPLICATION: As children, we were reassured by our parents that there’s no need to worry about what we would say when meeting with strangers, or the authorities, for we will simply fall back on our upbringing and tell the truth. However, in reading the account of Jesus appearing before Pilate and His ensuing beatings, crucifixion, etc, we might read this warning from Jesus as something to fear and become intimidated over. I don’t know that anyone will question your fear of these things, but the purpose of this devotional today is to bring hope to those who fear speaking with the authorities under normal circumstances, and in the very likely event of the end times when Jesus’ words will materialize. Friends, Christians must be encouraged and always remember that at the time of our acceptance of the gift of Eternal Life, the Holy Spirit came to dwell in our hearts to comfort us; to encourage us; to guide us; and to keep us true to our commitment made to God. Scripture is very clear that greater is He that is in us (The Holy Spirit), than he that is in the world (Satan). We are to rest assured that this awesome privilege was invoked on us by the God of the universe, because He knew that we needed Him (the Holy Spirit), and that as long as we are left on this earth, Satan will be after us to trip us up and cause us to wander away from God. With the Holy Spirit inside of us, we could see Satan coming from a mile away! As a child of the King, we are guided into the ways of Jesus and encouraged to reach out to Jesus for His awesome power, healing and encouragement. Fellow Christians will tell you how often they have looked back on their words and sat in wonder as to where those words must have come from. It’s not happen-chance, or good luck, or the smarts received from a good seminary, it is Jesus Christ speaking through His counterpart, the Holy Spirit! Call on Him my friend, and be ready to open your mouth as He speaks to you, and through you. It is His power and His words that will save the sinner. Don’t mess things up by trying to override that which God has established. Submit to, and depend on, the Holy Spirit completing His work through the likes of simple mankind – even you and me!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God has provided His Holy Spirit to guide us, especially during the times that will come, when we are questioned about our faith! Know Jesus today and have that confidence that comes from God above! He will never fail you!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord Jesus for being our guide before we know ourselves that we need Your help. Your warnings will not go unheeded, so we depend on You and the Holy Spirit who dwells within to be our guide and our stay when the world does it’s best to trip us up. We need Your guidance today and everyday Heavenly Father, so that we might represent You well here on earth. Based on what You’ve told us, we know that the time is coming when we will be questioned about our faith. Praise God, You have also told us in advance where our help comes from – our help comes from the Lord, who knows all things. Praise Your holy name! 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!

Don’t Worry, Trust God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Trust, Worry, Worry no more, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Friday, 2020-08-14
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Jeremiah 17:7-8
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: 7 “But those who trust in the Lord will be blessed.
    They know that the Lord will do what he says.
8 They will be strong like trees planted near a stream
    that send out roots to the water.
They have nothing to fear when the days get hot.
    Their leaves are always green.
They never worry, even in a year that has no rain.
    They always produce fruit.

OBSERVATION: Upon being reminded and reassured by Scripture that those who trust in Jesus, know that He can and will do what He has promised, I believe we should perhaps ponder ‘then why do Christians worry?’. Let’s examine the awesome power of our God and then the condition of our own heart to see where the gap is that causes us not to trust Him in every circumstance of life.

APPLICATION: The story is told of a daring acrobat that walked across a tight cable that stretched across the Niagara Falls. After successfully walking across, he overheard some of his audience speaking of his abilities, especially after he announced that he would be pushing a wheelbarrow across next. This encouraged him to ask one of those bragging from the audience to voluntarily jump into the wheelbarrow that he would push across. But this was met with rejection as they became very frightened to put their life on the line. Is this what happens to Christians who brag on the power of God, and they boast on their faith in this awesome God, but are unwilling to trust wholeheartedly in God at critical times in their life? Friends, if we truly believe and trust in God, then I believe that we should trust in Him to: 1). Save us from our sin; 2). Deliver us from the evils of this world; 3). Protect us from harm by the evil one; 4). Guide us into all truth, according to His Word, every day; 5) Keep us strong, even when the world seems to be crashing in around us; 6) Calm our every fear to know that the King of all kings and Lord of all lords is in charge of every little, and big, thing around us; and 7) Give us a confident assurance that He is with us and guiding us through every situation, every day. Friends, I know this sounds like a long list, but I also know that it is not exhaustive. The bottom line is that we have every reason to trust God with every aspect of our lives, and to rest assured that He will be our ‘comfort and stay’ through this life and the next! Make a comparison to the trees mentioned in our Scripture today. You will be assured that when you plant your faith and trust deeply in the God that you adore, your strength will come from Him when life seems to be throwing more at you than you feel you could handle. Your peace will come from Him as you reassure yourself that no matter what the world around you is dealing with, you have a God who created the whole world and everything in it, so you know without a doubt that He could calm the stormy seas and the rioting and the hatred that seems rampant in our world. Your strength and reassurance will come from the Source to your roots, so there is no need to worry about who will be president of the U.S. after November, and who will be impacted by this pandemic, for you know who holds tomorrow and you know who holds your hand. Friends, we serve an awesome, all-powerful God. Just as Jeremiah demonstrated with the tree roots, we have no need to worry, for we shall reign victoriously here in earth, or better still, in heaven with Jesus as we bow and worship Him throughout eternity. For the unbeliever who will come across this devotional and may not feel adequate peace, like I’ve just described, please know that you too could have that same assurance. Surrender your life thru the forgiveness of sin offered by my Lord Jesus. The angels in heaven rejoice in heaven when a sinner is saved, and so will I. For help on this big decision, please read through my Footnote, and especially read the Scripture behind the link ‘To Know Jesus’. Feel free to contact me if I could be of help to you. God loves you my friend, and so do I!

PRAYER: Oh Lord, these are days that we need You more than ever before. A worldwide pandemic for which there has been no manmade cure yet, but oh how we rejoice that Christians worship and adore a God who can do all things, including healing of the afflicted. A critical election of world leaders awaits, such as the president of the United States. But in Your wisdom, You have assured Your children that only leaders approved by You who will lead so that Your will is accomplished, only those will be elected. So we have no reason to worry, and no reason to be caught up in the ugliness of politics, You are in control! Thank You for the reassurance You gave to Jeremiah to share with us – we need not worry, for You will accomplish Your will, for Your purpose, and to invoke praise and glory from Your people. We therefore rest in that assurance and thank You in advance for all that You will do in living up to Your Word! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog at https://NuggetsFromGodsWord.org 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 or listening to this devotional, please go to 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. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and see all of my posts, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. 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!

How To Transform Worry Into Praise

On By Ed AlgreenIn Praise, Prayer, Surrender, Worry, Worry no more2 Comments

Thursday, 2019-08-29

Bible Reference: Philippians 4:6-7
Translation: The Message (MSG)

Bible Text: 6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

OBSERVATION: I believe that God knew full well how His children would worry, when we take our eyes off Him, so He was sure to include these verses today just for us! Let us ponder today over the many times that Jesus touched a life to help restore faith in Him, and to show His awesome love for mankind. Let’s learn to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, then we will have less to worry about. What a glorious thought to meditate on today!

APPLICATION: I believe there is one thing that we do extremely well, and that is ‘worry’. For we worry about what was said to us, or perhaps what wasn’t said to us. We worry about the look someone gave us, and even worse, if they don’t look at us at all! We worry about what we should say, but we worry even more if we say too much. When our minds are so busy worrying about every little thing in life, we tend to start building our own case about why the world hates us and wants nothing to do with us. I hope that as you meditate on this scripture with me today you will catch a glimpse, or be reminded, of the awesome God that we serve. You see, I am convinced that our God loves us enough that He will patiently wait for us to unload all of our concerns (worries) on Him in prayer. But what I am even more convinced of, is that God loves us enough that He sacrificed His one and only Son, so that He could provide the answer for our forgiveness of sin and our means of entering the gates of heaven to spend eternity with Him. Friends, there are so many things that we are so blessed with, that we should learn to fix our minds on those things, rather than the worries of all that this world will burden us down with. So how do we move from where we are, to where we should be? We are taught in these verses that it’s a matter of prayer and praise. Let’s make it our aim to take our concerns to the Lord in prayer, and let’s look for ways to praise Him for all that we see Him doing in our lives. In doing these things, we are told that we will find relief for those times that we would otherwise just worry, worry, worry. God loves us way too much to see us succumb to the sickness caused by worry.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for Your endless blessings on us. Thank You for the provisions You made for us and the future that is ours, who have placed our faith and trust in You. It’s a daily thing for us to overlook the temptations Satan will send our way to pull us down emotionally, and make us worry about things that we have no control over. Thank You for the direction You have given to us today in Your Word. Oh that we may be found faithful and true to You dear Lord. Oh that we may learn to worship You and praise You for who You are, even when our personal circumstances seem bleak. We’re Yours dear Lord. Please continue to teach us the right path to truth, hope, love and encouragement, so that we may savor in Your presence all of our days. I ask these things in and through the name of Jesus, my Savior, AMEN!

How Christians Avoid Heartaches

On By Ed AlgreenIn Dedication, Devoted, Devotion, Focused, Heaven, WorryLeave a comment

Monday, 2019-08-05

Bible Reference: Colossians 3:1-3
Translation: The Living Bible (TLB)

Bible Text:  1 Since you became alive again, so to speak, when Christ arose from the dead, now set your sights on the rich treasures and joys of heaven where he sits beside God in the place of honor and power. 2 Let heaven fill your thoughts; don’t spend your time worrying about things down here. 3 You should have as little desire for this world as a dead person does. Your real life is in heaven with Christ and God.

OBSERVATION: What occupies your time? What do you tend to become worried about? Do you feel like your mind, and your life is properly aligned with the Creator of heaven and earth? Jesus displayed an incredible love for you, and He wants His very best for your life, but He needs your undivided attention. So STOP and meditate with me for just a short while today! It may be the most meaningful out of anything else you do today!

APPLICATION:  When Christians worry, do you suppose it’s because we are worried that God will not do what He promised? When we doubt and stress out to the limit, do you suppose that we are concerned that God is unfaithful? When we feel unloved and like no one cares, do you suppose that we allow ourselves to ponder why God must have left us alone and no longer care about us? Friends, I believe that when we allow these types of feelings and/or thoughts to enter our minds, it’s because we have taken our eyes off Jesus and becoming overwhelmed by the the things of this world, and perhaps looking for the attention of earthly friends or loved ones. I believe it is times like these that Satan moves in for the attack, for he sees that we have taken our eyes off Jesus and allowing the distractions of this world to take hold in our lives. I would highly recommend these verses to all Christians today, for if we follow the advice in verse 2 and fill our thoughts with heaven – our future home, then we will be reminded that it is a place prepared just for us. A place where we will unite with Jesus at the foot of His throne and worship Him with unending praises. A place where we will hear the voice of the Father who will encourage us with words such as “well done good and faithful servant”! A place where the creator of love, the One who loved us enough to die on a cross so that we might have everlasting hope and assurance of heaven. A place where there will be no distractions, but instead where our full undivided attention is attracted towards the Savior of the world! Try getting away where you are totally disconnected from cell phones and devices for a week. Wow, what a release! Oh how our attention is quickly drawn to the things and people who are truly important to us! Friends, I must remind you that we have allowed so much interference in our day that we not only lose sight of our one-on-one time with the Lord, but we also have lost sight of one-on-one time with our spouses, our children, our friends, our coworkers and all others. Is it any wonder that we have trouble evangelizing to them? If we can all agree that verse 3 is totally spot on and accurate, then we will agree that our real life is in heaven! I would dare say that our minds, our attention, our aim and our devotion should be there today and everyday also. Do these thoughts apply to you, friend? If not, why not? Is this something you need to take time to talk with God about?

PRAYER: Lord God, we are such worry warts, but it’s always over things that really don’t matter – things of this world. Being reminded in this scripture that our minds are to be set on our heavenly home, and our time with You, we humbly come before You today asking for forgiveness for our misguided thoughts and worries. We realize that all these things do is to distract us in our walk with You and our witness of You. For when we become solid in our faith and demonstrate it in our walk with You, we will influence those who follow in our steps. Lord I pray that You will do an awesome work in my life and in the lives of my readers, so that we might become healthy Christians focused on the ‘main thing’ – our heavenly home. I further pray that this new focus will have such an impact on others that Your name might be lifted high as Your children become better aligned with Your perfect will for us. I ask these things in the strong, mighty and holy name of Jesus – your Son, and my Redeemer, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog at https://NuggetsFromGodsWord.org 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 or listening to this devotional, please go to 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. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and see all of my posts, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. 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!

Biblical Response To Worries and Stress

On By Ed AlgreenIn Worry, Worry no moreLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   1 Peter 5:6-7 (TPT)

TEXT:  6 If you bow low in God’s awesome presence, he will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in his hands. 7 Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.

OBSERVATION:   This chapter begins with Peter giving godly advice to church elders, but I am convinced that these two verses apply to all Christians. Let us meditate on these words for a few moments today!

APPLICATION:   In an effort to understand the Scripture best, I sometimes will think of the passage in a ‘what if’ scenario. So take these verses for example: what if we were to stand proud and not develop a deep, sweet relationship with the Master? Would this not mean that we would have no one to turn to when our troubles and trials become more than we could bear alone? Would this not mean that we are asking God to keep His hands off, because we will fight our battles alone? Friends, I want to remind you that there is absolutely nothing more important than us having a close, one-on-one relationship with our Master – the Creator of all humans, and this earth on which we live. There is no greater peace, or cause for humility, than to approach the throne of grace, knowing that we are not only going all the way to the top of all power sources, but also in knowing that we are approaching the One who loves us beyond anything that we could humanly comprehend. For He sacrificed His only Son so that we (sinners) might have the means of going to heaven. Wow! Oh what a love is that? So as we approach the throne, don’t you know that Jesus is there with outstretched arms to welcome His child and patiently listen to our worries and concerns? Also, like any good father, don’t you know that He is anxiously awaiting to settle our minds in knowing that He now has control, and there is nothing more for us to worry about? This is enough to send the child of God over the top in excitement and in peace! But to those who might read this devotional and not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I must warn you that our Savior is not a heavenly Santa Claus. He really wants you to first acknowledge Him as Lord, by accepting Him as your Savior. He is quite the gentleman, and will stay His distance until you invite Him into your life. So what are you waiting for my friend? Please read my Footnote and understand how easy it is to find Jesus, and to accept Him as your Lord and Savior. He cares for you, and is patiently waiting for you to invite Him in. Make it today, won’t you?

PRAYER:   Lord I pray that someone will read this devotional today and receive a clear understanding of accepting You as their Lord and Savior. Please open the hearts of those who are searching for more in this life, and for hope in the future. May today be the day of salvation for them. Thank You Lord for the peace of knowing You personally, and for the comfort in knowing that there is a God who cares about us and loves us beyond human understanding. May the glory be all Yours today as eyes are opened to the gospel, is my humble prayer oh Lord, 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 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 Nuggets From God’s Word 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 Sebring, 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!

How To Transform Worry Into Praise

On By Ed AlgreenIn Praise, Prayer, Surrender, Worry, Worry no moreLeave 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: Philippians 4:6-7
Today’s Bible Text: 6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
The Bible Translation: The Message (MSG)

My Take Away: I believe there is one thing that we do extremely well, and that is ‘worry’. For we worry about what was said to us, or perhaps what wasn’t said to us. We worry about the look someone gave us, and even worse if they don’t look at us at all! We worry about what we should say, but we worry even more if we say too much. When our minds are so busy worrying about every little thing in life, we tend to start building our own case about why the world hates us and wants nothing to do with us. I hope that as you meditate on this scripture with me today you will catch a glimpse, or be reminded of the awesome God that we serve. You see, I am convinced that our God loves us enough that He will patiently wait for us to unload all of our concerns (worries) on Him in prayer. But what I am even more convinced of, is that God loves us enough that He sacrificed His one and only Son to die a cruel death, so that He could provide the answer for our forgiveness of sin and our means of entering the gates of heaven to spend eternity with Him. Friends, there are so many things that we are so blessed with, that we should learn to fix our minds on those things, rather than the worries of all that this world will burden us down with. So how do we move from where we are at to where we should be? We are taught in these verses that it’s a matter of prayer and praise. Let’s make it our aim to take our concerns to the Lord in prayer, and let’s look for ways to praise Him for all that we see Him doing in our lives. In doing these things, I believe we will find relief for those times that we would otherwise take on the concern ourselves and just worry, worry, worry. God loves us way too much to see us succumb to the sickness caused by worry.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for Your endless blessings on us. Thank You for the provisions You made for us and the future that is ours, who have placed our faith and trust in You. It’s a daily thing for us to overlook the temptations Satan will send our way to pull us down emotionally, and make us worry about things that we have no control over. Thank You for the direction You have given to us today in Your Word. Oh that we may be found faithful and true to You dear Lord. Oh that we may learn to worship You and praise You for who You are, even when our personal circumstances seem bleak. We’re Yours dear Lord. Please continue to teach us the right path to truth, hope, love and encouragement, so that we may savor in Your presence all of our days. I ask these things in and through the 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

How Christians Are To Avoid Heartaches

On By Ed AlgreenIn Focused, Heaven, WorryLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (The Living Bible – Colossians 3:1-3): 1 Since you became alive again, so to speak, when Christ arose from the dead, now set your sights on the rich treasures and joys of heaven where he sits beside God in the place of honor and power. 2 Let heaven fill your thoughts; don’t spend your time worrying about things down here. 3 You should have as little desire for this world as a dead person does. Your real life is in heaven with Christ and God.

THOUGHTS: When Christians worry, do you suppose it’s because we are worried that God will not do what He promised? When we doubt and stress out to the limit, do you suppose that we are concerned that God is unfaithful? When we feel unloved and like no one cares, do you suppose that we allow ourselves to ponder why God must have left us alone and no longer care about us? Friends, I believe that when we allow these types of feelings and/or thoughts to enter our minds, it’s because we have taken our eyes off Jesus and looking for the attention of earthly friends or loved ones. I believe it is times like these that Satan moves in for the attack, for he sees that we have taken our eyes off Jesus and allowing the distractions of this world to take hold in our lives. I would highly recommend these verses to all Christians today, for if we follow the advice in verse 2 and fill our thoughts with heaven – our future home, then we will be reminded that it is a place prepared just for us. A place where we will unite with Jesus at the foot of the cross and worship Him with unending praises. A place where we will hear the voice of the Father who will encourage us with words such as “well done good and faithful servant”! A place where the creator of love, especially love for you and I, will help us to appreciate His handiwork and find reasons to worship Him for it. A place where there will be no distractions, but instead attract our full undivided attention! I recently took a missions trip into another country, and we disconnected from cell phones for a week. Wow, what a release! Friends, I must remind you that we have allowed so much interference in our day that we not only lose sight of our one-on-one time with the Lord, but we also have lost sight of one-on-one time with our spouses, our children, our friends, our coworkers and all others. Is it any wonder that we have trouble evangelizing to them? If as verse 3 indicates, that our real life is in heaven, then I would dare say that our minds, our attention, our aim and our devotion should be there also. Does that describe you friend? If not, why not? Is this something you need to take time to talk with God about?

PRAYER: Lord God, we are such worry warts, but it’s always over things that really don’t matter – things of this world. Being reminded in this scripture that our minds are to be set on our heavenly home, and our time with You, we humbly come before You today asking for forgiveness for our misguided thoughts and worries. We realize that all these things do is distract us in our walk with You and our witness of You. For when we become solid in our faith and in our walk with You, we will influence those who follow in our steps. Lord I pray that You will do an awesome work in my life and in the lives of my readers, so that we might become healthy Christians focused on the ‘main thing’ – our heavenly home. I further pray that this new focus will have such an impact on others that Your name might be lifted high as Your children become better aligned with Your perfect will. I ask these things in the strong, mighty and holy name of Jesus, your Son and my Redeemer, 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 read through Biblical truths on How To Know Jesus, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will 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 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, Sebring, FL! 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!