Our Tolerance For Wrongdoing

On 2021-12-102021-12-09 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Blinded by Sin, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2021-12-10
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 13:11-13; 20-21
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT:
THE OFFENSE: ¹¹….. he grabbed her and said, “Come to bed with me!” ¹²She answered, “No! Please don’t force me! This sort of thing isn’t done in Israel. It’s too disgusting! ¹³Think of me. I’ll be disgraced forever! And think of yourself. Everyone in Israel will say you’re nothing but trash! Just ask the king, and he will let you marry me.”
THE FAMILY RESPONSE: ²⁰Tamar’s brother Absalom said to her, “How could Amnon have done such a terrible thing to you! But since he’s your brother, don’t tell anyone what happened. Just try not to think about it.” Tamar soon moved into Absalom’s house, but she was always sad and lonely. ²¹When David heard what had happened to Tamar, he was very angry. But Amnon was his oldest son and also his favorite, and David would not do anything to make Amnon unhappy.

APPLICATION: Three real-life individuals are included in this story today. Let’s be reminded of who they were, and how they acted. Perhaps we might try placing ourselves in their ‘shoes’, and decide how we might have reacted:
1. AMNON – The eldest and favorite son of David. It sounds like he was spoiled, as he was allowed to go after what he wanted and not receive the severe repercussions that we see in so many other Old Testament stories. He wanted relations with his step sister and it seems like he didn’t care how anyone was impacted by his actions;
2. TAMAR – The beautiful daughter of David; sister of Absolom; stepsister of Amnon. As in most Old Testament family structures, she was subject to the rule of her dad, and any other men who had reason to rule over her. But Tamar was a daughter of our God and deserved the respect that is due to any other human being;
3. ABSOLOM – The son of David, and also the blood brother of Tamar.
It appears like Amnon was used to having his own way, regardless of who got run over in the process. He fell in love, or perhaps seriously lusted after his stepsister, Tamar. Following through on a suggestion by his friend, Amnon lured Tamar into his bedroom under false pretenses, and proceeded to force himself on her, even after she tried to reason with him. I hope that none of us meditating on this devotional today ever experienced such an incident in our family. But if you are anything like me, then you would have become very angry with Amnon for such a move on his stepsister. Out hearts would be deeply moved for Tamar as we stop to imagine what she must have felt inside as she lost her dignity because of the selfish desires of her stepbrother. But as I meditated on this I realized that we have similar atrocities occurring today, and I’m afraid that our hearts may have become hardened to what is going on around us. In a job I once held, I learned of Human Trafficking; Human organ reaping and selling; Prostitution of young girls, boys and adults; and many other hideous crimes. To hear about these things probably makes most respectable humans angry inside, but what if similar crimes were happening in our very neighborhoods? Do we just accept them as ‘normal’ for the times we’re in, or do we work with the authorities even if it may endanger our own lives in dealing with the unfortunate crimes? What if one of your siblings, or children, were a part of the crime ring? Are you willing to stand for right, and order, even if it meant seeing your relative imprisoned or possibly shot during a raid? Remember, we are the righteousness of God. Are you truly righteous, or just when it’s convenient?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: David and Absolom were faced with a challenging situation that tested their credibility and their stance as a righteous person. We are faced with similar challenges every day. May we always stand for the same things that God stands for and approves of.

PRAYER: Lord, if we are righteous just as You are, then I wonder how far we are willing to go in showing Your power in and through every decision we make? Was David’s response to the bad decision by Amnon one that aligned with Your will? We have a ton of questions Lord! But yet we know that Your ways are perfect, and we know that You always have our best interest at heart. Please teach us to be so engrossed in all that You teach, all that You command and all that You desire of us. May we always seek to do Your will for Your glory, even in circumstance where it may hurt us in our human form. Please teach us Your ways so that we may be more like You 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 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!

What Is Disobedience?

On 2021-12-082021-12-08 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Obedience, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2021-12-08
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 12:13-14
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: ^13-14David said, “I have disobeyed the Lord.”
“Yes, you have!” Nathan answered. “You showed you didn’t care what the Lord wanted. He has forgiven you, and you won’t die. But your newborn son will.”

APPLICATION: I was once told that talking when someone else is still talking is showing that, in your opinion, what they have to say is totally unimportant. Because I believe in that statement it often irks me to hear an audience talking to each other while a speaker is presenting. Some may call that disrespect, but I believe the deeper meaning of what they are doing shows they think that what they have to say is more important. Beginning in verse 7 of 1 Samuel 12, Nathan shared an illustration with David to help him see more deeply how, what he did with Bathsheba, and to her husband, was in total contempt of what God would approve of. Of course this made David very sorry for his actions, and he begged of God to forgive him for his disobedience. Doesn’t that sound a lot like ourselves today? We really abuse the word ‘sorry’, thinking that it will smooth things over with the offender. But Nathan cleared this up for David by telling him ‘you just didn’t care about what God wanted’. OUCH! Friends, please don’t allow this to sound trite in your mind, for in other Bible translations, they say in this verse that ‘David gave the unsaved people around him reason to mock God’. Unfortunately this still happens today. Some will look at the sin of a pastor and smooth it over as ‘well, he’s just human’, but while he is indeed ‘human’, the enemy runs with this and mocks the work of the Father in the local church by His human messengers. David paid terribly for his sin/disobedience, and so do God’s messengers today. The press runs with the stories of disobedience, or a man fallen from God, but they never follow up in a few months to see how their lives have been impacted by their sin. They hurt more than we could ever imagine. So does this also impact the common laymen of the church? Friends, remember that titles are just something we feel necessary on earth. God sent His precious Son for the sin of all mankind, not just those we hold in high regard. So it hurts God when any of us sin, or show an uncaring attitude towards what God expects of us. Be careful dear friends to live in full obedience to God. Should you falter or fail, quickly run to God for your discipline, but also for His direction on how you might continue on in lifting up the name of Jesus and His mighty works. Whatever you do, don’t give the enemy reason to mock God for having such weaklings participate in His earthly work. As children of the King, we are robed in His righteousness!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: We serve a forgiving God, even though we may have to pay the earthly consequences for our sin.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for being so patient, kind and loving to us, and for forgiving us of our sin when we seek Your face in total remorse for our disobedience. Thank You Lord for accepting David as he was – not perfect, but a man after God’s own heart. Please give us strength and desire to always seek to obey Your word, Your commands, and Your will for our lives. May we always strive for obedience, for what pleases You, and in what You desire of us. May others never find reason to mock You because of our disobedience, so that their desire to know You will not be interrupted. Lord, have Your will and way in our lives, for Your honor and praise. AMEN!

When You SEE Jesus

On 2021-12-072021-12-06 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, See God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2021-12-06
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: John 6:38-40
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: ³⁸I didn’t come from heaven to do what I want! I came to do what the Father wants me to do. He sent me, ³⁹and he wants to make certain that none of the ones he has given me will be lost. Instead, he wants me to raise them to life on the last day. ⁴⁰My Father wants everyone who sees the Son to have faith in him and to have eternal life. Then I will raise them to life on the last day.

APPLICATION: I often hear couples say ‘From the time I placed my eyes on her/him, I fell in love with them’. ‘Seeing is believing’ is another popular saying! But how do we ‘see’ Jesus? Many of us will say that we have great luck in certain aspects of life. However, when we meet up with our parents or grandparents, they will tell us that they have been praying earnestly for us. So did we have ‘luck’, or were the prayers of our ancestors being answered? Could it be that Jesus was showing Himself to you in miraculous ways? While visiting the beach we often marvel over the beauty, tranquility and serenity of the calm, beautiful waters and the perfectly manicured beach. Ever stop to consider how it got that way? It’s just another way of us seeing the handiwork of God in nature. I recently visited the Grand Canyon. What an awesome and beautiful site to behold! Unlike Disney, there is no way that man could ever have designed and built such magnificence. I was reminded of the handiwork of my God! Based on our Scripture for today, I believe it is super important for us to carefully acknowledge God in life as we note things that could only have come from Him as Designer and Creator. For it is as we ‘see’ Him at work that we learn to trust in Him for ALL things in life. Jesus said that as we ‘see’ Him, we will trust Him and have faith in Him – His abilities, His love, His creativity, His caring attitude, and our everlasting hope in life eternally with He and the Father. Dear friends, we sometimes sigh in our troubles, hard work and everyday labors and we may say ‘there has to be more to life than this’! Jesus has reminded us in His Word today that there is a lot more to life! See the Creator, Know the Master Accept Him as Your Lord, and live in anticipation of eternity in heaven with the Father and the Son! Jesus assures us that for all who accept Him as Lord, He will raise us up on the last day – that glorious Day that we are assured of in the Bible when we will see Jesus face-to-face and celebrate around the throne of God every day – forever! If you are wondering how to accept Jesus, please refer to my Footnote and follow the link for ‘To Know Jesus’. Otherwise, feel free to contact me by email, as noted below. It would be a blessing to pray with you!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: In spite of our troublesome time here on earth, Jesus was sent as our Advocate and our heavenly Father. Praise Jesus for His love!

PRAYER: I can gladly rejoice in the words of an old favorite hymn – ‘I am so glad that my Father in heaven, tells of His love in the Book He has given….’ Oh what a Savior, You’re the One who loves us just as we are, and just where we’re at. Thank You Lord for making Yourself known to us in so many ways. We ‘see’ You Lord, and we must know You intimately, for You love us even when no one else sees value in us to love us unconditionally. Please make Yourself known to our family and friends that we pray for. Oh that they may accept You today, is my heartfelt and sincere prayer. AMEN!

With Thanksgiving

On 2021-12-03 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Thanksgiving, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2021-12-02
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 68:7-10
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁷You set your people free, and you led them through the desert.
⁸God of Israel, the earth trembled, and rain poured down.
You alone are the God who rules from Mount Sinai.
⁹When your land was thirsty, you sent showers to refresh it.
¹⁰Your people settled there, and you were generous to everyone in need.

APPLICATION: I remember conducting a prayer meeting and asking attendees to only share what they were thankful to God for. Almost immediately I started hearing needs popping in, and soon we were inundated with needs, particularly the medical needs of themselves, family members, friends, and even family of family members! It was like they just couldn’t help themselves. Now please don’t get me wrong, we should all be very concerned about the health of our loved ones, but we should never lack in sharing our love for our Lord, nor our thanksgiving for our awesome and generous God. It seems in today’s Scripture that David was overwhelmed by the goodness of God, and that he had so much to praise God for. I would suggest that you consider joining me in making more time for sharing a heart full of thanksgiving to our Lord. Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could barely find time to petition God for our wants and desires, because we spend much too long in giving thanks? Wouldn’t that speak volumes to our unsaved loved ones who is looking on and wondering what’s so special about being a Christian? If we merely spend our time petitioning God, these friends might question whether God ever comes through on our prayers. We know that God is a prayer answering God, so we should not only brag about that to family and friends, but His answers should be the root cause of our prayers of thanksgiving. Mom and dad always taught my siblings and I to be sure to respond with a ‘thank you’ after receiving something. I believe that God deserves our thanksgiving more so that anyone else that we could think of!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: David celebrated in all that God had done for he and his people. Despite all the crime and troubles today, we should also be forever thankful for all that God so lovingly does for us and our relatives!

PRAYER: Thank You Jesus for what You did for us on Calvary, for You showed the ultimate form of love for all mankind in providing for those of us who ask for it, the means to enter heaven’s gates as a righteous and forgiven people! There is no good thing that we could do to earn this righteousness, but praise God, because of the blood of Jesus, we could live forever in heaven with He and the Father! You have also blessed us with an awesome family, who choose to love us in spite of our earthly meanness and sin. We are an amazingly blessed people, and it’s all because of our Savior! Oh that we would be consistent in our praising and singing our eternal thankfulness for being such a blessed people. May we strive to always thank You Lord Jesus, more than we could possibly ask of more from You. AMEN!

The Lord Makes Us Victorious

On 2021-12-012021-12-01 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Victorious Life, Victory, Worship2 Comments

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2021-12-01
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 8:6
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ……So the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.

APPLICATION: Here are some reasons why I believe David was so special to God, and possible reasons why He gave victory to David wherever he went. We could read where David sought God’s approval in all that he did, and always before he did it. There were occasions where David felt like he should proceed into battle, but before he would commit to move forward, he always sought God’s approval first. I believe that we all can agree that the most challenging thing to do once our minds are fixed on doing something, is to sit and wait. But if we would only follow David’s example, we would quickly see that he waited for God to give the word on whether to move into action, or wait. We also see many cases where God went before His servant and prepared the way for David’s success. Friends, what do you suppose would be the outcome if we were to seek the face of God, and wait for His command to move, before attempting some of the very challenging things that face us? Remember how God gave victory to David in killing the giant Philistine, while a whole army of adult men just sat around frightened to death? Remember how, through obedience to God, David again overcame the Philistine army, against all odds? In this story, the Arameans came to help king Hadadezer overcome the dreaded warrior, David. But by the time David and his awesome commander, God, got finished with that army, the Arameans had not only surrendered to David, but were actually paying tribute money to him. I believe that David became very respected, and perhaps fearful to many nations, but the only thing special about this man was the God he served, and that he allowed to rule and command his every move. So what do you suppose might be the difference with us today? We serve the same God, and He remains just as powerful as He has always been. I wonder if it’s because we have chosen to only call on God in times of dire need? I wonder if it’s because we have lost sight of a daily, intimate relationship with the God who created us and provides for our every need? I wonder if it’s because of our tendency to look in greed at what something holds in store for us, versus seeking God’s permission and His perfect will for whether we go after something because of His will for His loving children? Friends, we serve the same awesome God who gave David victory in all that he attempted, and God can do it again for us. David had an intimate relationship with God, and he wanted to make sure he pleased Him and got His approval for every decision in life. That’s the same with us! When we pull away and do what we please, I believe God waits for us to return and ask Him to fix that which we have created and/or messed up. Let’s make every effort to seek the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind. Then we could prepare to praise Him for our victories, as He performs His mighty works!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God blessed David and gave him victory in all aspects of life, and He could do the same for us, if we ask, and allow Him to.

PRAYER: Oh Lord Jesus, please forgive us for our hardness of heart and will. Way too often we approach the challenges of life alone and feel like we could probably handle what we could manage to see with mere human eyes. After being reminded of David’s successes through allowing Your leadership and Your awesome power to rule and lead him, I am convinced that we should be more determined than ever to allow You to lead the way for us in every aspect of life. Each day we begin with seeing only what we have planned to do. With our hand in Yours, I am convinced that we could handle that and every other challenge that comes our way. Please direct us in the path that You would have us to follow, so that You might be lifed up on earth, just as You are in heaven. We need You every minute of every day Lord. Please direct us and uphold us through every circumstance of life. No matter how off-guard we may be at some occurrences, nothing catches You by surprise. Please guide us into all righteousness, for Your name’s sake. AMEN!

Allow God To Lead

On 2021-11-262021-11-26 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Lead me, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2021-11-24
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 5:22-25
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ²²But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim. ²³And again David asked the Lord what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” the Lord replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees.²⁴When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” ²⁵So David did what the Lord commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

APPLICATION: Think about David’s former encounter with the Philistine (giant). He was not afraid of the giant, even though the whole Israelite army stood back in fright over the dare given to then by this giant-of-a-man. But look at what happened in this mature state of David’s life. David didn’t go to battle based on his previous success, but he wanted to ensure that he was basing every decision in life on the the awesome God that he served. He knew from all of life’s experiences that God had always been faithful; always successful in whatever He approves and/or commands; and that there is nothing, absolutely nothing that God can’t do. As a son stands before his Father to seek His direction, David knew that God would not approve something that would cause him hardship or harm. With God’s stamp of approval, David knew that he could move forward into battle knowing that he served the God who will always be true to His word and will only lead His children into challenging times to show His strength, His power, and His divine purpose. Friends, for those of you that have experienced life and seen the ups and downs of life, you will be quick to recognize that God’s direction has not always been aligned with your way of doing things, but you soon recognized that His way was always perfect in every way. As you move forward in life: remember how He rescued you; remember how He saved you in circumstances where you didn’t have a clue which way to turn; and always take note how He also directed men of old in the Bible, and that we still serve the same God who has always been evident across the ages of time. He proved His love for us, and He has proven Himself in many circumstances for many of His children. Take note of this, and remember that God can still do it again for you in whatever circumstance of life that you may find yourself in. Don’t question God, but instead trust in Him knowing that He’s in control and that He will do what’s best for His children, just like we try to do for our earthly children. God will lead the way for us in our battles! I believe He is patiently looking for us to follow His lead. Trust Him today precious friend, for He is faithful right to the very end of time!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God not only directs us in our battles of life, but He leads the way for us, and welcomes us to follow His lead, knowing that His way is always best/perfect!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, there are so many dilemmas and questions we have in life that we often scratch our heads and at times, wonder which way we should turn next. How refreshing it is to read how You led the way for David and his men in battle against the Philistines. I am convinced that it only serves as a reminder that You are still able and willing to do the same thing for us as we face our daily battles. At times, our battles feel much bigger than the tallest Philistine, at least in our eyes. But praise be to God, You are bigger than all our troubles and very capable of handling our battles each and every day. Help us to listen to the rustling as You proceed ahead of us and motion for us to follow behind. Your love is beyond anything that we can comprehend, but I praise You Father for loving even me – especially me and my readers and listeners. Lord You are good, and Your faithfulness endures through all generations! May we always life up our eyes in praise and thanksgiving, knowing that what You do is well done and always in line with Your perfect will, with us ultimately on Your mind. AMEN!

The Condition Of Your Heart When Praying

On 2021-11-232021-11-22 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Clean Heart, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2021-11-23
WRITTEN AT: Sebring, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 66:17-20
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: ^17-18I cried out to him for help, and I praised him.
If I had been hiding sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened to me.
¹⁹But God did listen to me; he heard my prayer.
²⁰Praise God! He did not turn away from me—he listened to my prayer.
He continues to show his love to me!

APPLICATION: Not in our wildest imagination would we think of approaching those in highest authority over our country without first seeking advice on what to wear and how to deal with the expected protocols of the office held. We wouldn’t dream of attending in our farm working clothes, or a pair of sandals, nor with a company cap on. We would want to be prepared to greet, and respond with utmost respect, and we would appreciate knowing when we are to keep quiet and whether to only speak when asked to, etc. So what about our approach with God? We must always remember that there is no one higher, none as holy, and we are oh so unworthy of His love and acceptance of us, mere sinners saved by grace. Why presidents, kings and queens must all bow to Him, and they must approach the throne of grace for salvation just like the poorest man on earth. So if we see the need for respect and honor of our country’s leaders, shouldn’t we all the more freely give honor, glory, and our foremost respect to our Lord – the One who created us and our leaders, the One who loves us all unconditionally, and the One who placed our leaders in authority over us? Notice that all these qualities I just mentioned have nothing to do with the dress code of our church nor the worship songs they choose to lead us in. Instead, it is a matter of what’s in our heart. Led by the Holy Spirit, David shared how he felt his prayers would not have been answered if he approached God with sin in his heart. Perhaps this is something we should look at deeply when we seek God in prayer, especially if it appears like He may be refusing to hear our cry for help. Friends, we may stand a chance fooling some of the people around us some of the time, but we could never fool God and get away with it. The Bible says that God not only hears every word we speak and sees every move we make, but He is well aware of even our deepest thoughts. So let me encourage you precious friends, make your heart right with God and stay so closely connected to Him, that the Holy Spirit will prompt you to seek forgiveness of sin that develops in your heart. God is righteous, and He expects us to communicate with Him from a righteous heart. I believe that, like David, God will hear the cries of His righteous children and He will encourage us to ask for what we need and He will grant it!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God answers the prayers of those who approach His throne with a clean and contrite heart.

PRAYER: Living in this old sinful world, we are often stained with the sin that surrounds us. Lord, we beg You to forgive us of our sin and unrighteousness, for it is only with a clean heart free from sin that we could expect You to answer our prayers. Thank You for answering the cry of our ancestor, David, and for His words of wisdom to help us as we approach You. Those that we come into contact with will see us in our sin and it will hinder them from seeing the One that we are supposed to represent. Lord, please make us suitable for Your kingdom, and usable as Your representatives here on earth. AMEN!

Look To God For Your Needs

On 2021-11-22 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Prayer, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2021-11-22
WRITTEN AT: Sebring, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Kings 3:3-5
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: ³Solomon loved the Lord and followed his father David’s instructions, but Solomon also offered sacrifices and burned incense at the shrines. ⁴The most important shrine was in Gibeon, and Solomon had offered more than a thousand sacrifices on that altar.
⁵One night while Solomon was in Gibeon, the Lord God appeared to him in a dream and said, “Solomon, ask for anything you want, and I will give it to you.”

APPLICATION: So often we bow the head to pray, and the words are automatic. We’ve heard the pastor, Sunday School teacher and friends pray, and always wished that we could pray that good, so we adopt certain points from their prayers so we might ‘sound legitimate’ in the ears of our peers. But wait a minute, who are we praying to? What are we praying for? Do we have faith in the one to whom we are praying? Do we have a personal relationship with the one to whom we are praying, and have confidence that our deepest thoughts, expressions and requests will be safe in His hands? Do we know that He could accomplish everything that may be bearing on my heart? Friends, I believe that when the God of all creation reaches down in love and shares His interest in us and simply asks us to share openly our needs with the only One who could do anything about them, suddenly our minds will turn away from memorized, written, or repetitious prayers, and the words from our heavy heart, or our joyous heart, or our pleading heart, will bubble forth from a heart longing for someone to understand us, and our needs. Suddenly we realize that we are in the presence of the One who created us, the One who loved us even when we were so unlovable, the One who raised Lazarus from the dead, made the blind man see again and the crippled man walk for the first time – the only One who has the compassion to put up with our worry, heal our loved ones, encourage the broken heart, get the attention of the lost, and fulfill His promise of welcoming us home to glory when that day comes! Praise the Lord, Without the fear of retribution, we could freely, openly, and in all honesty tell our Father exactly what we need and what we want. He is in control, and He knows before we do, what the best course of action is for our lives! Solomon was blessed with much more than he asked for, even though he was in Gibeon to offer sacrifices to a false god. There is no telling what God has in store for us – His precious children! Oh that we will recognize Him the next time that we bow our heads in prayer, and may we always be prepared to answer Him when He asks the same question of us that He did of Solomon.

PRAYER: Lord my prayer today is that others might see Jesus, and that they may hear the whisper of their Creator when He tells them ‘Ask for whatever you want, and I will give it to you’. What we possibly have done to deserve this oh Lord? Oh that Jesus will always be our greatest desire. AMEN!

Shall They Follow The God Evident In Your Life?

On 2021-11-18 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Example of Christ, Genuine example of Jesus, Godly example, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Worship2 Comments

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2021-11-18
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Daniel 6:26-27
TRANSLATION: The Voice Translation (Voice)

BIBLE TEXT: ²⁶I decree that all people everywhere who live under my sovereign rule ought to tremble before and fear the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and He will endure forever. His kingdom will never be overthrown; His reign will know no end. ²⁷He saves and rescues those who fear Him, performing signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; For He has rescued His servant Daniel from the power of the lions.

APPLICATION: Isn’t it interesting how we look at the characteristics and mannerisms of a family member and we commit to never repeat much of what we see? As young teenagers, we tend to be especially critical of our parents and the things they do that embarrass us! ‘Never will we do that’ is what we say about their mannerisms, for we clearly see the flaws!! But isn’t it interesting to look back in our maturing age and see how we are so much like our parents?!! In our Scripture today we see an example of a hardened king whose heart was changed because of the faithfulness of a true, earnest and faithful son of the Almighty. Like many of us, the king was accustomed to telling his subjects what they ~~should~~ must do, and if they disobeyed, or took too long getting it done, their life was abruptly ended. However, when Daniel was brought into the picture, King Darius noticed something different about him, much like I would hope that others notice with true followers of Christ today. For Daniel came with his life already under the command of one King, and he was so faithful to that King that he was not about to be redirected against those principles, even to the point, and threat, of death, when commanded by an earthly king. Friends, this man’s faith caused a hardened king to not only recognize the power of the King of all kings to whom Daniel answered, but he went as far as using that experience to command his kingdom to also respect and honor the King/God of Daniel. This stopped me in my tracks, and caused me to question what someone might say at the end of a day that they may have spent around me. What about you friend? Would there be some traits that your friend(s) might consider adopting? Do you suppose that they saw Jesus at all that day? Would they be drawn towards the God you serve, or would they try with all their power to go in the opposite direction? To each one reading this devotional, may I suggest that you consider this today in the things that you say and in the things you do? Seek God as you start your day and ask Him to give you opportunities to let your light so shine, that others might catch a glimpse of your Master. It’s all about Him, my faithful friend! Let others see Jesus in everything you do, say or think. People still need the Lord! May their hardened hearts be turned towards your God because they saw evidence of Him in you!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Others are watching you, not for any good qualities of your own, but hoping to see the influence Jesus made in you!

PRAYER: Dearest Lord Jesus, may Your light so shine through my readers and I today, that those to whom we come into contact with, will react much like King Darius did in observing Daniel. May others desire a relationship with our King and want to adopt Your commands and characteristics. I believe that as they do, and prove You faithful, they will feel compelled to draw close to You and give You full reign in their lives. May You be recognized and glorified through us today dear Lord, AMEN!

You Must Ask For It

On 2021-11-17 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2021-11-17
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: John 14:12-14
TRANSLATION: The Voice Translation (Voice)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹²I tell you the truth: whoever believes in Me will be able to do what I have done, but they will do even greater things, because I will return to be with the Father. ¹³Whatever you ask for in My name, I will do it so that the Father will get glory from the Son. ¹⁴Let Me say it again: if you ask for anything in My name, I will do it.

APPLICATION: Ever noticed that a young son may go and ask his friend of equal age to do something with him that he and his dad had been discussing, but because the friend was not involved in the discussion, he shows little to no interest. However, when the son adds that his dad ordered him to proceed with, and complete the project at his very earliest, the friend yields out of respect to the father. Jesus had just introduced the Comforter to His disciples as He (Jesus) prepared Himself to go and be with the Father. Jesus assured His disciples, as He still assures us today, that He will be sitting at the right hand of the Father interceding for us, and that He will receive glory from the Father as His children carries on His work here on earth with the help of the Comforter, or the Holy Spirit. Notice that great emphasis is directed to the fact that not only will we have power to do the things that Jesus did, but Jesus insisted that we will do even greater things than He (Jesus) did while here on earth. Fellow believers, we must never lose sight of who we are representing, and whose power resides within us, enabling us to do mighty works because of Jesus! Remember that in Acts 19:13-16 there were some who went around trying to cast out demons in Jesus’ name, but even the demons recognized that they were not of Jesus and not speaking on His behalf. Friends, it is safe to say, based on the Word of God, that if any miraculous work is to be done, it will be the power, and the work of Jesus Christ portrayed through us to do the work, with the results being totally for His glory. I believe that there are two important things to remember about being blessed with the power of Jesus as He works miraculously through us: (1) Doing the work of the Lord, demonstrates our love for Him, and nothing that we may be able to brag about, or benefit from personally; and (2) Miracles are performed in order to bring people to a full knowledge of Jesus Christ. Not for any gain of ourselves, and not for the purpose of relieving our friends from some earthly burden, but that they might know Jesus as their Lord and personal Savior. Please note that there is nothing mentioned about the obedient servant who God uses to stand in His stead and allow His miracles to be transmitted through. But I can assure you that for those who will do this, we will be blessed beyond anything words can describe. To God be the glory for all the great things He can do through even us who believe in Him, and are willing to be used by Him!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I believe it is easy for us to recognize our powerlessness and know that we can do nothing miraculous by ourselves. However, I also believe that there are times that our ego steps in and we want so badly to see our friends overcome obstacles that we tend to jump in there and pray peace and/or healing over them so they could return to a sense of normalcy. I was recently reminded by a pastor when He said that we could very easily step in the way of You actually disciplining someone, by trying to humanly help them correct or overcome their situation. This scripture has once again opened my eyes to the fact that we must be so driven by the Spirit of God that the things we say and the things we do, would be perfectly aligned with His will and His purpose. I also believe that if the Holy Spirit leads us to a miraculous scenario with our friends, it will only serve to demonstrate the perfect love of God for them, and bring them to a full knowledge of Jesus Christ! We must, in total obedience, always seek the leadership of our Lord each day so that through us, He may have His perfect will among our unsaved loved ones. Lord, I am concerned that there are so many in each of our circle of friends that don’t know You as their Lord and personal Savior. If it takes a miracle to convince them of Your love and power today, I pray that Your will may be done. Please speak clearly to Your children so that we may, in full obedience do Your perfect will. AMEN!