Tag: All powerful

Finding Strength in God’s Goodness

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

DATE POSTED
Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 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
Read Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 in your Bible, or click it to read it online in The Voice (VOICE).

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
Earlier in my life, I lived in Highlands County, Florida. I remember asking a local resident why there was so much digging and dredging going on in and around the Kissimmee River that ran through that county. I was told that government authorities had decided that they needed to return the river back to its original twists and turns, as their earlier attempts to correct what God had designed, failed miserably! Now, mentioning this example is not intended to blast government officials who spent millions of dollars to try and make straight something God had deliberately made crooked, but it seems to fit today’s Scripture perfectly. Furthermore, government officials are made up of mankind, the same ones that practice this same error often throughout life. For just one quick example, think of the hairdresser who notices every week how those with curly hair, want it straight, and the same case in reverse all too often! We have heard it many times, that our God never makes ‘junk’, for He has our very best interest at heart for our entire lifetime. Often, it’s not until we intervene and try to correct His way, that we see failures and disappointments. Alternatively, Satan tempts us to compare ourselves to a friend and covet what they have, or a desire to change something about our appearance to hopefully achieve their looks/apparent beauty/apparent success. Think for a moment – we never answer all of our children’s questions, especially their many ‘why questions. all often for very good reasons! So, shouldn’t we expect there to be good reasons why God made us, and provided for us. certain circumstance in life that only He will understand the reasons why? Fortunately verse 14 goes on to further attract our thoughts and meditation, for it draws us to be reminded of the sovereignty of our awesome God. Most of us tend to live it up when times are good and the money is coming in like we want. We tend to recognize the goodness of God in providing abundantly for our good. But as soon as those funds dry up, or dwindle, we kind of question where did God go? In trying to develop a consistent spiritual viewpoint on life, it is important that we remind ourselves that ‘God is Good ALL the time‘, and not just when life is at its very best for us. God didn’t go anywhere when we became disappointed that we didn’t have the funds to buy the type car our neighbor gloats over every day. He wants us to be mindful of the car/house/spouse/child/life circumstances that we have. He intended them for our good, and knowing that He does all things for our good, we must be in a continual thankful attitude for ALL things. Let’s learn to praise Him in the sunshine and the rain, on payday and every day in between; in sickness and in good health; when life seems so, so challenging, and when circumstances seem to overwhelm us. Let’s remember, God is in control of all things at all times, so if we have committed our lives to Him and depend on Him daily, let’s praise Him daily in every circumstance of life. If things are rough today, there’s no need to worry, God knows what He’s doing and things will look brighter for us tomorrow, or the next day. A day with God, is always better than a day without Him, so let’s praise Him in light of, and in spite of, our earthly circumstances.

PRAYER
Thank You Jesus for watching out for us and guiding us through every circumstance of life. You designed us and You know every little itsy bitsy detail about every good thing we enjoy, and every challenge we face. Thank You for Your Word that we have proven true so many times in our life. Please Lord, prompt us to stay in Your Word every day for spiritual nourishment, encouragement, direction and strength. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on You, the Author and Finisher of our faith. In the good times, please encourage us to praise You for blessing us beyond anything we could imagine. In the challenging times, please remind us of where our strength and encouragement comes from. We KNOW precious Lord, that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that You can’t handle or help us through. Please help us in our weak minds to always call on You. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. One of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals or subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you make 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!

In Prayer, Recognize Who God Is

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

DATE POSTED: Saturday, August 5th, 2023, and I was blessed to be at Dowling Park, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE New Living Translation (NLT) IS FOUND IN Luke 18:10-14

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 
I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God…..

MY INITIAL THOUGHTS: At times we become so entrenched in our current situation, that we often forget from whence we came or overlook the awesomeness of the one we now owe our allegiance to. Case in point – our spouse. When we first met them, we treated them like royalty, and we looked at every opportunity for ways to express our love to them. Then, through ongoing familiarity, they seem to have become just like everyone else in what we are prepared to do for them. Another case in point is the Lord Jesus. Think about your first 30 days of being a Christian and compare that with your mindset about your Savior now. Examine yourself before pointing fingers at the Pharisee or the sinner in today’s Scripture.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: Although a very familiar story for those who have attended church very long or studied their Bibles for very long. Yet, we can’t help but see some stark, eye-opening, differences between these two characters that may cause us to look upwards and acknowledge to God that you might be that Pharisee, or possibly the Publican identified in this word picture. I have relatives who went home the night they surrendered their hearts to Christ and burned magazines they knew might be offensive to Jesus, or they poured remaining liquor from previously bad habits down the drain. For they were serious about their commitment to the only One who had never sinned, and the only One who is holy, and the only One whose bloodline related directly with the God who created this universe and everyone in it. In recognizing that, they realized that they had quite a gap to close in trying to align themselves with the Master. I wonder if there was a malignment in the life of the Pharisee in recognizing Jesus, and the power of His Almighty Father? Perhaps the Pharisee may have lost sight of whose presence he had entered into. How is it with you? Using the first 30 days mentioned above as an example, I wonder how many of those first days that you neglected to pray or open the Word of God to learn more about what God is demanding of you. Probably not many, right? But compare that to the last 30 days. Are you still in love with Jesus and expressing that love in multiple ways each day? If not, I wonder if you might not be just as liable to pray like the Pharisee in our story today. Please don’t throw stones at me, if this message is really stepping on your toes. I don’t claim to be perfect either, but in sharing this with you, I believe that the Holy Spirit is dealing in my life even more harshly as I pen these words for you to consider. Friends, we must be so careful in remembering who God is, so that we don’t join the ranks of the Pharisee in self-righteousness and pride. You see, when the Pharisee compared himself to others, he was acknowledging his self-righteousness. God’s grace extends to the humble, for the proud will not inherit eternal life (James 4:6). Jesus said that He only said the words given to Him by His Father, so He acknowledged that He was subordinate to His Father’s will. Do you feel the same way about your relationship with the Father? If we are to be Christ-like or imitate Jesus in every walk of life and in our speech, then we will need His strength and His support. Reading His Word on a daily basis will keep our minds freshly tuned to what He said and did, and therefore guide us to how we are to respond in circumstances throughout our day. Always keep Jesus lifted high and seek to follow in His footsteps every day. He alone is worthy of our praise and our obedience!

BLESSINGS WORTH NOTING: Jesus was able to think outside of the box that we tend to build around what we call ‘religion’. Jesus saw the heart of the sinner, even though we tend to brush them aside as unworthy. Trust in the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and He will direct your path – today and every day!

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Lord, who am I that I might be privileged to stand before the King of all kings and Lord of all lords with my petitions? Yet I know that You died and rose again so that I might become Your precious son, as I live in anticipation of life eternally with You in glory. Thank You Jesus for accepting my cry for forgiveness and mercy! However, in this Scripture today, I believe that You are warning us that we have no room to boast like the Pharisee, but instead we must approach You like the Publican who knew that his every move, his every recovery from illness, his every ability to face another day, and his only hope of eternity in Heaven with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is dependent upon a right relationship with You dear Jesus. Please Lord, remind me of this should I tend to boast, or feel superior to the sinner that I come into contact with. At the foot of the cross, and kneeling before You in prayer for forgiveness, we are all equal – sinners, whether saved by grace, or sinners seeking Your grace. Please teach us Lord to live as sinners forgiven by the grace of a holy God, and never, ever, assume that it is anything good thing we have done to deserve Your grace and Your forgiveness. May Your grace abound in my life, and may it be a source of inspiration for the sinner seeking to know You as Savior, please oh Lord, I ask this only for Your honor and Your glory, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this 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 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. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to 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!