DATE POSTED
Tuesday, March 25, 2025, and I was blessed to be at Florida Hunting Adventures, Okeechobee, FL 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 it in your Bible or click James 4:1-10 to read it in The Message (MSG).

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I seldom quote the Message Bible, but when I present the scripture to my ‘Nuggets’ readership, I try to find the version that, I feel, best relays the message to you in an understanding, yet accurate, way. Friends, it seems like we are a people who ‘want’ everything we see, especially those things that others are blessed with. In our focal passage today, James, under the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit, helps us to understand, from God’s perspective, why our wants don’t always become a reality. Yes, very often this may even be the case for, what we feel are, the best ‘Christians’ we know. This might tend to play on our emotions, because we fail to understand why God would not allow His children to have everything, they/we believe we should have. Please allow me to encourage you to click on the Scripture referenced above and read this short passage of 10 verses. But before you do so, stop for a minute and ask God to open your eyes and understanding to what He wants you to gain from this. I can only share what the Holy Spirit opens my eyes and heart to. I remember in the working world, we would have several employees read over a government regulation, but often we would all come up with something slightly different, according to our approach and to what we wanted from the regulation! In our world today, there is no hiding of the fact that there are quarrels amidst the best of families, churches, social clubs and community groups, even when the majority of these groups consists of believers in Jesus Christ. In our Scripture today, I believe that God wants to peel back the evil desires that lurk inside of us and show us what He wants from a faithful servant with a pure heart who desires to do what God wants, rather than what we want for ourselves.
In verses 2-3, the Holy Spirit spoke deeply to my soul, in that although we are envious of what others might have, and we want so much more than what we already have, yet the Bible says that we refuse to ask God for it, because we know we shouldn’t have it – much like spoiled children. Think about how true this is! I love boats, so I might look at a beautiful boat and imagine my wife and I enjoying retirement cruising around the Bahamas leisurely. But then I wake up and realize that my current efforts in ministry, and my budget, would never afford that type of lifestyle, not even the upkeep of the boat. That’s just one example out of many that we could think of. Why lust over these things that God has not opened the doors of heaven to provide, or make available, to us? If we instead concentrate on doing the very best with what God has provided to us, and the opportunities He has opened the doors for, I am convinced that we would be blessed with a peace and joy that could only be attributed to our King who provides for His children.
Another favorite in today’s study is verses 5-6 from the NLT: God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him… Then Proverbs 3:34 is quoted: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Friends, we must always remember who we are, and who it is that reigns over us. This deserves humility on our part, for we are like dust. God created us in His image so them we may imitate His obedience, just as He is obedient to the Father, His love and actions for others so that they may experience the love of God through His people, and so that we may worship Him for choosing to love us and work through us. Friends, let us always remember that it is God who deserves our praise and our daily worship. Let’s continually give honor where honor is due for, He gives grace in abundance to His children. I believe that seasoned believers eventually learn to praise God not only when we feel blessed in every aspect of life, but also when we don’t get what we ask for. In both cases God is showing His love in giving us what we need and what we could handle to enhance our walk with Him. When we are faithful to God, we will recognize that He is always faithful to us. Let us live as children of the King – blessed and highly favored.

PRAYER
Because of my recent travels, this devotional has taken me a while to complete, but I am convinced that this is what You wanted me to receive from this Scripture that is rich in direction for the believer. Thank You Jesus for always loving us so much that You gently open the doors of understanding and pour out Your Word upon us, so that we might believe, obey and draw closer to You. I am convinced Lord, that if we do our part in drawing closer to You every day, that You will provide for our needs and show Your love in amazing ways that we would never expect or deserve. You gave Your very best for us oh Lord, please help us to be consistent in giving of our best to You every day, so that the world will take note and believe in the one true God. Especially those over whom we have the slightest influence. 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 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!