Tag: Soverign

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!

Nothing is Too Difficult for You, Lord

On By Ed AlgreenIn Faithfulness, Humility, UnderstandingLeave a comment

THE HOLY BIBLE (Good News Translation – Jeremiah 32:16-18): 16 ….. I prayed, 17“Sovereign Lord, you made the earth and the sky by your great power and might; nothing is too difficult for you. 18You have shown constant love to thousands, but you also punish people for the sins of their parents. You are a great and powerful God; you are the Lord Almighty.

THOUGHTS: Jeremiah had been faithful to God and followed every command and word given to him by God. In fact he was imprisoned because of obediently delivering a word from God to the king. However, Jeremiah was still human, and as such had to depend on God and His providence, even though His actions perplexed Jeremiah. I believe that can, and does, happen to us quite frequently, for we glory in the power and majesty of God, and for all that He delivers us from, yet we see where good faithful followers are shot in their homes, crash in car accidents on the roads, lose very young loved ones, and agonize over fatal illnesses of family members. How do we possibly explain that God loves them? How can we possibly understand the love of God in such horrific situations? I love what Matthew Henry says in his commentary about this prayer of Jeremiah, and I will quote it for you: “Jeremiah adores the Lord and his infinite perfections. When at any time we are perplexed about the methods of Providence, it is good for us to look to first principles. Let us consider that God is the fountain of all being, power, and life; that with him no difficulty is such as cannot be overcome; that he is a God of boundless mercy; that he is a God of strict justice; and that he directs every thing for the best. Jeremiah owns that God was righteous in causing evil to come upon them. Whatever trouble we are in, personal or public, we may comfort ourselves that the Lord sees it, and knows how to remedy it. We must not dispute God’s will, but we may seek to know what it means.” This spoke volumes to me, because I believe that we must often return to the cross when we don’t have all of the answers. God showed His love boldly at the cross – yes, through the suffering, crucifixion and death of His very own Son. So let us return to the Word when in question about why God is doing something that we don’t understand. Let’s go back to the basics and first Biblical principles. We KNOW that He loves us, so we KNOW He would do nothing to harm us, therefore let us give thanks for His mysterious work and depend on the outcome bringing glory to Him. This is difficult friends, but just remember to trust in God, no matter what we see, feel or witness occurring around us. This may often be a point at which an unrelated Brother or Sister might step alongside, encouraging you to keep the faith, so be prepared to also do that when you see difficult situations arise in the life of someone else.

PRAYER: Dear God, I am reminded that You are sovereign and that You created this earth and all that is in it. You were pleased with all that You created, so I can’t imagine why one of your small pieces of clay could find room to complain or find fault in what You did, or what You might currently do in managing all that You have made. Your servant Jeremiah has reminded me that nothing is too difficult for you, so once again I am reminded that even in those times when I don’t see the reasoning for something happening, to know and understand that You are still in control. Please touch the lives of Your people once again today with the sobering reminder that You are God, and we are not, therefore we must trust You to do what You know to be the best for us, and that will bring glory to You. I know that we would really screw things up in a hurry if You left it all up to us, so please have Your perfect will and way in my life today. Please be especially near and dear to those who are hurting today and wondering if You are still there. Draw them close to You and comfort them with Your love and reassurance. I ask this in the precious name of Jesus, my King, in all humility, 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 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 blogger.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!