Despite our unexpected stormy trials, believers are never alone. “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Trials, sorrows, and difficulties are designed to give us spiritual growth and increase our dependency on God. We were not created to live without God’s divine intervention. It’s normal for our emotions to intensify when we feel our hardships are drowning us. If we allow our emotions to control us, our faith diminishes and we risk losing our confidence in the love and strength that God provides.
Take the time to separate yourself and pray for help. Pray an honest prayer. “God, I am feeling overwhelmed and disappointed. I need your help. I know that you love me and will bring me victoriously through this situation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” Praise God and thank Him in advance for His Divine Intervention. Prayer does not take away our trials. Consistent prayer allows us to receive strength and guidance from the Holy Spirit.
Study the Scriptures every day. Include time for quiet meditation. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter. As believers, we can hear God’s voice through different means such as our thoughts, reading scriptures, listening to sermons, or hearing another believer’s testimony of victory. Sometimes, God communicates through spiritual dreams or a fellow believer who may not even know our situation. However, it’s important to note that God’s answer always aligns with the Holy Scriptures. Through daily worship, we learn to recognize the voice of God.
When the disciples were in the boat, fearing for their lives, Jesus appeared to them by walking on the water. “Be of good cheer! It is I, do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). Remember, we are never alone. Jesus is with us in every stormy trial. The human effort of faith and trust along with Divine intervention always ends in victory! During the challenges of the raging storm, Jesus says, “Come to Me.” Take the giant leap of faith and “Go Ahead! Walk on the Water.”
Jesus’ Prayer: “So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard me. I know that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent me.'” (John 11:41-42, NIV).
Prayers of gratitude acknowledge our heartfelt appreciation for God, the Sustainer of our lives. What do we mean when we refer to God as our Sustainer?
“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26). We may think of housing, clothing, and food [provisions] needed to support the healthy function of the mind and body, but literally, God is the Giver of life.
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7).
We easily accept the scientific explanation for breathing—human beings inhale the perfect mixture of gases [nitrogen, oxygen, and more] and exhale carbon dioxide, a waste product, yet as believers, we must perceive life through spiritual eyes—the breath that flows through our Respiratory System is God’s Ruach breath.
Yes, we acknowledge that God is the Source of life, yet most of us struggle with expressing love for our Heavenly Father through heartfelt prayers and praises of gratitude. How often do we say, Thank You, God?
David proclaimed, “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1). When David wrote this Psalm, he was a fugitive living in the caves. King Saul possessed a spirit of jealousy and desired to kill David, who was only in his teenage years, but had God’s anointing of protection on his life.
The Psalms, Songs of Prayer and Praise, are the longest book in the Bible. David’s life, once he became King, was plagued with continuous strife because of his two heinous sins [adultery and murder], yet he continued to write Psalms and play beautiful music on his harp that always honored God.
So, I paused writing this devotional reading to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the roadblock preventing us from praising God like David did.
“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'” (Matthew 22:37). Brothers and Sisters, you and I have an issue of the heart; our love is divided, we love God, but we love ourselves more.
Truthfully, from the moment we awaken, we may whisper a quick prayer, but our focus is on our personal agendas. How will we manage our time effectively to accomplish our goals for the day?
By excluding God, we have not only nurtured a spirit of self-reliance, but we have also adopted a worldview centered on the greed of acquisition. We are inundated by advertisements of lifestyles that promote two concepts: 1. “Enough is Never Enough!” 2. A strong character is revealed by the constant pursuit of assets: wealth, material possessions, success, and social status.
We must remember that although Adam and Eve received God’s best, including immortality, Satan convinced Eve that God’s command of “Do not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil” was because God did not desire for them to possess the knowledge that He had.
Not only has the majority of the Christian Community accepted the Prosperity Message, but Satan also offers distractions that fill our minds with ingratitude for God’s continuous Love, Grace, and Mercies, and His blessings of Sustenance. We love God, but why is our desire for earthly possessions and pleasures so overpowering?
Our Inheritance: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). This verse highlights the inherent tendency of human nature to be corrupt and unreliable, needing God’s intervention for true understanding and guidance.”
The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that we are involved in an unseen Spiritual War. The Great Controversy of Good and Evil is between Christ and Satan. Believers, we are Satan’s target!
Satan is determined to separate us from God by preying on our innate weaknesses. His goal is to manipulate our minds into believing that God is punitive, the Bible is filled with restrictive “Do Nots,” and that our Heavenly Father is selfish.
The Highly Effective Deception: Desire is fueled by our five senses, our eyes see, and our brains process Satan’s deceptive mirages of [what appears to be] magnificent lifestyles filled with the happiness, laughter, and contentment that only comes from status, wealth, material possessions, and pleasure.
How do we fight against our human nature of always desiring more than we have? The Path to Freedom Requires Human Effort and Divine Intervention.
We need Jesus’ Divine Strength to break the Stronghold of giving in to our desires, and we must exercise the Human Effort of Discipline and Self-Control.
Our spiritual breakthrough requires using our faith to consecrate ourselves daily to a life of surrender and faithful obedience. Personal Worship must become our priority. Our prayers should always begin with “God, I thank you for…” Every day, thank God for 5 blessings—Gratitude is Worship.
From whispering prayers of gratitude throughout our day, our faith strengthens because telling God, “Thank You,” invites the Holy Spirit to bring us into the presence of God, and give us the Divine Strength to say No to our desires.
“The manifestation of God’s love, His mercy and His goodness, and the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart to enlighten and renew it, place us, through faith, in so close connection with Christ that, having a clear conception of His character, we are able to discern the [masterful] deceptions of Satan.”
“And in view of the great things which Christ has done for us, we are ready to exclaim: ‘Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.'” (1 John 3:1, BSB).
Gratitude List: Thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your Love and Faithfulness!
God’s Agape Love: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11).
God’s Agape Love: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore, with loving kindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3).
God’s Faithfulness: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17, NIV).
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Triumphant King, made the ultimate sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross to save you and me from the wages of sin, which is death. What more can Christ do for us?
Yet there is more! This Earth is not our Forever Home! Yes and Amen!
Jesus’ Loving Promise: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3).
We cannot let the desire for earthly trinkets and success overpower our desire for receiving our reward of Eternal Life: “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.'” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
“Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is…” (1 John 3:2).
Continuously thanking God for His blessings keeps our hearts attached to Jesus’ heart. Instead of looking at life through eyes focused on desire, we develop a spirit of praise and worship from our gratitude and appreciation for all that God has given to us.
Lord God, we thank You for Your Amazing Love, Steadfast Faithfulness, and Continuous Blessings. Even though we have repaid you with selfishness, we have come to our senses, asking for forgiveness. Create in us a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within us. We ask for Your strength to resist Satan’s temptations. Lord, help us to move forward as we persevere with faith in this journey of life. All glory, honor, and praise to Your Holy Name. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Lord God, we thank you for the Holy Sabbath, a sacred time that we can redirect our faith and focus to You with praise and worship. Give us the faith, strength, and courage to remain loyal to Your Commandments and Righteous Precepts. We also ask for the wisdom to understand the Holy Scriptures. Lord, teach us how to apply Your Word to our lives, so we can be spiritually transformed. We pray for the global Christian Community, and ask You to comfort and give them the strength to remain steadfast in a time of compromise and persecution. We look forward to the day when You will come and rescue us, fulfilling Your promise to give us our Forever Home in the New Heaven and New Earth where love, peace, joy, and happiness will always exist. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.
“The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him.” (Nahum 1:7).
This morning, I read a Devotional on how easy it is for us to react negatively to the darkness of trials and hardships. But the author reminded us that God is Always Good, and the dark times are allowed for our spiritual transformation and redirecting us to depend on our Heavenly Father.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, NIV). From a perfect love that we cannot understand, God gave His only Son, Jesus, who sacrificed His life on Calvary’s Cross to redeem us from sin and to save our souls.
Yes, God’s priority is to give us Eternal Life, but we choose our destiny. Receiving immortality in our Forever Home requires us to actively participate with the Holy Spirit in our spiritual journey by obediently following Christ, our King, Savior, and Shepherd.
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). We abide in Christ through daily personal worship. With a spirit of surrender, we commit to faithfully obey our Shepherd. Our Daily Prayer: Lord, what do You want me to do?
Although we desire our heavenly reward, there is an obstacle that each of us must overcome: We have become too attached to this earthly home. Our lifestyles reveal that we are making future plans that have nothing to do with living righteously now and in our Forever Home.
Scenario: You purchased a house, and the closing date is 30 days away, but today the company announced immediate layoffs, and your supervisor informed you that you would also be impacted.
Feeling disappointed, you reach out to the seller to explain your situation. To your surprise, they respond by stating that they will not accept other offers. Instead, they give you a timeline of 3 to 4 months to find another job because they genuinely want you to purchase the house.
Your prayers of gratitude would include joy, happiness, and excitement, you know that God has given you a miraculous blessing.
Jesus’ Promise: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3).
Jesus’ promise of life in the New Heaven and New Earth that He gave to His disciples is for all believers. From Adam and Eve to every faithful believer who has lived on the planet Earth will receive their reward of immortality when Jesus comes again [Revelation 22:12].
In Revelation, the Apostle John describes the righteous as a number like the grains of sand. Every day, with joyful anticipation, we should reflect on Jesus’ love, preparing ourselves spiritually for Heaven through daily prayer and Bible study.
Jesus’ Warning: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16, NIV).
According to 2 Timothy 3, we are the generation of Christians who are living in the Last Days on this present earth. We cannot afford to waste our gift of time. Our lifetime is the only opportunity we have for the Holy Spirit to transform our minds, characters, and personalities.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19, 21).
Success and prosperity have the power to change us from the outside in, which opposes the spiritual process of Sanctification. We cannot experience spiritual growth if the majority of our time and efforts are spent fulfilling our hearts’ desires and pursuing personal and professional success.
To clear out excess inventory, many stores offer reduced prices for “As Is” items. We purchase these items because we have the vision and skills to modify them. When we come to Jesus, He accepts us “As Is: “I can come to Jesus, just as I am, but I cannot stay just as I am.” We must be changed into the likeness of Christ by the Holy Spirit in our earthly lives.
Perform a spiritual self-assessment. Do your behaviors, habits, and lifestyle demonstrate a God First or a Me First mindset? If we desire to live an obedient life, surrendering to God’s plans, then we have given access to the Holy Spirit to convert our hearts. Faithful obedience reveals that our hearts are filled with love and loyalty to Christ.
God Is Always Good: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8, ESV). God honors and rewards those who obey Him.
God Is Always Faithful: Jesus knows that our spiritual transformation requires His Divine Help and Strength, so He allows the “Chisels of Trials and Hardships” to enter our lives.
God’s Rescue Plan: “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident…be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, Amplified Bible).
“We must overcome through His Strength and Grace, that we may be partakers of [His] Divine Nature…Our pride, selfishness…passions, and love of worldly pleasure must all be overcome; therefore God sends us afflictions [adversity] to test and prove us, and show us that these evils exist in our characters.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23). The Fruit of the Spirit describes the attributes of Jesus’ Righteous Character that we must also have.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2, NIV).
One thing is for certain: Self-discipline and self-denial are within our power to exercise under all circumstances. But overcoming our internal desires requires the willingness to live a sacrificial life of saying no to the world’s treasures and pleasures. Sadly, this is the turning point for many believers who decide to detour from the Path of Righteousness.
Loving God motivates us to agree to become Spiritual Works-in-Progress. Every day, the Holy Spirit gradually performs the work of our spiritual transformation from the inside out [heart conversion]. Through daily personal worship, we ask God to reveal His plans, and we obey, without doubting His Divine Wisdom.
“This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21). God reveals His promise to provide guidance and direction for His people.” Faithful obedience invites the Holy Spirit to teach us how to live righteously. We are never alone. The Holy Spirit guides us day by day in our rugged journey on the Path of Righteousness.
The Life of Self-denial: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:2, NIV).
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).
Yes, the Christian journey is tough! Although human effort is required, we cannot save ourselves. Every day we pray, asking the Holy Spirit to empower us with Jesus’ Divine Strength to overcome the internal conflict of our heart’s desires, and the external opposition of temptations.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2-3, NIV).
God Is Always Good! We have 24/7 access to Christ, who gives us His strength to persevere through our trials and hardships. Pray for guidance, wisdom, and strength throughout your day. Jesus lived on this earth, and He knows that daily self-denial is a tough journey.
God’s Divine Intervention: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV).
Human Effort: “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7, NLT).
Live With the Mindset: “I will not disobey God!” Our enemy, Satan, the roaring lion, knows our weaknesses, developing personalized temptations that are temporary and worthless. Still, we can never be coerced into sinning against God; we choose to sin.
When tempted, immediately pray with audible words that you can hear, asking Jesus, our Mighty Warrior, for His Help. Every prayer asking for Jesus’ Strength to overcome temptations and challenges is immediately answered by Jesus, our High Priest.
God is Always Good! Before we can blink our eyes, Psalm 91 tells us Michael [Jesus], the Commander of Angel Armies, sends His angels to strengthen us and to fight the unseen spiritual warfare of Satan’s evil angels. Hallelujah and Amen!
The days we live in are filled with evil. Become a prayer warrior! Prayer keeps us connected to Jesus, who receives every prayer. The Holy Spirit empowers us with Divine wisdom and supernatural strength to live righteously.
God is Always Good! The Triune God [God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit] is doing all that is possible to ensure that every believer receives their Crown of Life. The decision to choose life is up to us.
Human Effort plus Divine Intervention Always Ends in Victory!
Lord God, we thank you for your Amazing Love, Grace, and Mercies. We desire to change and ask You to reveal the traits in our characters that prevent us from living a sacrificial, faithful, and obedient life. We ask for forgiveness for wasting our gift of time, chasing after worthless desires. Lord God, thank You for Your love, faithfulness, and for always being Good. Teach us how to worship you in Spirit and Truth, and guide us in our journey so we can receive our reward of Eternal Life. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.
Can you imagine a life without the chains of uncertainty, anxiety, worry, and fear of the future?
Every believer has the opportunity to live a life overflowing with Jesus’ gifts of peace, joy, and happiness. Brothers and sisters, I am finally living that life!
The Commitment to Live a Sacrificial Life Dedicated to Follow Christ Is Required to Receive Spiritual Freedom
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV).
“Yes we are stained by sin, but the Supreme King of the universe says to come before His throne to receive help in our time of need. We are always in need of Jesus’ Divine Help.”
Through daily personal worship, we learn God’s plan for the new day. We pray the Prayer of Surrender: “God, what do you want me to do today?” Pray, Wait, and Obey.
When we commit to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through our thoughts and the Holy Scriptures, leading and keeping us on the Path of Righteousness.
The willingness to surrender our self-reliance and totally depend on our Shepherd with faithful obedience is rewarded with Jesus’ Righteous Blessings.
Despite the uncertainties of life, the faithful have no worries. But most importantly, we do not have to wonder if we are going to receive our reward of Eternal Life.
The Fruit of the Spirit describes the attributes of Christ’s Righteous Character: His followers must also have the Fruit of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:22-24).
Faithful obedience keeps us connected to Christ. In Philippians 1:6, Jesus promises to complete the work of spiritual growth and the transformation of our character, if we follow Him.
“Pray continuously!” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Jesus Christ, our Savior, Shepherd, and Triumphant King invites us to come boldly before God’s Throne of Grace with our failures, weaknesses, sorrows, and cares.
Pray more! Perfect peace comes from letting go of our thoughts and inclinations to resolve life’s challenges. We were created us to have a dependent relationship with Christ.
“I will never leave you or forsake you.” Jesus desires us to know that we are never alone. Created in the image of God, all of Heaven is dedicated to helping us in this journey of life.
Yeshua, the Commander of Angel Armies Promise: “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways…” (Psalm 91:11, NIV).
Christ always protects the righteous! We have guardian angels who fight the unseen spiritual warfare of Satan’s evil angels. Whisper prayers throughout your day to express gratitude for Jesus’ Abundant Love, Faithfulness, and Protection.
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding…” (Proverbs 2:6). God desires for us to have the spiritual wisdom necessary to perceive life through spiritual eyes.
Every day, ask for the free gift of wisdom. The Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom to discern truth from error, to understand the deepest meaning of the Holy Scriptures, and to understand the complexities of life.
Divine wisdom prevents us from becoming victims of scams, and being manipulated by Satan in matters of everyday life.
Divine wisdom and strength are required to recognize and overcome the internal conflict of following our hearts desires, and the external opposition of temptations.
Thank you Jesus for your Love! Yes, we have access to our Shepherd’s Divine Help 24/7. Yes and Amen!
Lord God, we come before Your Throne of Grace, yes, we are stained with sin, and have weaknesses, sorrows, cares, and failures. Still we accept Your invitation to help us, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We ask for the forgiveness of our sins. Guide us and empower us with the strength to live as victorious overcomers. Lord, we acknowledge that You are the Supreme King of the universe, and the Sustainer of our lives. With faith and joyful expectancy, we believe that You have answered this prayer that we ask in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
You must be logged in to post a comment.