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.”
“The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.” (Daniel 6:7, NIV).
Daniel 6 teaches us that God honors, helps, and rescues believers who have unwavering Faith in His Love and Power and use courage to practice uncompromising integrity.
Daniel was approximately 80 years old when his faith was severely tested. His response to the Kings command:
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.” (Daniel 6:10).
Is it possible for Christian Believers in 2026 to have the faith and trust in God that Daniel had? Yes!
God’s Gifts to Humanity
Faith: “…I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.” (Romans 12:3, CSB).
Spiritual Gifts: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].” (2 Timothy 1:7, Amplified Bible).
From accepting Christ as our personal Savior, what does God expect of us? “Be holy, for I Am Holy.” (1 Peter 1:16).
Reflection: Do your thoughts, spoken words, habits, behaviors, and lifestyle reflect that you are a Son or Daughter of God, who is striving to live righteously?
Choose a Time when you can be alone and without distractions and perform a Spiritual Self-Assessment. When complete, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any habits or behaviors that indicate the compromise of God’s Righteous Standards.
Without the power of the Holy Spirit guiding our thoughts and decisions, we may have embraced the Unbeliever’s Creeds of “Self-Reliance and Chasing Your Desires.”
“A creed is a formal statement of core beliefs or guiding principles. While most commonly used to define statements of religious faith (from the Latin credo, meaning ‘I believe’), it can also refer to a personal philosophy or set of principles that dictates how someone lives.”
Self-Reliance and Chasing Our Desires Always Separate Us From God!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding…Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:5, 7).
“Self-trust replaces Reliance on God, the Creator, with reliance on the thoughts and strategies of the flawed human heart.”
Reliance on AI: “Artificial Intelligence does not have human feelings, self-awareness, or inner consciousness. Instead, AI simulates thinking by processing massive amounts of data…”
“By trusting in one’s own thoughts [human wisdom], or the supposed wisdom of AI, the believer severs their vital connection with God.”
The Triune God is the Only True Source of All Knowledge including All Present and Future Situations and Outcomes, and the Only Source of Spiritual Wisdom. (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Chasing Your Desires is to actively pursue your biggest ambitions, goals, or passions. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19, 21).
We cannot follow Christ with love and loyalty with a divided heart. “No one can serve two masters…You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Matthew 6:24).
The concept of a Worldly Christian, who lives as they please [as long as they attend weekly church services] is a deceptive false teaching originated by Satan.
God’s Command: “Therefore ‘Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.'” (2 Corinthians 6:17).
“In this Scripture, the Apostle Paul calls believers to live a life that is spiritually set apart and distinct from worldly, ungodly influences.”
Daniel Is a Faith Hero!
Although Daniel and the nation of Judah were in Babylonian captivity for 70 years, he used his faith to always believe and trust in God’s Love, Power, and Promises. Daniel proves that it is possible for us to intentionally keep our faith and focus on God, and not our circumstances.
Bible scholars estimate that Daniel was between 80-85 years of age when he was thrown in the lion’s den. But God!
Daniel’s Deliverance: God Honors Daniel’s Faithful Obedience – Daniel 6
“Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting [sorrowful] voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?'” (Verses 19-20).
“Then Daniel said to the king, ‘O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.'” (Verses 21-22).
God’s Plan For Us Is To Have Steadfast Faith Like The Prophet Daniel
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6).
Faith is Active! We use our faith to Love, Trust, Surrender, and Obey God, the Father; we pray in faith to God, the Son [Jesus], our Redeemer and Intercessor, who receives all prayers, forgives us of our sins, and it is God, the Holy Spirit, who uses our faith as a catalyst to perform our spiritual growth and transformation, and empower us with knowledge, wisdom, and strength..
Our faith keeps us connected to Jesus Christ, and reveals our cooperation with God, the Holy Spirit, who relies on our faith and obedience to perform Sanctification.
“Behold, I am Yahweh, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
Like Daniel, we must also use our faith to remain focused on God’s Sovereign Power, believing [without any fear or doubt] that God is more Powerful than our circumstances.
Studying the Bible is crucial to our faith and spiritual growth. The Scriptures teach us of God’s Loving and Righteous Character and the various Bible stories document the many times He has intervened to give victory to the righteous. [Faith Builder].
“My people perish for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6). Through the Scriptures, the inspired writers give us historical details revealing that God is Faithful, Dependable, and Powerful! [Faith Builder].
“For the word of God is living and active…” (Hebrews 4:12). God’s Words strengthen our faith, giving us hope that He will never leave us or abandon us. Jesus tells us that the Scriptures are the Bread of Life, and we must eat from them [study] every day, to be fed spiritually. [Faith Builder].
“Be holy…” We cannot depend on human thoughts, or teach ourselves how to live holy. There are many opinions on what we need to do, yet we need to pray for wisdom and guidance and study Christ’s instructions.
The Bible is our Source for navigating through our spiritual journey with victory. Much prayer is required for the building of our faith, spiritual transformation, and maintaining our relationship with Christ.
Our Spiritual Journey with Jesus requires consistent Human Effort and we will receive from the Holy Spirit, the Divine Intervention of Jesus’ Strength.
The Apostle Paul who started the early churches wrote letters of encouragement to the members, describing the spiritual activities that every Christian believer must do to receive the spiritual growth and transformation performed daily by the Holy Spirit:
“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God…” (Colossians 1:9-10, NIV).
“We can come to Jesus just as we are, but we cannot stay just as we are.”
Sanctification Is God’s Spiritual Goal: Daily spiritual growth and transformation of our mind, character, and personality into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character requires the teamwork of Human Effort and Divine Intervention.
“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)
Like Daniel, who consecrated himself through daily personal worship, three times a day, we also need to use our gift of time to commit to worshiping, following, trusting and obeying Christ, our Savior and Shepherd.
“The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27, Amplified Bible).
Following Jesus requires a mindset and lifestyle of continuous self-denial and worship [Romans 12:1-3]. Every morning, we use our faith to surrender and commit to obey the promptings and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
For over 6,000 years, Satan has manipulated the minds of many people to rebel against God. Human Effort alone cannot keep us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.
Our daily prayer of faith and surrender invites the Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith, and empower us with the spiritual knowledge and wisdom to discern life through spiritual eyes.
Despite King Darius’ command, Daniel was faithful and obedient to God. Not only did he continue to worship God three times a day, by opening his window, Daniel’s accusers witnessed his courage and steadfast faith and trust in the Most-High God.
In 2026, our tests of faith are very different from Daniel’s test of faith. Satan is presenting temptations of social media, earthly trinkets, success, relationships with unbelievers, fornication, gambling, immoral programs and video games, alcoholic beverages, and addictive mood gummies and teas to calm us.
Many Christian believers have embraced and developed hatred for one another because of political differences; and instead of helping those who are economically disadvantaged, they are using their God-given resources to become Wealth Builders.
Loving Others Is a Test of Our Faith and Obedience to God: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39).
Represent the love of Christ to everyone. We do not have time to hate or to be upset with anyone. Ask the Holy Spirit to saturate your heart with God’s Agape Love.
Prayer, praise, and study of the Holy Scriptures keep us close to Jesus Christ, our Shepherd and Triumphant King, who promises that He is coming soon. Yes and Amen!
Satan is using his best strategies to entice us to abandon our relationship with Jesus Christ. Every day, when we least expect it, we will face temptations that test our faith and loyalty to God.
Stop, Think, and Pray! Pray continuously!” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Facing accusations or conflict? It’s a faith test! Never react with emotions; remain silent and pray. [Faith Builder].
Whisper prayers throughout your day for Divine Wisdom and Strength. Through prayer, the Holy Spirit empowers us with Jesus’ Divine Strength to persevere and pass every test of faith. [Faith Builder].
God has promised to deliver us and He will!
“In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might.” (Ephesians 6:10, Amplified Bible).
Lord God, we ask You to be our Strength as we navigate through our spiritual journey of faith. We also ask for the Holy Spirit to lead us, guide us, and correct us, as we follow Jesus on the Narrow Path of Righteousness. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
If you were asked to define success, would your answer include money, material possessions, and an elite social status?
“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (Matthew 16:26, NLT).
Spiritual Fact: Wealth builders will not receive the reward of Eternal Life.
It is impossible to focus on pursuing temporary treasures on a temporary earth and have a faithful and obedient heart to heart relationship with Jesus Christ.
“Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” (Revelation 3:19, NIV).
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'” (Hebrews 13:5, NIV).
We are Temporary Travelers living on a Temporary Earth and everything we own is Temporary.
“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21).
Persevering in faith with perfect trust and obedience to God will ensure spiritual success [spiritual growth and character transformation] and receiving your reward of the Crown of Life.
Every day, Prepare for Eternity – Put God First!
“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.”
“There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:1, 5).
Bible Study: John 14:1-3; Revelation 21-22
Lord God, we repent for chasing earthly treasures and pleasures, and ask You to give us the wisdom to see life through spiritual eyes, and the strength to overcome Satan’s distractions and temptations. Jesus, in faith, we dedicate our hearts to You, and thank You for the sacrificial gift of Your life on Calvary’s Cross. Lord, give us a heart filled with love and humility. We ask You to guide us in our journey on the Narrow Path of Righteousness as we prepare for Your Coming. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus, Amen.
“And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:22-23).
Jesus tells us that every human being has sinned by disobeying God. Peter messed up and denied Jesus three times, still Jesus did not condemn him, Jesus restored him by asking Peter three times, “Do you love Me?”
We give Praises to God, the Father and God, Jesus the Son Jesus, who completed the Plan of Redemption on Calvary’s Cross, which includes confession, repentance, and God’s forgiveness for our sins.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).
Do not hold onto and grieve over your past experiences and mistakes. Refusing to forgive, nurturing anger, sadness, and despair over the past reveal unbelief [not using our faith to actively believe] in God’s Gift: “…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
“Through Christ’s atoning sacrifice, we are adopted into the family of God, and we proclaim, ‘Abba, Father!'”
Even God cannot change our past, but if we are willing to use our faith and believe in His promise of “making something new,” He will reset our lives and make beauty from the ashes of our past.
“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19, NLT).
The Gift: Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are declared righteous. The Apostle Paul tells us that from accepting Christ as our personal Savior, we become “new creations,” who are covered by Christ’s Righteousness, and as Sons and Daughters of God, we can expect to receive God’s greatest blessings.
Spiritual Restoration is a gift from God that requires us to live holy: “Be holy, for I Am Holy.” (1 Peter 1:16).
We connect to Christ and stay anchored in Him through daily surrender, faithful obedience, and personal worship [Prayer and Bible Study].
Yes, we use our faith to love, honor, and revere God by implicitly trusting and obeying Him. To receive God’s promises of Spiritual Renewal and Restoration, we cannot have a divided heart.
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).
Our inherited Hearts naturally gravitate toward fulfilling our desires, but Self-Reliance is willful disobedience against God. The heart filled with love for God easily embraces and practices a “God First” mindset and lifestyle.
The Lifestyle of Daily Surrender: We let go of our thoughts and strategies by always praying for God’s Guidance before making decisions. “Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7).
Even when we fall, with Agape Love and Mercy, Jesus extends His hand, which is an invitation for us to get up and try again. But this time, we use our faith to trust and obey our Shepherd by relying on His Divine Guidance and Strength. Yes and Amen!
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27).
Lord God, we confess that by living to fulfill our desires, we have redirected our faith and focus to ourselves. Our decisions are based on our thoughts and emotions, and for these sins of disobedience, we ask You for forgiveness. Our past experiences and mistakes have produced many consequences, but most importantly, we have forgotten that loving You requires us to put You First and to obey Your Will. In faith, we ask You to teach us how to love, to heal us from our past, and to restore our relationship with You. With gratitude and joy, we look forward to receiving Your promise of doing something new in our lives. With humility, we ask for these spiritual blessings in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“I spoke my message with spiritual power so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.” (2 Corinthians 2:4-5, GW)
The Apostle Paul’s message to the members of the Church in Corinth is a reminder that it is God’s Word and His Power that strengthens our faith.
God does not ask us to have blind faith, He has already given us so many reasons to believe:
God’s Love is evident through the Divine Gift of His Son, Jesus Christ; we pray and immediately receive His Help; and Yahweh Yireh freely gives us the daily Blessings of life, health, strength, provisions, and protection from His Army of guardian angels.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7). And, we have a sound mind with the ability to reason and make prudent choices.
And yet, even with all these blessings, we choose doubt over faithfully trusting God. How do we get past the obstacle of doubting God?
We were given a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). Every day, we use our faith to believe and trust in human thoughts and strategies.
“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7). Letting go of the unbeliever’s practice of self-reliance, which always excludes God is not as easy as we think.
Overcoming the Stronghold: Relying on human wisdom satisfies the sin of Pride hidden deep within our hearts.
To have steadfast faith in God requires the humility to redirect our faith and focus from human wisdom and artificial intelligence, back to God.
“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13). This command cannot be obeyed without receiving Divine Strength from the Holy Spirit.
Each new day brings distractions and temptations that we will not recognize and overcome unless, we surrender ourselves to God, asking the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and strengthen our faith.
Requisite for Intentional Faith: Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures
The Bible tells us that God is Eternal, Holy, Sovereign, and has Absolute Power and Authority:
“Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: ‘Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge. Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. ‘Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?'” (Job 38:1-4, NIV).
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'” (Matthew 28:18).
Yes, trusting God requires that we have Scriptural knowledge of God’s Sovereignty, still there is so much more to learn about God’s Character:
God Is Omniscient: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'” (Isaiah 55:8-9).
God Is Love: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3, Amplified Bible).
Our Heavenly Father has a tender, responsive and forgiving heart that Loves, Cares, Helps, Protects, and Provides for His [obedient] Sons and Daughters.
God’s Proclamation: “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
Scriptural knowledge provides the Spiritual Foundation to build a strong faith and trust in God, but we must also honor God by using our faith to believe that God is Who He says He is.
The Invitation: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the Throne of Grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16).
The Promise: “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” (Ezekiel 36:26, NLT).
Committing to follow Jesus with faithful obedience results in a spiritual heart transplant. Our faith invites the Holy Spirit to convert our heart, connecting us to Jesus’ Heart.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28, ESV).
As long as we use our faith to trust and obey God’s Plans for our lives, the Holy Spirit keeps us anchored in Christ, resulting in an unbreakable relationship with our Shepherd.
Humility Cures Worldliness: “So place yourselves under God’s authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.” (James 4:7, GW).
Reflection: How often do you have personal worship? Praying, Studying the Bible, Singing, and Thanking God for His Abundant Blessings?
“Could it be that we too need a spiritual renovation, a genuine, real, moment-by-moment walk with God?”
Using our faith, every morning, we must put on our Spiritual Armor [Ephesians 6].
“But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6, Amplified Bible).
Although we participate in Family Worship, we should practice the habit of “Separation, Solitude, and Silence.” Our daily journey with Jesus is sustained by having an intimate one-to-one relationship with Him.
Spiritual Bread: “Give us this day our daily bread. Beyond physical food, it is a prayer to partake of Christ, who is the ‘Bread of Life.'”
“As physical food strengthens our bodies daily, we must also feed every day on the Word of God through the Holy Spirit to renew our souls.”
Every morning and evening, separate yourself from all distractions, praying for the forgiveness of your sins, which is required for us to enter into God’s Holy Presence.
Our willingness to surrender to faithfully follow Jesus is rewarded by God, the Holy Spirit, who renews our mind, body, and soul with the refreshing Living Water of Jesus Christ, giving us increased faith, wisdom, discernment, and strength.
Spiritual growth and transformation of our mind and character into the Righteousness of Christ cannot be accomplished through weekly Church attendance.
The time spent in personal worship praying, praising, and thanking God along with studying the Bible, affirms and strengthens our faith, preparing us for an eternity of worshiping God, the Father and God, the Son [Jesus Christ]. Yes and Amen!
“I have decided to follow Jesus, and there is no turning back!”
Lord God, we confess that our faith is weak because we have used our thoughts and limited perceptions to attempt to navigate through life. And for this sin against You, we ask for forgiveness. Thank You, for Your love and faithfulness, and our abundant daily blessings. Lord, in faith, we come to You, asking for restoration and a new beginning in our Journey with Jesus. With humility, we express the desire to surrender and renew our covenant of faith. And we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Loving and Righteous Name, Amen.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14).
The Wide Gate: “This path is easy and popular. It’s the path of least resistance—living for worldly pleasures, self-promotion, and following the crowd. But it leads to destruction.”
The Narrow Gate: “This Path is difficult. It requires faith and trusting God’s Plans, daily personal sacrifice, humility, and obedience to God’s Will. It demands commitment and denying our desires, Jesus tells us that only a few choose it.”
As I reflected on the daily struggle required to stay on the Narrow Path, the Holy Spirit reminded me of John 3:16 and John 14:1-3.
“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).
God, the Father and God, Jesus, the Son are Omniscient, so they knew that Adam and Eve would disobey before Jesus created them. Still, Jesus said, Father, I will give my life to redeem humanity from certain death, the consequence of sin [Romans 6:23].
“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.”
“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, the Narrow Path requires us to say, No when our family and friends are inviting us to have fun and fulfill our desires, because you only live once.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27).
But deep within our hearts, we love our Shepherd, and we will continue our faith journey of being led and guided by the Holy Spirit, who tells us, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.'” (Isaiah 40:31, NIV).
Jesus’ Promises to His Faithful Sheep
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 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. 3 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).
“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21). Yes and Amen!
Lord God, we love You and we are grateful for the Love Gift of Jesus Christ, Your Only Son. And Jesus, we love You, and appreciate the Love Gift of Your Life, which gives us Redemption, Grace, and Mercy. In faith, we will continue to follow You on the Narrow Path. Jesus, we know that we cannot follow You, using our thoughts and strength, so, we humbly ask You to please be our Strength. As we celebrate Your Holy Sabbath, we pray for all believers that they will decide to follow You with total surrender and faithful obedience. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“You have not because you do not ask” is a Scripture that many of us have memorized. With expectation that God will say, Yes, we eagerly pray, asking God for the things that will make us happy.
“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13).
The Condition: We will only receive a “Yes” from Jesus, [our Heavenly Intercessor, who receives all prayers], if we ask for things that glorify God, the Father.
God, the Father’s Priorities For Every Believer
Our necessities of life; a relationship with Jesus; renouncing sin; daily spiritual growth; and the transformation of our character into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character, required to receive Eternal Life are God, the Father’s Plans for every faithful believer.
In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus promises to give us all of our necessities of life:
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Verse 25).
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles [unbelievers] seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Verses 31-32).
God Is Yahweh Yireh: “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).
Spiritual Healing: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3).
God promises to heal us from mental disorders and emotional trauma because those conditions prevent spiritual growth and transformation.
“The book of James contains a lot of practical instruction for how Christians should live their lives. The Apostle wrote to believers who seemed to have quite a few problems with their [desires] and behavior.”
Reflection: How are we spending our money and our time? Do our habits reflect that we recognize that time and money are blessings and gracious gifts from God?
Stewardship is properly managing our resources that God has given to us. Conservative management reveals that our heart is filled with gratitude and we use our ability to practice the discipline of self-control.
God Answers Our Question: “Why hasn’t God answered my prayer?”
God’s Reasons For Unanswered Prayers
#1: “You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your desires.” (James 4:3, Amplified Bible).
In this Scripture, James specifies selfish desires as one of God’s reasons for denying our requests.
#2: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19, 21).
Although, not every prayer is a request for money, our focus is on material possessions; a car, house, or a better job, a husband or wife, and many other specific desires.
#3: “But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:10, NLT).
God knows the hidden secrets of our hearts that reveal our true characters and personalities. Will we value the gift instead of The Giver?
#4: Self-reliance Instead of Faithful Obedience: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46).
Reflection: Ask yourself, What is my relationship like with Jesus Christ? Do I use my faith to surrender and let go of my desires, asking God to reveal His plans for the new day?
Recap of God’s Priorities: Revealing His Plans For Your Life, Meeting Our Spiritual and Physical Needs, and Rewarding Faithful Believers With Eternal Life
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'” (Isaiah 55:8-9, NKJV).
“So is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11, NIV).
God gifted His only Son, Jesus to redeem us from the consequences of sin and to reward the faithful with Eternal Life in the New Heaven and New Earth.
Have we aligned our desires with God’s desire to save our soul? Yes, we were created with free will of choice, yet, we are required to acquiesce to God’s Sovereign Authority.
“Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5).
Every day, our desires, decisions, and lifestyles reveal whether or not, we are faithfully following Christ, Our Savior and Shepherd on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.
In John 16:33, Jesus tells us that our Spiritual Journey will be a tough journey, but for us to be courageous, because He will give us the strength to overcome our challenges.
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'” (Matthew 11:28, NLT).
To establish and maintain our relationship with Jesus, the focus of our daily prayers should be spiritual, asking God to increase our faith, teach us humility, and to empower us with wisdom, courage, and strength.
“Ask, then; ask, and you shall receive. To every sincere prayer an answer will come. It may not come just as you desire, or at the time you look for it; but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your needs.”
“The prayers you offer…God answers, not always according to your expectations, but always for your good.”
“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.'” (Luke 11:1, NIV).
Lord God, we thank you for life, health, strength, and our daily provisions. Lord, teach us how to pray. We struggle with prioritizing our spiritual needs over our desires. We know that Your ways are perfect. And we ask You to teach us how to live a life of self-denial, which is necessary to prepare for Eternal Life. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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