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.”
Victory Belongs To Jesus: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.'” (Matthew 28:18)
In Job Chapters 38-41, The LORD declares His Omnipotence to Job, who desires to question God because of his trial of extreme suffering.
“The LORD asks: ‘Who then is able to stand against ME? Who has proceeded ME, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine. (Job 41:10-11).
Throughout the Holy Bible, Reverence for God’s Holiness and Sovereign Authority has always been required to receive His Divine Intervention.
“And they do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!'” (Revelation 4:8). This Scripture refers to the angels in heaven, who worship God, the Father and God, Jesus, the Son with love, loyalty, and reverence.
Reverence for God’s Divine Authority is demonstrated through daily surrender, faithful obedience, and prayerfully asking for His Plans to be revealed for the given day.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37).
Loving God is to put Him First, as revealed by a life of self-denial, praying for guidance, and following and obeying His plans.
Studying the Bible with the desire to learn and practice God’s Commands and Righteous Precepts invites the Holy Spirit to transform us spiritually, preparing us for an eternity of worship.
Steadfast Faith, Surrender, and Obedience are Spiritual Requisites revealing that our heart is overflowing with love for God, and that our minds are aligned with the Righteousness of Christ.
If we desire God’s Divine Help and to receive our reward of the Eternal Crown of Life [Revelation 2:10; Revelation 22:12] then our thoughts, attitude spoken words, habits, attitude, and lifestyle must reflect God’s command, “Be holy for I Am Holy.”
Reflection: Does our lifestyle and worship reflect that we revere and honor God’s Sovereign Authority and Power?
“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).
Brothers and Sisters, we live in a time in which, many believers feel intimidated to serve God as He requires. Those who say they are Christian believers, but practice the irreverent lifestyles and actions of other “Christian Believers,” God tells us that He considers them as sinners.
The Lord will not hear a sinner’s prayer unless it is a prayer of confession and repentance: “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, God listens to him.” (John 9:31).
“Then they will cry to the Lord, but He will not answer them; He will hide His face from them at that time, because they have made their deeds evil.” (Micah 3:4).
Consider this, if you have prayed for God’s Divine Help and never received an answer, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal if you are practicing any sins that have separated you from God.
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV).
Unless we surrender and consecrate ourselves to God, we cannot perceive God as the Holy and Sovereign Authority of this universe, or the Sustainer of Life. Spiritual discernment is a Spiritual gift that requires faithful obedience to God.
“And the Lord said: ‘…this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me'” (Isaiah 29:13).
Although we attend weekly church services, and do not engage in the worldly practices of sinners, often we are too distracted and too tired to worship God in Spirit and Truth.
God tells us that He must be First in our lives, which includes giving Him a reasonable portion of our gift of time every day through personal worship.
Many believers do not worship God through the daily personal worship of Prayer and Bible Study. If we exclude worship in our earthly lives, how are we preparing for an eternity of worshiping God?
“…let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29).
Core Principles of Reverence
“Reverence for God is a sacred grace of the soul, cultivated through an awareness of His Infinite Presence.”
Core Principles of Reverence
Approach to Prayer: Believers should approach God in Jesus’ name with confidence, but avoid a bold, presumptuous, or overly casual attitude as if addressing an equal or inferior.
The Name of God: God’s Name and titles are holy and must never be spoken lightly, thoughtlessly, or repeated needlessly in conversation or prayer.
Posture in Worship: Kneeling is emphasized in both public and private prayer as the biblical example modeled by Jesus, the apostles, and prophets.
Behavior in the Sanctuary: The house of worship is treated as the ‘gate of heaven,’ requiring sobriety, order, and neatness. In the Bible, spiritual sobriety refers to being reverent, watchful, and disciplined in your faith rather than spiritually intoxicated by worldly distractions.
Believers are advised to avoid common business, using cellular devices to text, idle talking, whispering, laughing, or lingering/gossiping in the aisles after services.
Respect for Scripture: Printed Bibles and sacred words should be handled with deep respect, never used carelessly, and never quoted in jests or light banter.
Living God’s Character: True reverence extends beyond outward [ritual practices of worship] to embodying God’s merciful, gracious, and righteous character in daily life.
Embodying: To show a character trait so clearly that a person or thing becomes a living example.
Throughout the years most Christian churches have dismissed the practice of reverencing God by bowing on one’s knees when praying, but it was not always like this.
As a child, I was taught when to revere God by always bowing on my knees when praying , or if sitting at the table, say a Prayer of Gratitude for the food, still, we always closed our eyes and bowed our heads.
Faithful obedience demonstrates reverence for God: God rejected Cain’s offering, as recorded in Genesis 4:3–5, because of Cain’s heart attitude of disobedience, lack of faith, and reverence.
Like Cain, Adam and Eve’s oldest son, who offered God a sacrifice based on his thoughts, we have been deceived by Satan to think that we can offer praise and worship to the Most-High God based on our thoughts, emotions, and worship practices.
Proper worship invites the Holy Spirit to place us in the presence of God, where we receive the spiritual blessings of Jesus’ gifts of peace, joy, and the strength to persevere in our spiritual journey with Jesus.
We were created to obey and worship the Most-High God. Self-reliance is Sin: To worship God when we feel like it, reveals that we think our human thoughts are superior to God’s Higher Thoughts and Ways. Study Isaiah 55:8-9.
Bible stories clearly indicate that only the righteous who honored God by revering His Sovereignty, Supremacy, and Holiness through faithful obedience received His Divine Help and Guidance, ending in Victory.
“And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.'” (Exodus 14:13-14)
The Holy Scriptures teach us how to revere God: Study Psalm 95.
Lord God, we humbly bow in Your Holy Presence, asking for the forgiveness of our sins. We ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to anoint us with Your Holy Spirit. Lord, we desperately need You to lead us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness. We ask for wisdom and the strength to persevere in our spiritual journey. Lord we admit that we can do nothing without You. Although we have tried, we realize that we cannot change ourselves. Lord, reveal any unrighteous characteristics, habits, and people that we need to let go of. Teach us how to be holy. We desire to worship You in Spirit and Truth, reverencing Your Holiness and Sovereign Authority. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of our Savior and Triumphant King, Jesus Christ, Amen.
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test you [that is, to test the quality of your faith], as though something strange or unusual were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12, Amplified Bible).
The challenges, disappointments, and hardships, we experience are allowed for the purpose of strengthening our faith, trust, obedience, and dependency on God.
“Be holy for I am Holy.” (1 Peter 1:16). We can come to Jesus just like we are, but we cannot stay that way.
The Holy Spirit can only sanctify those who willingly live a life of daily surrender and faithful obedience to follow and obey Jesus Christ, our Shepherd.
Our earthly lives are the only opportunity that we have to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, Who gradually [day by day] changes our mind, character, and personality into the likeness of Jesus’ Righteous Character.
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-8, NIV).
Lord God, Creator of this universe and every living thing, we humbly bow in Your Holy Presence on the Holy Sabbath asking for the forgiveness of our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Lord, we have faced a week filled with many challenges, including spiritual warfare that has left us depleted. We are in need of the blessings of spiritual renewal, restoration, and healing of our mind, body, and soul. We pray for a Christ-like spirit to love others, including our enemies. Jesus, we thank You for loving us unconditionally; we praise You for the blessings we received, including angelic protection from all harm. Thank You for giving us the Sabbath, a time to rest, and redirect our focus to reflect deeply on Your Love, Grace, Mercies, and Faithfulness. We also ask You to strengthen the global Christian Community, especially those who are being persecuted for accepting and following Jesus. In faith and with gratitude, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of our Savior and Triumphant King, Jesus Christ, Amen.
“Then the Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he heard that he had departed from Lachish.”
“And the king heard concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, ‘Look, he has come out to make war with you.’ So he again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,
”Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.””
‘Look! You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by utterly destroying them; and shall you be delivered?'” (2 Kings 20: 8-11).
King Hezekiah’s Prayer
“And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord.”
15 “Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said: ‘O Lord God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.’
16 ‘Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God.’
17 ‘Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, 18 and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands—wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them.’
19 ‘Now therefore, O Lord our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord God, You alone.'”
God, Jesus, El Gibbor—The Mighty Warrior’s Response
32 “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: ‘He shall not come into this city, Nor shoot an arrow there, Nor come before it with shield, Nor build a siege mound against it.’
33 ‘By the way that he came, By the same shall he return; And he shall not come into this city, ‘Says the Lord.”
34 ‘For I will defend this city, to save it For My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.'”
El Gibbor—The Sovereign God’s Victorious Outcome
Sennacherib’s Defeat and Death 35 “And it came to pass on a certain night that the Angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead.”
36 “So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh.”
37 “Now it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the temple of Nisroch his god, that his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.”
The Sovereign God Is Unknown To Most of Today’s Christian Believers
“My people perish for the lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6). From redirecting our faith and focus to ourselves and the world’s temporary wealth, success, and pleasures, truthfully, we do not know who the Sovereign God is.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (Revelation 22:13).
From not studying the Bible, we do not know Jesus’ Love, our Mighty Warrior’s Faithfulness, Promises, and His Perfect Record of Absolute Victories.
“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24).
Unless we develop a heart-to-heart relationship with Jesus Christ through daily personal worship, surrendering to follow our Shepherd, praying continuously, and studying the Holy Scriptures in the Bible, we will redirect our faith and focus to ourselves.
But from embracing the unbeliever’s life of trusting in human thoughts and strategies, we travel on the road of Self-Reliance, which places us on a Spiritually Dead End Street.
“And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.” (Psalm 9:10).
At some point, when we have suffered enough consequences from excluding God, we realize our human limitations, and feeling defeated, instead of repenting, we begin to blame God for abandoning us.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28).
For the Believers that follow Jesus with faithful obedience, when we face the hardships and vicissitudes of life that are impossible for human thoughts, wisdom, and strategies to resolve, we bow on bended knees, crying out for God’s Help.
“Behold, I am YHWH, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27, BLB). Everyday, we must choose to practice the steadfast faith required to believe in and trust God’s Sovereign Power.
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, ESV).
Whether experiencing life’s routine challenges or severe struggles, the righteous use their faith to believe and rely on God’s Promises that they have memorized; and the Holy Spirit encourages us by speaking through our thoughts, and reminding us of God’s Faithfulness, and His Commitment to always help us.
“You will keep him in perfect peace because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3). For those who live a lifestyle of worship, we choose to completely trust God.
“Peace, Be still.” Yes, we place our life in His Capable Hands, and enjoy His peace. How? We believe that Jesus is Sovereign, Loves us, and is Our Shelter and Deliverer when facing the raging storms of life.
“Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become restless and disturbed within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence. (Psalm 42:5, Amplified Bible).
At times, even the strongest Christians may feel discouraged, especially when our trials last for a long time; but from developing the habit of prayer as our First Response, we invite the Holy Spirit to encourage and empower us with Jesus’ Divine Peace and Strength. Pray continuously!
The Bible Keeps Us Anchored In Christ
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105). Through the Holy Spirit, God’s Word provides Spiritual Guidance, revealing that Jesus is our Guiding Light even when we are traveling on the dark Path of Adversity.
God’s Word is the Spiritual Catalyst that brings us back to our Spiritual Senses: Jesus tells us: “Take no thought for tomorrow; I will never leave you or forsake you; Fear not, for I am with you…”
The Holy Bible reveals God’s Higher Thoughts and Ways, always redirecting our faith and focus away from our circumstances and back to The Sovereign Power of Jesus Christ, El Gibbor, Heaven’s Mighty Warrior.
“For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37). The Bible gives us the intimate details of Yeshua: Jesus is our Mighty Warrior, promising to give us Victory when we place all of our faith and trust in Him.
Jeremiah 17:14: “Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” Every day, Jesus is still performing Supernatural Miracles of Healing and Restoration, giving us the Strength to persevere, and comforting us while we endure illnesses, griefs, and hardships.
“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). “Behold I stand at the door and knock…” (Revelation 3:20). And we must never forget that Jesus, our Warrior is still reaching out to the heart of sinners to accept Him as their personal Savior.
Make the decision every day to put Jesus Christ as the Lord of your Life; He is a Loving and Faithful Shepherd, The Great Physician, Our Dedicated Protector, and Powerful Warrior, who tells us, “You will not have to fight,” Be still, and know that I am God.” Yes and Amen!
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, ESV).
Lord God, we desperately need Your help. We are facing many struggles and hardships that we cannot resolve, and even if we could, Jesus, we bring our burdens to Your Throne of Grace, because You promised to help us in our time of need. Lord, we make the commitment to use our faith to trust You with our lives. We realize only You can give us the victory and bring glory to Your Holy Name. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Loving and Righteous Name of our Mighty Warrior, El Gibbor, Jesus Christ, Amen.
“Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may rely on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear [reverence] Your Name.” (Psalm 86:11)
King David frequently prayed asking God for guidance, direction, and protection:
Prayer for Guidance: “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.” (Psalm 143:8).
When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we become His disciples, who commit to follow Him with love, loyalty, and faithful obedience.
What does this mean in real life to be a disciple and follower of Jesus Christ? To follow Jesus, every day, we surrender to His Sovereign Authority as our Shepherd by praying, The Believer’s Prayer of Surrender: “LORD, what do you want me to do?”
Surrender instead of Self-Reliance: David routinely stops trying to figure things out on his own and explicitly asks God to “show him the way.”
Trust in God’s Righteous Character: His requests are anchored in God’s faithfulness, mercy, and unfailing love rather than his own merit.
TheDesire for Obedience: Asking what to do is paired with a commitment to follow God’s Commandments and Precepts and to live according to His Truth.
From the moment we wake up, our first prayer is a prayer of surrender, which reveals our deepest desire to put God First by acknowledging that Jesus is LORD, and He is The Sovereign Authority over our lives.
Praying for God’s Wisdom and Guidance is a natural response of our love, reverence, and gratitude for God’s Love, Grace, and Mercies.
God Says: Trust Me with Your Life!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear [Revere] the Lord and depart from evil.” (Proverbs 3:5-8).
From studying the Holy Scriptures, we learn that God does not make suggestions; Scriptures of Guidance and Warnings are God’s Commands, given with the expectation that we will obey.
Faithful Obedience is Worship, Acknowledging God as Holy and His Sovereign Authority Over Humanity
Jesus reveals that He was always obedient to God, His Father: “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” (John 8:29).
“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:8).
If God, the Father required total obedience from Jesus, His Son then as living beings created from the dust of the ground with the purpose to honor and worship God, we reveal our love, reverence, and honor through daily surrender and faithful obedience.
Surrender versus Self-governance
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).
“Rejection of God’s Divine Authority: Willfully breaking God’s command is not merely a minor mistake; it is an act of aligning with Satan, choosing self-supremacy over God’s government.”
“Destiny and Consequences: Obedience or disobedience determines every person’s eternal destiny. While obedience brings life, health, peace, and protection, disobedience separates humanity from God’s blessings and leads to spiritual ruin.”
One of Satan’s most effective lies is that we can live as we please and because God is Loving and Merciful, He will not destroy us, despite living sinful and disobedient lives.
Jesus clarifies in the Scriptures that disobedience to God results in destruction, The Second and Final death: Study Revelation 19; Revelation 21:8; and Malachi 4, which reveals that God does not have an eternally burning hell; sinners will be destroyed.
In 2 Timothy 1:7, God tells us that He did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind, which is self-control.
Reflection: If we obey the government’s, state’s, and county laws, and our employer’s policies and procedures then something is not right within our hearts when we choose to willfully disobey God, by not obeying His Commandments and Righteous Precepts.
“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).
“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).
Every day, our choices and lifestyle reveal whether or not we love God, and the destiny we have chosen. Satan knows that his destiny is destruction, so he presents God as a tyrant who loves to see people suffer.
Jesus’ Response to the unrighteous: “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44, NIV).
Even before Jesus created humanity, God the Father, and God, Jesus the Son, who are Omniscient [All-Knowing] were aware that Adam and Eve would disobey the command, Do not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Yet it was from a love that many of us still do not understand that God, the Father and God, Jesus, the Son made the decision to move forward with the Divine Plan to create humanity, knowing that most would rebel against and reject God’s Love, Grace, Mercies, and His Sovereign Authority.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. …”
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17).
There is no Middle Road, either we choose to follow Jesus, or to follow Satan: “…But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24:15, NIV).
When we live a life of pleasing ourselves, our mindset is the same as the unbeliever’s mindset, who choose the world’s temporary wealth and material possessions over Jesus and Eternal Life.
Today is a precious gift of time revealing God’s Love and Faithfulness to you and me. With determination, we can repent, ask God for forgiveness of the sin of self-reliance, and begin to travel on the Narrow Path of Righteousness under the guidance of God, the Holy Spirit.
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24). We only have one opportunity to prepare for an eternity of worshiping God, which begins in our existence right now.
Take Back Control of your time by setting aside at least one hour a day [30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening] to separate yourself to worship God through Prayer and Bible Study, which places us in the Presence of God.
In the Great Controversy of Good and Evil, every believer is Satan’s Target. Each day, we desperately require God’s Presence to live righteously on our planet that is filled with hardship, evil, and never-ending temptations designed to separate us from God.
We must ask the same question that the jailer asked the Apostle Paul: “What must I do to be saved?”
Jesus tells us exactly what is required to love God: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:3-4).
Prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Lord Jesus, today we realize that we desperately need You. And we ask You to forgive our sins and to restore us back into the safety of Your Love, and the Covering of Your Righteousness. We also ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we continue to follow You, Our Faithful Shepherd. In faith, and with love, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. …”
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, NIV)
What does Jesus mean when He says to Abide in Me? We abide or remain in Christ through the daily personal worship of Prayer and Bible Study, dedicating ourselves to follow Jesus with faithful obedience.
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).
“We love Him because He first loved us.” Because our heart is filled with love and gratitude for Jesus’ blood sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross, we realize that accepting Christ as our personal Savior is to live a life of daily surrender.
True religion is to worship God in spirit and Truth; daily surrender and faithful obedience acknowledges that we belong to Jesus Christ, Who fulfilled the Plan of Redemption to save our souls.
Being created in the image of God, Jesus Christ includes the ability to make choices, and to learn the difference between right and wrong and truth and error.
The Bible teaches us the attributes of God’s Loving and Righteous Character, His Moral Law—The Ten Commandments, Righteous Precepts, and the difference between holy and unholy behaviors, habits, and lifestyles.
Because we inherited hearts that are self-centered, our hearts instinctively rebel against God. We would rather pursue the things we desire than to live a disciplined life of self-denial. Study Romans 12:1-2.
Because God is Omniscient, He knew that our greatest battle would be the battle within our minds, therefore; Jesus created us with Spiritual gifts:
1. Faith: Every human being has received “a measure of faith,” that gives us the ability to believe in God, His Eternal Existence and His Love for us; we also believe God, Jesus Christ is our Creator and Savior, Who fulfilled The Plan of Redemption that covers us with His Righteousness; we believe in God’s Sovereign Authority and Power to perform miracles, and that His Promises are Absolute. Our beliefs also include Jesus’ Promises in John 14:1-3, and Revelation Chapters 21- 22.
2. 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).
When our hearts are filled with dedication and love for God, we desire to put Him first, and it is not a burden or inconvenience to revere Him with faith, trust, and obedience.
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). If we find it impossible to let go of our personal desires and agendas, our resistance to obey reveals a spiritual issue of our heart: We do not love God more than we love ourselves.
“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” (John 8:29).
In His earthly life, Jesus always prayed for God, the Father’s guidance, wisdom, and the strength to fulfill God’s Divine Will and Plans, and He willingly obeyed His Father.
“And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8, ESV).
Reflection: If God, the Father required total surrender and obedience from Jesus, His Son then it is impossible for us to believe Satan’s lie that we can live as we please, and still inherit our reward of Eternal Life.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21, ESV).
The Foundation of Christianity is Christ: Our Salvation is dependent on having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ; Jesus is our Shepherd, and we are His sheep, who follow His guiding Voice, simply because we love Him.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27). Jesus is Omniscient; He reads our hearts, Knows every thought, every desire, and every motive; therefore, we stand exposed, as naked babies before His glorious presence; we cannot pretend to love, obey, and follow Jesus.
Jesus Christ Is Our Spiritual Role Model: “But I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.” (John 14:31, ESV).
Most often, our dedication to Christ will result in a spiritual journey that does not include anyone else. There are many Christians who believe in God, but few who are willing to let go of all of their desires and follow Jesus.
“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ So he arose and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9).
When Jesus extended the invitation to Matthew to follow him, Matthew’s response was not one of spoken words; He got up, leaving the materialistic lifestyle that brought nothing, but spiritual emptiness.
Like Matthew, Jesus’ faithful disciple, who never looked back, everyday, we must choose to renew our covenant of faithful obedience to our Loving Shepherd.
When love for Jesus is flowing through our hearts as rivers of rapid waters, we will cry out, Yes, for the rest of my life, I will follow Jesus!
“Trust in the Lord, do not rely on your own thoughts and understanding… In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:5-7).
Christ is our Loving Savior and Shepherd, who is interested in even the small details of our lives; our loyalty to God is revealed by praying for His Divine Guidance in every decision.
“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day long.” (Psalm 24:4-5, ESV).
Our spiritual journey is one that requires the constant empowerment of Jesus’ Wisdom and Strength, given to us through the Holy Spirit. To discern and overcome Satan’s covert deceptions and temptations, pray continuously throughout your waking hours.
“Think about what you are thinking about!” Our thoughts and emotions are unreliable when making decisions. Go to God!
We must not let life’s duties and the rapid pace of “it needs to be done now” redirect our Focus and Faith away from Jesus. Because God perceives time as Eternal, there are no emergencies for Him.
“Wait patiently for the LORD {YHWH}; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14, Berean Bible). We use our faith to pray and the self-discipline to honor God by waiting on His response.
Never be in a hurry! Impulsive decisions and impatience are unrighteous characteristics that reveal a spirit of willful disobedience against God’s Sovereign Authority.
Receiving God’s Guidance requires us to be led by the Holy Spirit, and the wait time is always a test of our faith, trust, and obedience to God. Despite the circumstances, we must keep our focus on God, and reverence Him with a spirit of humility, trust, and [long-suffering] patience.
Prayer keeps our hearts and minds aligned with the Righteousness of Christ. When we love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, through daily personal worship, we instinctively ask His will for our lives to be revealed.
Key Meanings and Principles of Seeking God
• A Living, Unbroken Connection: Just as a plant branch draws sap constantly from the vine, the believer continuously receives spiritual life, strength, and grace from Christ. It is a permanent, day-by-day communion rather than an “off-and-on” feeling or routine.
• Unreserved Surrender: God’s Will requires yielding one’s will, plans, and life completely to His service, allowing Christ’s character and mind to replace human selfishness.
• Faith That Works: Abiding in Christ is not passive; it is an active, living faith that expresses itself in love, obedience to God’s commandments, and kindness toward others.
• Bearing Fruit Naturally: When a person remains united to Christ, the “Fruit of the Spirit”—love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance—appear naturally in their character and daily actions, just as healthy grapes appear on a vine branch.
• Overcoming Sin: Humans cannot conquer temptation or resist sin on their own strength. Victory over sin is only possible through the active, indwelling power of Christ, given by the Holy Spirit.
• Constant Communication: The channel of Prayer, studying and meditation on the Word of God, and a conscious awareness of His presence must be practiced in all environments—whether in the home, the workplace, or in our social environments.
The Apostle Paul reminds us that the Strength to live as victorious overcomers only comes from Christ: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13). Yes and Amen!
Lord Jesus, we desire to follow You with faith, trust, and obedience, and ask You to please be our Strength. Lord, we acknowledge that You are our Shepherd, Who guides us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness through the Power of the Holy Spirit. Teach us how to hear and recognize Your Voice, so that we can live a surrendered life as Your faithful followers. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for loving us so much that You designated 24 hours to focus on Your Love, and worship You in spirit and Truth. We look forward to Eternity, when we will worship King Jesus with the angels. Until that glorious day of Your Second Coming, we ask for the Sabbath Blessings of peace, joy, wisdom, and mental, emotional, and physical rest, renewal, and restoration. As we study your Holy Words of Life, we ask for the Holy Spirit to bless us with the spiritual discernment to understand and apply Your Truth to our lives. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of our Triumphant King, Jesus Christ, Amen.
“Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” (Psalm 2:12, NKJV)
When all is well and times are peaceful, those are the times that we should cherish and spend additional time worshiping our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Spending time with Jesus is the most valuable way to spend our time. Through worship, we invite the Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith and trust in God.
Every day, set a consistent time to commune and be alone with God; Personal worship is only you, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
Instead of using your cellular device, purchase a Bible; the New King James version is the closest translation to the original Words of God. Many of the other translations have eliminated important aspects of Biblical teachings.
Prayer Connects Us To The Almighty God, The Source of Life: Jesus’ earthly life reveals that He prayed continuously to receive daily guidance, wisdom, and power from God, the Father
“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark.” Mark. 1:35; “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16).
Personal worship invites the Holy Spirit to empower us the wisdom and discernment to perceive life through spiritual eyes, which changes our character, habits, and choices to reflect the Righteousness of Christ’s Character.
Through obedience, we invite the Holy Spirit to transform our mind, character, and personality. The Fruit of the Spirit are the righteous attributes of Jesus Christ [Study Galatians 5:22-23.]
“But He said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!'” (Luke 11:28, ESV).
Daily Personal Worship includes Prayer and Bible Study. As we study the Holy Scriptures, we learn that every believer’s responsibility is to follow, obey, and depend fully on our Faithful Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
In Proverbs 3:5-7, God commands us to trust and depend on Him. We are not to use our thoughts and understanding to navigate through our spiritual journey.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21, ESV).
Without praying for God’s guidance, we live the same disrupted lifestyle as unbelievers, who play the Game of Chance every day, because they have rejected God.
Following our own thoughts and strategies often result in life-changing consequences, producing chaos that they cannot cope with, leading them to develop addictions to alcohol, prescription medication, and illicit drugs.
“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).
Jesus tells us that we will suffer challenges and adversities, which are allowed to build our faith and trust in God and to increase our dependency on God’s Promises.
Jesus’ Warning and Promise of Encouragement: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
When we stay close to Christ through personal worship, although the rough waves of adversity come crashing into our lives, instead of reacting with an emotional response, or asking ourselves, “What am I going to do?” our First Response is a Prayer of Faith, asking for God’s Divine Help.
The Lifestyle of Those Who Worship God in Spirit and Truth: We pray continuously for Divine guidance and strength!
Always pray and ask for God’s Will to be revealed and wait for His directives; faithful obedience proves that our love and loyalty to God are genuine.
Cain’s Occupation and Offering: Cain was a worker of the soil (farmer) who brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground instead of the lamb that God commanded. (Study Genesis 4:3–7).
Faithful obedience also reveals our reverence for God’s Sovereign Authority, destroying the disobedient spirit of self-reliance as exhibited by Cain, who sacrificed what he desired to give to God.
Pray, Ask, and Expect to Wait on God: “Wait for and confidently expect the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14).
Because God sees time as Eternal and knows our lives from beginning to end, God is never in a hurry. Nothing is an emergency to God. When we pray believing that God’s Sovereign Power will bring us victory, we cease feeling the pressure to make impulsive decisions without His Divine Guidance.
Obedience To God requires waiting on His timing, and Waiting is our Ultimate Test of Faith.
Loving God is revealed by honoring Him with a spirit of humility, surrender, and obedience. Loving God is the catalyst that gives us the internal desire to always put Him First: “Loving God means keeping His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3, NLT).
Satan’s most effective lie that has permeated the Christian Community is that God’s Ten Commandments were nailed to the tree.
In Colossians 2:13-14, God tells us that Jesus’ Sacrificial Gift of His Life on Calvary’s Cross nailed our sins to the tree:
“You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.”
Jesus Proclaims: “Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17, Amplified Bible).
Jesus clarifies that obedience is required to receive the reward of Eternal Life: “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life, and may enter through the gates into the City.” (Revelation 22:14).
Jesus specifically clarifies that He did not come to destroy The Ten Commandments; The Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 are still binding and are required to receive our Crown of Eternal Life.
Sadly, many believers rely on human interpretation of the Holy Scriptures; They never consider studying the Bible for themselves, and asking the Holy Spirit for the wisdom and discernment to understand and obey the Word of God. But it is a decision that has deadly consequences and will cost them their reward of Eternal Life.
The Apostle Paul tells us to work out our salvation with reverence and trembling. Our belief system must be Bible-based, or we cannot expect to know and obey God’s Truth.
Obedience versus Disobedience: Our lifestyle and daily choices reveal the destiny we have chosen [Revelation 22:12, or Malachi 4].
Are we willing to follow and obey human interpretation of the Holy Scriptures instead of asking God, the Holy Spirit to reveal His One and Only Truth?
God’s Warning:”This is what the LORD says: ‘Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD.'” (Jeremiah 17:5, NLT).
The Church that my family attended had a loving and wonderful pastor, who used the Bible to preach from; however, as I began to study the Bible, 90% of what he taught could not be found in the Bible, nor were most of his teachings aligned with the Holy Scriptures.
“My people perish for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6). Study the Bible for yourself! God tells us that He does not change, which means His Truth does not change. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for accurate discernment of the Holy Scriptures.
“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” (Hebrews 4:12, NLT).
The Holy Bible is our Spiritual Blueprint to living righteously, teaching us that we are the recipients of God’s Love, Grace, and Mercies.
In the Bible. God reveals His Righteous Character attributes, Commandments, Promises, and expectations of every believer.
The Holy Bible is the only Book that accurately reveals the presence of the Triune God [God the Father, God, Jesus the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit] in Genesis Chapter 1—The Story of Creation.
The Biblical timeline of Creation is approximately a little over 6,000 years ago, not millions and billions of years, which evolution [misguided human thoughts] teaches.
Unless we study the Word of God, we will easily accept Satan’s erroneous lies regarding the Creation of this world, the planet Earth, human beings, and how God intervenes in the lives of the righteous.
Trust and Obey God: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22, ESV).
Our spirit of surrender invites the Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith and trust in God, and to perform the daily and lifelong spiritual transformation of our mind and character—Sanctification.
At some point in our spiritual journey, we will experience adversity that no human being can resolve.
Study 2 Corinthians 11:22-33 for the Apostle Paul’s testimony of his many sufferings for Christ. Paul died as a martyr for Christ; Yet before his execution, the Apostle Paul boldly proclaimed:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
The Apostle Paul tells us that when Jesus Comes, he will be raised when the First Trumpet sounds; and that is the goal of every believer, who will close their eyes in death, before the Coming of Jesus Christ.
If we let go of self-reliance and make the covenant promise to follow Jesus on the Narrow Path of Righteousness, the Holy Spirit will empower us with the Divine Strength to persevere and move forward in faith through every trial and adversity.
“When the brutal waves of life beat upon the tender edges of your heart, and the winds of sorrow and disappointment are surging all around you, attacking your weary, breaking heart; Jesus commands us to, ‘Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world’ and this will keep us anchored in Jesus Christ.” Hallelujah!
We serve The Sovereign Power of the universe Who says: “Behold I am the Lord God of All flesh is there anything too hard for me?”
No matter how desperate the situation may appear; even if we are experiencing severe trials and adversities, and feel as if we will never overcome, we must come to our Spiritual Senses by asking God for help!
Stop thinking about your circumstances long enough to get down on bended knees, and pray, “Lord, I need Your help.”
Confess that your faith is weak, but ask Jesus to help you, and believe that He loves you and has the Power to keep His Promises to deliver you.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10).
When John the Baptist was in prison, Satan used the uncertainty of John’s situation to make him doubt that Jesus was the Messiah.
2 “And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?'”
4 “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.'” (Matthew 11:2-6).
Never give in to feelings of fear and doubt; Human feelings are unreliable! God tells us that He is not a man that He should lie, His promises are Yes and Amen [It is so]!
“I will never leave you or forsake you.”
Despite our circumstances, if we commit to following Jesus with faithful obedience, Jesus promises that He will always be with us.
Jesus is interested in every aspect of our lives, even the little things. Prayer keeps Jesus close to us. Begin to pray every hour while you are awake.
Whisper a prayer for strength as soon as you begin to experience doubt, anxiety, worry, discouragement, or fear. Stories of Victory: Study the Bible Adversities of Kings Asa, Jehoshaphat, and Hezekiah.
“We must remember that Jesus, our Shepherd is leading us, especially when things are not going well for us.”
“Whatever [is happening] to us, we can reach out to God in faith, and He will answer us. God has promised us the strength and power to do His will.”
Begin to study the Holy Scriptures, which are designed to strengthen our faith in the Power and Presence of YAHWEH, our Omniscient and Omnipotent God.
Bible Study: Read 2 Chronicles 20 to learn what King Jehoshaphat did when he faced three powerful pagan kings and their armies, who planned to destroy their entire nation.
Sermon Notes:
“‘Be of good cheer!’ These are the Words of our Lord, Savior, Redeemer, Creator, our Best Friend, Son of the Living God the Only Begotten of God, the Father, our Triumphant King, the Alpha and Omega, Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting God the Prince of Peace, our Mediator, our Righteous Judge, the Lamb of God, Emmanuel, The Image of the Invisible God, The Great I Am, The Bright and Morning Star. Hallelujah!
To every struggling and persevering believer, These are Jesus’ Words: “Be of good cheer!”
David’s Prayer: “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. …The Lord will hear when I call to Him…Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Put your trust in the LORD. I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:1-2, 4-5, 8).
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