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.”
Throughout the Bible, God reveals that total dependence on Him will always lead to Deliverance and Victory!
Whether facing life’s routine duties, or the many unexpected challenges, hardships, and impossible battles, Jesus, our Mighty Warrior invites us to use our faith to Pray, Ask for His Help, and Wait on Him. And while waiting, we continue to praise Him with prayers and songs of gratitude.
King Jehoshaphat’s Prayer: 2 Chronicles 20
5 “Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord in front of the new courtyard,
6 and said, ‘O Lord, God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven? And do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, there is no one able to take a stand against You.
7 O our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Your friend Abraham? 8 They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your Name, saying,
9 ‘If evil comes on us, or the sword of judgment, or plague, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your Name and Your Presence is in this house) and we will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear and save us.’
10 Now behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You would not allow Israel to invade when they came from the land of Egypt (for they turned away from them and did not destroy them),
11 here they are, rewarding us by coming to drive us out of Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance.
12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless against this great multitude which is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.'”
The most powerful aspect of this prayer is the acknowledgement of God’s Sovereign Authority and Power:
‘O Lord, God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven? And do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, there is no one able to take a stand against You.’
And the second most powerful aspect of the King’s prayer reveals his humility, faith, and surrender to the Most-High God:
‘We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.’
Praising God before He intervenes reveals that we are using our faith to completely trust in His Omnipotence and gives Honor and Glory To His Most Holy Name:
“Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping Him.”
“The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel, with a very loud voice.” (2 Chronicles 20:18-19, Amplified Bible).
God’s Reminder to all of His Sons and Daughters: God’s Promises do not have an Expiration date. Yes and Amen!
“Listen carefully, all [you people of] Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. The Lord says this to you: ‘Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:15, Amplified Bible).
Lord God, our hearts are filled with praise and gratitude for giving us the Holy Scriptures with stories of men and women, who used their faith to pray, ask, and believe that Your Promises to help us are Truth, and Yes and Amen! Lord, today on your Blessed Holy Sabbath, we confess that we have faced many challenges this week, attempting to resolve them using our human thoughts and strategies. And for our doubt and unbelief, we ask for forgiveness. Lord, we have come to our spiritual senses, realizing that we can do nothing without You. and now, Lord, in faith, we seek You, asking for Your Divine Help, believing that you will give us Deliverance and Victory. We also ask for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s Presence, and the Blessings of wisdom and strength. With faith, trust, and praise, we honor and worship You on Your Holy Sabbath. In Jesus’ Loving and Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.
Jesus Restores Peter: “So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.'” (John 21:15).
After Jesus’ arrest, Peter aggressively denied knowing Jesus three times, and then the rooster crowed.
“And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, ‘Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I do not know what you are talking about.’ And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.’ 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:59-62, ESV).
We may ask, How is it possible for Peter to deny Christ after being in His presence and following Him for 3 years? Peter’s heart was unconverted, he attempted to serve and follow Jesus with a divided heart.
Although Peter thought his overwhelming desires for earthly prominence and wealth were hidden secrets, Peter was unaware that God, the Father gave Jesus the Divine Power to discern the real [secret] thoughts in people’s minds.
“Would not God discover this? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44:21). Before God, who knows every human thought, habit, and behavior, we appear as naked babies.
Yes, God knows the dedicated believers who are striving to follow His Triumphant Son, Jesus Christ with daily surrender and faithful obedience; and God sees the unbelieving believers, who profess Christianity, but live to fulfill their personal agendas as wealth-builders, striving for elite social status, and the world’s wisdom [Artificial Intelligence].
The Reason It Is So Easy To Rebel Against God
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10, ESV).
“Our natural will is cold, hard, stubborn, and rebellious; The hard heart does not love Jesus, the Redeemer; The hard heart is selfish and coldly asks, Why should I [feel remorse] for sin? Why should I love the Lord?”
“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).
God never coerces us to love Him. If we choose to live as we please then we choose to deny Christ as our Lord and Savior. Not only will our rewards consist of whatever we have gained in our earthly lives, denying Christ is to accept Malachi 4:1 as our destiny.
The Plan of Redemption Reveals God’s Love, Grace, and Mercies and Also Includes Unlimited Forgiveness and Restoration
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10, ESV). Regardless of our present self-seeking status; we can decide to renounce the world’s treasures and pleasures; repent and return to the Shepherd; we do not have to remain as a lost sheep!
Steps To Spiritual Restoration: Love God
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being].” (Deuteronomy 6:5, Amplified Bible).
In Matthew 22, Jesus repeats the command given in the Old Testament that we must love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and the literal meaning: To love God is to think and live with a “God First” mindset.
Embracing Jesus’ Sacrificial Gift of His Life
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:16-17, ESV).
The Message of The Cross reveals Jesus’ overwhelming love and commitment to save humanity: Jesus fulfilled The Plan of Redemption, dying for our sins, so we do not have to die [the second and final death] for our sins.
Confess and Repent For Our Sins Against God
“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).
To be accepted back into our Shepherd’s flock of sheep, we repent [asking for forgiveness with the commitment to strive to live holy]; and immediately, we are justified and covered with Christ’s Righteousness; and Jesus Christ presents us as being cleansed from all sins to God, the Father.
Sanctification is the lifetime work of the Holy Spirit changing our mind, character, personality into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character.
Sanctification requires the human effort of daily participation. We pray for God’s Will to be revealed, and our responses are faithful obedience along with renouncing our heart’s desires and Satan’s temptations.
“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.'” (1 Corinthians 15:33, CSB). Our commitment to God and lifestyle must reflect that our hearts have been cleansed and transformed.
Spiritual Restoration requires letting go of all worldly people, habits, behaviors, and lifestyles. Study Romans 12:1-2 on how to live appropriately as a follower of Jesus Christ.
We are Temporary Travelers living on a Temporary Earth preparing every day for Jesus’ Coming. Live as if it is your last day. This is not a morbid thought, God has not promised us tomorrow.
“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:14, NIV). We are living in the last days and we do not have the time that we think we have.
If we do not actively renounce sin, the Holy Spirit cannot change us; and the unrighteous character that we have today will be the same unrighteous character we have when Jesus comes.
Following Jesus Gives Us our Spiritual Identity
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9).
Society’s system of valuing people should not matter to us. As the righteous Sons and Daughters of God, who will inherit our Eternal Crown of Life, at all times, we must stay spiritually alert and prepared. Jesus tells us to separate ourselves from lawlessness.
The True Believers Worship God in Spirit and Truth
Daily surrender, faithful obedience, praying continuously for guidance and protection, studying the Bible, and letting go of our internal desires invites the Holy Spirit to empower us with Jesus’ Wisdom and Strength to discern and overcome every temptation that we face.
Jesus asks, “Do you love me?”
Then “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s Will is.” (Ephesians 5:15 – 16, NIV).
Lord God, with humility and surrender, we approach your Throne of Grace, asking for the forgiveness of our sins. Lord, we ask You to restore us and to anoint us with Your Presence through the Power of the Holy Spirit. As we navigate through this tumultuous spiritual journey of life, we ask for Your Divine Guidance. Teach us how to keep our focus and faith on our Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Yes, Jesus, we love You; and we bow before You, Triumphant King asking You to lead us from Earth to Heaven. Lord, we also request for You to be our strength. In faith and with joyful anticipation of receiving Your blessings, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Why do storms keep coming? When the storms of life press down upon us that is God talking. When the storms in our personality arise, God is talking.
God’s job is to take charge of the storm and our job is to listen to the lesson He teaches us through the storms.
If we take the time to be still and listen then God’s message to us says, “Be still and know that I am God!”
Peter could tell us what he learned from getting out of the boat and walking on the water: If you want to keep your balance, your equilibrium, don’t look back, do not depend on your knowledge or skills, you must keep your eyes on Jesus.
The man who built his house on the solid rock tells us, If you want to stand tall and strong, and survive the storm, you must build your hope on things eternal.
How do we handle our storms in the Sea of Life? We stay on the boat. The Bible is our life vest. Will our anchor hold?
When the storms keep coming, hold on to the Anchor, Jesus Christ. Hold on to God’s unchanging hand!
Lamentations 3:22-26
In the book of Lamentations Jeremiah was looking at suffering and loss. Because we receive new Mercies every day. God is faithful, never changing.
John 16:33: You will have trouble, but be a good cheer! Give God praise when you’re facing challenges.
Our Compassionate High Priest: Hebrews 4:14-16
“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
We are sustained by God’s Grace and Mercies.
We are covered by God’s Mercies!
God’s Mercies are our Portion.
God’s Mercies continue to bless those who wait on Him.
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27).
We have to learn not to give up on God’s Mercies. Jesus has compassion for us. God is faithful! Wait on the Lord! Cling to the One who is Faithful!
Prayer: “Holy Spirit, pray with us and for us as we pray.” We have many troubled thoughts and worries from the storms that have entered our lives. We ask for the Divine peace and strength to persevere in our spiritual journey. In faith, we ask this prayer in the loving and righteous name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Matthew 22:37-39, NIV).
In Romans 12:3, the Apostle Paul tells us that God has given to all a measure of Faith [the ability to believe and trust in God]: “…to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”
We use faith to believe that God exists; faith is the catalyst that enables us to love God, the Father, and God, Jesus Christ; and faith causes us to believe and accept Christ as our personal Savior.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV).
Active Faith allows us to embrace the Plan of Redemption, fulfilled by Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross, keeping us spiritually connected to Christ by believing in God’s Power and Promises.
Like a seed in the ground, faith can grow. We choose to water and feed our faith by trusting and obeying God in every aspect of our lives. Instead of making decisions based on speculation, we pray, ask, and wait for God’s Divine Guidance.
Faith is a spiritual muscle that must be exercised daily to gain strength. Our love for Jesus keeps our faith active, giving us the desire to stay connected to Jesus Christ through daily Personal Worship, Prayer, and Bible Study.
“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” (Psalm 95:6, ESV).
From the moment we wake up, our first words should reflect immense gratitude for God’s Love and Mercies revealed by the gift of time. Yes, we have received another day, which allows us to consecrate ourselves to follow Christ by worshiping God in Spirit and Truth.
“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, NKJV).
Morning worship reflects the intentional decision to place our faith and trust in Jesus, our Loving and Faithful Shepherd. The Holy Spirit rewards our faithfulness by empowering us with Jesus’ Wisdom and Strength. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13).
It is a mystery that the human mind cannot comprehend; however, God, the Holy Spirit, can be present everywhere at the same time. The Spirit of God strengthens our faith, always guiding and giving us the wisdom to perceive life through spiritual eyes.
“In the days of His earthly life, Jesus offered up both [specific] petitions and [urgent] supplications [for that which He needed] with fervent crying and tears to the One who was [always] able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission toward God [His sinlessness and His unfailing determination to do the Father’s will].” (Hebrews 5:7, Amplified Bible).
In His earthly life, Jesus was a Prayer Warrior who used HIs faith to rely on God, the Father’s Guidance and Power! We must form the habit of consistently whispering prayers for Divine Wisdom, Guidance, and the Strength to overcome our internal desires and the external temptations we are guaranteed to encounter every day.
“Key Ways to Strengthen Faith: Faith is the very life of the soul!”
Study the Scriptures Daily:
Treat God’s Words as Spiritual food and water.
Meditate on the gift of Redemption and Christ’s Righteous Character.
Let your mind dwell on sacred, eternal things rather than trivial matters.
Engage in Secret Prayer:
Open the heart to God in solitude, free from outside distractions.
Bring burdens and trials directly to the Lord to receive the spiritual strength for endurance.
Consciously surrender your plans each morning and ask the Holy Spirit to guide your day.
Exercise Active Obedience:
Understand that true faith produces fruit and works through love.
Clear the heart of cherished sins or selfish desires that act as strongholds for doubt.
Put faith into practice by cooperating with God in daily duties.
Take Time to Separate and Meditate on God’s Past Leading:
Remember that we have nothing to fear for the future unless we forget how the Lord has led us in the past.
Count your blessings and speak words of praise and thanksgiving rather than entertaining discouragement. Steps to Christ and The Desire of Ages
“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.” (Psalm 25:4, ESV). “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105, ESV).
Our faith is strengthened by praying, asking for, and depending on God’s Will and Perfect Plans. The choices we make either build and strengthen our faith or destroy our faith and relationship with Jesus Christ; Self-reliance [depending on our thoughts and strategies] always excludes Christ from our lives.
Exercising Faith invites the Holy Spirit to empower us to trust in the unseen Promises of God. “Faith is not only to look forward to things unseen; [faith] is to be confirmed by looking at past experience,” and at the many victories God has given to us in impossible situations.
“Faith enables us to reveal that Christ is abiding in the soul,” giving us the courage and strength to reflect the Light of Christ in a world overshadowed by spiritual darkness. Through faith, we demonstrate that loving, honoring, and following Jesus Christ makes a difference in one’s life.
Reflection: The time we intentionally spend worshiping God reveals the direction of our faith, trust, and focus; either we use our faith to implicitly focus on Christ, trusting Him with our lives, or we use our faith to focus on and trust our limited abilities.
Daily Faith Building Activities Will Result in Steadfast Strengthened Faith
Consecrate Yourself Daily to God: “…by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1, ESV).
Diligently Study the Holy Scriptures: Receive Power Through God’s Word
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:12-13, NIV).
Prayer Keeps Us Connected to Jesus, The Source of All Strength
“Pray continually.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NIV). Every day, pray, “Lord, increase my faith.”
“Prayer is simply talking to God as a trusted friend who hears hidden thoughts and understands every burden. Prayer is a vital, personal connection with Jesus, our Loving Friend. Solitude in prayer protects the mind from outside noise and lays the soul bare before God for true spiritual growth.”
“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…” (Proverbs 3:5-7).
Invite God into your decision-making activities. Use your faith to trust and rely on God’s Divine Guidance in every aspect of your life. Never consider any decision insignificant; we cannot discern future outcomes. As followers of Christ, we should never suffer consequences because we failed to ask for Divine Guidance. Always wait on God to answer your prayer. Our Heavenly Father is never in a hurry. [Study Psalm 27:14].
King David’s Prayer of Faith: “Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek…. Teach me Your way, O Lord.'” (Psalm 27:7-8, 11).
“Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trials of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.” (Hebrews 11:35-38).
“The early Christians endured [the spiritual] sealing their testimony with their lives. Regardless of social and economic status, and educational achievements; without mercy, nobility and the common person, whether rich or poor, they were executed for following Jesus Christ.”
“These persecutions, beginning under Nero about the time of the martyrdom of Paul;” [Nero hated Christians, executing the Apostle Paul simply because he was a Christian].
And this raging anger and hatred against the people of God was sustained for centuries. “Christians or falsely accused of the most dreadful crimes and declare to be the cause of great calamities–famine, pestilence, and earthquakes.”
“As they became the objects of popular hatred and suspicion, informers stood ready, for the sake of gaining money and material possessions, to betray the innocent.”
“They were condemned as rebels against the empire, as enemies of religion and viewed as invading pests. Great numbers were thrown to wild animals and burned alive in amphitheaters. Some were crucified; others were covered with the skins of wild animals and thrown into the arena to be eaten by wild dogs.” The Great Controversy
As I read the historical account of the Christians in the Early Churches, I reflected on the trials and hardships that I have endured in the past 5 years; and realized that absolutely nothing, I have faced compares to true persecution.
The Apostle Paul Shares His Life of Persecution: “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.” (2 Timothy 3:10-11, NIV).
Trials Are Part of Every Believer’s Faith Journey
“Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” (John 15:20).
“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:12).
“The Bible indicates that followers of Jesus should expect persecution, framing it as a natural consequence of living a godly life.”
“Key Scriptures emphasize both the inevitability of suffering and the spiritual blessings associated with it, encouraging believers to respond with love and prayer rather than retaliation.”
“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 undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, Amplified Bible).
The Purpose of Trials
“Spiritual Growth: “Difficulties force people to stop leaning on human strength and trust completely in God.”
“Character Refining: Trials act like a refiner’s fire, removing bad habits, pride, and hidden defects so the believer can reflect the image of God.”
“School of Sorrow: True spiritual leadership and deep service require training through hardship; those with greater callings face the most difficult tests.”
How To Endure the Suffering of Trials and Hardships
Pray continuously, asking for God’s Divine Help, and expect Jesus to give you comfort, courage, and strength.
Rely On Heavenly Help: Unseen angels actively push back dark forces and bring peace to souls ready to faint under heavy burdens.
God’s Goal is for us to have the Loving Heart and Character of Christ
“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Matthew 22:37-39).
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23).
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32).
Lord God, we come to You with humility and gratitude. Your love for us includes desiring that none should be lost, because of unrighteous character traits. We ask You to forgive us for our sinful thoughts, habits and behaviors, and to do whatever is necessary for us to have a pure heart, so we will receive our reward of the Eternal Crown of Life. Lord, we also ask You for the comfort and strength to persevere in our Christian Journey. Help us to perceive life through spiritual eyes, using our time wisely as we prepare for Your Soon Coming. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“For it is written, Be holy, for I Am Holy.” (1 Peter 1:16)
“For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.” (Romans 10: 2-3).
The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the members of the Church in Rome, who attempted to become righteous and live holy using their own thoughts and strength.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).
Because we inherited sinful hearts, it is impossible for us to use our thoughts and strength to live righteously. We must receive Divine Help to overcome the internal sinful desires of our hearts and Satan’s covert temptations.
“Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25, BSB).
The Plan of Redemption Includes Divine Help From Heaven: Jesus, Our Savior and Intercessor, the Holy Spirit [John 14:26], and the Heavenly angels [Psalm 91].
When we confess our sins (1 John 1:9), through our faith, we are saved by God’s Grace; the Holy Spirit lives within us; and Jesus, The Commander of Angel Armies, assigns guardian angels to every righteous believer.
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own…” (1 Corinthians 6:19).
Active Participation Is Required in the Plan of Salvation
We accept Christ as our personal Savior; abide in Christ through consistent prayer and diligent study of the Holy Scriptures [The Bread of Life]; and the Holy Spirit dwells within us, unless we choose to rebel against God.
We cannot serve God with a divided heart. It is impossible for us to be a “Worldly Christian,” either we are living righteously, or we are living in sin.
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11-14).
Always ask this question before you participate: Does this honor the Holy and Sovereign God?
Although we face many temptations in our spiritual journey, we were created with spiritual gifts, giving us the ability to discern between right and wrong:
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind [self-control, discipline].” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Loving and honoring God includes the daily covenant promise to be a faithful and obedient follower of Jesus Christ: “I love God and I will not sin against Him.”
We have received the ability to establish and maintain boundaries. Satan does not have the power to coerce us to sin against God. Choosing sin is a conscious and willful choice to rebel against God.
“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT).
“Power Over Temptation: God gives the soul united with Christ the active spiritual strength needed to overcome evil, meaning a converted person does not choose a lifestyle of willful disobedience.”
Our True and Proper Worship
“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).
“Pray continuously!” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer immediately connects us to Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Intercessor, Who gives us His strength through the Holy Spirit to overcome all temptations.
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” (Romans 8:14, NLT). We use our faith to believe in and trust God, whose Wisdom is Infinite.
And from studying the Holy Scriptures, we redirect our Focus from the distractions of this world to our spiritual journey with Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will lead us, correct us, and protect us from satanic warfare.
Through daily prayer, we surrender to following Jesus Christ, and God, the Holy Spirit begins the process of Sanctification: The lifelong journey of Spiritual Growth and Character Transformation into the Righteousness of Christ.
We are Temporary Travelers Living on a Temporary Earth that is almost out of time. We do not know the exact time or date when Jesus is Coming; but we are 100% certain that His promise will be fulfilled.
“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so that he will not go naked and be publicly shamed.” (Revelation 16:15).
Meaning of the Verse
It warns believers to stay spiritually ready.
“Coming like a thief” means a sudden, unexpected arrival.
“Remaining clothed” means keeping your faith and good deeds active, so you are not caught unprepared.
“I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8, NIV).
Lord God, we ask You to give us the Divine Wisdom to use our time wisely to prepare for Your Ultimate Promise to the righteous in Revelation 22:12. We also ask You to empower us with the Spiritual Strength to renounce sin in every form, including our hearts desires that do not glorify and honor Your Holy Name. Lord, please open our eyes so that we can perceive life on a spiritual level, and give us the courage when facing opposition to renounce all that is unholy. We look forward to that Great and Glorious Day when You will come for the righteous. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Adversity enters our lives in various ways. One of the toughest challenges to effectively deal with is when facing conflict with familiar people [family, coworkers, neighbors], who Satan uses to disturb our spiritual gifts of Jesus’ joy and peace.
“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 continuously faced jealousy, hatred, and conflict from those who considered themselves to be religious. Not only did Jesus have an unbothered mind, He also established and maintained boundaries.
“Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about Him and had been hoping for a long time to see Him perform a miracle. He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer.” (Luke 23:8-9, NLT).
Jesus is our perfect example on how to handle conflict. Pray and ask for Divine Strength; Remain silent. We simply choose not to respond to antagonistic behaviors and spoken words, because we represent to the world that Christ makes a difference in our life.
“Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32, Amplified Bible).
Conflict in the home of a Christian believer reveals that satanic influence rules in the home, instead of the Spirit of God. “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?” (James 4:1, NLT).
Facing mistreatment and abusive behaviors prevents the Holy Spirit from performing our daily Spiritual growth and Character transformation required for us to receive our reward of Eternal Life.
“And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'” (Matthew 22:37).
Always Put God First! Jesus tells us that our love and loyalty to God is our priority, not to our spouse or family members. If conflict cannot be resolved then make the choice to leave. God promises to take care of you.
Conflict in the workplace should be handled according to the employer’s policy. Do not engage in verbal sparring or respond to hostile emails.
The Following Message is from the Pastor of the Oakwood University Church in Huntsville, Alabama:
“If you’re facing unfairness, betrayal, or watching others succeed through dishonest means, Psalm 37:7 encourages you to bring your concerns to God instead of becoming consumed by them.”
“Avoid comparing yourself to others; continue living with integrity; and trust that God is aware of the situation and that His justice will ultimately prevail.”
“The central message: ‘Stay calm, trust God, and don’t let the apparent success of wrongdoing cause you to lose faith in God or to compromise your values.'”
King David faced many enemies in his lifetime, and in Psalm 37, he reminds us to rest in the Lord because of God’s Love and Future Plans:
The Heritage of the Righteous and the Calamity of the Wicked
“Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.”
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.”
“For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth. For yet in a little while and the wicked shall be no more…”
Lord God, we look forward to the day when our lives will not include the many faces of adversity. Until then, we ask You to give us the strength to remain silent, and pray, always asking for Your Divine Intervention. We also ask for the courage and strength to persevere in our spiritual journey, and make the necessary changes to live according to Your Divine plan, which includes a calm and nurturing environment. Lord, we thank You for the future promise of the righteous living on a perfect New Earth that overflows with Your Agape Love, Peace, and Joy. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“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 22:5).
Can you imagine living in a Perfect New Heaven and New Earth filled with love, peace, and joy, and with our Savior and Triumphant King for eternity?
Jesus is coming sooner than we think! Keep your hope alive by memorizing John 14:1-3 and Revelation chapters 21-22. We must never forget that we are Temporary Travelers Living On A Temporary Earth.
Lord Jesus, with gratitude, we bless Your Holy Name. Thank You, Jesus for Your Divine Love and the Sacrificial Offering of Your life. Our Savior, Redeemer, and Triumphant King, we look forward to living forever with You. As we celebrate the Holy Sabbath, we ask You for the spiritual renewal and restoration of our mind and body. We also ask for wisdom and clarity as we study the Holy Scriptures. Lord, please bless the many Christians, who are being persecuted throughout this world for following You. Until You come, we ask for the Holy Spirit to empower us with the strength to keep moving forward in our spiritual journey. In faith, we ask this prayer in your Loving and Righteous Name, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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