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.”
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV).
One thing is for certain, every individual [believers and unbelievers] will experience “Life-Changing Adversities” that human effort cannot resolve. Still Jesus promises, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
Because God loves us and desires that we trust Him as our Heavenly Father, everyone has received a measure of faith empowering (Romans 12:3) us to believe in and trust God.
God, Jesus Christ created us with free will of choice, and too often, we allow ourselves to be influenced by our secular environment that is permeated with unrighteous morals and values, which easily happens from the failure to study the Holy Bible.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2).
Satan has presented compromise as an acceptable way to serve God, and many Christians are practicing the sins of self-reliance and self-governance, which separates them from God; they are unbelieving believers, who live outside of the will of God.
Not only do these unrighteous character traits destroy one’s desire to depend on God, through disobedience Satan easily influences the mind, redirecting our faith and focus from God to human wisdom, theories, and fulfilling our desires to chase the pride of life’s temporary treasures and pleasures.
“O Lord, I know that the path of [life of] a man is not in himself; It is not within [the limited ability of] man [even one at his best] to choose and direct his steps [in life].” (Jeremiah 10:23, Amplified Bible).
Reflection: Where do we stand in our faith journey with Christ? Do we follow Jesus Christ, our Shepherd with faithful obedience? If yes, then our response to changing circumstances is an immediate prayer asking for God’s Help.
“Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help for every need” [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. (Hebrews 4:16, Amplified Bible).
Challenges, trials, and adversity always reveal the true status of our faith and focus. If our faith is in Jesus then our dependency on Him is revealed by faith-based prayers; if our faith is in our abilities then our first response is, What am I going to do?
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6).
Unbelievers use their faith to trust in limited human insight, often seeking advice from those who they consider capable of giving expert advice. And many believers are also in a spiritual dilemma because they have redirected their faith from God to themselves.
God’s Response: “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). Following the advice of others [instead of God’s Truth] is disobedience, which leads us into spiritual darkness.
Faithful obedience to God is a requisite for the righteous believer. God gives His sons and daughters the command to completely trusting in Him by seeking His Higher Thoughts, Ways, and Plans.
“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).
Jesus’ Warning and Comforting Promise To Be With Us In Our Trials and Tribulations
“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.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] (John 16:33, Amplified Bible).
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31, ESV).
Even if we are faithful, obedient, and living a life of total surrender to God, Jesus tells us that we will experience adversity, distress, and suffering. The strength or weakness of our faith, trust, and obedience to God determines our response to life’s unpredictable storms.
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24).
The Faithful Prayer Warrior: True worshipers enter God’s Presence through daily personal worship, dedicating themselves to follow and obey Jesus Christ. Worship is their lifestyle.
Those who worship God in spirit and Truth, as soon as they awaken, realizing that God has blessed them with the mercies of a new day thank Him with a prayer of gratitude and our commitment to follow His Perfect Plans (Jeremiah 29:11).
God Always Blesses Those Who Honor Him
God is Love. We have a Heavenly Father, who tells us to come to Him: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6, ESV).
Prayer warriors have steadfast faith because they are anchored in The Rock, Jesus Christ. To abide in Christ requires much prayer and diligent study of the Holy Scriptures. True worship is a lifestyle of a 24/7 commitment to God.
“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.” (Lamentations 3:25). When we love God, we honor God through daily worship, inviting the Holy Spirit to empower us with the wisdom to perceive our Journey with Jesus through spiritual eyes.
Through the Holy Spirit, we receive the blessings of Jesus’ Divine Strength to persevere through our hardships with courage and confidence; and if we possess a childlike faith, trust in His Promises to always help us, Jesus covers us with His Perfect Peace.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27, ESV).
Confession, Repentance, and Restoration
“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 an account.” (Hebrews 4:13).
Self-reliance is a grievous sin against God’s Sovereign Authority; Self-reliance feeds off of disobedience, changing our heart and mind to rebel against God; and our choices and lifestyles reveal that we despise surrender and faithful obedience to God’s Will and Plans.
“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV).
There is no pretense with God, who knows the true selfish condition of the human heart [Jeremiah 17:9]. Never asking for and obeying God’s Will places us in the same spiritual status as unbelievers: Spiritually Separated from God.
“Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.” (John 9:31).
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). Living outside of the will of God is disobedience, making our first priority a prayer of confession and repentance for our sins of rebellion 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).
God is Love, and He is Faithful. The gift of Jesus Christ, His only Son reveals God’s love and desire for us to “Be holy, for I am Holy,” which requires a life of self-denial, daily surrender and faithful obedience [Romans 12:2].
God’s Majesty and Sovereignty Over Creation
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours.” (1 Chronicles 29:11)
“Who has given me anything that I need to pay back? Everything under heaven is Mine.” (Job 41:11). Daily personal worship reinforces that God is God, He is Holy and Sovereign, and we are not. The creation can never be greater than the Creator.
Living a Christ-Centered Faith-based Life
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6).
Surrender is demonstrated by letting go of our desires and seeking God’s Will through consistent prayers of faith, which honor and revere God. Our Heavenly Father is interested in the smallest details of our lives, we should never make a decision without praying and waiting for His direction.
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near…” (Isaiah 55:6); And the Holy Spirit will reveal God’s Plan through our thoughts and the Holy Scriptures. The Holy Spirit always gives us specific instructions, clarity, and the wisdom to carry out God’s Perfect Plans.
Sanctification is a lifelong spiritual process of Spiritual growth and transformation of our mind, character, and personality into the righteousness of Christ’s Character. Study John 8:29, Galatians 5:22-23 and Ephesians 4:32.
From our willingness to follow Christ with faithful obedience, we invite the Holy Spirit to change us from within: “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” (Ezekiel 36:26, NLT).
The Purpose of Suffering: Although we surrender daily, striving to worship God with faithful obedience, our faith must continually grow. We will never reach the point in our spiritual journey where our faith is strong enough.
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:12-13).
God’s Divine Providence determined that we must experience hardships to build our faith, trust, dependency on God, and to sanctify our mind and character. “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.” (1 Peter 4:16).
Suffering gives us the opportunity to honor Christ, who suffered immensely to rescue us from the wages of sin. Our Loving Savior promises to give us the strength to persevere, and His Divine Peace, which removes all worry and fear.
Hope While Suffering Trials: “The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, Therefore I hope in Him! The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord.'” (Lamentations 3:24).
Lord God, we come to You, confessing and repenting for our sins of self-reliance and disobedience. In faith, we ask for restoration and Your Divine Help to overcome the internal desires of our hearts and Satan’s temptations. We surrender our will and desires to your Sovereign Authority, asking for strength, wisdom, and guidance in our daily lives. Lord, speak to us, give us clarity, and anoint us with the Oil of gladness, the Holy Spirit. We commit to a life of worshiping you with daily surrender and faithful obedience. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
‘ ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.’ ‘” (Numbers 6: 22-26).
Sabbath Prayer
Lord God, our hearts are filled with gratitude for receiving the daily Mercies of life, health, strength, and a sound mind. Thank You for protecting us from spiritual warfare and keeping us out of harm’s way. Lord, our week included many challenges that we failed to pray and ask for Your Help and Guidance, and for the sin of self-reliance, we ask for forgiveness. On Your Holy Sabbath, we ask for Spiritual Renewal and Restoration, and a deeper understanding of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Lord, please give comfort and strength to the global family of believers, especially those who are being persecuted for Your Name. We pray for the Holy Spirit to empower us with a deeper spiritual insight, so we will recognize distractions that turn our focus away from You. Teach us how to worship You in spirit and Truth. Help us to remain focused on our relationship with Christ as we prepare every day for the Soon Coming of our Triumphant King, Jesus Christ. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, NIV).
Steadfast Faith, Trust, Peace, Joy, and Courage are enjoyed by followers of Christ who love Him and worship God in spirit and Truth.
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:13).
Daily Surrender and Obedience is our highest worship to God, and is rewarded with receiving many spiritual benefits and blessings.
Yes, God promises to bless us, but the false prosperity message of wealth building that Satan wants us to believe that we deserve, Jesus tells us that earthly prosperity has no spiritual purpose for His followers.
Jesus teaches that the accumulation of earthly treasures is not aligned with God’s Spiritual Precepts.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…”( Matthew 6:19). Unbelievers feel that living one’s best life includes wealth, social status, material possessions, and a lifestyle of pleasure.
Sadly when those with unbelieving hearts face life-changing circumstances, they realize that their earthly treasures are meaningless, and that reality fills their minds with hopelessness and despair.
In John 16:33, Jesus warns us that our spiritual journey will always include challenges, adversity, loss, and changing circumstances; yet he encourages us, “But, Be of good cheer.”
Good cheer does not refer to the pretense of being happy and overjoyed when experiencing life’s overwhelming hardships; yet, as followers of Christ, praying and knowing He will take care of us, gives us spiritual comfort.
Always pray an honest prayer, “Jesus, I am devastated by this situation.” invites the Holy Spirit to permeate our mind and soul with jesus’s Divine Peace, instead of hopelessness and despair.
Embracing Jesus’ Love and Promises of Peace absorbs the impact of sorrow, disappointment, and loss: “He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds [sorrows].” (Psalm 147:3).
When tears are flowing from heartbreak, we can maintain a spirit of Hope, because Jesus has promised to give us the strength to overcome our daily battles and to give us beauty from ashes.
“The Divine Exchange: God promises to trade despair and mourning for joy, praise, and restoration.”
Only Jesus Christ, our Creator and Savior can give us our best life: “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). Jesus’ Promise: “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
Loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength is the spiritual catalyst that keeps us connected to Jesus, who empowers us through the Holy Spirit to live victoriously: “You can do nothing without Me.”
The Narrow Way “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).
Daily personal worship must become our lifestyle. Consistent Prayer, Bible Study, and the Commitment to Surrender to God with Faithful Obedience keeps us spiritually anchored to Christ.
“My people perish for lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6). Unless we know and believe that God is Faithful, memorizing His Promises to always be with us throughout our difficulties, then we will experience the same emotional distress as unbelievers.
The Holy Scriptures teach us that God is our Father, and is committed to lovingly taking care of His Sons and Daughters: God’s Character is the definition of Love! Study 1 Corinthians 13.
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15).
God’s perspective of giving us “our best life” is spiritually focused; The Father gave Jesus, His Son to save our souls, because His goal is to prepare us for Eternal Life.
Just As I Am: “We come to Jesus just as we are, but we cannot stay that way.”
God’s Love Always Includes Divine Purpose: He allows us to experience only the hardships that are designed to Sanctify our mind and character into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character [Galatians 5:22-23].
Because this Earth is only a temporary home, we must not allow Satan to distract us from cooperating with the Holy Spirit, who performs daily spiritual growth in every faithful believer, who trusts, obeys, and follows Christ.
“Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25, ESV).
Our Risen and Triumphant King is serving as our Heavenly Intercessor, receiving and answering all of our prayers. Every day we must make the intentional decision to pray, redirecting our faith, focus, and gratitude back to Jesus.
The righteous are receiving their best earthly lives: King Jesus commands His angels to protect us from satanic spiritual warfare and physical danger, and blesses the faithful with all of life’s necessities.
Because we cannot keep ourselves on the Narrow Path of Righteousness, or maintain a consistent spirit of Hope, through prayer, we receive Christ’s abundant Peace, Joy, and Strength needed to endure our spiritual journey from Earth to Heaven.
Eternity with God in the New Heaven and New Earth is Jesus’ Promise to give us a Perfect Life of Eternal Love, Peace, Joy, Happiness, and Magnificent Beauty.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3).
The Holy Scriptures give us the assurance that God is always in control, and changes the way we think and live.
Like young children who believe exactly what they are told, we use our faith to trust that if God said it, then it is so. His Promises are Yes and Amen!
Yes, Living our best life requires a sacrificial life of self-denial. but if we love Jesus and appreciate His Ultimate Sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross then it is a joy to follow our Shepherd and Triumphant King on the Narrow Path that leads from Earth to Heaven.
Every morning, we receive the gift of New Mercies, and with immense love and gratitude, we use our faith to surrender, obey, and follow Jesus, who promises to give us a Victorious Life.
In Proverbs 3:5-8, God teaches us how to live our best life, one with a Spiritual Focus, and complete dependency on His Sovereign Authority:
“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 the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.”
Lord God, we come to You, asking for Your Help. Please give us the wisdom, guidance, and strength to redirect our faith and focus back to Jesus. We confess that we cannot overcome life’s challenges using our little strength. Anoint us with the Oil of Gladness [the Holy Spirit], and teach us how to prepare every day for the Soon Coming of Jesus Christ. We look forward to Eternity in a Perfect New Heaven and New Earth. Jesus, thank You for Your Divine Love and Your Ultimate Sacrifice on Calvary. We love You and ask this prayer for Your Divine Help, in Your Loving and Righteous Name, Amen.
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” (John 5:39-40).
God’s Gift: Eternal life is a free gift from God rather than something earned by human works. Accepting Christ is the only way to receive eternal life:
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6). Exclusivity in Christ: The spiritual life exists only from having a personal relationship with Jesus 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.'” (Matthew 22:37).
When our hearts are overflowing with love for God, the Father’s Gift of Jesus, His Son, who suffered on Calvary’s Cross to save our souls, we will reciprocate our love for Christ through daily surrender and faithful obedience to God.
“The Holy Scriptures, they testify of Christ for He is Life Eternal.” To know Jesus requires us to accept His offer of Salvation; confess and repent of our sins; and to maintain a heart to heart relationship with Jesus through the daily Personal Worship of Prayer and Bible Study.
Prayer is our Spiritual Life-Line, connecting us to Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Heavenly Intercessor.
Our morning prayer is one of expressing gratitude for the gift of a new day, and asking for God’s Will to be revealed. Our obedience is rewarded by receiving spiritual wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit is actively involved in our daily journey with Jesus.
Ecclesiastes 3:1: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
“Prioritize Spiritual Matters: Putting God first in daily prayer, worship, and service ensures that life’s temporal concerns are not a priority over our spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ.”
We reveal our desire to actively participate in our salvation through daily prayer and Bible Study. Praying for spiritual wisdom invites the Holy Spirit to teach us the One and Only meaning of God’s Truth.
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
13 “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:12-13).
Studying the Bible Is Not Optional: The Holy Scriptures are necessary to learn God’s Righteous Character, His Commandments, and the Precepts that teach us how to be holy.
Human Effort and Divine Intervention are required for us to obey God’s Command, “Be holy, for I am Holy,” which requires a life of self-denial and self-control.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1, NIV).
To live for Christ also requires discipline through a sacrificial life of obedience. As followers of Christ, we must have a God First mindset, which prevents us from pursuing our personal desires instead of following God’s plans.
“But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.'” (Acts 5:9, ESV).
A spirit of humility, daily surrender, and the commitment to follow our Shepherd with faithful obedience invites the Holy Spirit to guide us in our journey of spiritual growth and character transformation.
“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).
Because we inherited hearts that naturally gravitate toward pursuing our desires, it is only through the Power of the Holy Spirit that we can stay on The Narrow Path of Righteousness.
“The more we search the Bible, the deeper our conviction is that it is the Word of the Living God, and human reason bows before the Majesty of Divine Revelation.” — Steps to Christ
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” (1 John 5:11).
Lord God, we thank You for the Holy Scriptures, which reveal Jesus Christ is the Only Way to receive Eternal Life. You are a Loving and Merciful Father, who desires for us to live holy. Thank You for giving us the Bible, Your Spiritual Guide that teaches us the difference between righteousness and sinful habits, behaviors, and lifestyles. Through Jesus Christ, we received the power to overcome our desires and temptations. Lord, we ask the Holy Spirit to give us the blessings of wisdom, discernment, and divine strength as we continue our journey on the Narrow Path of Righteousness. In faith and with gratitude, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of our Risen and Triumphant King, Jesus Christ, Amen.
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