Total Commitment to Christ–Is it Possible? Devotional Reading and Podcast
Have you ever wondered how your life would change if you totally committed yourself to Christ?
Many of us cannot answer yes to this question. This is how all of humanity starts in life: “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” (Jeremiah 17:9, NLT).
We are a sum total of innate sin, hereditary traits, our desires, society’s declining morals and values, the influence of friends, family, and social media, and the impact of worldviews that are in opposition to God’s righteous standards. Adding the devastation from natural disasters, lingering and unresolved social issues along with an increase in violent crimes, how are you doing?
How is the human race doing mentally, emotionally, and spiritually? The Harris poll revealed that only 33% of Americans are happy. Another global poll revealed that 64% of people worldwide are happy. Although these surveys are not 100% accurate, they are supposed to give us a baseline of humanity’s prevailing mental and emotional status. Surveys usually eliminate the spiritual component of our being, but we can never abolish our spiritual connection to God.
Most people living in developed countries are not doing so well. Within the past decade, a sharp rise in mental and emotional disorders overshadows the statistics of physical illnesses. We now have a three-digit number, 988-Suicide and Crisis Hotline to provide immediate intervention to help to save lives. And the countless people using alcohol and illicit drugs as coping mechanisms are on a pandemic level and still increasing globally.
Psychologists promote and teach healthy coping mechanisms which are supposed to keep us grounded. The Cleveland Clinic’s article, Stressors: Coping Skills and Strategies provides active steps one can take to de-stress.
What are some common coping strategies?
Lower your expectations.
Ask others to help or assist you.
Take responsibility for the situation.
Engage in problem-solving.
Maintain emotionally supportive relationships.
Maintain emotional composure or, alternatively, express distressing emotions.
Over time, we can gradually change nonproductive behaviors and stop unhealthy habits, yet there is a major roadblock, we were not created to provide self-treatment or perform a complete overhaul of our mental and emotional psyches.
Unhappiness, lack of peace and joy, and the inability to cope with life’s stressors and hardships are mental and emotional characteristics that Christian believers should not suffer from.
We have three groups of Christians in today’s society who proclaim that they believe in God.
- Those who are stressed and mentally unstable because they accepted and live by the worldview of putting self first and that self-reliance produces success.
- Those who are content because they attend church weekly, but isolate themselves and are unconcerned about others or the prevailing social and economic problems.
- Those who enjoy peace, joy, and happiness because they have a dependent and thriving relationship with Jesus Christ, and are involved in alleviating suffering.
Jesus desires that believers have healthy, peaceful, and happy lives. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 1:2).
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
Our human efforts are meaningless without staying connected to Jesus. Remember that God’s promises always require our faith, trust, and obedience. Why are we in the same dilemma that unbelievers are in? The root cause of our mental, emotional, and spiritual distress is that we are not relying on God and we have eliminated the power of Christ from our lives.
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33)
Have you ever wondered how your life would change if you totally committed yourself to Christ?
We do not have to lose our gifts of peace and joy due to self-reliance, isolation, and selfishness. Tell yourself enough is enough! Tell yourself that there is a better way to live. With Jesus, it is possible to enjoy an optimal level of spiritual, mental, and emotional health. With a total commitment to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we can enjoy the earthly life that God blessed us with!
Prayer: God, we tried to live according to our thoughts and worldviews. We desire a better life of peace, joy, and contentment. From today forward, we commit our minds, bodies, and souls to You. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 