It takes faith, trust, courage, and perseverance to serve God in today's unstable world. Yet, we are never alone. Pray every day and pray often. Study the Bible. The Scriptures are a Love Letter from God to those who accept Jesus as their personal Savior. You will receive comfort, knowledge, and wisdom from the Holy Spirit. "I have loved you with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3. Be blessed in Jesus' name. Amen.
Lord God, we thank you for the Holy Sabbath, a sacred time that we can redirect our faith and focus to You with praise and worship. Give us the faith, strength, and courage to remain loyal to Your Commandments and Righteous Precepts. We also ask for the wisdom to understand the Holy Scriptures. Lord, teach us how to apply Your Word to our lives, so we can be spiritually transformed. We pray for the global Christian Community, and ask You to comfort and give them the strength to remain steadfast in a time of compromise and persecution. We look forward to the day when You will come and rescue us, fulfilling Your promise to give us our Forever Home in the New Heaven and New Earth where love, peace, joy, and happiness will always exist. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.
“The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him.” (Nahum 1:7).
This morning, I read a Devotional on how easy it is for us to react negatively to the darkness of trials and hardships. But the author reminded us that God is Always Good, and the dark times are allowed for our spiritual transformation and redirecting us to depend on our Heavenly Father.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, NIV). From a perfect love that we cannot understand, God gave His only Son, Jesus, who sacrificed His life on Calvary’s Cross to redeem us from sin and to save our souls.
Yes, God’s priority is to give us Eternal Life, but we choose our destiny. Receiving immortality in our Forever Home requires us to actively participate with the Holy Spirit in our spiritual journey by obediently following Christ, our King, Savior, and Shepherd.
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). We abide in Christ through daily personal worship. With a spirit of surrender, we commit to faithfully obey our Shepherd. Our Daily Prayer: Lord, what do You want me to do?
Although we desire our heavenly reward, there is an obstacle that each of us must overcome: We have become too attached to this earthly home. Our lifestyles reveal that we are making future plans that have nothing to do with living righteously now and in our Forever Home.
Scenario: You purchased a house, and the closing date is 30 days away, but today the company announced immediate layoffs, and your supervisor informed you that you would also be impacted.
Feeling disappointed, you reach out to the seller to explain your situation. To your surprise, they respond by stating that they will not accept other offers. Instead, they give you a timeline of 3 to 4 months to find another job because they genuinely want you to purchase the house.
Your prayers of gratitude would include joy, happiness, and excitement, you know that God has given you a miraculous blessing.
Jesus’ Promise: “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).
Jesus’ promise of life in the New Heaven and New Earth that He gave to His disciples is for all believers. From Adam and Eve to every faithful believer who has lived on the planet Earth will receive their reward of immortality when Jesus comes again [Revelation 22:12].
In Revelation, the Apostle John describes the righteous as a number like the grains of sand. Every day, with joyful anticipation, we should reflect on Jesus’ love, preparing ourselves spiritually for Heaven through daily prayer and Bible study.
Jesus’ Warning: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16, NIV).
According to 2 Timothy 3, we are the generation of Christians who are living in the Last Days on this present earth. We cannot afford to waste our gift of time. Our lifetime is the only opportunity we have for the Holy Spirit to transform our minds, characters, and personalities.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19, 21).
Success and prosperity have the power to change us from the outside in, which opposes the spiritual process of Sanctification. We cannot experience spiritual growth if the majority of our time and efforts are spent fulfilling our hearts’ desires and pursuing personal and professional success.
To clear out excess inventory, many stores offer reduced prices for “As Is” items. We purchase these items because we have the vision and skills to modify them. When we come to Jesus, He accepts us “As Is: “I can come to Jesus, just as I am, but I cannot stay just as I am.” We must be changed into the likeness of Christ by the Holy Spirit in our earthly lives.
Perform a spiritual self-assessment. Do your behaviors, habits, and lifestyle demonstrate a God First or a Me First mindset? If we desire to live an obedient life, surrendering to God’s plans, then we have given access to the Holy Spirit to convert our hearts. Faithful obedience reveals that our hearts are filled with love and loyalty to Christ.
God Is Always Good: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8, ESV). God honors and rewards those who obey Him.
God Is Always Faithful: Jesus knows that our spiritual transformation requires His Divine Help and Strength, so He allows the “Chisels of Trials and Hardships” to enter our lives.
God’s Rescue Plan: “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 filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, Amplified Bible).
“We must overcome through His Strength and Grace, that we may be partakers of [His] Divine Nature…Our pride, selfishness…passions, and love of worldly pleasure must all be overcome; therefore God sends us afflictions [adversity] to test and prove us, and show us that these evils exist in our characters.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23). The Fruit of the Spirit describes the attributes of Jesus’ Righteous Character that we must also have.
“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 12:2, NIV).
One thing is for certain: Self-discipline and self-denial are within our power to exercise under all circumstances. But overcoming our internal desires requires the willingness to live a sacrificial life of saying no to the world’s treasures and pleasures. Sadly, this is the turning point for many believers who decide to detour from the Path of Righteousness.
Loving God motivates us to agree to become Spiritual Works-in-Progress. Every day, the Holy Spirit gradually performs the work of our spiritual transformation from the inside out [heart conversion]. Through daily personal worship, we ask God to reveal His plans, and we obey, without doubting His Divine Wisdom.
“This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21). God reveals His promise to provide guidance and direction for His people.” Faithful obedience invites the Holy Spirit to teach us how to live righteously. We are never alone. The Holy Spirit guides us day by day in our rugged journey on the Path of Righteousness.
The Life of Self-denial: “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 12:2, NIV).
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).
Yes, the Christian journey is tough! Although human effort is required, we cannot save ourselves. Every day we pray, asking the Holy Spirit to empower us with Jesus’ Divine Strength to overcome the internal conflict of our heart’s desires, and the external opposition of temptations.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2-3, NIV).
God Is Always Good! We have 24/7 access to Christ, who gives us His strength to persevere through our trials and hardships. Pray for guidance, wisdom, and strength throughout your day. Jesus lived on this earth, and He knows that daily self-denial is a tough journey.
God’s Divine Intervention: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV).
Human Effort: “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7, NLT).
Live With the Mindset: “I will not disobey God!” Our enemy, Satan, the roaring lion, knows our weaknesses, developing personalized temptations that are temporary and worthless. Still, we can never be coerced into sinning against God; we choose to sin.
When tempted, immediately pray with audible words that you can hear, asking Jesus, our Mighty Warrior, for His Help. Every prayer asking for Jesus’ Strength to overcome temptations and challenges is immediately answered by Jesus, our High Priest.
God is Always Good! Before we can blink our eyes, Psalm 91 tells us Michael [Jesus], the Commander of Angel Armies, sends His angels to strengthen us and to fight the unseen spiritual warfare of Satan’s evil angels. Hallelujah and Amen!
The days we live in are filled with evil. Become a prayer warrior! Prayer keeps us connected to Jesus, who receives every prayer. The Holy Spirit empowers us with Divine wisdom and supernatural strength to live righteously.
God is Always Good! The Triune God [God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit] is doing all that is possible to ensure that every believer receives their Crown of Life. The decision to choose life is up to us.
Human Effort plus Divine Intervention Always Ends in Victory!
Lord God, we thank you for your Amazing Love, Grace, and Mercies. We desire to change and ask You to reveal the traits in our characters that prevent us from living a sacrificial, faithful, and obedient life. We ask for forgiveness for wasting our gift of time, chasing after worthless desires. Lord God, thank You for Your love, faithfulness, and for always being Good. Teach us how to worship you in Spirit and Truth, and guide us in our journey so we can receive our reward of Eternal Life. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.
Can you imagine a life without the chains of uncertainty, anxiety, worry, and fear of the future?
Every believer has the opportunity to live a life overflowing with Jesus’ gifts of peace, joy, and happiness. Brothers and sisters, I am finally living that life!
The Commitment to Live a Sacrificial Life Dedicated to Follow Christ Is Required to Receive Spiritual Freedom
“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).
“Yes we are stained by sin, but the Supreme King of the universe says to come before His throne to receive help in our time of need. We are always in need of Jesus’ Divine Help.”
Through daily personal worship, we learn God’s plan for the new day. We pray the Prayer of Surrender: “God, what do you want me to do today?” Pray, Wait, and Obey.
When we commit to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through our thoughts and the Holy Scriptures, leading and keeping us on the Path of Righteousness.
The willingness to surrender our self-reliance and totally depend on our Shepherd with faithful obedience is rewarded with Jesus’ Righteous Blessings.
Despite the uncertainties of life, the faithful have no worries. But most importantly, we do not have to wonder if we are going to receive our reward of Eternal Life.
The Fruit of the Spirit describes the attributes of Christ’s Righteous Character: His followers must also have the Fruit of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:22-24).
Faithful obedience keeps us connected to Christ. In Philippians 1:6, Jesus promises to complete the work of spiritual growth and the transformation of our character, if we follow Him.
“Pray continuously!” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Jesus Christ, our Savior, Shepherd, and Triumphant King invites us to come boldly before God’s Throne of Grace with our failures, weaknesses, sorrows, and cares.
Pray more! Perfect peace comes from letting go of our thoughts and inclinations to resolve life’s challenges. We were created us to have a dependent relationship with Christ.
“I will never leave you or forsake you.” Jesus desires us to know that we are never alone. Created in the image of God, all of Heaven is dedicated to helping us in this journey of life.
Yeshua, the Commander of Angel Armies Promise: “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways…” (Psalm 91:11, NIV).
Christ always protects the righteous! We have guardian angels who fight the unseen spiritual warfare of Satan’s evil angels. Whisper prayers throughout your day to express gratitude for Jesus’ Abundant Love, Faithfulness, and Protection.
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding…” (Proverbs 2:6). God desires for us to have the spiritual wisdom necessary to perceive life through spiritual eyes.
Every day, ask for the free gift of wisdom. The Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom to discern truth from error, to understand the deepest meaning of the Holy Scriptures, and to understand the complexities of life.
Divine wisdom prevents us from becoming victims of scams, and being manipulated by Satan in matters of everyday life.
Divine wisdom and strength are required to recognize and overcome the internal conflict of following our hearts desires, and the external opposition of temptations.
Thank you Jesus for your Love! Yes, we have access to our Shepherd’s Divine Help 24/7. Yes and Amen!
Lord God, we come before Your Throne of Grace, yes, we are stained with sin, and have weaknesses, sorrows, cares, and failures. Still we accept Your invitation to help us, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We ask for the forgiveness of our sins. Guide us and empower us with the strength to live as victorious overcomers. Lord, we acknowledge that You are the Supreme King of the universe, and the Sustainer of our lives. With faith and joyful expectancy, we believe that You have answered this prayer that we ask in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
On my first day of orientation as a Nursing Supervisor, I recall an unusual job training method conducted by Allison, the Regional Director, who informed me that for the next three days, I would spend time alone studying and learning the organization’s policies and nursing protocols.
When I entered the conference room, half of the table was covered with 4-inch binders bursting at the seams. From Monday to Wednesday, I studied for eight hours each day, absorbing all of the information my frontal lobe could manage.
On Thursday, Allison entered the conference room and stated, “I know that you do not understand why I instructed you to spend alone learning these policies and procedures, but in time, you will.”
Much to my surprise, I learned that although healthcare professionals must abide by the state’s licensure regulations for delivering care, regardless of their professional status, personal morals and values significantly impact a person’s judgment, critical thinking, and decision-making abilities.
It was disappointing to address the numerous policy violations during my tenure, which required staff remediation and additional training due to their knowledge deficits. The plan of correction included changes in the initial orientation and continuous education for the staff.
As I reflected on this past experience, I thought about Allison’s productive and effective training strategy of learning in solitude. From not spending time alone with God in personal worship, many believers have a knowledge deficit of God’s Righteous Character and how to live righteously because of the failure to study the Holy Scriptures.
Reflection: How are we managing our God-given gift of Time? “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, ESV).
Each new day, we stand at the Spiritual Crossroads: We must choose, will we put God first, or ourselves? Do we have a God-First mindset? Our initial morning thoughts reveal who our priority is: God or ourselves. If our default is reflecting on the busy day ahead, then sadly, we are number one.
Loving God requires the sacrificial gift of using our time to worship Him every day. We should not try to squeeze God into a busy schedule, but from the moment we awaken, our gratitude for another day of life is expressed by asking God to reveal His plans for the new day. Because God is God, He deserves the First Fruits of our gift of time in morning worship.
Evening worship is our opportunity to reflect on and to thank our Heavenly Father for the many blessings of provisions and protection from unseen spiritual warfare, physical harm, and the strength to complete our daily activities.
Which activities are covertly consuming our time? Are we spending more time at the gym than in worship? Or working countless hours of overtime in the pursuit of success and financial stability? Is Social Media, or watching the World News and Politics, our way of relaxing instead of praying? If we have a family, are the children’s schedules packed with numerous extracurricular activities that prevent daily family worship?
How do we put God first when we face countless distractions, crammed schedules, and overwhelming responsibilities? Managing our time not only requires the Big Chop, but we must also ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, so that nothing comes before our God-First commitment and our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Over 6,000 years ago, Jesus revealed The Perfect Time Management Plan: “He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while’—for there were many [people who were continually] coming and going, and they could not even find time to eat.” (Mark 16:31, Amplified Bible).
“Following Christ’s Example: Jesus often withdrew for solitary prayer, demonstrating that even He needed this time for wisdom and strength, [from God, the Father] a vital example for His followers.”
“Solitude isn’t loneliness; it’s a purposeful withdrawal for spiritual connection, allowing one to enjoy God’s presence and power, transforming moments of being alone into encounters with the Divine.”
One of Satan’s greatest deceptions that many believers have embraced is that we do not have to study the Bible. In fact, a most recent study finds that only “11-15% of Christians study the Bible daily.” But to remain committed, faithful, and obedient to God requires that we study the Holy Scriptures for ourselves.
“My people perish because of the lack of knowledge.”(Hosea 4:6). The Bible is our Spiritual Roadmap: Staying on the Narrow Path of Righteousness Requires Divine Intervention and Human Effort.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible reveals God’s Love, the attributes of His Righteous Character, Jesus’ earthly ministry, Promises, Prophecies, and teaches us how to live righteously. Before studying the Scriptures, we ask the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual wisdom, discernment, and clarity of God’s Word.
Isaiah 55:8-9: “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'”
In faith, we ask for Divine Strength, and put forth the human effort to learn God’s Righteous Character, and obey His Commands, Precepts, and Principles. It is the Holy Scriptures that teach us how to prepare ourselves daily to receive our reward of Christ’s promise to take the righteous to Heaven when He comes again [Revelation 21-22].
“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).
In the quiet stillness of solitude, through prayer and studying the Holy Scriptures, Jesus gives us the Living Water and the Bread of Life necessary for our Spiritual Nourishment, and the Holy Spirit instructs us to do our part [obeying God], guiding us moment by moment as we strive to stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.
From dedicating time to be in the presence of God, we are changed into the likeness of Christ’s Beautiful Character, and as the Apostle Paul did, in the strength of Christ, we can also proclaim:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
Lord God, we commit our time that You have gifted us with to worship You in Spirit and Truth. We thank You for Your faithfulness even when we are not, and for our unfaithfulness, we ask for forgiveness. We look forward to the day when Jesus will come again and take us to Heaven. Until then, we ask You to empower us with Your strength to persevere through this journey of life. In Jesus’ Loving and Powerful Name, we pray, Amen.
“If you seek her [wisdom] as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:4-6).
Because we were created with limited understanding, 99.9% of the time, we usually perceive a situation incorrectly, which always leads to undesired chaos and consequences.
God Commands Us Not Replace Spiritual Wisdom and Discernment With Human Thoughts
“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.” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Often a situation involving family or friends, directly impacts us. Do not presume that you know what is going on.
Whisper a prayer, asking God for spiritual discernment, and in a gentle tone lovingly ask, “Can you help me to understand what is happening?”
“Do not be wise in your own eyes…” (Proverbs 3:7).
When facing conflict, always pray for God’s guidance. An Emotional Response always escalates the situation because emotional responses trigger emotional words of retaliation, and sometimes, acts of violence.
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:11-12, NIV).
Everyday, every believer is facing unseen spiritual warfare on a personal level, in our homes, on our jobs, and in our neighborhoods.
One of Satan’s most effective strategies is to entice believers to participate in various discussions that always end in arguments.
Last week, I can recall sitting in the waiting area of the optician’s office, and the woman sitting next to me casually started a general conversation about hobbies, and we laughed at being yarn artists because we knit and crochet.
But then the conversation took a left turn, she said, “I love discussing politics, and usually can provoke others to get upset while I remain calm.” I never responded, and that was the end of our chat.
“But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.” (2 Timothy 2:23).
There are topics that we must avoid because they always produce conflict: Religion, Politics, Economic Disparity, and Social Injustice.
Even among believers, God can never receive the glory and honor when we give into temptation, and discuss topics that are guaranteed to produce controversy.
“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” (James 1:14).
Many Believers watch debates and programs that include controversy, immorality, profanity, and violence. Whatever we listen to is eventually reflected in our character, attitude, spoken words, and lifestyles.
“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 12:2, NIV).
If we are not witnessing then we must reflect on why we are involving ourselves in lengthy discussions with unbelievers. Our gift of time can be spent studying the Bible, praying, helping those in need, witnessing, and giving Bible studies.
Even when giving a Bible Study, if the individual is asking for clarification of a Scripture, our first response is to offer a spoken prayer asking for God’s guidance before we answer.
“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” (James 1:26, NIV).
Only God has the ability to always give perfect knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. Pray for spiritual wisdom and discernment in every aspect of life.
Lord God, we pray for the spiritual strength to overcome our desires to listen to and speak words designed to provoke controversy. We ask you to forgive us for the times that we have used our thoughts to discern a situation incorrectly, and initiated conflict with our words. Lord, bless us with the wisdom to know when to remain silent. We ask this prayer in faith and in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. 5 For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100, NIV).
“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.” (Psalm 95:6-7, NIV).
A life of gratitude and praise prepares us for an eternity of praising and worshiping God.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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