Author: steps2successwithspiritualsolutions

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.

Knowing that You Need God

Times of Waiting are designed by God for spiritual transformation. We are not okay the way we are in the eyes of God. Comparing ourselves to the definition of Love in 1 Corinthians 13 and the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 are the Character Traits that represent God’s standards. Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you the power to change. Never compromise receiving your reward of eternal life.

Prayer: God, we thank You for guiding and giving us the power for spiritual transformation. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen

Who Stopped Your Progress?

Devotional Reading—Who Stopped Your Progress? From The Struggle of Sanctification by Sonya Johnson

Our dreams, goals, and plans are healthy signs of the motivation necessary to achieve bigger and better things. Our excitement grows as we research and develop strategies to accomplish our vision. Hopefully, we have searched for a mentor with the work experience to give us the guidance required for our dream to come to fruition. To achieve is vital to the growth of our intellect.

But is the sky the limit? We agree that a new entrepreneur faces fierce competition in today’s business arena. Yet, confidence, courage, and common sense will propel your business plan into a start-up with endless growth opportunities. As a former business owner, there is one aspect new business owners do not anticipate: losing a relationship with [some] family and friends who readily give their opinions on how to operate your business.

Can you imagine that your business is doing well and one of your employees secretly speaks to their coworkers that the business operations are making them work harder not smarter and the software you have chosen has many flaws? Immediate termination may be your first thought, but that would not resolve the doubt that was placed in the minds of your staff.

A mandatory meeting reminding your employees when they were interviewed that the organization’s mission and vision were thoroughly outlined to them and they agreed to assist in achieving said goals. In addition, have a one-to-one meeting with each employee to assess their loyalty to the company.

Start-Up Churches: The Apostle Paul faced many obstacles when starting the early Christian churches, especially the churches of Galatia which refers to a region in north-central Turkey. The Galatians epistle exposes the difficulties he faced with the members of the start-up churches.

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)

The new converts did not anticipate the separation from their cultural morals and values and the family and friends they were familiar with when they accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because they desired to keep their former worldly friends and participate in sensual idol worship, they embraced false theories from religious heretics, people who develop a different opinion of God’s truth and attempt to convince others to accept their false beliefs.

The Apostle Paul urged the Galatian members to consider their commitment to Jesus Christ and the consequences of returning to their former practices of idol worship.

“Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world?”(Galatians 4:8-9).

Paul pleaded with those who had accepted Christ and had known the power of God in their lives to return to the Living Truth. He was not alone in His efforts. The mighty power of the Holy Spirit worked on the conscience of many who had wandered away and they returned with a steadfast commitment to serving God.

When those who were steadfast in serving God begin to falter in their relationship with Christ–it is spiritual warfare from Satan. He uses people to distract us from God’s Truth and to entice us to give up our righteous standards. But his favorite tactic is to bring people from our past sinful life or former Christians who “…having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people (2 Timothy 3:5).

Bible Study: Book of Galatians

Prayer: God, we pray for clarity. We have listened to the doctrines and beliefs of many individuals and can no longer discern if our beliefs are false teachings. We ask for forgiveness for our sins. We pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit as we study the Scriptures. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy name of Jesus, Amen.

The Responsibility of Being a Light

Devotional–The Responsibility of Being a Light from The Struggle of Sanctification by Sonya Johnson

“But let your ‘Yes be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No, No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” –Matthew 5:37

Can you recall a situation that placed you in a dilemma with another person? If so, how did you respond? Every reaction whether with spoken words or behaviors represents our relationship with Christ. Did you reflect later only to regret your reaction or response? Perhaps we later apologized for an emotional reply or we were disappointed in our answer because it compromised our spiritual values.

Sanctification is daily spiritual growth and requires a lifetime for our character to be molded into the Character of Christ. Yet, we should recognize a change in our morals and values moving toward the godly standard of righteousness. As Christians, we are called by God to uphold His standards. “…because it is written, Be holy, for I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Yes, we are works in progress, but our minds should never waver in choosing to say or do what is right–as defined by God.

Scenario: You are in a meeting with your Manager and are asked to manipulate the actual findings of the monthly report. And for your dedication to the company you are being considered for a promotion to become Department Supervisor. You just purchased a new house. What is your response?

Scenario: Your wife brings a bag of clothing home with 8 items from an expensive store and the receipt only shows that 6 items were paid for. This is not the first time. Do you ignore the situation or ask questions [after you pray for guidance]?

When facing temptation, immediately pray [a silent prayer] and ask for the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and discernment. If possible clarify the words that are spoken to you by repeating them back to the person. If the situation involves an illegal cover-up be prepared for a hostile response.

Remember, this is a test of spiritual warfare. Do not be intimidated into compromising your godly standards. Stand your ground! Keep your response terse–using as few words as possible. With a calm and gentle tone, boldly proclaim, “I am a Christian and I will not say or do that.”

But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:33

If choosing righteousness causes the loss of family and friends, a marriage, a job, or money then so be it. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus promises He will supply all necessary provisions. But most importantly, our reward of eternal life is at stake when we deny Christ. Brothers and Sisters stand strong as a Soldier of God. Let your yes be yes and your no is no.

And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it–only those who walk in the Way–and fools will not stray onto it. Isaiah 35:8

Prayer: God, we pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and discernment when facing the compromise of temptation. Lord, help us exert holy boldness and stand for right thinking and doing in every circumstance that threatens to make us sin against You. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the worthy name of Jesus. Amen.