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.

The Story of Your Life

There are many introductions that begin with educational degrees, social status, humanitarian acts, and philantrophic donations. Yes, accolades of one’s earthly accomplishments is the world’s standard. Still, our greatest desire should be the wordless introduction that we are faithful servants of Jesus Christ.

Begin to live every day as a Man or Woman of God. You will need no introduction. The character of Christ will manifest itself in you as a bright light shining in a dark world.

Prayer: Lord, please help us through this journey of life that we will reflect Your love. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Faith Triumphs In Trouble

For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

In John 16:33, Jesus tells us of the life His disciples will face: “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.”

Faith takes effort! Remembering our former blessings and supernatural miracles from the Giver of Life waters the seed of our ever-growing faith. A heart filled with gratitude expressed through prayer is the only way to strengthen our faith.

This verse represents the hardships of our tribulations: “If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people…” (2 Chronicles 7:13)

Yes, the trials and sorrows are too great for us to resolve. Victory is impossible without unrealistic faith, trust, hope, and confidence in God. We do not have to analyze or try to figure it out. A prayer based on belief in a Loving and Omnipotent Father God never escapes the ears of God.

God tells us what is required to receive His Divine Intervention: “…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:13-14)

Faith is the response of our hearts to God’s gracious appeals for our fellowship with Him.  It is the healing relationship with the One who is the Source of all life, health, and happiness.  Faith restores us to our rightful state, to the condition in which we were created to live: union with our Creator. His Healing Love, D. Winn

Lord, I Believe, Please Help My Unbelief!

Prayer: God, please forgive us for the sin of self-reliance. We desire to live a Christ-centered, Faith-based life. Lord, we desperately need You in times of peace and afflictions. Hear our prayer, and give us the direction and the strength to live as one who is faithful. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.

The Treasure Seekers

Last week, I traveled from Florida’s Space Coast to the Treasure Coast. The scenic ocean, beachfront, and Bohemian environment were delightful. At 10 am, one faced a long line to wait for Gilbert’s well-known sugar-free pistachio latte. The eateries include two vegan restaurants with 100% homemade dishes. And lest, I forget this is also a fisherman’s paradise.

Still, many skilled surfers and divers are not interested in the food or the fish. The Treasure seekers are fixated on finding the real sunken treasure with a history of surfacing. Yes, the turbulence of the Atlantic is boisterous enough to move gold, silver, and jewels buried in the watery abyss to float upwards.

The story of the Treasure Coast began over 300 years ago when a fleet of 11 Spanish ships wrecked offshore between the St. Lucie River and Cape Canaveral. These ships were sent to collect new wealth from the American possessions of the Spanish Empire and bring it to Spain. On their way back, this treasure-carrying fleet was sunk by the winds of a hurricane, scattering gold, silver, and jewels over the seafloor. To this day, these treasures can sometimes still be found washed up on the shores by lucky beachgoers, giving the region its well-deserved name. http://www.visitflorida.com

The “Find the real treasure on the Treasure Coast” tourism campaign lures thousands of people year-round. Although the chance of finding buried treasure is minimal, it is human nature to seek the treasures we do not possess. With the certainty that treasure-seekers will always exist, the revenue from Florida Tourism on the Treasure Coast continues to exceed all financial predictions in this state.

Our innate behavior is to desire more than we have. The excitement from beating the odds to find a buried treasure–the extraordinary with high value, or something as simple as finding spectacular seashells on the beach, leaves us victims to our desires for financial gain and a pleasurable satisfaction.

Last year, I found some [perfect beauty] seashells in a secluded beach area. Their artistic design excelled the skills of any renowned artist. After all, who can surpass the Creator’s skills? My entrepreneur brain cells kicked into action. Become a beach bum, search for shells, and sell them to the many Bohemian artists and collectors who love nature’s elegance. Even though the business plan was doable, my excitement waned with the next trip to search for the [treasure] shells. I was not having fun at the beach, which is why I lived on the Coast.

If I continued to find shells as a hobby, it would not have produced my unhappiness. None can escape the uncontrollable desire of treasure-seeking. It quickly turns into a relentless pursuit. When we seek treasure for financial gain, we feed our innate spirit of dissatisfaction.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

Jesus gives us a forewarning. He is aware that we cannot control the desires of the heart. The acquisition of material treasures has turned family members against one another, caused marriages to fail, and resulted in prison sentences for embezzlement, Ponzi schemes, and mismanagement of the investor’s money.

Be aware of your treasure-seeking mindset. The passion that drives us to possess earthly treasures leads to spiritual bankruptcy. Do not let people, places, or material things take your heart. Reserve 100% of your heart to love God. After all, who else can give us the incomparable heavenly treasure of a forever life in the perfect New Heaven and New Earth?

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…” (Ephesians 3:20)

Prayer: God, we ask for a change in heart from seeking earthly treasures to one seeking heavenly treasures. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

The Jetty, Treasure Coast, Florida

The Secret Life of a Prayer Warrior

Have you noticed how quickly the years of our lives pass? Finally, we have completed our goals, have successful careers and financial stability, and traveled to mesmerizing vacation spots. Yes, life is good or is it? The level of satisfaction based off of our earthly accomplishments will never provide peace, joy, or lasting happiness.

The person who serves God and is joyful, despite their circumstances is a prayer warrior who has a secret life. “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6).

Our souls require daily spiritual nourishment. There is only one Source of peace–Jesus. No one else can soothe the distress from enduring the ups and downs of a unpredictable life. Prayer connects us to God. Jesus Christ is our Heavenly Intercessor. And we can cast our heavy burdens on the One who can carry them effortlessly.

Desire peace? Become a Relentless Prayer Warrior. “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Prayer: God, we are thankful that we can communicate with You through prayer without limits. In Jesus name. Amen.

The Prayer of a Sincere Heart

Question: Describe your best friend. I will begin. He is loving, humble, caring, and protective, always warning me before making a mistake. Still, the best gift that he gave me was to die for me to have a new forever home when He comes back again. The initial description probably had you thinking she has a great man–husband or best friend. But the ending caused a mental reroute to the spiritual realm. Yes, my best friend is Jesus Christ.

Truth be told, it took me a few decades to understand that Jesus was my best friend. I accepted Jesus as my Savior. Still, my knowledge of Jesus was superficial. I attended church one to two times a week and helped those in need. I did not intentionally break the commandments. Nor did I engage in sinful, worldly pleasures. But my prayer life and studying the scriptures were at the bottom of my priority list. I fulfilled my Christian duties. Even so, my heart was in conflict.

Sadly, I didn’t realize I had a heart [relationship with Jesus] problem. It was an online sermon that brought the flashing red warning lights. Like a half-baked cake that appeared good to eat, but the inside was soggy, my relationship with Christ was based on an insincere and disobedient heart. A spiritual analysis of my lifestyle reflected priorities based on self. And my prayers asked God to bless my dreams, not reveal His plans for my life.

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Psalm 37:23

Although many Christians acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, their mindsets are self-directed. They live to please themselves, which leads to disobedience–the dilemma of sin. The love of self leads us to a life of disobedience, which puts us outside of the will of God.

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15 ESV).

Jesus is our role model. In His humanness, Jesus prayed, “He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, ‘My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.'” (Matthew 26:39 NLT). It wasn’t that Jesus had an insincere heart, or was seeking a way out, He was fully aware of the agonizing physical torture and death that He faced.

For Jesus’ priceless sacrifice and promise of Eternal life, a sincere heart reflects much gratitude. In humility and thankfulness, our daily prayer is, “God, Not my will, but Your will be done in my life. Amen.” A simple yet heartfelt and powerful prayer that keeps our hearts devoted and obedient to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Assurance of God’s Help

“The darkest hour is just before dawn.”

The English theologian and historian Thomas Fuller appears to be the first person to commit the notion that “the darkest hour is just before the dawn.” Although this is not true from a scientific concept, when we are suffering from the harsh trials and sorrows of our lives, we are not seeking scientific theories or relativities.

If you are a Christian believer, then you will face an unresolvable challenge that requires God’s Divine Intervention at some point in your life.

Steps to Build Your Faith and Rely on God for Victory

  1. Pray and ask God for help. 
  2. Study the Scriptures, memorize and journal God’s promises.
  3. Believe in total faith while you wait for Divine Intervention.
  4. God requires total dependence on Him. Do not help God with plan B!
  5. Long-suffering [patience] is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit.

“Wait for and confidently expect the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14, Amplified Bible).

Face your Test With Courage and Strength

When Paul was in prison, his protege, young Timothy feared persecution. The Apostle reminded him, “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).

God Promise to His People [Isaiah 40–verses, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26, and 28-31]

To whom then will you liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare to Him?

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told to you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers…

To whom then will you liken Me,
Or to whom shall I be equal? says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high,
And see who has created these things,

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?

The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might, He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on 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.

The Struggle is Real, but Victory is Sure! Praise God that we never have to wonder or fear our Heavenly Father’s desire and promise to deliver us. 

Prayer: God, we need Your help. We pray for strength and guidance from the Holy Spirit. Thank you for the spiritual growth and character changes that will occur because of our trials and sufferings. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.