Author: steps2successwithspiritualsolutions

You may live in a state with rainy seasons or wintry blizzards, but Texas and tornadoes are synonymous. Yes, the state is known for its annual tornado seasons. I have watched the powerful funnel snap and throw trees as if they were fresh green beans being snapped and thrown into a basket. The tornado lifted homes and demolished them like children’s building blocks falling down.

No, I am not a storm chaser. I traveled on a two-lane road that connected a rural town to the highway leading to Dallas. Once I entered the city of Alvarado with its flat desert-like terrain, the tornado’s funnel danced a passionate tango with strength and vengeance. The state troopers directed all drivers to perform a synchronized U-turn to retreat to safety.

The Winds of Strife–Saul Seeks to Kill David

The Situation: “So David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in a forest.” (1 Samuel 23:15)

God’s Divine Intervention: Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God. And he said to him, Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.” (1 Samuel 23:16-17).

God’s Covenant Promise: So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house. (1 Samuel 23:18).

The Divine Outcome: Saul stated: “And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.” (1 Samuel 24:20).

Neither Satan nor any individual can prevent our powerful Heavenly Father from shutting down the winds of strife. Prayer opens the door to receiving supernatural help and blessings from our Divine Intercessor–Jesus Christ. Becoming a treasure-seeker in the Word of God, living by its precepts, and diligently praying is the only way to withstand the winds of strife.

Bible Study: 1 Samuel 23-24

Prayer: Lord, we thank You for being our Savior and Heavenly Intercessor. We desperately need Your help to withstand the daily winds of strife, which attack us in many ways. We love You. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Your Holy name. Amen.

Years ago, I negotiated a higher salary for a temporary position that I obtained through a Hiring Agency. The assignment lasted for 16 weeks. For some unknown reason, I checked the paystub of my final check, and much to my surprise, there was a $2 per hour difference in the salary paid for the assignment.

I contacted the Human Resources liaison, who asked, “You never checked your payroll stub.” My answer was, “No, I had a written contract. Why was it necessary for me to check my stub?” I received a check for the deficit in an overnight express envelope the next day.

As I reflect on this story, I realize that as human beings we put too much trust in people, employers, investment companies, businesses, and banks. In fact, many individuals feel intimidated to obtain second opinions regarding their health or medical diagnosis.

Surprisingly in 2022, scams are still being orchestrated with the highest level of expertise. Many victims receive a phone call from a person representing an alleged governmental agency or bank who says they owe money or suspicious charges were charged to the debit or credit card. And trusting the confident voice, they readily give their confidential financial identifiers to a stranger.

Still, the greatest deception is a never-ending scheme perpetrated in the spiritual realm. Satan has convinced us to rely on ourselves. Yes, we trust our judgment based on prior experience or desires of the heart.

The irony is that we place too much trust in ourselves, other people, and institutions, but we have little to no faith in God. If you believe in God and did not pray for direction and God’s will to be done, or wait for His answer, unfortunately, your plans will not come to fruition the way you think.

I can recall a story from a former pastor who had his own investment business. He told the congregation that he prayed about making an investment and received the answer of “No” from God. But the financial returns were too great to pass on this opportunity. Within days he lost $250,000.

The unequally yoked relationship, the start of a business, financial investment, the relocation for a new job, or the purchase of a new vehicle or house, if God has not given His blessings upon our desires, we will place ourselves in a lose-lose predicament.

The consequences of Disobedience always place us in spiritual bankruptcy. Not trusting in God is guaranteed to end in failure. “Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard.”(Proverbs 13:15).

The Solution: Always Pray and wait for God’s answer!

Prayer: God, we ask for your direction and blessings upon our lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

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.

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.