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.
What is your first thought when you hear the word surrender? Many think of giving up or defeat. After-all the dictionary definition is: to cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority. And yes, in the case of interaction with an adversary, the dictionary definition accurately describes the situation.
“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.” John 16:33 NLT
Take my Hand
Surrender takes on a totally different meaning when God is involved. When the storms of life have beat us down, and we feel as if we cannot deal with another problem, if we allow ourselves to surrender to Jesus Christ, He takes the impossible and performs miracles. Surrendering is asking Jesus to be a part of our lives by confession and repentance of our sins. Having a relationship with God is not complex, nor is it complicated. The spiritual component in humanity and the seed of faith that God has given to everyone automatically connects to God when we commit to serving Him.
We do not have to understand or attempt to analyze the peace and inner joy we receive from serving God. It is in the midst of our raging storms of trials and sorrows that all we have to do is say, “God, help me.” And the hands of Jesus reach out, and the spiritual bonding begins as our hearts start to calm down from the reassurance that we are no longer alone to bear our burdens.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
With our Heavenly Father, defeat or the feelings of being overwhelmed are part of our past. We decided not to ever surrender to our harsh trials and tribulations again. Feeling empowered and victorious is the outcome of giving ourselves to the only One who can tell our storms, Peace, be still! Who else would know exactly what we need when we need it? Never forget who you belong to: Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us… Genesis 1:26
Make your life complete by surrendering to God. It takes human effort to nurture the seed of faith. By believing, trusting, and obeying God in all circumstances will guarantee that you will never be defeated again.
God, we are ready to surrender to you. We confess and ask forgiveness of our sins. We commit to love and serve you with all of our hearts, souls, and minds from this day forward. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
Who is Jesus? Without having an up-close and personal relationship, our initial answer would probably be, “He is the Son of God.” But for those who have a testimony of deliverance, Jesus Christ is much more than the Son of God. Prayerfully, today we will learn who Jesus is and how we can grow closer to Him.
To establish, build, and maintain any relationship, we must possess unconditional love, utilize healthy, ongoing communication, and be willing to serve. Yes, there are many other characteristics, but these three traits form the foundation for the building blocks, such as mutual respect, trust, forgiveness, etc.
Before we move forward, study and memorize 1 Corinthians 13, the Love chapter that identifies the traits that grow from the tree of unconditional love:
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT
Who does Jesus say that we have to love?
“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” 37 Jesus declared, “ ’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:36-39 BSB
Self-evaluate: If you can verbalize these words: “I don’t like him, her or them,” then God has a message for you:
19 We love because He first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God, but hates his brother and sister, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother and sister, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother and sister as well. 1 John 4:19-21
Loving others is not based on ethnicity, physical likeness, socioeconomic status, or religious preferences. Nor do the participation in peaceful protests, rallies, or giving financial support indicate that we possess the love that God requires of us. Loving others unconditionally (without stipulations) is a core character trait that we must possess, or we do not have a love for God, nor can we have a relationship with God. In fact, God says we are “liars” Ouch!
Finally, we must believe that God is Unconditional love, and He is Omniscient-all knowing. Let’s use our creative abilities to script a probable conversation between God, the Father, and Jesus His Son before the Creation:
Son, you know if I create human beings, they will disobey and fall into sin by pursuing self-seeking pleasures. The relationship they need to have with us will be a constant struggle because the “Seed of Faith” that we give them will remain the same size because of their doubt and unbelief in our power. They will be distracted by the things that Satan will present to them, and their greatest love will be for money. You know that they will not love us and they will hate each other. Jesus, are you sure that you want me to create human beings? Yes, Father, I will give my life for their redemption from sin. But, Son, you will be born as a human into poverty, have a life of suffering, you will be rejected, despised, hated, and falsely accused of blasphemy against me. And the most terrible thing is that you will die on a cross with large spikes driven through your hands and feet. Yes, Father, I understand. Still, I am willing to die for all of humanity.
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1
God, we want to say thank you, and we love you. Please forgive us for our sins against you and each other. Help us never forget the gift of your Son, Jesus that died and was resurrected so we may have eternal life. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
Good Morning. Thank you, God, for another day of life. We commit our plans to you, asking for your blessing. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
I awakened to another beautiful, wintry day. As I opened my eyes, I prayed a prayer of thanksgiving. Before listening to my online audio Bible, an article in my newsfeed caught my attention. How Single-Use Makeup Wipes Contribute to Environmental Waste | InStyle. https://www.instyle.com/beauty/skin/makeup-wipes-bad-for-environment
With the popularity of makeup artistry, this information certainly gives us something to think about because the current trend is a 7-10 step process application of makeup, including glam eyelashes. For many, the removal of layered makeup also requires the additional use of products that guarantee instant removal. However, fast and easy products always have hidden elements that cause damage, and makeup wipes not only contain fibers that damage the skin, but they also harm the environment.
While reading, I immediately thought of this verse: The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. Psalm 24:1. I was already aware of my last earth-wrecking habit: Using plastic freezer bags. Gearing up for the research mode, I found a realistic and achievable method for using glass containers to freeze food. All of my food storage containers are glass, but I never thought of using mason jars, or glass freezer containers. https://www.attainable-sustainable.net/plastic-free-freezer-storage/
Environmental sustainability is responsibly interacting with the planet to maintain natural resources and avoid jeopardizing future generations’ ability to meet their needs.
If we really believe that God, the King of Glory, created this earth for humanity, we will do our part to eliminate wasteful habits. Certainly, worshiping and honoring God not only requires that we take care of our bodies, 19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, we also do our genuine part in taking care of Earth, our beautiful home.
So, let’s move forward and take one more step toward changing our counterproductive habits. Our most excellent way of honoring God is to praise and worship Him with thankful hearts and demonstrate our gratitude by taking care of our earth-home with love and tenderness.
Psalm 24
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. 2 For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.
3 Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. 5 They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior. 6 Such people may seek you and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.
7 Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. 8 Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, invincible in battle.
9 Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. 10 Who is the King of glory? The Lord of Heaven’s Armies— he is the King of glory.
God, we thank you for our earthly home and we commit to changing our habits to prevent waste in our environment. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” Jesus declared,” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.’ “Matthew 22:36-38 BSB
As Believers, we are to think, act, and live differently from those who do not believe in God. The pursuit of financial gain is the goal of those seeking to satisfy their desires. Unfortunately, many who profess to serve God have boarded the “Prosperity Ship” because of greed. Our overabundance is not to be used to purchase the latest fashion or trends. One of the most discouraging things I have ever witnessed was an individual who was a Pastor’s wife and had converted one of their bedrooms into a closet.
At Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon, he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” Acts 10:1-4 NIV
Loving God means that we strive to stay in alignment with His plans for our lives. We have primary responsibilities to help those in need. God has given everyone spiritual gifts and talents. Consider the elderly, living alone because spouses preceded them in death, and their children live in other states. Certainly, they could use a prepared meal or help with cleaning their homes. Local Churches involved in community service require monetary donations beyond the tithe and offerings from their members.
Currently, with the pandemic, many children are engaged in virtual learning. Two of the most challenging courses are math and science. If you are gifted in these subjects, you could offer virtual tutoring to assist the learning process and alleviate the burden of parents who cannot help their children learn the new and updated versions of these subjects.
When we love God with all of our hearts, souls, and minds, we have a natural desire to reach out beyond ourselves.
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Luke 22:42
Until Jesus was born as a human, He never experienced suffering. In His Divine Nature, Jesus did not have prior personal experience of the mental, emotional, and spiritual anguish that accompanies harsh trials and tribulations. Contrary to popular belief, there is not biblical support of Jesus or the angels crying in heaven. Sorrows, trials, and tribulations are part of the earthly journey of humanity.
Nevertheless, in the short span of 33 years, Jesus’ desire was always to please, honor, and glorify God, His Father. the Bible is full of stories of our Savior always helping and healing many of physical illnesses. The life of Christ demonstrates that He broke the barriers of all the “isms” that prevent many of us from reaching out to those in need.
Jesus gave Himself for us and to us, paying a holy and precious price on the cross. After giving His all, is it too much for Him to ask us to do the same thing? No man or woman will ever amount to anything in God’s kingdom or ever experience any of His power until this lesson of prayer is learned–that our personal considerations, no matter how important or precious to us, are secondary. Dr. Francis… From the Devotional Streams in the Desert
Study the Life of Christ in the book of Matthew, and reflect on the great sacrifice that Jesus willingly made for us. We cannot say that we are followers without possessing knowledge of Jesus, His character, and the manner in which He lived.
We are in a holiday season where the focus is placed on spending money and gift-giving. Although we do not have Biblical support indicating the actual day of Christ’s birth, many accept the celebration of Christmas day as His entry on earth as a human. Make every day a celebration of Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection by committing to serving God and serving others.
Bible Reading Plan for December: Matthew chapters 1-28
God, we thank you for our spiritual gifts and talents. May we always put you first, and have a loving and giving spirit. Thank you for always providing our needs and blessing us with additional resources that we may help others. As we celebrate the season of giving, we thank you for giving your life that we may have redemption from our sins and receive the reward of eternal life. We pray in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
The praying Believers did not believe that Peter was at the gate. They prayed but had doubt that God would answer their prayer.
Prayer is the only option we have.
Prayer puts us in the neighborhood of God. When our faith is weak and our doubt is strong, pray anyway.
Prayer places us to be in alignment with God.
Prayer unleashes the Power of God!
Acknowledge your weakened faith, by praying, “Lord help my unbelief.”
Prayer, fasting, and humility of heart places us in the vicinity of God.
Pray in your desperation. Prayer points us into the direction where God is.
Just keep praying. Prayer increases our Faith!!!
As we commit to a closer and deeper relationship with God, increase your communcation with God through prayer.
Make the promise to yourself that you will increase your prayer life. Pray to the Creator, the God of Heaven and Earth and you will see a change in your life like you have never witnessed before.
God, we ask you to forgive our unbelief. We pray for an increase in our faith. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Hopefully, you have committed to accept the gift of the Sabbath. God was aware that we would need 24-hours a week to cease the necessary day-to-day activities that place excessive strain on our minds and bodies–mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
Life with God ensures that we are not alone and left to struggle even under harsh trials and sorrows.
Receiving God’s promises requires that we have a relationship with Him. God’s promises are for “His people.” We agree that we will fulfill the terms of our covenant with God.
Diligently seeking God in prayer, studying the Bible, exercising faith, trust, obedience, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ are conditions of participation in the Plan of Salvation.
Serving God is not passive, nor is it based on doing nothing. We actively strive toward spiritual perfection, which we achieve through Christ.
Set your spiritual standards high, and Satan will never have the opportunity to take you low. Knowing that God loves us and will never abandon us erases all doubt, discouragement, and stress.
Validate your status by verbalizing, ” I belong to God!” You will begin to notice that peace will replace a discontented spirit. Serving God has definite advantages, and now is the time for us to discover the perks that come from having a Heavenly Father. No worries, ever!
Claim God’s promises through faith. It pays to serve the Lord.
God, we thank you for the ability to serve you. Please help us realize when we are feeling alone, we have failed to connect with you. Thank you for always being consistent with your love and blessings of grace and mercy. We love you. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
Within the past two years, a trend developed to find out where your ancestors were from. It is a lucrative hype with 26 million individuals paying at least $99 for an in-home ancestry test that reported conclusions outside of our human capacity. Even though one person says that she took nine tests using aliases, and three different companies reported three errors and six different results, the falsehood behind finding a person’s ancestry is ignored. These deceptive companies continue to thrive off of individuals who require validation from a DNA test and accept manmade fabricated results.
I found the following ad in a google search for Ancestry DNA testing:
Dear Reader, Where are you from? For many of us, that question can be hard to answer. Ancestry records can certainly help part of the way.
Would you like to know where you are from? Then we will explore the Bible to find out what God, the Creator of humanity, tells us about our origin.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being. Genesis 2:7
And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. Genesis 2: 18, 21-22
And Adam called his wife’s name Eve because she was the mother of all living. Genesis 3:20
From the hands of God, Adam, a human man, was created. And from Adam’s rib, God created the first human woman, and Adam named her Eve because she was the mother of all human beings. There is one aspect that we can agree on: “Only humans can reproduce humans.” Although scientists are attempting to graft or propagate humanity, God has not given us the intellectual or scientific knowledge, wisdom, or ability to create human beings without the union of egg and sperm.
Studying the Bible is the key to our existence. Knowing the story of the Creation of humanity provides all of the validation that we need to live peaceful and anxiety-free lives. God has provided a Book, the Holy Bible, with 66 books that relay the beginning of the world, our origin, what led to us losing immortality, the story of redemption, how this present earth will end, and the reward for the faithful.
We will receive complete restoration, which includes Eternal life along with living in a sinless and perfect New Heaven and New Earth in the presence of God, forever and ever. Amen.
Still, human beings have a serious problem. We have attempted to bring God down to our level of existence and thinking. How can the creation be greater than the Creator? We are not the first generation who has been bold enough to think that they know more than God and have the wisdom to determine life’s origin.
21 These things you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; But I will rebuke you, And set them in order before your eyes.
22 “Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And there be none to deliver:
23 Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.”
Making the decision not to belong to your parents does not change the fact that they are your parents. God reiterates that all of humanity belongs to Him:
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. Psalm 24:1
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 1 Corinthians 6:19
We are God’s property! Do not let others measure your worth or attempt to determine your origin.
Whether or not your parents decided to reproduce you intentionally or your birth was from an unplanned conception, know who you belong to. We are children of God who is our Heavenly Father. In fact, we hold a special place in God’s heart. God gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us that we can be forgiven of our sins and live as the holy and righteous sons and daughters of God. What manmade information can compare to Jesus sacrificing His life for you?
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us–none can compare to You–if I would proclaim and declare of them, they are more than could be numbered. Psalm 40:5
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 NKJV
El Shaddai–the Almighty God took the dirt off the ground with His hands and lovingly and skillfully made the first human being. Claim your birthright! Take your rightful place and allow God to love you and uphold you with His righteous right hand.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
God, we thank you for creating us in your image. Please give us the strength to accept your unconditional love and the future planned for us that we may live with you forever in the New Heaven and New Earth. We thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIV
Imagine never being disappointed by broken promises or events that change the course of our lives. The reality is even with careful planning, we can never fully be in control of our lives. As long as we have breath, we will endure many unexpected changes that can be so devastating that we feel as if life is not worth living.
What happens when we experience a crisis? Most of us seek outside help or we rely on our previous problem-solving skills. We begin to focus on options that will alleviate or resolve our present challenges. Feeling hopeful, we apply our solutions, praying that our circumstances will be short-term and end with a quick resolve. As we begin to lose hope because our solutions failed, it is at that point that we are forced to acknowledge our limitations.
Unless we have a history of possessing rock-solid faith in God, Satan the greatest enemy of humanity attempts to make us his victim. We lose our focus on God’s Omnipotence and His promises, and we become gripped by fear. Our emotions escalate, and the bitter fruits of doubt, anxiety, and worry take over as we desperately seek options outside of God our Jehovah-jireh.
There was another option, as soon as the challenge arose, we take it to God in prayer.
Have you reached the point in your spiritual life where you have complete faith and trust in God? Do you thank Him for the troubles of trials and tribulations in your life? These are undoubtedly thought-provoking questions that allow us to evaluate the strength or weakness of our relationship with God. The definition of faith is knowing that the situation is impossible, yet, still trusting in God to intervene and provide a victorious outcome. Without suffering, we cannot attain spiritual growth.
Although hard times leave us feeling overwhelmed and alone, it is not true, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5. Self-reliance is enmity against God. We cannot say that we trust in God when we attempt to help him by taking steps to resolve our challenges. The hardships of life that place us in a helpless situation build our faith and deepen our relationship with our Creator.
Be strong and courageous…Deuteronomy 31:6. The path that leads to Righteousness is bumpy with many twists and turns. We have a spiritual guide that knows our journey, and He will guide us according to His plan for our lives. No matter how difficult our situation is; Be Steadfast, and Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. Psalm 27:14
Bible Reading: Psalm 27
God, in our humanness, we consistently fail to recognize your great power that can bring resolution to every trial and tribulation that we face in our lives. We give you our burdens and will wait for your intervention. Amen. –SJR
At some point in our lives, we will come to a spiritual crossroads. If we choose to follow God, then we will have to change the way we think, discard the things that we are chasing after, and we may have to give up the relationships that interfere with our faith-walk with God. Because God has given us free will, these decisions are not mandatory. We can live as we choose to live.
Although many believers do not make it a habit to disobey God blatantly, often we fall into the deadly web of compromise. God is aware and has identified that humanity has a weakness: There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12. If you refer to the Devotional reading, “Letting Go,” published November 21, 2020, I attempted to place an Offer of Compromise before God. I convinced myself that I could stay in an unequally yoked relationship in which we would just remain friends.
Even though I was in a fierce battle between good and evil, God knew that I have always loved Him. God did not leave me alone to struggle. He took my mustard seed faith combined with the resilience of a Spiritual Mentor who was a dedicated Prayer Warrior, and our Omnipotent God broke my chains of bondage for that individual.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
From that experience, I realized that the limited plans and strategies that I developed could not provide hope or a future. I acknowledge that God is my all-and-all. Yes, God is El Shaddai, Jehovah-Jireh, and the Creator of all humanity. He is unconditional love, and from that love flows His blessings of grace and mercies. God has promised, Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24. Therefore, I acknowledge His greatness by humbly serving Him and walking through life on bended knees.
There is a song that I love, Bow Down and Worship Him. The writer of this song gives us the solution to prevent separation from God (due to so many earthly distractions) by staying in constant communion with Him. Through diligent study of the Bible and never-ceasing prayer, our worship acknowledges His Deity. Still, we must establish and build an up-close and personal relationship with God, which allows us to fully receive His abundant blessings of love, grace, and mercies. Spiritual growth is only possible from our desire to stay attached to our Heavenly Father.
Our love and adoration for God are expressed through praise, prayer, faith, trust, and obedience that keep us connected to our Creator, who is the source of our strength. Preparation time is now! We must praise and worship God on earth to prepare for worshiping Him in the New Heaven and New Earth. Your opportunity to accept God’s offer to choose Him is on the way. When He brings you to the spiritual crossroads in your life, it is that turning point where Jesus is standing with His arms open wide, saying gently, “Come to me.” Never forget, Jesus Christ is coming again! Soon, we will be in His presence to worship the “I AM, the Alpha and the Omega, forever and ever. Amen.
Bible Readings: Revelation 21-22
God, we thank you for loving us so much that you bring each of us to the crossroads where we must decide to wholeheartedly serve you or turn and walk away. We ask you to give us strength as we persevere in our spiritual journey. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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