Daily Devotional Reading – Page 3 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Missing Out On God’s Blessings? Do Not Settle for Less!

Practical Messages for Impractical Times — Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – November 13, 2024

“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.’ ” —Genesis 12:1-2

Devout Christians love God and others, pray, study the Bible, and do not commit wilful sin against God, still, many do not enjoy the peace and victory and often miss out on God’s greatest blessings. How is this possible? Let’s reflect on God’s command to Abram: He told him to leave his country, relatives, and friends.

“So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.” —Genesis 12:4-5

Yet, Abram did not obey God’s command. Abram’s Disobedience: Why did he take his nephew Lot?

To understand the context of this story, we must think of Biblical times, walking, tending to animals, and setting up and taking down camp until one reaches their destination. Although relocation requires major adjustments, because Abram did not possess the inner peace that comes from total obedience to God, he had apprehensions and fear within his heart.

The Result of Disobedience: When arriving in Egypt, he lied that Sarai, his wife was his sister, and Pharoah attempted to take Sarai to be his wife. God immediately intervened [Study Genesis 12:10-20]. However disobedience produces continuous consequences, and once Abram and Lot settle into the promised country, a conflict arises between Abram and Lot’s workers.

“Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s.” —Genesis 13:5-7

Human Resolution: “So Abram said to Lot, ‘Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.” —Genesis 13:8-9

“Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company…” —Genesis 13:10-11

Not only was Lot, Abram’s nephew disrespectful by choosing the best land, but the hidden pride and greed in Lot’s heart was exposed. Because we live in perilous times, many individuals would not understand the issue of a younger person choosing the best for themselves. “Well, he told me to choose and I did” is not justifiable in following God’s commands in honoring our elders.

“You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.” —Leviticus 19:32

In Leviticus 19:32, God commands the people to “stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly, and revere your God.” For believers, respect for older individuals is connected to honoring God. Yes, the elderly may be wrong in many circumstances, but still, we cannot respond verbally. We have to remain silent and pray for them. God will intervene through the Holy Spirit to speak to their hearts.

Lot’s Greed Results in Cohabitation with Pagans: “Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.” —Genesis 13:12-13

God’s promise to Abram, ‘I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing’ ” did not include his nephew. Not only did Abram have to settle for the second best of the land, but Lot’s choice and disrespect produced tragic results in his life that also impacted Abram and Sarai.

Genesis 14: Lot, his family, and their possessions were taken by enemy kings. Abram intervened with armed servants to free Lot. Genesis 19: Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed, Lot loses all possessions, his wife dies, and his depraved daughters plan a diabolical scheme to commit incest with their drunken father and produce children that produce a nation of idolaters.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” —Luke 6:46

Disobedience is an innate trait that lies within every human heart. Our greatest enemy is ourselves! Because of inherited sin, we can never satisfy the innate desires of our hearts nor do we remain content even when we receive the things that we desire. Impatience, relationships, and the love of material things and money have caused many believers to make counterproductive decisions.

We may not face immediate consequences, but the passing of time reveals our misguided choices, and we will ultimately regret choosing the temptation of “Second Best.” God is not a God of Instant Gratification. Because we know that God waits to bless us, we can spiritually discern the presenting situation as one of Satan’s temptations if we are being coerced to make an immediate decision.

Relationships [often leading to marriage] with those whom God has not chosen for us rank as the highest act of disobedience. Also high on the list are choosing the wrong friends, careers, jobs, relocation, and practicing worldly behaviors and habits that place us in opposition to God. Because “we want what we want when we want it,” we nurture a spirit of disobedience resulting in chaos and missing out on the many wonderful blessings God desires to give us.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” —James 1:17

To receive God’s promised and abundant blessings, we must obey His exact commands without adding or taking away from His instructions. Standing down our wayward desires is the hardest battle we face. Every day, we are presented with Satan’s schemes to make us fall. Yet, we are not helpless. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Jesus knows our weaknesses and promises to give us strength. Pray out loud when tempted, physically walk away, and learn to say No! Tell yourself, I love God and will not sin against Him!

Reflection: What or Who do you need to let go of to escape the Land of Disobedience and step into a life of freedom with God? When emotions and personal preferences are involved, we need Divine Help! We pray continuously and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any lifestyle choices that prevent us from total surrender and obedience to God, and for the supernatural strength to let go of those choices.

“…Obey Me, and do everything I command you, and you will be My people, and I will be your God.” —Jeremiah 11:4

“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

God’s Ultimate Goal: “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

Every believer’s ultimate goal should align with God’s goal of saving their souls. No earthly relationship, job, or material blessing can compare with Jesus’ Greatest Blessing of giving us Eternal Life! Jesus created us with natural desires and dreams, yet, we honor Him by not following our thoughts and inclinations [Proverbs 3:5-6].

Nowhere in the Bible can we find that God gave the righteous second best. Allow God to fulfill His promises by making a covenant to Obey and Wait on the Lord. Yes, it is difficult to make the right choice and live it out from day to day but to be in the right standing with God by obeying Him gives us His best blessings and inner peace, joy, and happiness. Obedience, Patience, and Perseverance prepare us for a perfect life in the New Heaven and New Earth. Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we ask forgiveness for the sin of self-gratification and disobedience. We ask You to give us the strength to overcome our inner desires. Today, we make a covenant to faithfully trust and obey Your Divine choices that always bring completion and victory to our lives. Thank You for loving and caring for us. We ask this prayer in the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.

The Practical Messages for Impractical Times is a series that addresses the gap between hearing and studying the Scriptures and their application to the Christian Believer’s life. Peace and Blessings as we strive to “Be holy, for I Am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16) through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Keeping Ourselves Before the Throne of Grace

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – November 11, 2024

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” —1 Peter 5: 7

This morning, I began a season of prayer for a situation I cannot resolve without Divine Help. As I was praying, the Holy Spirit spoke to me [through my thoughts] with instructions to begin fasting at that moment. During, my worship, I also studied Joshua chapter 6 which gives us the story of God’s exact instructions to Joshua on marching around Jericho.

God desires to give us a victorious life, but we must depend on Him by dedicating ourselves to setting aside uninterrupted time through prayer and fasting. When the disciples could not cast out the child’s demons they asked Jesus, “Why not?” Jesus’ answer: “And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ So He said to them, ‘This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.’ ” (Mark 9:28-29).

The disciple’s lack of faith prevented them from performing the miracle. We can never reach the point of having too much faith. Building steadfast faith requires more than our daily routine of 20 to 30 minutes of prayer and Bible study. To live as an overcomer means we must deny ourselves by dedicating more of our time to God and learning to hear His Voice.

As of today, I am a witness that obedience is the gateway to victory. I no longer carry the burden from last week that disrupted my peace of mind night and day. During my fast, from much prayer and studying the story of Jericho’s walls falling from the people marching around the city, I have a deeper understanding of God’s faithfulness. Still, I had to use faith to acknowledge His Sovereign Power and yes, I thanked Him for the victory in advance.

Excerpt from “The Privilege of Prayer” by EGW

“Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children. “The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy” (James 5:11).”

“His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them. Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice.”

“There is no chapter in our experience too dark for Him to read; there is no perplexity too difficult for Him to unravel. No calamity can befall the least of His children, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate interest.”

“He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding is infinite.” —Psalm 147:3-5

“The relationship between God and each soul is as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watch care, not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son.” [End of Quote]

“For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” —Romans 8:26-28

Through Jesus Christ, our Intercessor and Mediator, we are given complete access to God’s Divine Power and Presence through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit not only imparts Jesus’ strength in our weaknesses but He [God, the Holy Spirit] also takes our prayers that ascend as sweet incense to God, Jesus Christ, our High Priest in the Heavenly Holy of Holies.

Committing to surrender and faithfully obeying God is a sign that we love and honor Him. God also honors us by intervening against our enemies and resolving life’s challenges. We have a Loving Father who grants us spiritual blessings beyond measure. Yes, we have the assurance that the Triune God will intervene on our behalf when we keep ourselves before His Throne of Grace. Amen.

Lord God, we thank You for loving us and the privilege of seeking Your help without constraint in our time of need. We give you the honor and glory that You rightfully deserve. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.

Sin Is a Bully!

Sin Is a Bully Devotional Reading

The young man told the story of his family being missionaries for 20 years in a rural village in Peru. He had three brothers who along with their parents were content with the routine of everyday life. But he confessed that he was the adventurous one who was always eager to accompany anyone who was taking a trip into the mountains to forage for berries or medicinal herbs.

One of the men started a business as a tour guide in the mountains. This particular hike was one into unfamiliar territory and with his father’s permission, he joined the large group for the day trip. All was well until he had to use the bathroom. Instead of notifying the guide that he needed to stop, he felt confident with his prior hiking knowledge and left the group.

Veering off the trail he paid attention to his surroundings, but the attempt to return the same way posed a major problem. He had walked deeper into the thick forest than he realized. All of the trees and foliage looked the same. His mind became filled with questions, Did I walk straight into the bush? Where are the broken twigs that I stepped on? As he walked straight ahead toward his perception of where the trail was, he knew that he was lost.

At the age of 15, he felt embarrassed and ashamed. He failed to follow the safety protocol by notifying the guide that he needed to stop. Since he grew up in this mountainous area, what would the other hikers think of him for becoming lost? Those thoughts prevented him from calling out for help. Yet, he had to make a decision, the group was going on without him.

Finally, he began to pray for forgiveness for his wilful disobedience and then he asked God to show him the way back to the trail. After what seemed like forever, the teenager begin to hear the voices of the other hikers. His prayer was answered! God in His mercy led him safely out. There were so many hikers that no one was aware that he had ever left the group.

As he ended the testimonial, the young man, now 22, advises every Christian believer to obey God and never make decisions without praying and waiting for an answer from God.

For us to surrender ourselves to God, we must have a spiritual understanding of the dilemma within ourselves–we were born with a heart filled with carnal [sinful] desires.

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin, my mother conceived me.” —Psalm 51:5
“The heart is deceitful above all things And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” —Jeremiah 17:9

Is David saying that we are born with sinful hearts? We can look at this spiritual fact from a practical perspective. Whether or not a child has siblings or is an only child who was taught to share, and eagerly shared, as they continue to develop they become self-centered in the toddler stage of their lives.

The psychological perspective: “Sharing is hard for toddlers because it involves thinking about someone else’s feelings, wants, and needs and they haven’t developed the ability to do that yet. Self-centeredness in toddlerhood is a normal part of development, and not a reflection of parenting or caregiving.” https://babysparks.com/2019/03/07/

Proof that we are born with sinful hearts is exhibited in the behaviors of innocent, young children. Sin is innate and impacts every human being who was ever born on the planet Earth! Even the Apostle Paul, a godly man whom God used to write 14 of the 27 books of the New Testament struggled with sin.

“I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” —Romans 7:15, NLT
“For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.” —Romans 7:19
“For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other so that you do not do what you want.” —Galatians 5:17
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” —Ephesians 6:12

We cannot fight the Sin Bully without Divine Intervention! Jesus gave His life for us to be saved from the consequences of losing the battle against sin. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.” —Luke 22:42, ESV

Jesus is our Role Model. Not only was He tempted by Satan after He fasted for 40 days, but Jesus was also continuously tested by the unbelieving Pharisees. It was the decision to totally surrender His will to God, the Father along with fervent praying that gave Jesus the strength to overcome sin’s every temptation and to die on the Cross to redeem us from death, sin’s consequences.

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

We will have an internal battle of the heart with sin that will never cease until Jesus comes again. Without our Spiritual Team, we are as helpless as newborn babies against the temptations of sin. Every day we must be intentional in our commitment to surrendering our will and upholding our vow of total obedience to God.

With a heart filled with gratitude, we can thank God for the gift of His Son, Jesus. Because of His love, grace, and mercy, we never have to fight the Sin Bully alone! Divine Help is just a prayer away!

Pray for help when tempted. Proclaim, “Get, behind me Satan!” The Holy Spirit gives us strength and angels intervene for us when we refuse to let sin knock us down! Divine Intervention, Obedience, Prayer, Bible Study, and deciding to remain steadfast [and immovable] is the only way we can overcome the Sin Bully.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. —1 Corinthians 15:50-53

Brothers and Sisters, Never give up your reward! We are soldiers in God’s Army, serving under a Fearless Leader—Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah, who is a Warrior and will always fight for us against the Sin Bully. Let the redeemed of the Lord, say so! Yes and 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.

God’s GPS-Global Positioning and Protection System

Life is full of learning opportunities, but it also has many risks. Whether good or bad, most often we learn from experience. Truthfully, my preferences are to take the challenges to God and wait for guidance.

Even so, God also provides us with the opportunities to learn from other individuals who have “been there, done that” and will share how to avoid the negative outcome of consequences.

When the GPS directional system first became popular, my mom was in the hospital. While the nurses were in her room, her Pastor and I were in the visitor’s lobby chatting about different things. And then, we started talking about the benefits of the GPS-Navigation, which provided the ease of putting in an address and simply following the directions versus maps. We laughed as we spoke about the wonders of human innovation and embracing progress.

But then the conversation changed regarding the downside–yes, the cons of using a GPS. The system operates and is dependent on satellites–Satellite Navigation is based on a global network of satellites that transmit radio signals in medium-earth orbit. faa.gov.

Pastor Brown proceeded to warn me against total dependency on the step-by-step directions, especially to a place you are traveling to for the first time. Your endpoint destination may differ from your desired destination, and inclement weather may interfere with or render the GPS useless.

His parting words, “God has given us a sound mind and common sense, technology cannot replace our ability to adapt to any given situation.”

In February, when traveling from Texas to Florida for relocation, I remembered and embraced the wise advice from Pastor Brown. The journey was 1400 miles in uncharted territory. I used Google Maps to plug in five destination points for my four-day journey and printed out several pages of directions. Several times during my trip, thunderstorms and heavy rain rendered my GPS Navigation useless.

We face a life-long journey of unexpected challenges and dangers during our time on earth. Truthfully, humanity has a rough and rugged path to travel on from the day of our birth. “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33, BSB). Isn’t this the reason we serve God?

Surrender and commitment to God, the Father, God, Jesus Christ, His Son, and God, the Holy Spirit is the essence of true Christianity. God has positioned us in the 21st century [yes, we are living in the Last Days], and liberally provided us with the Scriptures, which give definitive instructions on how to live holy.

The Bible is Life! We have total access to the history of planet Earth’s beginning, and the end of the controversy of Good and Evil, God’s never failing Love and Divine Intervention, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and His gift of Redemption, which every believer is expected to tell others about.

Through the power of God, we receive strength, wisdom, and guidance. Our responsibility is to persevere with faith, trust, and obedience, preparing every day for the Soon Coming of our Triumphant King.

From worshiping God in Spirit and Truth, we can live a victorious life, and reach our final destination. God’s Instructions and Spiritual Road Maps are neatly packaged in the Holy Bible, God’s Positioning and Protection System.

For us to be under God’s GPS, we must accept these doctrines:

Jesus Christ is the only one way to God. [Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6]. Fact: Every religion with the exception of Christianity negates Jesus as the only Way to Salvation.

Love: “‘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.’ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37-39

Faith: God has given each of us a measure of faith. Faith is action, we must believe without doubts.

“And without faith [believing that God will always fulfill His promises] it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6).

Prayer and Bible Study connects us to God and gives us the power to overcome. The Bible is our Roadmap to living righteously, and empowers us to choose right doing which leads to God giving us victorious outcomes.

Prayer-“Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend.” Ellen G. White

Human Effort + Divine Intervention = A Victorious Outcome and the Reward of Eternal Life

Human Effort: Maintaining our relationship with Jesus is the only way to live as an overcomer. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).
Human Effort: Prayer is our life-line. “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Human Effort: Diligently study the Bible. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Human Effort: We need godly wisdom. Having knowledge is not enough. “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5).
Human Effort: Total surrender and obedience to God is required. “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12).
Human Effort: Pray daily for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26).
Human Effort: The Great Commission is to witness. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20, first part).
Divine Intervention: We are never alone! “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20, last part).
Divine Intervention: God-given instructions on how to overcome Satan’s temptations. “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41).
Divine Intervention: God promises that He would always take care of us by fighting our battles. “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
(Exodus 14:14).
Divine Intervention: Jesus promised that our sorrows, trials, and hardships will not crush us. “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2).

God’s Protection

Truth: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12).

There is a false belief expressed on Social Media: Evil spirits can invade us [as in demon possession], our families, and our homes, although we are doing our best to serve God. Not true!

Yes, we can expect attacks from the evil one. Satan enjoys placing fear, discouragement, doubt, and unbelief in our minds with many false beliefs and teachings. Do not believe the lies that the fallen angel is more powerful than the Sovereign Triune God. Hallelujah!

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Satan and his evil angels are present on this earth. But in the next verse God gives us detailed instructions on what we need to do.

Human Effort: “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”(Ephesians 6:14-19).

Divine Intervention: “For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up [hold you up], Lest you dash your foot against a stone [so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone].” (Psalm 91:11-12, Amplified Bible).

Everyday, our angels are protecting us from the evil ones [spiritual warfare]. If Satan had unrestricted power, he would have killed Job [read Job chapter 1] and every present believer in the Omnipotent and Omniscient God would be dead.

Do not fear! God loves us, and He has us. Even in our darkest storms, God will never let Satan beat us down. We are always protected by our Heavenly Father!

God’s Spiritual Positioning and Protection System works 24/7, especially during our storms. Let God direct you in every aspect of your life. Jesus loves us, died, and was resurrected for humanity. Stay under the protection God!

Do not look to the left or to the right. Keep your spiritual eyes focused on Jesus. Despite the last-day events and hardships we face, God’s directions are leading us home.

Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Revelation 22:1

Bible reading: Psalm 91, a Song of God’s Protection

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you for placing us under the safety of your Divine GPS. We desire to receive our reward of eternal life. Please give us strength to continue our earthly journey. We ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Give us understanding, and wisdom as we study the Scriptures. Thank you for loving us and the gifts of Your Grace and Mercies of a new day. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.

“We are Poor”

Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Psalm 82:3-4 NIV

One of my hobbies is finding thrift stores that offer a wide-range of discarded pre-owned items that are in excellent condition; the items that were purchased on impulse; and the items that now hold no value to their previous owners. Even so, it is those very items that are offered a second chance when they are whisked away by a purchaser who has a definite purpose in mind for their rebirth.

When we resided in Florida, we discovered an upscale boutique resale shop–wow that’s a mouthful—that we would visit because of the uniqueness of the shop; over half of the items were brand new with their original store tags.

Recently we visited our grandchildren who were in Florida for the summer, and decided to introduce them to thrift store diving as an alternate way to shop. The GPS directed us through the affluent residential area with expansive houses and breathtaking landscapes.

At this point, our granddaughter began to comment on the beautiful neighborhood especially the various architectural excellence of the homes and the foliage. Then I heard the words that a parent or grandparent would never want to hear, with disappointment she stated, “If people live like this, then we are poor.”

The reality of the disparity of life between the rich and the poor should have a devastating impact on us. In fact, we should never pretend that poverty is a lifestyle that one deserves, or ignore the individuals who cannot change their circumstances.

Although Jesus acknowledged that “the poor will always be among us.” [Matthew 11:26], poverty was never part of God’s original plan when He created humanity. In fact, poverty is the result of Adam and Eve’s sin, and will exist until Christ comes again.

My prayer prior to seeing our grandchildren this summer was that we would be able to reintroduce them to the godly standards that we taught them many years ago when they lived with us.

God is always faithful in answering our heartfelt prayers, especially regarding the plan of salvation and our desire to witness to others.

We were able to teach the core values of God’s love, prayer, family worship, making beds, keeping your bodies and the environment clean, and taking care of others especially the needy.

Yes, we honored the Sabbath together by having worship at Friday sunset and the cessation of secular activities such as watching television or playing with electronic devices for 24 hours, and on Saturday-Sabbath we attended church together as a family.

If you are wondering about my response to our granddaughter’s statement, I can assure you that she is now aware of our duty to help those in need from a spiritual perspective and social responsibility.

In addition, she has the knowledge of thanking God for the daily provision of food, clothing, and shelter. By her own admission, she has never been without the opportunity to eat when hungry, and has a variety of clothing and shoes to wear, and a comfortable bed to sleep in.

I am also grateful that God allowed us to develop a strong bond with our three grandchildren during our vacation time with them.

Our lives must include the core value of serving others. We are never too poor to give of our time in helping those in need.

Jesus’ compassion extended to multitudes as evidenced by the healing of many who were sick, feeding those who were hungry physically (prior to addressing their spiritual needs), raising the dead, and the casting out of demons.

Are you overly concerned about your own needs or desires? If yes, then make it your goal to follow Christ’s example and live to serve.

It is a wonderful opportunity for God to bless you with spiritual insight and spiritual growth. The blessings that come from helping those in need will eradicate selfishness, self-centeredness, greed, and carelessness.

We cannot become all that God desires for us to be with clenched hands and a dispassionate spirit. When we love God we do not set boundaries on doing our part to alleviate the suffering of others.

Let us make the commitment to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and help each person that has genuine need until He comes again.

Bible Reading: The Beatitudes, Matthew 5:1-12

Prayer for today: Lord God, Thank you for Your love, grace, mercies, and the provision of our needs. As we reach out to others, please help us to become full of the same love, compassion, and sacrificial giving that You possess. Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice of Your life that we may have eternal life. We repent for the selfish spirit that has prevented us from helping others. Thank you for hearing and answering this prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.