Daily Devotional – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Depend On Jesus, “He Is Our Savior, Advocate, Intercessor, Friend, Provider, Great Physician, Mighty Warrior…”

In Luke 22:31-32, Jesus tells Peter, His disciple: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you return strengthen your brothers.”

Have you ever asked Jesus to pray for you? Why not? Jesus is our Heavenly Advocate, Intercessor, and High Priest.

From asking Jesus to pray for you, from personal experience, this is the Spiritual Blessings you will receive:

The Holy Spirit will empower you with Jesus’ Divine Peace, Wisdom, Strength, Guidance, and Comfort; and Jesus, The Commander of Angel Armies sends His angels to protect the righteous from all unseen spiritual warfare, physical danger, and scams [Study Ephesians 6].

“Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.” (Ephesians 1:4, Amplified Bible).

God, Jesus Christ, The Son created us from love, in His image, chose us to be His, and has a personal interest in our well-being and happiness.

“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).

One of the greatest battles we fight [every day] is overcoming the internal desires of our heart, which are always in conflict with God’s best plans for our lives. Throughout your waking hours, Pray for the Mighty Warrior’s Divine Strength!

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11).

Reflection: Do your choices and lifestyle reveal that you believe Jesus desires the best for you? Our internal desires direct our focus and pursuits, revealing always the true spiritual condition of our heart.

When our desires align with God’s Plans, God, The Holy Spirit performs the daily spiritual growth and transformation of our mind, character, and personality required to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, also preparing us to receive our Eternal Crown of Life.

Total surrender and faithful obedience are the character traits required to follow Christ. When we are guided by the Holy Spirit, our prayers reflect our desperate need for Jesus.

To maintain our connection to Christ, every day, we must approach The Throne of Grace: “Pray continuously.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Why is continuous prayer vital for the Christian Believer? The Believer’s daily fight always involves spiritual warfare; yet, we were not created to fight Satan.

For over 6,000 years, Satan has deceived and manipulated humanity. We must have Divine Help to overcome Satan’s power. Continuous Prayer is our lifeline to Jesus Christ, Heaven’s Mighty Warrior.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles [traps] of the devil. 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:10-13).

Every second of our lives, there is so much going on in the spiritual realm that is unseen by human eyes. Because of God’s Mercies, He protects us by hiding the demonic wickedness that would result in us living in constant fear.

Every believer is Satan’s target. Do not let yourself become distracted, Stay prayerful! Just because we cannot see the invisible war between Good and Evil does not mean it is not happening!

Prayer is a lifestyle! When facing Spiritual Warfare, or life’s continuous challenges our first response should be an immediate Prayer of Faith, asking Jesus for help!

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1, ESV).

Jesus, the Mighty Warrior told Joshua, “I have given you Jericho.” Because God is Omniscient, All-Knowing, and Omnipotent, Absolute Sovereign Power, Jesus always speaks in future terms regarding His Deliverance from the enemy.

Yes, Jesus promises His Divine Intervention in response to the prayers of the righteous: Believe that Jesus is your Best Friend, always willing to help you. Whisper words that thank Him for His love and the victory He promised in the same prayer. Pray, wait, and obey.

“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).

Whether we are facing the routine challenges of life, or the unexpected adversity of incurable disease, loss of employment, persecution, legal matters, dissolution of family ties, or marriage, our death of a loved one; Jesus, our Great Physician and Comforter waits for us to ask for His Divine Help.

“He was despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and pain and acquainted with grief; And like One from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or esteem Him.” (Isaiah 53:3, Amplified Bible).

We have a Loving Savior, who says that He was a Man of Sorrows in His earthly life. Jesus was never unhappy or discouraged; His sorrows were of a spiritual nature; the people that He came to save, continuously rejected Him as Savior and the Son of God [Study Luke 4].

If we desire to have a deeper spiritual relationship, we must commit to following Jesus Christ. Every day, we must choose to rely totally on Christ, our Advocate, Intercessor, Shepherd, and Triumphant King, or we reject Jesus and His Wisdom and Guidance, by following our own thoughts and inclinations.

Our Spiritual Priority: Seek Righteousness

“But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.” (Matthew 6:33, Amplified Bible).

Worship God in Spirit and Truth: The converted heart overflows with love, loyalty, and appreciation for Jesus Christ, who fulfilled The Plan of Redemption.

Daily Reflection on The Message of The Cross strengthens our relationship with Christ, giving us a greater appreciation for His love and devotion to humanity.

By becoming The Sacrificial Lamb of God, Jesus gives us the option to choose and receive Eternal Life instead of suffering the second and final death for our sins.

When our focus is spiritual, we will cease praying, asking, and chasing the temporary material things and wealth that Satan uses to distract us. Satan is relentless and he will do whatever is necessary for us to turn away from following Christ.

In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us that earthly treasures and money are meaningless; every believer is in desperate need of Jesus’ Righteous Character Traits; The Fruit of the Spirit:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22-25).

Our habits, behaviors, and lifestyle reveal our love, loyalty, and appreciation for Jesus’ Love and His willingness to rescue us from the devastation of sin [Romans 6:23].

Although we cannot change ourselves, our decision to surrender to and follow Christ with faithful obedience reveals that we love God and are actively participating in our spiritual transformation performed by the Holy Spirit.

Daily Surrender and Prayer keeps us connected to Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Intercessor. When we confess and repent of our sins, as our Advocate, Jesus covers us with His Righteousness, presenting us as righteous before God, the Father. Yes and Amen!

Before Jesus was arrested, in John chapters 13-16, He spoke to His disciples, telling them: “Until now you have asked nothing in My Name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

The priority of Prayer is to ask for Spiritual Blessings: We pray and rely on the Holy Spirit to teach us the deeper spiritual meaning of the Holy Scriptures, and we also ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s Purpose for our life.

Spiritual Blessings: A heart filled with God’s Truth, Love, Wisdom, Strength, Guidance, the Discernment to recognize false teachings, and the Divine Power to overcome Satan’s deceptive temptations.

We struggle with temptations, because all temptations are based on our heart’s desires. Satan is not All-Knowing, he cannot read our minds, but he observes our behaviors.

The movies, social media scrolling, gaming, and the conversations and activities that we participate in behind closed doors reveal the true condition of our hearts; yet, we must remember that secret sins are never secret.

To overcome our internal desires and external temptations, we must abide in Jesus Christ through continuous prayer and study of the Holy Scriptures.

Worship is a lifestyle that keeps us connected to Jesus Christ. Through Prayer and Bible Study, we invite the Holy Spirit to be an active part of our lives.

Our cooperation with the Holy Spirit is revealed through our faith in the Infinite and Sovereign Power of Jesus Christ. Instead of attempting to navigate through life using our thoughts and strategies, we depend on Jesus for the wisdom and strength to live the Victorious Life of an Overcomer.

“By focusing on the hope of Heaven, we can find strength and joy in our daily struggles, allowing this future promise to inspire our present actions and cultivate a [Christ-Like] righteous character.”

Yes, Jesus, our Savior, Advocate, Great Physician, Comforter, Intercessor, Attorney, Righteous Judge, and King of Kings loves us with an Everlasting Love, and in Hebrews 4:16, our Provider extends this invitation to every believer:

“Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16, NKJV).

Lord Jesus, we humbly approach your Throne of Grace asking for a spiritual transformation of our hearts. Lord, You are our Savior and King, and we desire to worship You with humility, surrender, and faithful obedience. Teach us how to love as You Love. Jesus, with gratitude, we love You, and acknowledge that we can do nothing without You. In faith, we ask this prayer in Your Loving and Righteous Name, Amen.

“How To Be Happy, No Matter What The Situation” Sermon

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NKJV)

In the Routine Challenges of Life, Unexpected Situations, Lingering Circumstances, and Life-Changing Adversities, we can experience Jesus’ Joy, Peace, and Happiness.

I pray that you are encouraged by this Life-Changing Sermon that teaches us: Jesus is Lord, Jesus Loves us, and Jesus is Omnipotent [All Powerful]! Yes and Amen!

Lord Jesus, please empower us to use our faith to trust in You and to perceive life with You as Victorious, despite our hardships. We ask this prayer in Your Loving and Righteous Name, Amen.

God Always Gives Us The Miracles That We Need

When God gives you a miracle it doesn’t go to anyone else, “God, The Giver of All Good Gifts” sends it right to you. And whatever God has blessed, no human can curse or prevent you from receiving.

If you are not receiving God’s Blessings and Miracles then pray King David’s prayer:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24, KJV).

We must strive to worship God with total surrender and faithful obedience, which invites the Holy Spirit to empower us to live righteously: “Be holy, for I Am Holy.”

Unrighteous character traits, especially the disobedience that comes from self-reliance, secret sins that we fail to confess, and asking for material blessings that will prevent our spiritual growth and transformation will always result in God withholding His miraculous blessings.

Our goal is to follow Jesus in our earthly lives, as sheep follow their Shepherd; which invites the Holy Spirit to lead us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness from Earth to Heaven.

“The hope which is laid up for you in heaven.” (Colossians 1:5). As Christian believers, our hope in Christ, who willingly gave His Life, so we can have an eternal future with Him.

Christ, Our Shepherd and Savior desires to be involved in every aspect of our lives. In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us not to think about tomorrow, because today’s troubles are enough for us to rely on Him to help us with.

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10). Receiving God’s Supernatural Strength is a blessing that we should always ask and pray for.

Jesus’ Blessing of His Strength Always Includes His Peace and Joy: Jesus promised to give us His Strength, and His Strength is not limited to only helping us to persevere through fiery trials.

Few Believers consider that receiving Divine Strength is a miracle; yet, our minds would be peaceful, and we would have abundant Joy within our hearts, if we only included Jesus in our routine duties of life.

I can recall leaving the clinical aspect of Nursing to accept a position for United Healthcare as a Quality Nurse reviewing medical records to determine if Medicare Guidelines were being met.

After the first month of receiving resistance from 90% of the doctors, I prayed and asked God, “Is this the right job for me?” I can recall one morning that my mental fatigue was so great that I made the decision to resign.

While sitting in front of my computer, I whispered a prayer asking for God’s Guidance. The Holy Spirit spoke to me [through my thoughts], telling me to take my lunch break alone in my vehicle instead of with my coworkers.

“It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24).

From obeying the Voice of God, I went to my vehicle, turned on Christian music, started singing and praying, and I received mental clarity, wisdom, peace, joy, and the physical strength to complete my work assignment.

“Every good and perfect gift is from the Father above…” Jesus gave me an abundant miracle! My energy level remained supercharged, lasting from 12:00 noon-6:30 p.m., until I arrived home [a 45-minute drive].

Believers, every day, we have the opportunity to receive the Miraculous transfer of Jesus’ Divine Wisdom and Strength, empowering our mind, body, and soul. [Study Luke 8:43-48].

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3). God’s Blessings flow when we love God, asking for His Help, and trusting that He is a Merciful, Heavenly Father, who desires to give us the best.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16).

In John 16:33, Jesus told us we would have many hardships in life, but to rely on Him by using our faith to ask for His Divine Help. Yes, in faith, we pray, and Jesus will give us the spiritual blessings that are necessary to live as overcomers, despite our challenges.

We cannot navigate through daily challenges and unexpected adversities, using our human thoughts and strength, and maintain our spiritual focus without Jesus’ Divine Intervention. Always stay connected to Jesus Christ!

Every day, our faith and focus should be directed to Christ. From the moment we awaken, we give God praise and gratitude for the gift of a new day, and pray for His Divine Guidance, Wisdom, and Strength.

We are temporary Travelers Living on a Temporary Earth preparing every day for that Great Day when Jesus Comes again. Yes and Amen!

Through Personal Worship [daily Surrender, Prayer, and Bible Study], we express our love and gratitude for God’s Love, Grace, and Mercies. Every day, take the time to meditate on Jesus’ Love, and your Forever Life with Him in the New Heaven and New Earth.

It’s time for us to ask for and rely on God’s Abundant Promises to the righteous: Psalm 121:1-8, ESV:

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
He will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

Lord God, we desperately need your Divine Intervention. The hardships of life can easily overwhelm us when we attempt to navigate without Your Divine Strength, Wisdom, and Guidance. Lord, we commit to a life of worship, seeking Your Will and Plans for our lives. Jesus, You know the blessings and miracles that we need, and we ask You to help us, and to guide us, as we learn to totally depend on You. Jesus, we thank You for the Cross. Thank You for being our Savior, Redeemer, Shepherd, and Triumphant King. We love You, because You first loved us. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, and express our gratitude for loving us with an Everlasting Love. Amen.

Why Is It So Difficult To Follow Jesus?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, NIV)

Because God is Omniscient, He knew that our lives would include fighting daily battles, making decisions, and overcoming temptations that would leave us mentally and spiritually depleted.

Our Heavenly Father’s Promise: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” (Psalm 32:8).

With great love, God, Jesus, the Son created us to totally depend on His Wisdom and Strength. We acquiesce to God’s Sovereign Authority by praying for guidance and obeying Him, simply because Jesus is our Creator, Savior, and King, and we are the creation.

To accept Christ as our Savior and Shepherd requires us to follow God’s Higher Thoughts and to resist our inclinations: “Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7).

The failure to pray for and obey God’s Guidance reveals that we have rejected Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Following our thoughts reveals a deeper spiritual issue with our heart; making plans without God reveals a spirit of disobedience, and the failure to revere God’s Sovereign Authority over our lives.

God’s Free Gift of Grace: We Are Saved By Grace Through Faith

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV).

“The Transforming Power of Grace: Christ’s Grace does more than forgive past sins; it molds and changes human character to reflect the likeness of Jesus.”

“Grace Is Freely Given: It cannot be bought with money, earned by human works, or commanded by power—it is accepted only through faith and surrender.”

“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 loves us and has a definitive plan for our lives: His priority is to spiritually transform our mind, character, and personality: “Be holy, for I Am Holy” is God’s Command; yet, we cannot change ourselves.

Sanctification [Spiritual Growth and Transformation] requires letting go of the sin of self- reliance. Through daily consecration, we commit to abide in Christ by seeking His guidance through continuous prayer and study of the Holy Scriptures.

The Sacrificial Life: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. …”

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV).

Sanctification is the daily transforming spiritual work of the Holy Spirit that requires our cooperation and must be accomplished in our earthly lives before we take our last breath.

The Message of The Cross: With Amazing Love that the human mind cannot comprehend [without the Holy Spirit giving us a deeper spiritual understanding], God, the Father gifted us with Jesus, His Divine Son, who died to save our souls.

Jesus willingly gave His life to save us from the wages of sin [the second and final death] with the expectation that we would love, follow, obey, and worship Him as our Savior, Shepherd, and Triumphant King.

God, the Father’s Spiritual Goals: For us to love God, Yeshua, His Son; to possess the Righteous Attributes of Christ’s Righteous Character [The Fruit of The Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23]; and for God, the Holy Spirit to sanctify us, in preparation for an eternity of worshiping Jesus [Revelation 22].

God’s Instructions For Striving To “Be Holy”

“To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24, ESV).

We come to Jesus just as we are, but we cannot stay that way. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV).

Why is it so difficult for us to follow Jesus and to live holy?

“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” (John 8:29). Jesus proclaimed that He always obeyed God, the Father.

To be a Christian is to be Christ-like: To Follow Christ Is To Seek His Divine Will and Fulfill God’s Plans.

“I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23, ESV).

The Four Gospels reveal Jesus’ earthly life, and His commitment to teach and transform the 12 disciples. We study the Bible to learn how Jesus lived and overcame sin through continuous prayer.

If we pray for the strength and power to stand down sinful desires and temptations, we will immediately receive Christ’s Divine Power, given to us by the Holy Spirit to overcome.

Jesus’ earthly life reveals that He loved God, the Father; Jesus’ abundant love brought hope, healing, and peace to the multitudes of people, who were rejected by the Jewish leaders.

God, the Father, expects us to have the same Loving and Righteous Character as Christ, which is only possible when we dedicate ourselves to follow Jesus with daily surrender and faithful obedience.

Placing our faith and trust in Jesus and seeking His Guidance through continuous prayer reveals that our heart is overflowing with love for God.

Humility reveals itself through obedience, only then can the Holy Spirit empower us with Jesus’ Divine wisdom and strength to persevere in our earthly spiritual journey.

“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).

Salvation is not Behavior Modification; it is impossible for us to change the condition of our inherited hearts. “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

God knows our struggles with sin and selfishness; therefore He gave us written Spiritual Principles and Commands in the Holy Bible, which provide the Divine Guidance to live as righteous overcomers.

Yes, The Bible is our Spiritual Blueprint. The Holy Scriptures teach us how to live holy; still, we require Jesus’ Divine Power every day, given to us through the Holy Spirit to win our spiritual battles.

Letting Go of The Unbelieving Mindset of Self-Reliance

Self-Reliance redirects our faith and focus to ourselves instead of on the Power of God. Following Jesus, our Shepherd requires a spirit of humility and the willingness to obey God.

We actively participate in our Salvation by making choices that honor God: “Do not be conformed to this world.”

Without the power of the Holy Spirit, we cannot overcome our heart’s desires for wealth, material possessions, and sinful people and pleasures.

Every day, our earnest prayer must be King David’s prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24, KJV).

When we love God, daily surrender and faithful obedience to His Perfect Plans are not a burden.

Because we love Jesus and appreciate the gift of His Life on Calvary’s Cross, following Him on the Narrow Path of Righteousness is our greatest desire.

Our commitment to follow Jesus is renewed every morning; Personal worship includes the Prayer of Surrender, Praying for God’s Plan for the new day, and studying the Holy Scriptures.

Through continuous prayer, we invite the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual wisdom and discernment to understand the deepest spiritual meaning of the Holy Scriptures, and how we are to live out the Scriptures day by day.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to perceive life through spiritual eyes, teaching us how to “Be holy, for I Am Holy.” The Holy Spirit also warns us of Satan’s covert temptations designed to deceive us.

One of Satan’s most effective strategies is to bring “unbelieving believers” into our lives; with their words they proclaim belief in God, but their lifestyle reveals a heart that is attached to the world.

Separation From Unbelievers and Unbelieving Believers: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.'” (1 Corinthians 15:33, NIV).

We must also separate ourselves from family and friends who do have a spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ. “You will know them by their fruits;” either we are righteous or worldly, no one can serve God with a divided heart.

“Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17, NLT)

God, the Holy Spirit, guides and empowers us to choose right instead of wrong; to accept and live by God’s Truth instead of false teachings; and to renounce the unbeliever’s godless habits and lifestyles; still, our hearts must desire to willingly follow and obey Jesus.

Satan desires that we see God as a punitive Judge instead of a Loving Heavenly Father, Who desires to give us Eternal Life; but Jesus says that Satan is the “Father of Lies.”

The Hidden Traits of Disobedience: “But why do you call me ‘Lord Lord,’ but not do as I say?” Yes, following Christ requires giving up our desires for His Perfect Plans.

Although God desires for us to love Him with faithful obedience, God’s desires are rarely fulfilled. Because God is Just, we were created with a free will to choose. Sadly, humanity, who are the only beings created in the image of God frequently choose to rebel against His Sovereign Authority.

If we reject Jesus by embracing self-reliance and chasing our desires then we choose the destiny of Malachi 4, instead of God’s Plans to live forever with Him in the New Heaven and New Earth.

Worship Is a Lifestyle Not a Weekly Event

The lifestyle of “Daily Personal Worship” is the only way to abide in Christ, which keeps our faith and focus on His Divine Love, Power, and Promises, building an unbreakable relationship with our Loving Savior.

“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. (John 4:23, ESV).

Personal worship demonstrates our love and loyalty to Jesus, revealing that we worship the One and Only True God. “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him commit to following His directives with unwavering faith, trust, and obedience.

Consistent worship reinforces our love for God, preparing us for an eternity of worshiping Jesus Christ, our Risen and Triumphant King. Yes and Amen!

It is in our earthly lives that we must utilize our gift of time wisely. Spending time in personal worship invites the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus’ glorious presence, filling us with peace, joy, wisdom, and the strength we need to keep following Christ on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

Followers of Christ will never have an easy life, but it is a privilege to suffer for Jesus. Throughout the Bible, Jesus promises to give us His Strength, which empowers us to persevere and to keep moving forward.

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21). Yes and Amen!

Bible Study: Lamentations 3

Lord Jesus, the Creator of this universe, we humbly approach Your Throne of Grace, bowing to your Sovereign Authority. Today, we renew our spiritual commitment to follow You with love and loyalty, and to use our faith to trust Your Perfect Plans for our lives.

Lord, search our hearts and reveal any hidden sins. We ask you to forgive us for our sins of self-reliance and disobedience. Jesus, You are our Faithful Shepherd, and we ask You to guide us in this spiritual journey from Earth to Heaven.

As we follow You, give us peace, and the spiritual wisdom, discernment, and strength to live as righteous overcomers. We love You because You first loved us. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, Shepherd, and Triumphant King. Amen.

Loving God Is Revealed By Faithful Obedience – Evening Devotional – September 21, 2026

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'” (Matthew 22:37, ESV).

In the Holy Scriptures, God specifies how we are to love, honor, and worship Him: Loving God means that we Him put First; Keeping our Focus, Faith, and Trust in the Power of His Son, Jesus Christ; and establishing and maintaining a spiritual relationship with Jesus through daily Prayer and Bible Study.

“Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'” (John 14:23).

Abraham demonstrates that Faithful Obedience is our highest worship to God. (Genesis 22:1-19): When God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, Abraham told his servants that he and his son were going to worship God and they would return.

At some point, every believer will stand at the junction of the Spiritual Crossroads:

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14).

The Narrow Path of Righteousness requires a deep abiding love for Jesus, a spirit of humility, daily surrender, and faithful obedience. Few believers dedicate themselves to follow Christ by living a sacrificial life of self-denial, as Jesus did in His earthly life.

Jesus Always Obeyed God, the Father in His Earthly Life: “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” (John 8:29).

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2, NIV).

The Broad Path [ruled by Satan] is traveled on by many people who profess to believe in God, but sadly, this group of Christians reveal that they are ritualistic worshipers.

Yes, they attend church every week, give tithe and offerings; and from their outward appearance they appear to the followers of Christ, but their hearts remain unconverted.

The “unbelieving believers” love themselves more than God and live a lifestyle that demonstrates faith in human abilities. “Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44:21).

But why do you call me “Lord, Lord” and not do the things I say to do.” (Luke 6:46).

Every day, unsanctified believers eagerly pursue their personal desires, and feel all is well between them and God; yet they do not realize that the Holy Spirit cannot dwell within those who possess a spirit of disobedience, as evidenced by self-reliance, a bitter fruit of sinful pride.

Reflection: “Be holy, for I Am Holy” is God’s command to every believer who accepts Christ as their Lord and Savior. Faithful obedience invites the Holy Spirit to perform the lifelong spiritual process of Sanctification, required to receive Eternal Life.

Daily surrender and praying for God’s guidance are also required for the Holy Spirit to sanctify us. The Holy Spirit is a Spiritual Catalyst, allowing the faithful to experience the Power of Jesus Christ; through Christ, we receive daily spiritual growth and character transformation.

Humility, Surrender, Faith, Trust, and Obedience are the characteristics of those who love God with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength. And these are they who will be guided by The Spirit of Truth, God, the Holy Spirit.

“The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they will never, ever [by any means] perish; and no one will ever snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28, Amplified Bible).

The gift of each new day gives us the opportunity to choose a Christ-Centered, Faith-based, heart-to-heart relationship with Jesus Christ, our Faithful Shepherd.

Our Hearts Must Be 100% Committed to Following Our Faithful Shepherd

“Choose this day who you will serve.” The nation of Israel attempted to serve God with a divided heart, but their love of pagan worship practices proved that they did not love God.

“Your bodies will fall in this wilderness—all who were numbered in the census, everyone twenty years of age or older—because you have grumbled against Me.” (Numbers 14:29 BSB).

“In Numbers 20:12, God tells Moses and Aaron they will not enter the Promised Land: “Because you did not trust in Me enough to honor Me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

From the great number of emancipated Israelites [600,000 men, not counting women and children in the census], there were only two faithful men over the age of 20, Joshua and Caleb, who received their inheritance in Canaan, The Promised Land.

Our thoughts, habits, actions, pursuits, and lifestyle reveal who is priority in our lives, God or Self. Loving Jesus is to worship Him as our Savior, Shepherd, Redeemer, and Triumphant King with daily surrender and faithful obedience.

The commitment of daily surrender is expressed through the Prayer of Humility, “God not my will, but Your Will be done” revealing that we are willing to love and honor King Jesus’ Sovereign Authority.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (Revelation 22:13).

Because of God’s Divine Grace that flows from Jesus, God, the Son, [The Message of the Cross] to the righteous, we are saved by Grace through faith and covered with the Righteousness of Christ. Yes and Amen!

“Today when you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…” Following our Shepherd compares to sheep following their shepherd.

Dedicating ourselves to be faithful and obedient sheep is not a burden or inconvenience when our hearts are overflowing with love, loyalty, and appreciation of Jesus’ Ultimate Sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross.

Reflection: Do you love God enough to do exactly what He tells you to do?

Luke 11:28: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” John 14:15: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” James 1:22: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”Acts 5:29: “We must obey God rather than men.”

Bible Study: God, the Father, calls Jesus, God: [Study Hebrews chapter 1].

Lord God, we approach your Throne of Grace with humility and surrender. We commit to following Jesus with faithful obedience, and pray for the anointing, power ,and presence of the Holy Spirit. Please teach us how to be holy. Lord, we also pray for Spiritual Wisdom, Discernment, and the Power to overcome our desires and Satan’s temptations. Jesus, we love You and appreciate the greatest gift that humanity will ever receive, the cleansing Power of Your blood that washes away our sins, and restarts our lives. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus, Amen.

“The LORD Will Rejoice Over You With Singing”

“The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

“The elect of God are dear to His heart. They are those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, to show forth His praise, to shine as lights amid the darkness of the world…. God loves His children with infinite love. To Him the dearest object on earth is His church.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 165.

The Decision To Follow Jesus Requires Total Surrender and Faithful Obedience

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27).

God, the Father has an elect people, who love Him, and follow and obey God, His Son, Jesus Christ. Yes, we are the sheep, who live a life of surrender and humility, involving Christ in every aspect of our lives, by continuously praying for His guidance, wisdom, and strength.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, NLT).

The choices and lifestyle of true worshipers is based on obeying God’s command to live a life of sacrificial self-denial and separation from unbelievers [Romans 12:1-2].

True worshipers engage in personal worship every day, praising God with gratitude, praying, and studying the Holy Scriptures. Because we love Jesus, we seek His Divine guidance instead of thinking our thoughts, and following our inclinations.

Still, every day, we struggle with internal desires and fight against Satan’s external temptations, but we whisper prayers asking for the strength to overcome, and Jesus provides us with the strength to resist the devil.

No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy]. (1 Corinthians 10:13, Amplified Bible).

We live in a time filled with busyness, and the pursuit of personal desires and goals. Satan, the Ultimate Deceiver presents us with the temptations of seeking wealth, status, and relationships with unbelievers designed to distract and separate us from God.

Faith Triumphs in Trouble!

“In the Bible, Jesus acknowledges that His believers will face trials, teaching that suffering builds endurance, identifies followers with Christ, and is temporary compared to future eternal glory.”

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope…”

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:1, 3-5)

Believers who are dedicated to following Jesus will suffer many trials, hardships, and adversities, designed to produce a spirit of humility, and keep our faith, focus, and total dependence on Christ.

“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” (Revelation 22:14).

“In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be My disciples.” (Luke 14:33).

As dedicated disciples of Jesus Christ, we intentionally choose to obey His Commandments, including the command to separate ourselves from worldly activities and unbelievers, who Satan uses to influence us to sin against God.

Seeking God’s Will Through Much Prayer

“When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, ‘Your face, LORD, I will seek.” (Psalm 27: 8). Through consistent prayer and daily surrender, we receive the power of the Holy Spirit required to live a life of self-denial and faithful obedience.

We are Temporary Travelers living on a Temporary Earth intentionally preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12).

Our focus is heavenly! Because we love Jesus, we choose to follow and obey our Shepherd, and look forward to seeing Jesus, our Triumphant King, who will reward us with our Eternal Crown of Life.

Every day, through our prayers, Jesus affirms “His Abundant and Always Present Love:” “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”

From using our faith to believe that God is Who He says He is, when studying the Holy Scriptures, we know that we can rely on God’s Promises, and the power of the Holy Spirit to comfort and empower us to keep moving forward.

“For YHWH your God is among you, the Mighty One who saves; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will be joyous over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17, BLB)

Lord God, as we travel on the Narrow Path of Righteousness, which requires much faith, trust, surrender, and total obedience, we thank You for comforting and encouraging us with Your promise in John 14:1-3. We believe and are preparing for that Great Day when You will come and take us to Heaven. Lord, we look forward to the day when we will sing many songs of gratitude, worshiping You for leading us victoriously through our spiritual journey from Earth to Heaven. In faith, we pray in the Loving and Righteous Name of our Triumphant King, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Experiencing The Turbulence of Trials and Hardships? Jesus Is Your Strength!

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, NRSV).

Personal Testimony: Living on the East Coast of Florida is a wonderful place to live if you do not mind hot, humid weather, and love the ocean. However Florida has one drawback that almost every Floridian has experienced and that is the overgrowth of mold.

On August 10th, 2026, I looked under my bathroom vanity cabinet and could not believe what I was seeing, the wall was covered with black mold. So, I decided to look under the lower kitchen cabinet and that wall was also covered with mold.

At that point, I knew that my calm and peaceful life that God had blessed me with was interrupted. Yet, I did not know that this would be one of the toughest journeys of faith, I have experienced in many years.

What happened next was shocking, the property manager and maintenance supervisor insisted and agreed that it was only mildew.

The Property Manager refused to follow the company’s Mold and Mildew Policy, which required sending a licensed Mold Inspector to assess and perform testing of almost two hours duration.

At this point, I prayed and asked for God’s Divine guidance; “God, should I hire a Mold Inspector?” God revealed His answer of “Yes” in a Supernatural manner that you know that He is God.

Divine Intervention #1: On Wednesday, I called the Mold Inspection company that is located one hour from my home, explained the situation to the receptionist, who said they were booked, but she would speak to the owner. Within 30 minutes, she called telling me that my inspection was scheduled for Friday morning.

Divine Intervention #2: Instead of one of the company’s technicians performing the Mold Inspection, God sent Jared, the owner of the company, who performed extra testing at no charge.

Four days later, I received the Mold Inspection report along with the Lab results: The species of mold that was present is airborne, and from my nursing background, I know that it always attacks the Respiratory System, especially those with a diagnosis of Asthma, which I have.

“Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers…” (Psalm 91:3-4).

Divine Intervention #3: Although this mold species is airborne, the test for airborne spores was negative: “No airborne spores present” in my apartment.” Hallelujah!

Further inspection revealed that the bathroom and kitchen subfloors were damaged by the hidden leaky water pipe in the wall leading to the bathroom faucet, and contained a large amount of mold growth.

I emailed the property manager the report and the Management company responded immediately by scheduling three Mold Remediation companies to inspect the apartment, and submit their bids.

The approved company was scheduled to begin the Remediation process today, Friday, September 18th.

Ten days ago, I received the preparation instructions, which required the relocation of all of the bathroom and kitchen items to my living and sleeping areas. I prayed, asking God for the wisdom and strength, and finally, after ten days, the rigorous task was completed.

Every day, I prayed for Divine guidance during the entire process; God answered my prayer by giving me the wisdom and strength to relocate two rooms into the 50% of the remaining areas, like playing with Legos, everything was stacked perfectly.

Because there were no vacant apartments available on the property, I was told that I would have to find temporary housing, during the Remediation process, and Florida State laws do not require the Landlord to cover the expenses.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33, ESV).

Divine Intervention #4: Jesus pays attention to the small details. He directed me to book an Airbnb that I thought was an apartment, but it is a separate house, on the owner’s property. I feel as if I am at a Spa; the host is friendly, and her flower garden is phenomenal, including beautiful orchids.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, ESV).

Jesus, our loving Shepherd is also “Yahweh Yireh), which translates to ‘The Lord will provide.'” God provided the finances for a two-week stay, allowing me to have a wonderful vacation while my apartment is remediated and renovated.

“Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.” (Proverbs 30:5, ESV). there was one major concern of the Remediation process that I immediately prayed about when I was informed of the start date of Friday, 9/18/2026.

Still, there was one major concern of the Remediation process that I immediately prayed about when I was informed of the start date of Friday, 9/18/2026.

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work…” (Exodus 20:8-9, NIV).

The Remediation crew planned on performing and completing the demolition, working from early Friday morning until late into Friday night, after sunset, which would be the beginning of the Sabbath. God honors and blessed those who honor and obey His Commandments.

Divine Intervention #5: This morning, 9/18, I was notified via email by the Property Manager of the delay to begin Remediation; Their Corporate office was still processing the payment to the Remediation company, and the pending date for the initial Remediation is rescheduled for Monday, September 21st.

“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to Him.” (Psalm 24:1, NLT).

“Behold I am the God of all flesh, is there anything too difficult for Me? (Jeremiah 32:27).

In these Scriptures, God proclaims His Divine, Infinite Power and His Absolute Sovereignty over all creation. God has no limitations. And God will reveal His power to those who put their complete faith and trust in him.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7, ESV).

The following are notes from a Sermon entitled “God Is On Your Side,” by Pastor Pavel Goia:

“Trust that God is Faithful! Do not look at your challenges, look to God. God has the necessary means; Pray and ask for His plans to be revealed instead of your own.”

“To know God is life eternal. We only worry when we do not know God’s Loving Character. God is always on our side and if God is for us, who can be against us?”

“When we focus on God, God will focus on us, and fight our battles. We are not supposed to fix our problems, we are supposed to give them to God.”

“Study and Believe in God’s Written Word (His promises in the Bible). Keep praying! God loves us more than we understand. Choose to believe and keep praying.”

“In faith, when we pray and ask Jesus for help, the prayer is answered. We may have to wait, which is a test of our faith. We may not see the answer, but trust God with all your heart.”

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” (Psalm 34:8-10).

The difference between Christian Believers and unbelievers is that our faith, trust, and focus are directed to God, Who loves us with an Everlasting Love, and promises to take care of us.

Brothers and Sisters, if we love God then why do we continue to distrust His love and countless promises to take care of us? The Sovereign God, who gave His only Son, Jesus to die for us deserves our love and loyalty.

We must let go of the self-reliance that unbelievers practice, revealing that they despise God’s Sovereign Authority.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!” (Psalm 139:23, ESV).

This overwhelming situation brought me to a Spiritual Crossroads, requiring me to make a choice: Would I make a covenant with Jesus to surrender myself completely to follow my Shepherd with faithful obedience, trust, and reverence?

When we face impossible situations, we cry out to God for help, but are we willing to live the sacrificial life of self-denial and faithful obedience required to follow Jesus?

“Would not God discover this? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44:21, ESV). God reads human hearts, knowing whether or not our commitment is genuine.

Today, I enjoyed the beauty of Melbourne Beach. Although the warmth of the sun and the warm breeze felt great, as I looked at the ocean, the waves were raging with visible strength, and no one attempted to enter the water, yet the sky was absolutely beautiful.

In John 16:33, Jesus tells us that our Christian Journey will be one that includes many hardships and adversities, but to remain faithful and courageous because He has overcome. Hallelujah! Yes, Jesus loves us!

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.” (Psalm 34:17).

Lord Jesus, we cry out to You, because we cannot live without Your Divine Help. Jesus, we thank You for being our Shepherd, Redeemer, Provider, Protector, Healer, and Risen King. We love You, Lamb of God, and with gratitude, we worship You for relinquishing Your Divinity to come to this earth to live in poverty, and suffer, bleed, and die a criminal’s death on Calvary’s Cross to save our souls. In Victory, from the grave You arose, proclaiming that You have the keys to hell and death, which will be destroyed when you come again as our Triumphant King. Hallelujah! This Sabbath, we honor You, King Yeshua with love, faith, obedience, and loyalty. This Sabbath, we worship You on the day that You made Holy. Jesus, we thank You, for loving us with an Everlasting Love. In faith and with reverence, we ask this prayer in Your Loving and Righteous Name, Amen.

El Roi, The God Who Sees, Is El Ne’eman, The Trustworthy God Who Takes Care of Us

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11, ESV)

For several years, I worked full-time, studying one academic course per semester. Finally, my goal of completing the academic courses required for the Registered Nursing program came to fruition.

With much excitement, I began to apply for Nursing programs, only to discover the programs within a 50 mile radius of where I lived in New Jersey, had a two to three year waiting list. Although I was extremely disappointed, God revealed His Divine Providence and Plans for my future.

One day, while sharing my dilemma with one of my closest friends, who was a Registered Nurse in Upstate New York, advised me to apply to the school, in which he completed his nursing education.

I whispered a prayer for God’s guidance, took a giant leap of faith, and God responded by revealing His Supernatural Power; within 5 days, I received my acceptance letter. As I whispered a prayer of gratitude, I immediately recognized this was God’s Divine Providence.

Then ambivalent feelings began to cause an internal war within my heart; relocation to Upstate New York would require walking away from a serious and loving relationship that I was involved in.

Again my nurse friend gave me sound advice, “Nursing is not only what you love to do, you must also consider that the future brings many unexpected hardships, becoming a Registered Nurse and teaching patients how to manage their illnesses and achieve optimal health provides job satisfaction and ensures a secure future.”

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,” (Ephesians 1:3-5, ESV).

At the age of 40, I was accepted into a rigorous nursing program that was scheduled to start within 3 months. Whether or not my excitement boosted my faith, with God’s Help, and Tee, the love of my life, we drove a UHaul and my car to Upstate New York.

When we arrived at my new home, Tee spoke these words, “Dee, I have thought about it and I just can’t do a long distance relationship.” I quickly replied that I understood, expressed my love for him, but felt no grief, because I knew this was God’s Plan for my life.

Yahweh Yireh, Our Provider Reveals His Love

“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).

While unpacking, the school’s financial aid officer notified me of another God-given blessing; I received a scholarship that covered tuition, books, and uniforms for the duration of the program.

God’s Expectation: To keep our faith and focus on His Power and Promises, not our circumstances.

“But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, Amplified Bible).

The Faith Test: Nursing Clinicals required two years of intense study, and included summer rotations, My scholarship did not cover my living expenses; and the curriculum’s schedule was definitely not one that would allow the student nurse to work Monday through Friday.

Loyalty to God’s Commandments: Because I honor God by obeying the Fourth Commandment to keep the Seventh Day Sabbath holy, I could not work on Sabbath, and studying required 8-12 hours on Sundays.

As a student nurse, I had to totally rely on God for my provisions, placing me on a spiritual journey that required 100% of my faith and trust in God’s Love and Promises. And Yahweh Yireh proved that nothing is too hard for God!

The Reward: As I gave the valedictorian remarks at graduation, with a humble and grateful heart, I thanked God for giving me the courage to trust Him with my life, and the strength and wisdom to maintain a 4.0 GPA.

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” (Matthew 6:31-32, ESV).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

The Journey of Faith Requires Total Trust and Obedience To God

“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).

Reflection: Are you following God’s Plan for your life? The majority of today’s Christian Community fail to live a Christ-Centered, Faith-based life, which requires daily self-denial and obedience to God.

Every day, we plan and fulfill our personal agendas, without praying and asking God to reveal His Perfect Will and Plans for our lives. God’s Warning: “Do not be wise in your own eyes…” (Proverbs 3:7).

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). Self-Reliance is an unrighteous character trait that demonstrates a heart filled with pride and willful disobedience against God.

The Christian believer, who fails to pray for God’s Guidance has the same mindset as unbelievers, who value human thoughts over God’s Sovereign Thoughts and Ways.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]?” (1 Corinthians 6:19, Amplified Bible).

We can believe in God and attend church, but the Holy Spirit cannot dwell within an “unbelieving believer,” who intentionally refuses to surrender and acquiesce to God’s Sovereign Authority.

Pursuing our desires and plans reveals that we place our faith and trust in human thoughts and strategies, instead of God’s Promises, but spiritual defiance results in spiritual death.

Self-governance invites Satan to tempt us continuously with the desires of our hearts, which distract us from our relationship with Christ, ultimately giving Satan the power to control our lives.

“But He said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!'” (Luke 11:28, ESV).

God lovingly tells us that using our faith to obey His Plans has always been required. When we love God, the Holy Spirit converts our hearts, and obeying our Heavenly Father is never a burden.

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning” [for He is perfect and never changes]. (James 1:17, Amplified Bible).

God always rewards His faithful and obedient sons and daughters with spiritual blessings. We may focus on receiving material blessings, yet receiving God’s gifts of an alert and oriented mind, spiritual wisdom, and optimal physical health are examples of the spiritual blessings that money can never provide.

Prayer Connects Us To El Roi, The God Who Sees

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed.” (Mark 1:35, ESV). In Jesus’ earthly life, through continuous prayer, He asked God, His Father for wisdom and guidance.

Jesus revealed humility and the willingness to always surrender and faithfully obey His Father, and God, the Father has not changed, to receive the reward of Eternal Life, we must obey God.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27). As Sons and Daughters of God, follow and obey Jesus, our Shepherd by seeking His will, plans, and guidance through daily prayer.

The true condition of the human heart is revealed by one’s thoughts, spoken words, habits, and lifestyle. Daily surrender and faithful obedience reveal love, loyalty, and reverence for God’s Sovereign Authority and Divine Providence.

In the Bible, God reveals His Righteous Character; therefore, if we are diligently studying the Holy Scriptures, we learn Who God is: “I Am That I Am!”

Understanding The Purpose of Faith-Builders: Trials, Hardships, and Adversity

In Job chapter 38, Job questioned God; yes, Job felt that he did not deserve the extreme suffering that the Lord God allowed to enter His life.

God’s Response: “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, ‘Who is this that darkens counsel [questioning my authority and wisdom] By words without knowledge? Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you know and have understanding?'” (Job 38:1-2, 4 Amplified Bible).

Throughout the Bible, God Proclaims His Sovereignty

“So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11, Amplified Bible).

As Followers of Jesus Christ, Who sacrificed His Life on Calvary’s Cross, when we appreciate Jesus’ Life-Giving and Life-Saving Sacrifice, we will use our faith to love, trust, and obey God.

Believers use their faith to believe. Faith does not have a gray area, nor does faith depend on the presenting circumstances; Steadfast Faith proclaims, God said it! I believe it! It is done!

“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly…” (Lamentations 3: 25-26).

Faith praises God, even though the answer to our prayers have not come to fruition. King David tells us to wait on the Lord with courage and prayers of gratitude. In the wait, we thank God for the victory, asking Jesus to give us the strength to persevere. Faith believes that God is Faithful!

Loving God Is The Catalyst For Steadfast Faith

“So He [Jesus] answered and said, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind…'” (Luke 10:27).

Jesus tells us that “God’s Love” is the spiritual foundation of our salvation. We must use our gift of faith to establish and maintain a spiritual love connection to God’s Agape Love, which is manifested through our Savior, God, Jesus Christ, His Son.

“We love because He first loved us.” When we understand that the Message of The Cross reveals God, the Father’s overwhelming love for humanity, gifting us with His Precious Son, God, Jesus Christ, with humility and gratitude, we will reciprocate our love through faithful obedience to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“I will bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless Your Holy Name!”

Faithful obedience and trust are spiritual fruits, revealing that the believer’s heart overflows with love and adoration for God’s Faithfulness, Grace, and continuous Mercies.

Why is our faith strong and anchored in The Rock, Jesus Christ?

From searching and studying the Holy Scriptures, we learn the Loving and Righteous Attributes of God’s Sovereign Character: He is Immanuel, God With Us in the peaceful times and in the raging storms.

God Proclaims: “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Like a young child, we use our faith to steadfastly believe that God is: El Roi, “The God, Who Sees me;” and El Ne’eman, “The God, Who is Trustworthy and Reliable.”

In faith, we wait on Yahweh Yireh, our Provider, because His Promises to always take care of us are Yes and Amen [It is so!].

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10).

Lord Jesus, with humility and surrender, we approach Your Throne of Grace, asking for the forgiveness of our grievous sins of disobedience, doubt, and unbelief in Your Faithfulness and Your Promises. Jesus, we ask for the anointing of Your Power, and to reveal Your Presence, given to us through God, the Holy Spirit. Lord, we ask You to strengthen our faith and to guide us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness that leads from earth to Heaven. In faith, we humbly ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, Shepherd, and Triumphant King, Amen.

Do You Believe That God Performs Miracles?

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think…” (Ephesians 3:20 ESV).

Today, God performed such an awesome miracle in my life that I have been in deep spiritual reflection, thanking Yahweh Yireh for at least 6 hours. Witnessing God’s Divine Providence in action is a life-changing experience!

Satan may use people and situations to disrupt our lives, but we can be confident that we serve a Heavenly Father, who sees, cares, and desires to perform miracles, so we will acknowledge and appreciate His infinite Love for those created in His image.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17).

When we strive to faithfully obey God through daily surrender, we learn that He is a Loving Heavenly Father, who desires to give us the very best.

From not studying the Holy Scriptures, we cannot learn and know who God is; in fact, we will measure God’s Love and His Character by the world’s materialistic standards.

The majority of our prayers will be, “Lord bless me with…” instead of asking God to fulfill His Perfect Plans for our lives, which includes living an abundant and peaceful life, now and eternally.

When our prayers focus on our desires, not only do we prevent God from giving us supernatural miracles, which reveal nothing is too difficult for God, but the Holy Spirit is unable to convert our hearts and our faith in God becomes non-existent.

“Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].” (Hebrews 4:16, Amplified Bible).

My initial prayer was an honest prayer: “God, I am afraid to let You have complete control of my life, but this situation that I am facing is impossible for human effort to resolve. I want to embrace Your love, and trust You like I never have before. Jesus, teach me how to trust You with my life, because I’m certain that I do not know how to trust You.”

The frailty of the human heart is to perceive life as filled with impossibilities, but we serve the Sovereign God who tells us, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

“But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'” (Matthew 19:26, ESV).

From redirecting my faith back to God and making the commitment to trust Him, our Loving and Faithful Heavenly Father opened the Windows of Heaven, providing the miraculous, as only the Sovereign God of this universe can do.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, ESV).

Lord God, so many of us do not know that You desire to bless us exceedingly and abundantly above all we could ever ask for. We have failed to realize that we need to commit to love and worship You as our First Love. Holy Spirit, please teach us how to redirect our faith and focus to Jesus instead of ourselves. We pray for a clean heart that desires to live a sacrificial life of self-denial as demonstrated by a change in what we pray and ask for. Lord, shower us with the spiritual blessings that will empower us to see life through spiritual eyes. We thank You for Your continual Love and Faithfulness. In faith and with gratitude, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Our Faithful Shepherd and Triumphant King. Amen.

“My Grace Is Sufficient For You”

“A Free, Undeserved Gift: Grace cannot be earned through human merit, good works, or costly offerings. Our deep need and unworthiness qualify us to receive it simply by asking.”

“God’s Grace is defined as an unearned, free gift of Divine favor and power given to undeserving human beings to save, transform, and empower them to obey God’s Moral Law [Exodus 20] out of love.

“If you love me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15, ESV).

“Harmony with the Law: Grace does not replace or nullify God’s Moral law. Instead, Grace and the Law work in perfect harmony, with Grace giving believers the spiritual power to align their lives with God’s Commandments.”

For it is written, Be holy, for I Am Holy. (1 Peter 1:16). “God’s Grace Is A Catalyst for Transformation: Sanctifying Grace actively works within a believer to renew the heart, quicken the conscience, and purify thoughts.”

The converted heart perceives Jesus as a Loving Savior, who redeemed humanity from the second and final death [the price of sin], with His death on Calvary’s Cross.

The mind and commitment of Jesus’ dedicated followers is to honor and worship Him with daily surrender and faithful obedience, always acknowledging Christ as their Resurrected and Triumphant King!

Yeshua is our Loving and Faithful Shepherd, who is steadfastly committed to protecting and providing for His sheep.

Jesus Christ is Heaven’s Mighty Warrior and Commander of Angel Armies, who are commissioned to protect the righteous from Satan, our greatest enemy.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27). To follow Jesus, we must love Him, learn His Righteous Character and Attributes, and study to learn how He lived in His earthly life.

To know Jesus requires knowing His Life and the Truth of His Righteous Principles. The Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John document The Life of Christ in the Holy Bible.

God’s Grace is freely given to those who actively desire to receive its Life-Giving Power.

Every day, our gratitude for the gift of God’s Grace is revealed by spending time in personal worship, expressing gratitude for His Steadfast Love and Faithfulness, and asking God to reveal His Will and Plans.

Loving God is the spiritual catalyst that produces humility and the willingness to surrender to God’s Higher Thoughts and Ways [Isaiah 55:8-9].

Faithful obedience invites the Holy Spirit to speak to us through the Holy Scriptures and our thoughts. God, the Holy Spirit communicates God’s Divine Plan to every believer, who uses their faith to surrender with the commitment to follow Jesus.

Active participation in our Salvation includes learning to hear Jesus’ Voice. When facing challenges, it is best not to involve other people, which facilitates the astute recognition of Divine Guidance.

We can differentiate Jesus’ Voice from our thoughts because Divine Thoughts and Instructions always reveal that God is Holy; and God always gives Glory and Honor to Himself, because He is The Sovereign Authority of this universe.

Obedience To God Is True Worship: Remaining Covered By God’s Grace

God’s Grace: We were Justified [forgiven of our sins and cleansed from all unrighteousness] when we accepted Jesus as our personal Savior.

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). From obeying Jesus’ Voice [His plans for our lives], we remain covered by His Righteousness, which is required for our Salvation and Sanctification.

Sanctification is the lifelong spiritual process of our mind, character, and personality being changed from carnal unholiness into Christ’s Righteous Character.

“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.” (Lamentations 3:25). Prayer keeps us connected to Christ.

Through daily surrender, we proclaim that Jesus is the Lord of our life; yet, it is continuous faithful obedience that reveals if Jesus is sitting on the throne of our heart as our Lord, Shepherd, and King.

Remaining Under The Spiritual Umbrella of God’s Grace

“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).

Spiritual growth and character transformation require the human effort of daily total surrender and cooperation with God. To remain anchored In Christ, we cease making decisions without spiritual guidance.

Surrender is revealed by letting go of our desires and plans in exchange for seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit through prayer and studying the Holy Scriptures.

“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).

To remain covered by Grace, our lifestyle is one of continuous worship; Praying, Waiting for God’s answer, and Obeying His instructions, keeps us in Right Standing with God.

Through God’s Grace, the Journey of Spiritual Transformation is performed by the Holy Spirit, yet, we must actively participate in our Salvation.

The Fruit of The Spirit Describes Christ’s Righteous Character

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

We cannot change ourselves. The Fruit of the Spirit are Divine Attributes, which require the intervention of the Holy Spirit and our commitment to follow and obey God, and to live righteously.

To remain covered by God’s Grace, we let go of all behaviors, habits, lifestyle choices, and relationships that do not represent the Pure Righteousness of Jesus Christ.

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:24-25).

From our commitment to put our faith and trust in the Strength of Christ, the Holy Spirit gives us the power to live a sacrificial life of self-denial. Every day, we will be tempted and our faith will be tested, Prayer is our Spiritual Weapon!

Through prayer, we have immediate access to Divine Help. Whisper prayers continuously throughout your day, always asking for the Spiritual Wisdom to recognize temptation and the Spiritual Strength to renounce sin in all of its devious forms.

Our Christian Journey requires faith, trust, courage, obedience, perseverance, and endurance. The psalmist, King David assures us, “When the righteous cry out for help, the Lord delivers them.” Yes and Amen!

Like the great Niagara Falls, God’s Grace, Mercies, and Power flows continuously to the heart of every surrendered believer; Jesus, our Loving Shepherd is always ready to give us Divine Help.

“Give us our daily bread” has a physical and spiritual meaning: To remain connected to Christ, we must receive the spiritual food of supernatural wisdom, strength, and power from the Holy Spirit to navigate in our spiritual journey.

Reflection: God’s Grace is the undeserving, free gift of His Divine Love, Favor and Power.

Jesus, our Shepherd leads us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness; and the Holy Spirit gives us the instructions and wisdom to live righteously, preparing us for an eternity in the presence of a Holy and Righteous God.

As time rapidly progresses toward the Second Coming of Jesus, we cannot afford to be separated spiritually from our Shepherd. A steadfast relationship with Jesus is required to be covered by His Grace.

To navigate through this tumultuous spiritual journey, we must stay under the Cover of Jesus’ Divine Grace, which invites the Holy Spirit to empower us with the supernatural wisdom and strength to “fight the good fight of faith.” Yes and Amen.

Lord God, we approach the Throne of Grace, realizing that we are powerless without Your Divine Presence, Guidance, and Power. We ask You to cleanse our hearts from all unrighteousness, and to give us the strength to keep persevering through our earthly spiritual journey. In faith, we commit to following Jesus, to establishing a life of worship filled with prayer, gratitude, and praise for Your continual faithfulness. We ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.