This morning, I read a Devotional entitled, “Is There More?”
Jesus gives us the answer to this question: Having a spirit of humility and gratitude invites the Holy Spirit to give us the Spiritual Strength to persevere in our journey of life, and the Divine Wisdom to perceive life through spiritual eyes.
I pray that you enjoy this inspirational video. Peace and Blessings in the Wonderful Name of Jesus, Amen.
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.'” (Matthew 28:18).
Believers, we are in a Spiritual War: The Great Controversy of Good and Evil has existed for over 6,000 years between Christ and Satan. And, we are Satan’s targets!
Yeshua, the Mighty Warrior and Conqueror
“…I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hell and of Death.” (Revelation 1:17-18).
To Fight the Good Fight of Faith and to Live As Overcomers, The Christian Mind Must Be Renewed Every Day through Prayer and Bible Study!
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9).
Brothers and Sisters, in 2025, we followed our thoughts, made mistakes, and worried about things that only God can control.
The Path to Victory: “As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ He told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.” (Matthew 9:9, NIV).
Without hesitation, the tax collector used his faith, got up and followed Jesus. Matthew had no idea what the journey with Jesus would require, but he gave up everything to become Jesus’ disciple.
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).
Yes, we made the commitment to give our hearts to Jesus, but many of us are not following Him. We cannot live as we please and think that we are obeying God.
In Proverbs chapter 3, through King Solomon, Jesus tells us, “Do not be wise in your own eyes.” From following our Shepherd with faithful obedience, He keeps us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.
We are the Last Day’s disciples [2 Timothy 3] who must live by faith; not knowing the future, but we don’t have to know about tomorrow, because we know our lives are in Yeshua’s Everlasting Hands.
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (John 4:23, NIV).
This Christmas, give Jesus, your Shepherd, the gift He deserves: Love and Loyalty, as demonstrated through a vow of daily surrender and faithful obedience.
With Faith, Surrender, Obedience, and Courage, each new day, through personal worship, renew your Covenant of Faith to follow Christ, our Most Wonderful and Loving Savior and Shepherd.
“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).
If Jesus was required to live a life of faithful obedience to God, the Father, then certainly, the Father expects us to obey Christ without hesitation and doubt.
The Journey is Tough! Committing to follow Jesus’ plans for the remainder of our lives requires a Spirit of Humility, [blind] Faith, Obedience, and Courage.
We win the war by walking through life on bended knees. Every morning, pray, “LORD, what do you want me to do?”
Despite our challenges, from our prayers of faith and surrender, the Holy Spirit empowers us with Yeshua’s Peace, eliminating all worries and doubts from our minds.
Joshua 1:5-6,9: “I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage.”Verse 7: “Only be strong and very courageous.”
Because we cannot be strong and courageous using human effort alone, the Holy Spirit empowers us with Jesus’ wisdom and strength, and leads us in our journey to live as Victorious Overcomers. Yes and Amen!
The Christian Mind Is Filled With Love Loyalty, and Allegiance to Yeshua!
“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.” (Romans 12:1, NIV).
We are Yeshua’s Disciples! Yes, we are His Courageous Soldiers who decided to let go of worldly desires, people, and habits because we love and appreciate our Redeemer’s great sacrifice.
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you.” (Jeremiah 31:3).
Love is reciprocal. Without hesitation, we obey God, because we love and revere Jesus, who willingly gave His life to save us from the wages of sin, the second and final death [Revelation 19].
To remain in Heaven’s Army, requires that we follow our Commander with faithful obedience. God knows that we need His help to overcome Satan, our enemy, and to live righteously.
Do not attempt to rely on your thoughts and strength. Maintain a spirit of humility by always praying for God’s guidance and strength!
When we include God in the routine decisions of life, prayer becomes our first response even when facing impossible challenges.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV).
We owed a debt that only Yeshua could pay. Yes, our Savior and Mighty Warrior paid that debt by conquering sin and death when He completed the Plan of Redemption on Calvary’s Cross! Hallelujah! Yes and Amen!
Lord God, we confess and repent for our sins of continuous unfaithfulness and disobedience to Your perfect and life-saving plan of giving us eternity with You. Today, we renew our covenant to follow and obey. Lord we cannot do this using our strength. In faith, we ask for the strength to remain faithful, obedient, and courageous, as we fight against our desires and temptations. We believe in Your promises, and ask these things, in the Powerful Name of Yeshua, Amen.
© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
(Isaiah 41:10, NIV)
Many years ago, I had a conversation with my uncle, who is a pastor regarding the solitude of true Christianity. I expressed that I felt overwhelmed because of the lack of human support.
His response, “The journey with Jesus has always been one that requires us to be alone with Him. Yet, He gives us the strength to persevere.”
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37, ESV).
There are times when each of us experiences a decline in our inner strength. Yes, we give our best, but from relying only on our strength, we become overwhelmed by life’s constant, unexpected challenges.
Excerpt from a recent Devotional Reading:
“Throughout different seasons of my life, I’ve also found myself crying out to God, Help — I’m falling!”
“Nothing major or traumatic needs to have happened. It could be that I feel emotionally unsteady, physically exhausted, or overwhelmed by life…wandering and unsure if I have the strength to keep going.”
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished…] (John 16:33, Amplified Bible)
Because of the rapid pace of life, filled with so many distractions and responsibilities, it is the routine activities of life that produce our highest level of daily stress, eventually bringing us to the point of exhaustion.
“Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].” (1 Peter 5:7, Amplified Bible).
Practicing the worldview of self-reliance always takes its toll on the mind and body. When we are mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted, we are also spiritually depleted.
We were created to depend on Jesus, who is our Source of never-ending Spiritual, Mental, Emotional, and Physical Strength.
Each new day is a gift of life revealing God’s Amazing love and mercies. Immanuel knows every difficulty we will face, and desires to be with us, but every day, we must choose to ask Christ for help.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
When we have done all that we can do, from our prayer, “Jesus, I am tired and feeling overwhelmed, I need Your help,” we can rely on our Loving Savior’s promise:
“I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” (Isaiah 65:24, NLT).
Our commitment to daily personal worship invites Christ to empower us with His Divine Strength for the given day.
When our mornings begin with expressing gratitude for God’s Love and Faithfulness, we receive the abundant blessings of peace and joy.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).
Not only does our faith increase, but we are confident because we know that whatever, we face, Immanuel, God is with us. Yes and Amen!
Bible Study: Philippians 4
Lord God, we thank You for Your love, faithfulness, and mercies. Thank You for reminding us in the Holy Scriptures that You always desire to be with us. Yes, we are tired, and confess that even in our daily activities of life, we desperately need Your strength and guidance. We honor Your Holy Name, and with love, faith, and gratitude, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry
To fear the Lord does not mean a life of perpetual trembling and emotional insecurity.
It rather refers to the reverence and awe that stem from the recognition of the unfathomable greatness, holiness, and infinity of God on the one hand and our smallness, sinfulness, and finitude on the other.
To fear God is a constant awareness of the magnitude of His demands, a recognition that He is not only our heavenly Father but also our Divine King. Such awareness will lead to a life of obedience to God.
A faithful person is somebody who is dependable and trustworthy.
Basically, Joshua is asking Israel to demonstrate the same loyalty to God that God has displayed toward His people in the course of their history. It is not merely outward compliance to His requirements but what springs from an undivided inner consistency of the heart. Their lives should reflect gratefulness to God for what He has done for them. Basically, it is how we today should relate to Jesus, as well.
What does it mean to you to serve the Lord “in sincerity” and “in truth”? What are some of the distracting factors in your life that prevent your full devotion to God?
God is always faithful and trustworthy. To worship God “in sincerity and in truth” means that we must give our all to God. We must be 100% faithful to God. Serving God requires All or Nothing. We give our best to God.
“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ So he arose and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9).
Without knowing what the future would bring, Matthew surrendered and followed Jesus with faithful obedience because He desired that Christ rule His life. Because of their love and dedication, sheep always obey and follow their Shepherd.
The only gift we can give to Jesus is our hearts. The believer with a converted heart reveals a heart filled with love, loyalty, and a spirit of humility, inviting Jesus every day to rule. Who else can lead and keep us on the Path of Righteousness?
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3, Amplified Bible).
Because our love differs according to our childhood and personal experiences, many do not understand our Heavenly Father’s Amazing Love and Forgiveness. And for that reason, they refuse to give their hearts to Christ.
In Jesus’ earthly Ministry of Healing, He told many parables that gave hope to individuals whom the Jewish Rulers and Pharisees considered worthless and not deserving of God’s Love and His promise of a Heavenly Home.
In Luke 15, “The Forgiveness and Restoration of the Prodigal Son” reveals God, the Father’s Overwhelming Love for humanity, which exists today.
The Demand: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.” (Luke 15:11-12, NIV).
The Prodigal Son’s Mindset: “In his restless youth the prodigal looked upon his father as stern and severe.”
“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered [wasted] his wealth in wild living.” (Luke 15:13, NIV).
The Consequences: But once he spent all of his inheritance, the wayward son found out that the same people who loved his money abandoned him when he had nothing.
“So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.” (Luke 15:15-16, NIV).
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!'”
The difference between today’s Believers and the prodigal son is that we are not wasting money. No, we are putting all of our efforts into the acquisition of wealth, material possessions, and successful careers.
Sadly, the division that once existed between believers and unbelievers no longer exists. Our lifestyles, marriages, and relationships reflect the world’s pursuits and values of “You only live once.” We think, act, and live as if this Earth is the Forever Home, Jesus promised to us.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19, 21).
The pursuit of wealth, success, marriages, and relationships with unbelievers, which also includes individuals who believe that God exists, and may attend church but have no real connection to Christ, reveals a “Me First” mindset.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24, NIV).
The human heart can never be divided. Our decisions, choices, and pursuits reveal who is sitting on the throne of our hearts. It’s either Jesus or ourselves.
When we can willingly sin against God and feel no remorse, our hearts have changed toward God. Satan knows that he can easily deceive and tempt us because of his success with Adam and Eve, who were created with sinless hearts.
God’s Truth: “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). God tells us that His Word is a Sword, and this is a Sword Scripture!
The believers who deny the true condition of their hearts and feel that attending weekly church services is enough to save them easily fall when tempted.
Satan is not Omniscient—He cannot read our minds or know our thoughts until they are reflected by our actions, and our secular lifestyle.
For those who are pursuing their heart’s desires, they have been deceived by Satan to embrace one or both mindsets:
Jesus asks, “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” (Mark 8:36, NLT). There is no reward for disobedience.
Because Satan, the master deceiver, is evil, he also chases the “I surrender all to Jesus” Christians who pray, study the Bible, ask daily for God’s will to be done, and strive to obey.
Dedicated believers with converted hearts still struggle to overcome the internal conflict between their hearts’ desires and the external opposition of temptations.
Victory is gained because they continuously rely on Christ’s strength: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” is their continuous prayer.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” (Matthew 7:13, NIV). Because God is Love, our Heavenly Father has no desire for His sons and daughters to continue on the wide road of destruction.
Jesus Is Still Knocking At the Door of Our Hearts: We always receive a Spiritual Red Flag message, warning us of our heart’s true condition. The Holy Spirit, aka the Spirit of Truth, speaks to us, revealing that we are no longer traveling on the Narrow Path of Righteousness, and to return to Christ.
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.'” (Isaiah 30:21, NIV).
Restoration Requires Repentance: “I will set out and go back to my Father and say to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his Father. (Luke 15:18-20, NIV).
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).
“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20, NIV). When the prodigal returned to His Father, “How different his conception of [His Father] was!”
God’s Commandments and Righteous Precepts are not restrictions! We are in a spiritual war, and Satan is determined to tempt us with earthly trinkets and short-lived success so we will abandon our relationship with Jesus Christ.
“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).
We Must Fight the Good Fight of Faith! In the Name and Power of Jesus Christ, we can overcome all desires and temptations. Give Yahweh the gift He deserves: Every day, proclaim, Jesus, You rule my heart!
Bible Study: Luke 15
Lord God, we ask for the forgiveness of nurturing a Me First heart. Like Matthew, we desire to follow Jesus in our earthly journey. Lord, in faith, we give you our hearts and renew our covenant of obedience to surrender to your will and plans. Lead us, protect us, correct us, and redirect us, and give us the Divine Strength to overcome when we are mesmerized by the temporary treasures, success, and pleasures of this Earth. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.
© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry
Jesus’ Prayer: “So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard me. I know that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent me.'” (John 11:41-42, NIV).
Prayers of gratitude acknowledge our heartfelt appreciation for God, the Sustainer of our lives. What do we mean when we refer to God as our Sustainer?
“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26). We may think of housing, clothing, and food [provisions] needed to support the healthy function of the mind and body, but literally, God is the Giver of life.
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7).
We easily accept the scientific explanation for breathing—human beings inhale the perfect mixture of gases [nitrogen, oxygen, and more] and exhale carbon dioxide, a waste product, yet as believers, we must perceive life through spiritual eyes—the breath that flows through our Respiratory System is God’s Ruach breath.
Yes, we acknowledge that God is the Source of life, yet most of us struggle with expressing love for our Heavenly Father through heartfelt prayers and praises of gratitude. How often do we say, Thank You, God?
David proclaimed, “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1). When David wrote this Psalm, he was a fugitive living in the caves. King Saul possessed a spirit of jealousy and desired to kill David, who was only in his teenage years, but had God’s anointing of protection on his life.
The Psalms, Songs of Prayer and Praise, are the longest book in the Bible. David’s life, once he became King, was plagued with continuous strife because of his two heinous sins [adultery and murder], yet he continued to write Psalms and play beautiful music on his harp that always honored God.
So, I paused writing this devotional reading to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the roadblock preventing us from praising God like David did.
“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). Brothers and Sisters, you and I have an issue of the heart; our love is divided, we love God, but we love ourselves more.
Truthfully, from the moment we awaken, we may whisper a quick prayer, but our focus is on our personal agendas. How will we manage our time effectively to accomplish our goals for the day?
By excluding God, we have not only nurtured a spirit of self-reliance, but we have also adopted a worldview centered on the greed of acquisition. We are inundated by advertisements of lifestyles that promote two concepts: 1. “Enough is Never Enough!” 2. A strong character is revealed by the constant pursuit of assets: wealth, material possessions, success, and social status.
We must remember that although Adam and Eve received God’s best, including immortality, Satan convinced Eve that God’s command of “Do not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil” was because God did not desire for them to possess the knowledge that He had.
Not only has the majority of the Christian Community accepted the Prosperity Message, but Satan also offers distractions that fill our minds with ingratitude for God’s continuous Love, Grace, and Mercies, and His blessings of Sustenance. We love God, but why is our desire for earthly possessions and pleasures so overpowering?
Our Inheritance: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). This verse highlights the inherent tendency of human nature to be corrupt and unreliable, needing God’s intervention for true understanding and guidance.”
The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that we are involved in an unseen Spiritual War. The Great Controversy of Good and Evil is between Christ and Satan. Believers, we are Satan’s target!
Satan is determined to separate us from God by preying on our innate weaknesses. His goal is to manipulate our minds into believing that God is punitive, the Bible is filled with restrictive “Do Nots,” and that our Heavenly Father is selfish.
The Highly Effective Deception: Desire is fueled by our five senses, our eyes see, and our brains process Satan’s deceptive mirages of [what appears to be] magnificent lifestyles filled with the happiness, laughter, and contentment that only comes from status, wealth, material possessions, and pleasure.
How do we fight against our human nature of always desiring more than we have? The Path to Freedom Requires Human Effort and Divine Intervention.
We need Jesus’ Divine Strength to break the Stronghold of giving in to our desires, and we must exercise the Human Effort of Discipline and Self-Control.
Our spiritual breakthrough requires using our faith to consecrate ourselves daily to a life of surrender and faithful obedience. Personal Worship must become our priority. Our prayers should always begin with “God, I thank you for…” Every day, thank God for 5 blessings—Gratitude is Worship.
From whispering prayers of gratitude throughout our day, our faith strengthens because telling God, “Thank You,” invites the Holy Spirit to bring us into the presence of God, and give us the Divine Strength to say No to our desires.
“The manifestation of God’s love, His mercy and His goodness, and the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart to enlighten and renew it, place us, through faith, in so close connection with Christ that, having a clear conception of His character, we are able to discern the [masterful] deceptions of Satan.”
“And in view of the great things which Christ has done for us, we are ready to exclaim: ‘Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.'” (1 John 3:1, BSB).
Gratitude List: Thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your Love and Faithfulness!
God’s Agape Love: “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 Agape Love: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore, with loving kindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3).
God’s Faithfulness: “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, NIV).
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Triumphant King, made the ultimate sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross to save you and me from the wages of sin, which is death. What more can Christ do for us?
Yet there is more! This Earth is not our Forever Home! Yes and Amen!
Jesus’ Loving Promise: “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).
We cannot let the desire for earthly trinkets and success overpower our desire for receiving our reward of Eternal Life: “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.'” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
“Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is…” (1 John 3:2).
Continuously thanking God for His blessings keeps our hearts attached to Jesus’ heart. Instead of looking at life through eyes focused on desire, we develop a spirit of praise and worship from our gratitude and appreciation for all that God has given to us.
Lord God, we thank You for Your Amazing Love, Steadfast Faithfulness, and Continuous Blessings. Even though we have repaid you with selfishness, we have come to our senses, asking for forgiveness. Create in us a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within us. We ask for Your strength to resist Satan’s temptations. Lord, help us to move forward as we persevere with faith in this journey of life. All glory, honor, and praise to Your Holy Name. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry
“The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him.” (Nahum 1:7).
This morning, I read a Devotional on how easy it is for us to react negatively to the darkness of trials and hardships. But the author reminded us that God is Always Good, and the dark times are allowed for our spiritual transformation and redirecting us to depend on our Heavenly Father.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, NIV). From a perfect love that we cannot understand, God gave His only Son, Jesus, who sacrificed His life on Calvary’s Cross to redeem us from sin and to save our souls.
Yes, God’s priority is to give us Eternal Life, but we choose our destiny. Receiving immortality in our Forever Home requires us to actively participate with the Holy Spirit in our spiritual journey by obediently following Christ, our King, Savior, and Shepherd.
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). We abide in Christ through daily personal worship. With a spirit of surrender, we commit to faithfully obey our Shepherd. Our Daily Prayer: Lord, what do You want me to do?
Although we desire our heavenly reward, there is an obstacle that each of us must overcome: We have become too attached to this earthly home. Our lifestyles reveal that we are making future plans that have nothing to do with living righteously now and in our Forever Home.
Scenario: You purchased a house, and the closing date is 30 days away, but today the company announced immediate layoffs, and your supervisor informed you that you would also be impacted.
Feeling disappointed, you reach out to the seller to explain your situation. To your surprise, they respond by stating that they will not accept other offers. Instead, they give you a timeline of 3 to 4 months to find another job because they genuinely want you to purchase the house.
Your prayers of gratitude would include joy, happiness, and excitement, you know that God has given you a miraculous blessing.
Jesus’ Promise: “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).
Jesus’ promise of life in the New Heaven and New Earth that He gave to His disciples is for all believers. From Adam and Eve to every faithful believer who has lived on the planet Earth will receive their reward of immortality when Jesus comes again [Revelation 22:12].
In Revelation, the Apostle John describes the righteous as a number like the grains of sand. Every day, with joyful anticipation, we should reflect on Jesus’ love, preparing ourselves spiritually for Heaven through daily prayer and Bible study.
Jesus’ Warning: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16, NIV).
According to 2 Timothy 3, we are the generation of Christians who are living in the Last Days on this present earth. We cannot afford to waste our gift of time. Our lifetime is the only opportunity we have for the Holy Spirit to transform our minds, characters, and personalities.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19, 21).
Success and prosperity have the power to change us from the outside in, which opposes the spiritual process of Sanctification. We cannot experience spiritual growth if the majority of our time and efforts are spent fulfilling our hearts’ desires and pursuing personal and professional success.
To clear out excess inventory, many stores offer reduced prices for “As Is” items. We purchase these items because we have the vision and skills to modify them. When we come to Jesus, He accepts us “As Is: “I can come to Jesus, just as I am, but I cannot stay just as I am.” We must be changed into the likeness of Christ by the Holy Spirit in our earthly lives.
Perform a spiritual self-assessment. Do your behaviors, habits, and lifestyle demonstrate a God First or a Me First mindset? If we desire to live an obedient life, surrendering to God’s plans, then we have given access to the Holy Spirit to convert our hearts. Faithful obedience reveals that our hearts are filled with love and loyalty to Christ.
God Is Always Good: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8, ESV). God honors and rewards those who obey Him.
God Is Always Faithful: Jesus knows that our spiritual transformation requires His Divine Help and Strength, so He allows the “Chisels of Trials and Hardships” to enter our lives.
God’s Rescue Plan: “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident…be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, Amplified Bible).
“We must overcome through His Strength and Grace, that we may be partakers of [His] Divine Nature…Our pride, selfishness…passions, and love of worldly pleasure must all be overcome; therefore God sends us afflictions [adversity] to test and prove us, and show us that these evils exist in our characters.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23). The Fruit of the Spirit describes the attributes of Jesus’ Righteous Character that we must also have.
“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 12:2, NIV).
One thing is for certain: Self-discipline and self-denial are within our power to exercise under all circumstances. But overcoming our internal desires requires the willingness to live a sacrificial life of saying no to the world’s treasures and pleasures. Sadly, this is the turning point for many believers who decide to detour from the Path of Righteousness.
Loving God motivates us to agree to become Spiritual Works-in-Progress. Every day, the Holy Spirit gradually performs the work of our spiritual transformation from the inside out [heart conversion]. Through daily personal worship, we ask God to reveal His plans, and we obey, without doubting His Divine Wisdom.
“This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21). God reveals His promise to provide guidance and direction for His people.” Faithful obedience invites the Holy Spirit to teach us how to live righteously. We are never alone. The Holy Spirit guides us day by day in our rugged journey on the Path of Righteousness.
The Life of Self-denial: “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.” (Romans 12:2, NIV).
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).
Yes, the Christian journey is tough! Although human effort is required, we cannot save ourselves. Every day we pray, asking the Holy Spirit to empower us with Jesus’ Divine Strength to overcome the internal conflict of our heart’s desires, and the external opposition of temptations.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2-3, NIV).
God Is Always Good! We have 24/7 access to Christ, who gives us His strength to persevere through our trials and hardships. Pray for guidance, wisdom, and strength throughout your day. Jesus lived on this earth, and He knows that daily self-denial is a tough journey.
God’s Divine Intervention: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV).
Human Effort: “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7, NLT).
Live With the Mindset: “I will not disobey God!” Our enemy, Satan, the roaring lion, knows our weaknesses, developing personalized temptations that are temporary and worthless. Still, we can never be coerced into sinning against God; we choose to sin.
When tempted, immediately pray with audible words that you can hear, asking Jesus, our Mighty Warrior, for His Help. Every prayer asking for Jesus’ Strength to overcome temptations and challenges is immediately answered by Jesus, our High Priest.
God is Always Good! Before we can blink our eyes, Psalm 91 tells us Michael [Jesus], the Commander of Angel Armies, sends His angels to strengthen us and to fight the unseen spiritual warfare of Satan’s evil angels. Hallelujah and Amen!
The days we live in are filled with evil. Become a prayer warrior! Prayer keeps us connected to Jesus, who receives every prayer. The Holy Spirit empowers us with Divine wisdom and supernatural strength to live righteously.
God is Always Good! The Triune God [God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit] is doing all that is possible to ensure that every believer receives their Crown of Life. The decision to choose life is up to us.
Human Effort plus Divine Intervention Always Ends in Victory!
Lord God, we thank you for your Amazing Love, Grace, and Mercies. We desire to change and ask You to reveal the traits in our characters that prevent us from living a sacrificial, faithful, and obedient life. We ask for forgiveness for wasting our gift of time, chasing after worthless desires. Lord God, thank You for Your love, faithfulness, and for always being Good. Teach us how to worship you in Spirit and Truth, and guide us in our journey so we can receive our reward of Eternal Life. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.
© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry
Can you imagine a life without the chains of uncertainty, anxiety, worry, and fear of the future?
Every believer has the opportunity to live a life overflowing with Jesus’ gifts of peace, joy, and happiness. Brothers and sisters, I am finally living that life!
The Commitment to Live a Sacrificial Life Dedicated to Follow Christ Is Required to Receive Spiritual Freedom
“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).
“Yes we are stained by sin, but the Supreme King of the universe says to come before His throne to receive help in our time of need. We are always in need of Jesus’ Divine Help.”
Through daily personal worship, we learn God’s plan for the new day. We pray the Prayer of Surrender: “God, what do you want me to do today?” Pray, Wait, and Obey.
When we commit to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through our thoughts and the Holy Scriptures, leading and keeping us on the Path of Righteousness.
The willingness to surrender our self-reliance and totally depend on our Shepherd with faithful obedience is rewarded with Jesus’ Righteous Blessings.
Despite the uncertainties of life, the faithful have no worries. But most importantly, we do not have to wonder if we are going to receive our reward of Eternal Life.
The Fruit of the Spirit describes the attributes of Christ’s Righteous Character: His followers must also have the Fruit of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, 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.” (Galatians 5:22-24).
Faithful obedience keeps us connected to Christ. In Philippians 1:6, Jesus promises to complete the work of spiritual growth and the transformation of our character, if we follow Him.
“Pray continuously!” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Jesus Christ, our Savior, Shepherd, and Triumphant King invites us to come boldly before God’s Throne of Grace with our failures, weaknesses, sorrows, and cares.
Pray more! Perfect peace comes from letting go of our thoughts and inclinations to resolve life’s challenges. We were created us to have a dependent relationship with Christ.
“I will never leave you or forsake you.” Jesus desires us to know that we are never alone. Created in the image of God, all of Heaven is dedicated to helping us in this journey of life.
Yeshua, the Commander of Angel Armies Promise: “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways…” (Psalm 91:11, NIV).
Christ always protects the righteous! We have guardian angels who fight the unseen spiritual warfare of Satan’s evil angels. Whisper prayers throughout your day to express gratitude for Jesus’ Abundant Love, Faithfulness, and Protection.
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding…” (Proverbs 2:6). God desires for us to have the spiritual wisdom necessary to perceive life through spiritual eyes.
Every day, ask for the free gift of wisdom. The Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom to discern truth from error, to understand the deepest meaning of the Holy Scriptures, and to understand the complexities of life.
Divine wisdom prevents us from becoming victims of scams, and being manipulated by Satan in matters of everyday life.
Divine wisdom and strength are required to recognize and overcome the internal conflict of following our hearts desires, and the external opposition of temptations.
Thank you Jesus for your Love! Yes, we have access to our Shepherd’s Divine Help 24/7. Yes and Amen!
Lord God, we come before Your Throne of Grace, yes, we are stained with sin, and have weaknesses, sorrows, cares, and failures. Still we accept Your invitation to help us, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We ask for the forgiveness of our sins. Guide us and empower us with the strength to live as victorious overcomers. Lord, we acknowledge that You are the Supreme King of the universe, and the Sustainer of our lives. With faith and joyful expectancy, we believe that You have answered this prayer that we ask in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry
On my first day of orientation as a Nursing Supervisor, I recall an unusual job training method conducted by Allison, the Regional Director, who informed me that for the next three days, I would spend time alone studying and learning the organization’s policies and nursing protocols.
When I entered the conference room, half of the table was covered with 4-inch binders bursting at the seams. From Monday to Wednesday, I studied for eight hours each day, absorbing all of the information my frontal lobe could manage.
On Thursday, Allison entered the conference room and stated, “I know that you do not understand why I instructed you to spend alone learning these policies and procedures, but in time, you will.”
Much to my surprise, I learned that although healthcare professionals must abide by the state’s licensure regulations for delivering care, regardless of their professional status, personal morals and values significantly impact a person’s judgment, critical thinking, and decision-making abilities.
It was disappointing to address the numerous policy violations during my tenure, which required staff remediation and additional training due to their knowledge deficits. The plan of correction included changes in the initial orientation and continuous education for the staff.
As I reflected on this past experience, I thought about Allison’s productive and effective training strategy of learning in solitude. From not spending time alone with God in personal worship, many believers have a knowledge deficit of God’s Righteous Character and how to live righteously because of the failure to study the Holy Scriptures.
Reflection: How are we managing our God-given gift of Time? “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, ESV).
Each new day, we stand at the Spiritual Crossroads: We must choose, will we put God first, or ourselves? Do we have a God-First mindset? Our initial morning thoughts reveal who our priority is: God or ourselves. If our default is reflecting on the busy day ahead, then sadly, we are number one.
Loving God requires the sacrificial gift of using our time to worship Him every day. We should not try to squeeze God into a busy schedule, but from the moment we awaken, our gratitude for another day of life is expressed by asking God to reveal His plans for the new day. Because God is God, He deserves the First Fruits of our gift of time in morning worship.
Evening worship is our opportunity to reflect on and to thank our Heavenly Father for the many blessings of provisions and protection from unseen spiritual warfare, physical harm, and the strength to complete our daily activities.
Which activities are covertly consuming our time? Are we spending more time at the gym than in worship? Or working countless hours of overtime in the pursuit of success and financial stability? Is Social Media, or watching the World News and Politics, our way of relaxing instead of praying? If we have a family, are the children’s schedules packed with numerous extracurricular activities that prevent daily family worship?
How do we put God first when we face countless distractions, crammed schedules, and overwhelming responsibilities? Managing our time not only requires the Big Chop, but we must also ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, so that nothing comes before our God-First commitment and our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Over 6,000 years ago, Jesus revealed The Perfect Time Management Plan: “He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while’—for there were many [people who were continually] coming and going, and they could not even find time to eat.” (Mark 16:31, Amplified Bible).
“Following Christ’s Example: Jesus often withdrew for solitary prayer, demonstrating that even He needed this time for wisdom and strength, [from God, the Father] a vital example for His followers.”
“Solitude isn’t loneliness; it’s a purposeful withdrawal for spiritual connection, allowing one to enjoy God’s presence and power, transforming moments of being alone into encounters with the Divine.”
One of Satan’s greatest deceptions that many believers have embraced is that we do not have to study the Bible. In fact, a most recent study finds that only “11-15% of Christians study the Bible daily.” But to remain committed, faithful, and obedient to God requires that we study the Holy Scriptures for ourselves.
“My people perish because of the lack of knowledge.”(Hosea 4:6). The Bible is our Spiritual Roadmap: Staying on the Narrow Path of Righteousness Requires Divine Intervention and Human Effort.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible reveals God’s Love, the attributes of His Righteous Character, Jesus’ earthly ministry, Promises, Prophecies, and teaches us how to live righteously. Before studying the Scriptures, we ask the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual wisdom, discernment, and clarity of God’s Word.
Isaiah 55:8-9: “‘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.'”
In faith, we ask for Divine Strength, and put forth the human effort to learn God’s Righteous Character, and obey His Commands, Precepts, and Principles. It is the Holy Scriptures that teach us how to prepare ourselves daily to receive our reward of Christ’s promise to take the righteous to Heaven when He comes again [Revelation 21-22].
“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).
In the quiet stillness of solitude, through prayer and studying the Holy Scriptures, Jesus gives us the Living Water and the Bread of Life necessary for our Spiritual Nourishment, and the Holy Spirit instructs us to do our part [obeying God], guiding us moment by moment as we strive to stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.
From dedicating time to be in the presence of God, we are changed into the likeness of Christ’s Beautiful Character, and as the Apostle Paul did, in the strength of Christ, we can also proclaim:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
Lord God, we commit our time that You have gifted us with to worship You in Spirit and Truth. We thank You for Your faithfulness even when we are not, and for our unfaithfulness, we ask for forgiveness. We look forward to the day when Jesus will come again and take us to Heaven. Until then, we ask You to empower us with Your strength to persevere through this journey of life. In Jesus’ Loving and Powerful Name, we pray, Amen.
© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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