“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32).
“Becoming more like Christ [should be] the desire of every believer, and it is encouraging to know that God has the same desire for us.”
How important is it for us to be conformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ? Our character, personality, and how we relate to others matter to God and will determine our destiny.
“In fact, the Bible says that God ‘predestined [believers] to be conformed to the likeness of his Son'” (Romans 8:29, NIV).
God’s Righteous Standards and Goals For Our Character Transformation
1. Hearts filled with Unconditional Love and Forgiveness.
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
2. The Fruit of the Spirit is Jesus’ Righteous Character Attributes:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23).
3. A spirit of humility, committed to standing for truth, along with treating others with kindness.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, ESV).
4. From Accepting Christ, We Become New People: Our characters should not imitate the characters of unbelievers or reflect their worldviews.
“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. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:24-26).
Divine Intervention and Human Effort Are Required for Spiritual Transformation: We cannot change ourselves; it is the Holy Spirit who changes us. Still, we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit to experience spiritual transformation.
God does not override our Free Will of Choice; The Holy Spirit can only change us if we have the desire to be like Christ. With a spirit of humility, we pray and ask God to change our character. And then our battles begin!
The transformation of our character does not happen in the way that we think it would. We will face various types of challenges, and how we react demonstrates whether or not we are cooperating with the Holy Spirit to bring about change.
Reflection: Identify the situations that consistently annoy you, as these will be the trials and temptations that challenge your faith and ability to practice self-control, leading to spiritual transformation.
God has gifted us with self-control. As soon as you feel an emotional response stirring inside of you, remain silent, separate yourself, and pray an honest prayer: “Lord, I am angry, [annoyed, frustrated, anxious], and I need Your help. Please give me the strength to remain silent and calm my spirit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].” (2 Timothy 1:7, Amplified Bible).
We cannot use inherited tendencies or cultural influences to justify the wrongful mistreatment of others with anger and harsh words. We have the God-given ability to control ourselves, or we would not exercise self-control at church and on our jobs.
Although we come from various backgrounds, the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit teach us acceptable Christian Behaviors. Those who possess fiery tempers and abuse others have a demonic stronghold over their minds and will need to add fasting to their daily lives. [Study Matthew 17:14-21].
God knows that we cannot change ourselves without receiving His Divine Strength. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us with Christ’s strength to overcome unrighteous character traits. Much prayer and fasting are required to gain the victory over inherited traits and learned behaviors.
“I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13). With God, change is possible. Yes, we can have Christ’s gentle, quiet, and humble spirit.
Lord God, we recognize that we desperately need Your help to change. We ask for forgiveness for not controlling our behaviors and for hurting others. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness and fill us with a spirit of gentleness that represents Your love and character. In faith, we ask this prayer, in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'” (Matthew 11:28, NLT).
Overwhelming daily to-do lists combined with the unknown obstacles that occur throughout our day places a taxing effort on our mental, emotional, and physical health.
In fact, the busyness and distractions are preventing us from worshiping God every day through prayer and Bible Study, but God’s expectations have not changed. We were created to worship God seven days a week.
God’s Call to Worship and Obedience
“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.” (Psalm 95:6-7).
Without daily personal worship, we are disconnected from Christ, which forces us to live according to our own thoughts, resulting in a state of disobedience.
Cain, and Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, and the men in Athens who only expressed belief in “The Unknown God” reveal that God rejects worship from those with disobedient hearts, and those who worship false pagan deities.
Disobedience is rebellion against God, and separates us from a Holy and Righteous God. Disobeying God places the believer on the same spiritual status as an unbeliever.
Obedience to God Is Worship
Because of God’s love and His desire for us to spend intentional time with Him, our Heavenly Father blessed us with 24 hours to redirect our focus from the vicissitudes of life to focus on His Faithfulness.
Yes, God has provided a Spiritual Sabbatical of 24 hours to escape life’s relentless schedules and responsibilities, and to receive a complete Spiritual Restoration of our mind, body, and soul.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work…” (Exodus 20:8-10).
Because we honor God’s Commandment of not taking care of routine matters on the Sabbath, God blesses us with peace, joy, happiness, knowledge, wisdom, restoration, and spiritual healing.
The Sabbath protects us from the devastating impact on one’s health from life’s continuous stressors, still, we enjoy another benefit, a worry-free mind.
David reiterates God’s faithfulness to the righteous: “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread.” (Psalm 37:5).
In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow, and from our obedience, we have the assurance that Jesus is Faithful: He promises to provide for us, and He does.
Yes, for our obedience, we also receive many rewards for honoring God’s Moral Law. From spending time in His presence every day, and engaging in Sabbath worship, our faith and confidence in God strengthens.
The Holy Spirit gives us the spiritual wisdom to receive a deeper understanding of the Holy Scriptures, which empowers us to perceive life through spiritual eyes.
Sanctification is the lifelong spiritual process of growth and transformation.
Because our focus is spiritual, during the Sabbath hours, the transforming power of the Holy Spirit works on molding our characters into the Righteous Character of Christ [Study Galatians 5:22-23].
Not only are we blessed with an optimal level of spiritual health and wellness, studies prove that Sabbath keepers enjoy a higher level of mental, emotional, and physical wellness, do not experience premature aging, and enjoy longevity.
Obedience to God is rewarded by God, who blesses those who keep His Commandments with continuous spiritual prosperity, guidance, protection, wisdom, and a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.
Creation Sabbath was established by God for humanity [Genesis, Chapters 1-2]. Adam and Eve were the first human beings who enjoyed the first Sabbath hours of worship with God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, and the angels.
The Bible does not explain to us how the joint Sabbath worship occurred between Adam and Eve, God, Jesus, and the angels. We can only imagine the beauty of worshiping God face-to-face as Adam and Eve did before they sinned.
Jesus Says: “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).
“And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,’ says the LORD.” (Isaiah 66:23).
Throughout eternity, God will continue the observance of the Holy Sabbath, a time of rejoicing because the righteous will be home at last.
And after the 1,000 years following Jesus’ Second Coming, our Triumphant King will destroy Satan, those who chose to follow The Great Deceiver, and this present Earth.
“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.'” (revelation 21:5).
Our Lord, Savior, and King will create the New Heaven and New Earth for the faithful, obedient believers who [in their earthly lives] followed Christ, and lived a sacrificial life of self-denial, guided by the Holy Spirit. Yes and Amen!
Lord God we thank You for Your amazing love and faithfulness. And we thank You for the blessing of the Holy Sabbath, a time of worship, spiritual enlightenment, and the renewal of our mental, emotional, and physical health. We look forward to the time when we will praise and worship You face-to-face for eternity. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.” (Psalm 34:14, 17).
Faith in God is always rewarded. Not only do we receive the blessings of God’s guidance and protection, if we ask, the Holy Spirit will also give us the gifts of spiritual wisdom and discernment.
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17, ESV).
Spiritual wisdom differs greatly from human thoughts because it is given by God, Who is Omniscient, All-Knowing.
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding…” (Proverbs 2:6).
Yes, we can enjoy the blessings of peace and happiness that comes from trusting and relying on God’s Higher Thoughts.
It is a wonderful experience to pray in faith knowing that God’s answers never include the need to re-evaluate because the resolution failed. Yes and Amen!
“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding…” (Proverbs 3:13).
Divine Wisdom gives us the spiritual insight to understand the deeper meaning of the Holy Scriptures, and to see life through spiritual eyes.
Divine wisdom changes the way that we think and live. Perceiving life through spiritual eyes results in us letting go of the people, places, and habits that we used to enjoy.
The Benefits of Faith-building Prayers: From including God in every decision, we learn to rely totally on Jesus Christ. There is no guesswork or mistakes! We know that God’s Solutions always produce perfect endings.
Still, there are other benefits from placing our faith and trust in God; we develop the spirit of humility necessary for the Holy Spirit to guide us daily on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.
And from our dependency on God, while others live with fear, we live courageously, knowing that the Holy Spirit will empower us with Jesus’ Divine Strength to keep moving forward in our earthly journey.
Our 2026 Declaration: I will trust in God, not in my limited thoughts and understanding!
Through the surrender of daily personal worship, the Holy Spirit transforms our minds by giving us the spiritual wisdom and discernment to recognize Satan’s covert temptations.
We pray throughout our day for Jesus’ Strength because we know that we need His Power to overcome external temptations and our internal desires.
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17, NIV).
Our spiritual battles also include fighting against the character trait of self-reliance. Praying continuously, keeps us dependent on God, aligning us with His Divine Will and Plans.
Every day, it is our responsibility to bring our minds into harmony with God through Prayer and Bible Study. Surrendering ourselves to God is a daily act of faith.
“Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you.” (Isaiah 55:3).
When we pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten us to think as God thinks; not only are we protected from suffering consequences, but our obedience is rewarded with stronger faith, wisdom, courage, and victorious outcomes. Yes and Amen!
Lord God, we thank You for Your Amazing Love and the many benefits that You give to us. We consecrate ourselves to follow Christ through surrender and faithful obedience. Lord, we ask for our hearts to be changed. You have blessed us to enter a New Year that requires spiritual wisdom and understanding to be aligned with Your perfect Will and Plans for our lives. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32, ESV)
Can you love and forgive those who have hurt, betrayed, and abandoned you? Your answer reveals whether or not you love God.
Can you imagine that the person or people that hurt you asked God to forgive them, which He always does, but you refused and never forgave them. Who will be in heaven?
“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up His clothes by casting lots.” (Luke 23:34, NIV).
We Cannot Love God and Hate Others
Although we like to demand that other people ask us to forgive them, Jesus revealed while He was on Calvary’s Cross, what God expects every believer to do, and that is to obey His Command to forgive others.
“But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:15, NIV).
Jesus tells us unless we forgive our enemies, God does not forgive us of our sins.
We must also ask God to forgive us for disobeying His command to forgive others by holding grudges [hatred] in our hearts.
“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).
On the other side of hurt and harm: We have hurt or harmed other people that we cannot contact due to legal reasons, or they may be deceased; we ask God to forgive us, we believe that God has forgiven us, and we let go of all guilt.
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12).
Lord God, we thank You for Your Love, Grace, Mercies, and Faithfulness. Thank You for sustaining our lives through 2025. And we also are grateful for the gift of Jesus, who died on the cross that we may be forgiven of every sin, we have committed. Lord, we pray for those who are holding the sins of unforgiveness and hatred in their hearts that they will not carry those transgressions into the New Year of 2026. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Brothers and Sisters, End 2025 and begin 2026 in Victory through Christ Jesus!
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV)
Modern Biblical translation: “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).
“In Hebrew, tsalach (צָלַח) means to prosper, succeed, advance, break through, or flourish, often implying overcoming obstacles or moving forward mightily, not financial gain, but spiritual and personal progress, like Joseph in the Bible, signifying God’s empowering presence leading to success and flourishing.”
“The Greek word translated as ‘prosper’ is euodoutai, which means to progress, to develop in a positive way, to have a good journey, to go well.”
“A prospering soul is spiritually healthy, growing in faith, and aligning with God’s truth. For a soul to prosper implies a developing spiritual walk marked by integrity, peace, joy, and a deepening relationship with God.”
Truthfully, like the Israelites in Egypt, many of today’s Christians have embraced the pagan beliefs of our counterparts, and we associate the word “prosperity” with [$$$] wealth, materialism, and elevated social status.
The Prosperity Message is a false teaching that emphasizes the acquisition of wealth, material possessions, and success, yet it is not in alignment with God’s teachings of Holy Scripture.
We know who [Satan] developed this false, but highly effective message that continues to deceive and distract many Believers from being loyal to God by redirecting their focus to acquiring earthly treasures.
The fall of Adam and Eve proves that we are never satisfied with God’s blessings. Satan knows the condition of the human heart; we always desire more than what we have.
Jesus’ Command Protects Us: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21).
After Jesus completed His fast of 40 days in the wilderness, Satan’s third temptation to Christ was based on wealth and success: Jesus’ Response to Satan Clarifies God’s Righteous Principles on Materialism.
The Temptation: “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.'”
Jesus Used the Sword, The Word of God, and Satan Left: “Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ “Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended Him.” (Matthew 4:8-11, NIV).
We have given Satan the advantage over us because we do not know or understand who we are through Christ Jesus. We are the Sons and Daughters of God who will inherit the Crown of Life—Immortality in the New Heaven and New Earth. Yes, Salvation is free, but Eternal Life is a reward for our faithful obedience and spiritual works [Revelation 22:12].
Our Identity: “Then God said, ‘Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26); “For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence.” (Ephesians 1:4)
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” (1 Peter 2:9).
“You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet.” (Psalm 8:5-6). When Christ created Adam, He gave Adam Dominion—Rulership over the Planet Earth.
Adam sinned, lost dominion, which Satan gained; but when Jesus said, “It is finished!” On Calvary’s Cross, our Triumphant King not only completed the Plan of Redemption, but He gained dominion over the Earth! Hallelujah and Amen! Study Revelation 19 to learn the end of the story.
Jesus Gives Us Insight Into the Future: The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, so they attempted to challenge Jesus: “In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be of the seven? For all of them were married to her. Jesus answered, ‘You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. In the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven…” (Matthew 22:28-30).
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer…For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…I will be like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:12-14).
Satan’s temptations are effective for two reasons: 1. We do not understand Satan’s diabolical mind. Christ created Lucifer with superior intelligence, and we forget that Satan is a fallen angel that possesses intellect and wisdom beyond and above human intellect.
2. “My people perish for lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6). Satan has an advantage over most Believers: He knows the Holy Scriptures, and he also knows that we do not study the Bible, which makes us easy prey for this Predator of human souls.
Satan is not Omniscient; he cannot read our minds or thoughts, but from observing our lifestyles, if we are disloyal and disobedient, we easily reveal our true spiritual status with God.
Sadly, from our refusal to study the Bible that God has given to empower and guide us, Satan is overly confident that his temptations will make us fall.
“Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8).
And the roaring lion’s temptations will continue to bombard the Christian Community because we desire the same lifestyle as unbelievers, who live to gain prosperity on an Earth that will be destroyed.
“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 6:12-13).
Brothers and Sisters, The Great Controversy of Good and Evil is a Spiritual War between Christ and Satan. We are Satan’s target! He is after our souls, and it’s time for us to stop chasing our desires and pledge our Allegiance to the Most High and Holy God!
Jesus, Our Mighty Warrior’s Plan:
1. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10-11).
2. “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).
God’s plan is to give us a perfect eternity with Him, in the New Heaven and New Earth, which requires the commitment to live a sacrificial life.
“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. ‘Follow Me,’ He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9, BSB).
When we accepted Christ as our personal Savior, like Matthew, we became Jesus’ disciples, who dedicated ourselves to following our Faithful Shepherd with love, loyalty, and obedience.
Have this conversation with yourself: “Do I believe that Jesus loves me?” “Do I believe that God is interested in my personal struggles?” “Do I believe that God will help me live as a Victorious Overcomer?”
A heart overflowing with love for Jesus is revealed through a lifestyle of daily surrender, faithful obedience, seeking guidance in prayer, and studying the Holy Scriptures. Church attendance is good, but once-a-week worship cannot give the Spiritual Nourishment and Power that daily personal worship provides.
Being a soldier in God’s Army requires total commitment. Every day, we separate ourselves from others to worship God privately.
A reverent atmosphere of solitude and silence is required for us to be in God’s Holy Presence, resulting in the Holy Spirit empowering us with Jesus’ Divine Wisdom, Discernment, and Spiritual Strength.
Three Promises Proclaiming God’s Faithfulness
“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).
“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).
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20).
Brothers and Sisters, All or Nothing is required to love Christ. Do not give up your eternal inheritance for this earth’s temporary trinkets. Peace and Blessings.
Bible Study: Ephesians 6, Revelation 19-22
Lord God, we have come to our senses, knowing that we desperately need You to overcome the internal conflict of our desires and the external opposition of temptations. We confess that we have not loved You as You deserve, and for this we ask for forgiveness. Lord, we ask you to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, fill us with your Holy Spirit, and teach us how to think, speak, and live holy. In faith, we ask this prayer for strength and restoration in the loving and Powerful Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Set aside personal time with God every day. Solitude and Silence are necessary to hear the Voice of God. Prayer invites God, the Holy Spirit to speak to us through our thoughts, our conscience, and the Holy Scriptures.
It is God’s will for us to depend on Him in every aspect of our lives. We desperately seek His intervention when facing dilemmas, but our Heavenly Father also desires to give us guidance in the routine matters of life.
Dependency on God alleviates anxiety, worries, and prevents suffering the guaranteed consequences from relying on our thoughts and human wisdom.
Make the commitment to trust God with your life. Faith, even if it is weak, is strengthened by the Holy Spirit, who empowers us with the wisdom to view life through spiritual eyes.
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? (Jeremiah 32:27).
Facing battles? Put your faith and trust in Yahweh! He is a Mighty Warrior who always wins. Believers, it’s time for us to depend on God, and live as Victorious Overcomers! Yes and Amen!
Lord God, You are so awesome. We thank You for all of the love and attention that You give to us, everyday of our lives. We repent for having a spirit of ingratitude. Lord, we commit to spending more time with you in personal worship. We are facing battles that we cannot win without your Divine Help. And we thank You in advance for giving us the victory. Thank you for the Sabbath. As we worship You, we pray for the spiritual blessing of strength to persevere in our earthly journey. We ask this prayer in faith and in the Loving Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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.
“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.
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