Life is a wonderful blessing. We can learn to use our talents and spiritual gifts, choose our careers, and use our emotions to smile, laugh, and celebrate our accomplishments.
Yet, at some point in our lives, every human being shares the common experience of the abyss of emotional pain. When loss occurs, we experience disappointment and a sense of helplessness, often wondering if we had done things differently, could the loss have been prevented? The answer is usually no.
Loss happens in various ways: We lose jobs, our homes from the inability to pay the mortgage and from natural disasters, and wars; relationships, engagements, and marriages end; our health deteriorates; but the most devastating is the death of a loved one, which threatens to consume our very existence.
Jesus tells us that our earthly lives will include hardships: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation [hardships and adversity]; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
As Christian believers, how are we supposed to respond when we experience loss? True Peace and Rest are Found in Jesus: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13, NIV).
We use our faith to believe that our Heavenly Father loves us, He is faithful, and keeps our hope alive and thriving by always fulfilling His promises in the Holy Scriptures.
Jesus Promise: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3).
Yes, we will cry many tears in our earthly lives, yet if we invite Jesus into our pain, He promises to heal us. Although physical healing is not promised, Jesus always heals our mental and emotional distress because remaining unhealed interferes with our spiritual growth and transformation.
“For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the LORD…” (Jeremiah 30:17). Jesus Christ created us, and He is the One who promises to apply His Healing Balm to soothe our pain and heal our shattered hearts.
Jesus is our Compassionate Shepherd, gently guiding and moving us forward day by day, in little steps; Our Savior never expects us to take giant leaps in our Healing Journey.
Yes, even in our disappointment and despair, we are expected to use our faith to pray daily for strength and believe in Jesus’ infinite love, power, and promises.
Jesus’ Promise of Restoration: “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all Grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10, ESV).
When we use our faith [even if it is weak] to trust Jesus, He promises to restore and strengthen us and to give us New Beginnings.
“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, we come to you in our sorrow and brokenness, asking you to heal our hearts and to give us the strength to keep moving forward. We thank You for always loving us and Your never-ending faithfulness. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
“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).
Beginning each new day with a heart filled with praise and gratitude to God is a life-changing experience! From focusing on our blessings, our hearts are filled with love, joy, and peace.
Prayers of Gratitude redirects our focus from our desires to God’s overflowing blessings of life, health, an alert and oriented mind, and angelic protection from all harm.
Every day, we should express, “Thank You, God” for our consistent blessings of His guidance, resolving our challenges, and receiving all of our provisions.
Another blessing that we may take for granted, is the freedom to worship God without suffering persecution. Thousands of Christian brothers and sisters must worship God secretly, and we pray that God will give them strength to persevere.
“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).
Because God loves us and we trust Him, we know that we have all that we need. Grateful hearts also receive [from Christ] the spiritual gifts of peace, joy, and happiness.
By maintaining a spirit of commitment, we reveal our love, loyalty, and appreciation to Jesus Christ, Yahweh Yireh, our Faithful Provider, who deserves our praise and worship.
King David reminds us throughout the Book of Psalms to place our “full hope, trust, and joy in the LORD, who is our Shield and Helper.”
True joy comes from trusting in Jesus’ Holy Name and thanking Him for His Amazing Love, Grace, and Mercy. Yes and Amen!
Lord God, You have blessed us with another day of life, and we come to You with hearts filled with gratitude for all that You do for us. Yahweh Yireh, our Faithful Provider, we thank You for the sacrificial gift of Your life, for shielding us from unseen spiritual warfare and physical danger, and giving us hope, joy, and peace. In faith and with gratitude, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
In 2017, I was in West Virginia and attended prayer meeting with my cousin. Her pastor told us the story of a young man, who received a substantial prison sentence, and after serving many years, he was given a reprieve, which gave him his freedom. Yet, with fear, he stated, “I don’t want freedom, I want to serve the rest of my sentence.”
Although this story sounds unbelievable, sadly this scenario of the prisoner who refused freedom is also our mindset when we choose to stay in marriages, family relationships, and associate with people who do not have the love of God in their hearts, as evidenced by their continuous disrespect and abusive mistreatment of others.
“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment And the second is like it:bYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Matthew 22:37-39).
“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19).
God is Love! Jesus created us from love and gifted us with the ability to love and honor God, and to love and respect others. We were also created to receive Jesus’ spiritual gifts of joy, peace, and happiness.
1 John 3 is the letter the Apostle Paul sent to Gaius, his friend; “‘…as your soul prospers’ indicates that spiritual health (right thinking, choices, and relationship with God) is the foundation for [our] overall well-being.”
To love God is to love ourselves!
For us to enjoy God’s love, and optimal mental, emotional, physical, and most importantly spiritual health and prosperity, we cannot reject God’s Agape Love, replacing it with the abusive behaviors from those who reject God’s love and His commandment to love others.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3). Jesus died to give us freedom, not only from sin, but also to deliver and heal us from mental despair and emotional wounds.
Remaining in abusive situations, prevents us from loving Christ as He deserves, and blocks our spiritual growth and the transformation of our character required to receive Eternal Life.
“When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?'” (John 5:6).
Jesus also asks us, “Do you want to be made well?”
If our answer is yes, then we use our faith, and through His love, the Holy Spirit empowers us with the courage to leave every demonic situation that is a roadblock to embracing Jesus’ Abiding Love and His gift of Spiritual Peace. Yes and Amen!
Lord God, we thank You for Your Amazing Love and creating us with the ability to love. We live in a world permeated with sin and compromised values that allow us to tolerate the abusive mistreatment of others, who You created in Your image. Lord, we pray, and ask You to strengthen and empower Your sons and daughters to take a leap of faith and to embrace the freedom of healing that only You can offer us. In faith, we ask this prayer of deliverance and healing in the Powerful Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the One who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27, NLT)
Although the Monarch of Egypt could have easily commanded that Moses be put to death for relaying God’s message of freeing Israel from slavery, Moses placed his faith in God, courageously telling Pharaoh ten times, “God said, ‘Let My people go, that they may serve Me.'”
It was not until the tenth and final plague, “the death of the Egyptian firstborn males, both human and animal,” that Pharaoh was humbled, allowing the Israelites to leave Egypt, initiating the Exodus.
Because God, the Father, loved humanity, He required Jesus to die on Calvary’s Cross to redeem us from the slavery of sin [Romans 6:23]. Yes, Jesus paid the price of our freedom, still, love must be reciprocal; we must also serve God with love, faithful obedience, and a daily sacrificial offering:
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers [and sisters], by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” [Romans 12:1-2, ESV].
The believer’s life is one of sacrifice. We must renounce sin, secular music, violent games, pornography, same-sex programs, gambling, drinking, using mood-enhancing substances, sexual immorality, unmarried and living together, relationships with unbelievers, and employment where covert corruptness exists.
With faith and humility, we must let go of all selfish desires to follow Christ. Yet one of the Christian community’s greatest mistakes is the practice of “Self-reliance.” If we awaken with a personal agenda and the strategies to complete our goals without ever praying and asking God to reveal His plans for the new day, then God is not first in our lives.
Through self-evaluation, we should pray, asking God to reveal any stumbling blocks in our lives that would prevent us from receiving our reward of Eternal Life. We have become too comfortable in our earthly lives. Instead of seeing ourselves as “Temporary Travelers on a Temporary Earth,” our focus is on pursuing our desires and goals, leaving little time for a personal relationship with Christ.
Truthfully, we know how we are spending our time. Jobs, personal habits, and relationships that cause us to put God in second place, we must let go of. The day will come when God commands us to “Let go” of whatever is causing us to place God as number two.
God’s Command to Abram: “Now the LORD had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.'” (Genesis 12:1).
Abraham’s Response: “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8). God moved Abram from a pagan land, changed his name to Abraham, and made him the father of a great nation.
Reflection: Think deeply on how you would respond if God commanded you not to marry the person you are deeply in love with, resign from your job, not purchase the home or vehicle, or relocate to another state or country?
Because we have redirected our faith and trust from God to ourselves, when God commands us to let go or to perform a task that requires a giant leap of faith, we will respond with doubt and fear. Self-reliance destroys our faith and trust in God’s Sovereign and Absolute Power.
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). Our independent lifestyles shape our perception of God. Instead of seeing God as the All-Powerful God that He is, we place God on our level, as if He possesses the same human limitations that we were created with.
“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). When God gives us a command, He already has the entire plan worked out that always ends in victory! Know this:
God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19).
“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 1:19).
Steadfast Faith Anchors Us to Jesus Christ: “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4).
Our faith and courage must be anchored in Jesus Christ, the Rock. Consistent personal worship [Prayer and Bible Study] establishes and maintains our relationship with Christ, and builds our faith and trust in God’s Sovereign Power.
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10). Prayer elevates us spiritually into God’s presence, where we receive a supernatural blessing of the strength to persevere, and the reassurance that God will help us, resulting in renewed hope and peace.
“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.” (Lamentations 3:25). Throughout the Bible, we learn that God always helps the righteous when in faith, we pray, ask, and thank Him in advance for His Divine Intervention.
“My people perish for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6). Every day, we must actively participate in our Salvation. Spiritual growth and transformation can only happen when we do our part: Follow Jesus, pray for guidance, and study the Holy Scriptures to learn God’s Loving and Righteous Character, and do exactly what He requires of us.
In Romans 12:1-2, the Apostle Paul tells us that Sanctification requires the decision to surrender, practice self-denial, and the willingness to faithfully follow Christ, trusting and obeying His plans for our lives.
Manage Your Time Wisely: Designating specific times for worship strengthens our faith and courage because the Holy Spirit provides us with deeper spiritual knowledge, wisdom, and discernment of the Scriptures, God’s Righteous Character, and His promises to deliver us.
“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7). Our relationship with Jesus Christ is a daily spiritual journey that requires faith and the courage to trust in God’s Sovereign Plans and Power.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).
The life of a believer is one of total surrender and faithful obedience. We strive to maintain a Christ-Centered, Faith-based commitment to God by praying for the continuous guidance of the Holy Spirit.
“Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:14). Jesus warns us that following Him is a daily, intentional decision to use our faith to trust and obey God. The Path of Righteousness is a “Challenging Road of Faith and Obedience leading to Eternal Life.”
We were created to trust and depend on Christ. It is spiritually impossible to use only human thoughts and efforts to keep ourselves on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.
“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). If we use our faith to completely trust and rely on Jesus’ wisdom, we will receive spiritual guidance from the Holy Spirit.
The Creation story in Genesis chapters 1-3 reveals God’s Loving Character. From the beginning, Jesus created a most beautiful earthly home that provided all that we would ever need.
Because God is Omniscient [All-Knowing], God knew that Adam and Eve would choose to disobey. Yet, the Plan of Redemption requiring Christ to die on Calvary’s Cross was already established before the creation of humanity.
Reflection: Where do we really stand in our faith journey with Jesus Christ?
“For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good, and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11). God’s goal is for the righteous to live forever with Him. Still, every human being chooses their destiny. Only with steadfast faith, trust, and obedience, and the power of the Holy Spirit, can we receive our Eternal reward.
“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).
Lord God, we thank You for Your amazing love and the gift of Your only Son, Jesus Christ, who redeems us from our sins. Lord, we confess that we are not steadfast in our faith and trust, and for this we ask for forgiveness. We desire Eternal Life and ask for the Holy Spirit to instruct and guide us in our choices. Give us the wisdom to prepare ourselves as we seek you through daily prayer and study of the Scriptures. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the Throne of Grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16, ESV)
In John 16:33, Jesus explains our spiritual journey and His promise to take care of us:
“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]. [Amplified Bible].
In Mark 11, Jesus says that if we have faith and ask anything in His name, we can move mountains. No, it is not literal mountains; Jesus is referring to the hardships and vicissitudes of life.
We start our day with optimism and the intent to accomplish our plans. However, it is the unexpected daily challenges and life-changing adversities that human effort cannot resolve, which threaten to rob us of our joy and peace.
Jesus tells us to be confident; every aspect of our lives is known by our Heavenly Father: “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.'” (Isaiah 46:9-10, NIV).
Despite the present obstacles, knowing God’s promises and reminding ourselves that God loves us alleviates the burden of trying to figure out an answer. Trusting God is the only way to enjoy our spiritual gift of Jesus’ Perfect Peace.
Consistent Prayer keeps us connected to Jesus Christ, our High Priest and Intercessor, who receives and answers our prayers given to Him from the Holy Spirit. Yes, studying the Holy Scriptures gives us knowledge of God’s Character, but it is using our faith to believe that God is who He says He is that pleases God.
“I Am That I Am” (Exodus 3:14) is a declaration of God’s Eternal, Self-Existent, and Unchanging Nature. God is Omniscient, [All-Knowing], Omnipotent [All-Powerful], and the Absolute Sovereign Authority of this universe. Yes and Amen!
“Behold, I am Yahweh, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27, Legacy Standard Bible). Following Christ means that we use our faith to completely trust Him with every aspect of our lives.
When facing challenges, we must fight the urge to divide our obstacles into two lists: “The situations I will resolve and the situations I will give to Jesus [because I do not have the ability to resolve these issues].”
“Behold, God is my Helper; the Lord is the Upholder [ Sustainer] of my life.” (Psalm 54:4, ESV). We should never limit the love of God and His commitment to perform miracles. God is interested even in the little details of our lives.
Fight against the thought of, “What am I going to do?” We redirect our faith and focus from ourselves back to God and immediately pray, asking Jesus for His Divine Help and Strength.
I can recall being mentally fatigued at my new job and wondering if I would be able to make a long-term commitment. I whispered a silent prayer, and the Holy Spirit instructed me [through my thoughts] to take my lunch break alone that day.
I went to my vehicle, prayed, and listened to Christian music. By the Holy Spirit, I believed Jesus’ promise of strength. And because of my faith, He strengthened me spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Jesus always replenishes our joy and hope. I finished the day with a smile on my face. From obeying the Holy Spirit to separate and spend time worshiping Jesus, I received the blessings of spiritual encouragement and the energy to keep going beyond my human ability.
“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).
When prayer is our first and immediate response, we eliminate the possibilities of our minds being held hostage by the faith-draining emotions of fear, anxiety, and worry.
In faith, we humbly admit our need for God by going to His Throne of Grace. “Jesus, I need Your help with…” is the invitation He waits for, and with joyful expectancy, we have confidence that He will answer our prayer and resolve every challenge.
“Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14). Pray and Wait on God, whose timing will never match our desire for instant answers and resolutions. Every day, while waiting, maintain your faith, trust, and courage by thanking God for His Divine Help.
“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10). Depending on Christ and waiting for His Divine Resolutions has numerous benefits: Waiting strengthens our faith, facilitates trust and obedience to God, eliminates guesswork, and prevents us from suffering adverse consequences.
I received two miracles this week and can confidently say there is nothing more exciting than receiving God’s Supernatural Blessings, which always surpass our human understanding and strategies.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9).
Lord God, we thank You for Your unfailing Love, Grace, and Mercies, which include intervening and resolving every challenge that we ask You to help us with. We ask You to strengthen our faith, as we wait for Your answer. In faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
“Let us then approach God’s Throne of Grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16).
In Philippians 4:6-7, Jesus tells us the answer to alleviating all anxiety, we exchange our worries for peace through the power of prayer. As we bring our requests to God, we use our faith [even if it is weak] to approach the Throne of Grace with confidence because we have received the promise that we can always rely on Jesus.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus compared Himself to the Rock. When we place our faith in Christ, we have the assurance that our lives will remain stable because He never changes. Yes and Amen!
When the Israelites faced an impassable Red Sea ahead of them and Pharaoh’s Army behind them, their response was a total lack of faith in God’s Sovereign Power:
“And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord…” (Exodus 14:10).
The Faith of Moses: “And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.'” (Exodus 14:13-14).
We know how Christ, who called Himself the Angel of the Lord in Exodus 14, our Mighty Warrior, resolved the situation with arrogant Pharaoh and his army—they drowned in the Red Sea: “The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.” (Exodus 14:28, NIV).
Studying the Holy Bible gives us knowledge of how God intervened for the righteous who used their faith to cry out for His Help. Knowing God’s Loving and Righteous Character gives us the courage to believe that God loves us and will always give us the victory.
In Psalm 91, angels are assigned by Christ to keep us safe. God is the Source and Sustainer of our lives. It is His Ruach breath that flows through our bodies. Faith propels us to believe without doubt that our Heavenly Father is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory! Yes and Amen.
God knows our weaknesses, but He reminds us that He does not have human limitations: “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
“Each day, we can choose to trade our anxieties for His peace. Our trials and troubles are opportunities to rely on Him.”
Whether facing routine obstacles or humanly impossible dilemmas, a Prayer of Faith should be our First Response. Making prayer a habit when all is well gives us the courage to immediately pray for God’s Divine Help when facing the tough times of adversity.
We use our Faith to “Trade our real-life anxieties for real-time peace.” When we really believe in God’s Sovereign Power, then Peace should come naturally, because God’s promises always remain the same.
“I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:9-10).
Lord God, we thank You for Your Love and the Holy Scriptures, which remind us that we are never forgotten. We ask for forgiveness for letting anxiety and worry consume us instead of immediately using our faith to bend our knees to ask You for Help. Lord, give us strength and peace, and we thank You in advance for Your Divine Intervention and Resolution. In faith, we pray in the Powerful Name of Jesus, Amen.
“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry…”
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart…”
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:15, 17, 19).
Although God does not cause adversity in our lives, He allows us to experience challenges that we cannot resolve to maintain our dependency on Him.
There is a dual purpose for trials: First, our challenges redirect our faith and focus from our abilities to the love and unlimited power of Jesus Christ. We were created to surrender and depend on God, not ourselves.
Trials are designed to produce the righteous characteristics of steadfast faith and trust in God, courage, and perseverance, producing the spiritual growth and maturity required to receive our reward of Eternal Life.
“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. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4, NIV).
Lord God, in obedience, we come to You with our challenges and hardships. We believe that You love us and that Your promises are true. While we wait for Your Divine Intervention,we desperately need Your strength. Thank You for loving us. Thank You for giving us the victory. And in faith, we ask this prayer in the Righteous and Powerful Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear [revere] Him…” (Psalm 103: 8, 11).
Every day, we must make decisions and choices that should always include God’s Divine wisdom. With God, our faith grows, and our minds are filled with peace, because we know that our Heavenly Father will always give us a perfect outcome.
Maintaining a spirit of gratitude, praying, and studying the Holy Scriptures are daily faith-building activities, giving us knowledge of God’s Character and His steadfast Promises. Daily personal worship indicates that we are actively participating in our journey of spiritual growth and development.
Loving God gives us the desire to be in His presence. Personal worship not only reveals our love and loyalty to God, but also invites the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual wisdom and discernment of the Scriptures and the strength to live righteously.
In John 14:1-3, Jesus reveals the expected end for the faithful, believers who let go of their desires and the world’s treasures and pleasures to follow Christ. God has gifted everyone a measure of faith. Either we use our faith to believe in ourselves, or in God.
Jesus compared “faith” to a mustard seed. The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, yet it is…” considered strong, hardy, and resilient, and capable of withstanding harsh conditions and providing shade.” By trusting God, the Holy Spirit keeps us aligned with God’s Divine purpose of Eternal Life.
To remain on the narrow Path of Righteousness, we use our faith to trust that Christ is the King of our lives, and we study the Bible with the intent to obey: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17).
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, NIV).
The Holy Scriptures reveal God’s promises and faithfulness in helping the righteous; still, we need more than knowledge of the Scriptures, faith requires the childlike belief of, “If God said it, He will do it.”
“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.” (John 16:33, Amplified Bible).
Hardships are guaranteed to happen. All is well, and then it isn’t. If we choose Christ, then we are never alone. In faith, we ask God for His help and guidance, and in the same prayer, we thank God for His intervention.
God never expected us to carry the burdens of life that we readily take ownership of, wearing ourselves down to the point of mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion. Burdens also prevent spiritual growth and restoration because they cause us to lose our faith in God.
“Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10). God commands us to “Cease striving.” Our Loving Heavenly Father does not require us to resolve our challenges; God requires us to have steadfast faith in His promises to always help us.
When we pray for help, if God desires our participation in the resolution, the Holy Spirit will guide us in understanding what we need to do. However, in many cases, God simply asks us to have faith and patiently wait for His intervention.
In fact, God tells us that He has already answered our prayer of faith: “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).
You may think, “But God has not answered my prayer because nothing has changed.”
God is Omniscient [All-Knowing], so He already knows every adversity we will face in our lifetime. And His answers to our challenges have existed, even before we were conceived.
“Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14). God’s timing is never our timing. We live in an environment of immediate answers and resolutions, but God uses the time of waiting to test our faith in Him.
“Would not God discover this? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44:21). Although we say that we believe in God’s power, God already knows whether our faith is weak and wavering or strong and steadfast.
Waiting on God places us at a Spiritual Crossroads. Either we will choose to place 100% of our faith and wait with gratitude for the anticipated resolution, or we will attempt to resolve the challenge ourselves.
The Big Reveal: Waiting on God has two purposes: Waiting is a powerful act of faithful obedience, and waiting reveals whether or not we really believe in and trust God’s love, power, and promises.
During the wait, if we have anxious, worried thoughts about our challenges, wondering how and when God will intervene, then our hearts are filled with doubt and unbelief.
“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!'” (Mark 9:24).
Jesus is our Savior and Heavenly Intercessor whose heart is filled with love and compassion, and He knows our weaknesses. With humility, we pray an honest prayer of confession: “God, my faith is weak, but I believe that You love me and will keep Your promises to help me.”
Reflection: What is your knowledge base of God’s promises? We should know at least 3-4 Promises of God, and meditate on them every day.
Christ is our Savior, Redeemer, Intercessor, Provider, and Protector!
“I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). Trusting in God’s promises of never abandoning us, and believing that God is faithful, always keeping His promises, gives us hope even when facing harsh adversity.
“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).
Steadfast faith in God also gives us the confidence that He always answers our prayers. God knows exactly what we need and when we need it. Weak faith? Pray anyway!
“Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and went out to a solitary place to pray.” (Mark 1:35).
Separation, Solitude, and Silence: In personal worship, we need to hear from God. “…go to a private, secluded, secret place to pray, God is there in that secret place.” Whisper the short prayer of humility: ‘Lord, I need Your help.”
“But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6).
Close your eyes, meditate on God’s love and promises. The Bible reveals that it is in the quiet places where the Holy Spirit enters, giving us comfort and guidance, and empowering us with Jesus’ strength.
“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'” (Isaiah 41:10).
Imagine never experiencing another moment of being unsure about the outcomes of decision-making. Whether our challenges are great or a small part of our daily lives, God promises to guide us, and to give us a victorious outcome that honors His Holy Name.
In faith, Pray, Trust Him, and Wait: “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14).
Lord God, we thank You for loving us and caring about the challenges we face. In faith, we ask for Your help. We thank You for Your commitment to resolving our challenges and giving us peace and victory. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray, Amen.
“Behold, I am the LORD the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
Most of my adult life, I was always thinking about how I would resolve my challenges, which led to a history of insomnia. In 2025, I watched a sermon on the courage that is required to use our faith to trust God completely with every aspect of our lives, including the small details.
Only a few Christians actually surrender themselves fully to God. Unfortunately, we have embraced the unbeliever’s practice of self-reliance. Instead of using our faith to trust in God, we have redirected our faith and trust to ourselves, which equates to a nonverbal, “God, I do not trust You.
“Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.” (Psalm 37:5).
It is easy to say that God is Good, but it is not the words that we speak that indicate our love, faith, and trust; it is our worship of faithful obedience and completely trusting God with our lives that reveal our love for God.
“I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.” (John 15;5, Amplified Bible).
For many, just the thought of relinquishing that control creates an unrighteous spirit of rebellion against God. Yet, Jesus tells us that trusting and obeying Him is not optional: “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7).
The outcome of my decision to fully surrender and place my faith and trust in God is that every day, I enjoy Jesus’ gift of spiritual peace. The challenges and obstacles have not ceased, but I decided to throw away self-reliance, which freed me from the strongholds of worry and disobedience.
To know that you are in right-standing with God is peace! Now, I pray and wait on God’s resolution. No more rebellion against God and no more insomnia. “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8).
The reality is, if we cannot trust God in our earthly lives, and Jesus says we cannot please God without placing our faith and trust in Him, then how will we be prepared to trust God for eternity? Let go! And trust God, He is Faithful. Yes and Amen.
“And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28).
Lord God, our minds are filled with doubt instead of Jesus’ peace. And for our unbelief, we ask for forgiveness. We thank You for loving us despite our rebellious spirit of self-reliance. Lord, we thank You for the Sabbath, a time that we can focus on You and a time of peace and restoration of our minds, bodies, and souls. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in faith and in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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