“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.
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
We use our faith to believe that God is who He says He is: Loving and Omnipotent [All-Powerful], and YAHWEH Yireh [Our Provider]. Trusting God is easy when we are confident that He loves us and desires the best for our lives.
“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. Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:5-7).
Unbelieving Believers: Believing only that God exists in Heaven happens when we redirect our faith and trust from God to ourselves. Sadly, many feel unloved by God because they trust their limited abilities to resolve life’s challenges.
When we doubt God’s Love, Power, and Promises, we place ourselves on the same spiritual status as unbelievers, who consistently play The Game of Chance with their lives, always experiencing consequences, and never having peace.
Although God created us to depend totally on His thoughts, plans, and help, He never forces us to love, obey, and trust Him. We are free to choose the course of our lives and whether or not we desire Eternal Life.
Self-Reliance Is The Weed that Produces Discouragement and Consequences
“Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.” (Proverbs 28:26, ESV). Wisdom is a blessing that only comes from obeying God.
Ouch! Although God’s words sound harsh, because we have placed our thoughts above God’s higher thoughts and ways [Isaiah 55:8-9], we need a spiritual reality check to come to our senses.
“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).
God is not punitive. Satan is the evil one who brings chaos and confusion into our lives. Every day, Satan mistreats unbelievers according to his diabolical schemes.
“The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:7-8, ESV).
But for the believer’s striving to follow Christ with faithful obedience, Elohim Shomri places protective boundaries around us. Study Psalm 91.
In John 16:33, Jesus warns us that we will face overwhelming trials that only He can resolve. Every day, we can build our faith by praying for guidance in resolving our small obstacles, so when the tsunami trial hits, our first response is a prayer of Faith: Lord, You promised that if I come to You in faith, You will help me.
We never have to perceive challenges and adversity as impossible if we acknowledge that Jesus Christ is our Shepherd and follow Him with faith, surrender, and obedience.
“We are the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3) reveals that “Christ is our Creator and Shepherd, who leads, provides, and protects His people (us) with abundant blessings and care of His presence, calling us to joyful worship and gratitude for His unending love and faithfulness. It emphasizes our belonging to Him, acknowledging our dependence on Him for guidance and provision in life.”
To remain in right standing with God, we are required to love God by putting Him first; No one, including ourselves, should come before God. Our highest worship is faithful obedience.
Returning to God Is a Life-Saving Decision: “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).
Prayer of Confession: “God, my faith is weak because I have been trusting in myself instead of You, and for my self-reliance, and not trusting You, I ask for forgiveness.”
God’s Response: “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).
“It is possible for us to do our best and still not see the light at the end of the tunnel. But that is because we have limited human ability.”
The Journey of Faith requires the courage to completely trust God with everything. Humility is the Key that Opens the Door of Faith: Even when we think that we can resolve our challenges, we redirect our faith, asking God to intervene.
Pray and involve God in every decision! Our Daily Prayer: LORD, I don’t know what I will face today, but You know. I believe that Your Power is Unlimited, and I desperately need Your Help. In Jesus’ Powerful Name, Amen.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). “God’s power is most evident when we admit our own inadequacy; embracing weakness opens the door for the Holy Spirit to empower us with Jesus’ Divine Strength.”
“God specializes in situations that human eyes [our minds] perceive as impossible. God is the God Who reveals that impossibilities are His specialty; He makes a way where there seems to be no way!”
“For the individuals who hold on to their faith in God, believing in His Unlimited Power, are the people who receive God’s greatest blessings and miracles.” Yes and Amen!
Lord God, we come to You confessing and repenting for using our gift of faith to trust in ourselves. We admit that we have embraced a stubborn spirit of self-reliance. Lord, we have tried every option, but our solutions have failed. We stand at the crossroads, knowing that we are helpless; Lord, we desperately need Your Help! We thank You for hearing and answering our prayer of need that we ask in faith and in the Powerful Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, ESV).
God has a Divine Purpose for your life. Consecrate yourself daily through personal worship, asking Him to reveal His plans for the new day.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV).
Although each person is at a different time in their life; before our conception, God had individualized plans for you and me.
We are the Christians living in the Last Days of Earth’s history. Now is the perfect time for intentional spiritual growth and discovering your creative talents.
Every day, set aside time to Separate in Solitude and Silence to honor and worship God.
When we focus on our relationship with Christ, our faith and focus is redirected from ourselves back to God.
Before humanity was created, God’s goal has always been to redeem, reconcile, and restore our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Every day, we prepare for Jesus’ promise in John 14:1-3. By aligning ourselves with God’s plans, we demonstrate our faith, love, and loyalty to God.
Our Heavenly Father, desires that we ask Him to reveal His priorities and purpose for the blessing of a new day.
During personal worship, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through the Holy Scriptures and our thoughts.
We do not have to limit our worship with God to once or twice a day; whisper prayers throughout your day to receive Divine wisdom, strength, and guidance.
By fulfilling God’s plan for our lives, the Holy Spirit empowers us to prepare for our eternal reward in Revelation 22:12.
Bible Study: Romans 12; 2 Timothy 3
Lord God, we thank You for this new day of life. And we ask You to speak to our hearts, guiding us throughout our day to fulfill Your plans. In faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” (Titus 2:7-8, ESV).
How important is Consistency in the Christian believer’s life? Consistent Worship is the essential foundation for us to receive the Spiritual Strength needed to live sacrificial lives of faithful obedience. It is Christ’s Strength that empowers us to remain steadfast, avoiding the practices of worldly habits and behaviors.
Yesterday, I was chatting with the maintenance worker in our complex who shared with me the downside of impulsive behaviors, decisions, and purchases.
As I listened, the memories of my past impulsive behaviors, mostly purchases, flashed through my mind. I breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that God delivered me from the stronghold of that terrible habit.
The Sovereign God is our Spiritual Point of Reference for Consistency
Throughout the Bible, God reveals the consistency of His Righteous Character. In Malachi 3:6, God declares His unchanging Nature: “For I the LORD do not change…” “God’s [Divine] Nature is characterized by consistency (Psalm 102:27).”
Consistent Worship reveals our love, faith, loyalty, and commitment to put God First! The most important area of consistency is the practice of daily [morning and evening] Personal Worship, which acknowledges God’s Sovereignty, keeping us connected to Christ, who gives us the strength to live righteously.
Consistent Worship reveals our love and desire to follow our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, wherever He leads.
“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; 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: 2, 6-7).
Consistent Worship reveals the desire to consecrate one’s mind, body, and soul to God because we appreciate His Love, Grace, and Mercies.
“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).
Consistent Worship reveals that our hearts are converted, and we are willing to honor Christ with our time, humility, total surrender, and obedience.
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, NLT).
Consistent Worship is a lifestyle that reveals our willingness to give 100% of ourselves to Jesus Christ. Yes, surrender is our priority when we trust Christ’s promises to give us peace [John 14:27], to help us when facing challenges [Isaiah 65:24] and temptations [1 Corinthians 10:13], and to give us a Forever Home when He comes again [John 14:1-3 and Revelation 21-22].
Consistent Worship demonstrates our desire to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, who transforms us and guides us in our spiritual journey to stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.
“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).
Consistent Worship invites Christ to empower us with His Divine strength to persevere in faith when facing unexpected health and financial challenges, suffering from life-changing events, and enduring the trials required to produce Christian maturity.
Brothers and Sisters, a Spiritual War, “The Great Controversy of Good and Evil,” has been raging since the fall of Adam and Eve.
On Calvary’s Cross, when Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” Jesus Christ won the war against Satan’s diabolical desire for all of humanity to be destroyed! Satan does not care about unbelievers and disobedient believers; they are already worshiping him.
“Be alert and of a sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, NIV). The roaring lion is He is currently targeting Jesus’ faithful Believers who worship God in spirit and truth.
Consistent Worship keeps us Spiritually Alert. One of the enemy’s most effective strategies is to use familiar family members and friends to suggest activities in places that Christ would never enter. Yes, it is your cousin’s birthday party, but it’s being held in a Pub that serves alcoholic drinks.
One thing is for certain: Satan is always consistent and persistent! He has been deceiving humanity for over 6,000 years. Yet those who stay close to Christ through persistent prayer for spiritual wisdom, discernment, and strength cannot be manipulated or deceived.
“As Christians, we are engaged in a life-and-death spiritual battle, and it is crucial not to misjudge Satan’s power or be ignorant of his schemes.” Never minimize Satan’s power over the human mind, which is evident in the rapid decline of integrity and morality in our societies.
“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3, ESV). In the Christian Community, many are afraid of Satan. Even unbelievers do not fear Satan, so what is the reason that Christ’s followers would fear Satan?
To understand God’s Higher thoughts and ways [Isaiah 55:8-9], studying the Scriptures requires praying and asking the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and a deeper understanding of the Bible.
From using only human wisdom to study, many erroneous and false interpretations of the Bible lead us to believe that God’s Commands are restrictive, yet we cannot see the invisible spiritual war being fought by Jesus’ angels to protect our souls.
“Elohim Shomri (אֱלֹהִים שׁוֹמְרִי) means ‘God is my Guardian/Keeper.'”
Christ, our Mighty Warrior, places limits on Satan’s attacks against Christians. Christ must approve every satanic plan against the faithful. Satan’s demons cannot possess Christ’s followers, nor can he kill us, or coerce us to disobey God.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1).
“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7). With humility, we must recognize our human limitations; we cannot use our intellect to fight the schemes of Satan, the Master Deceiver, who is still successfully scamming many Christians because we exclude God from decision-making.
Make Consistent Worship a Spiritual Priority! Always include God by praying and waiting for His answer before making major purchases, starting a business, changing jobs, and especially before beginning a relationship or entering into marriage.
Yes, we will always face many temptations, yet the apostle Paul tells us how to fight spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-18. Every believer should follow the spiritual strategy in these Scriptures by doing their part to receive strength and guidance through Consistent Worship.
Jesus’ devoted followers are not exempt from the internal desires that make us prey to the roaring lion. But it is not the obvious sinful activities that Satan can tempt true worshipers with.
Consistent worshipers are on the alert against the enemy’s typical schemes of materialism, wealth, success, relationships with unbelievers, secular music, and lifestyles filled with worldly pleasures.
In Ephesians 5:16, God tells us to “Redeem the time, because the days are evil.” We must make good use of our gift of time, not wasting precious hours on the distractions of time-wasting activities, but preparing ourselves every day to receive Revelation 22:12.
Time Wasters: The roaring lion devises covert temptations to manipulate us into wasting valuable time on the things that we like: streaming, social media, sports, gaming, cellular devices, excessive time at the gym, shopping leading to impulsive purchases, and the unhealthy habits of overeating and consuming junk foods that also impact our mental, physical, and spiritual health.
The Christian life is not a boring, mundane life; it is one of spiritual purpose, self-denial, and intentionality. We were created to worship God and to enjoy life. But without setting boundaries, Time Wasters can easily escalate into 3-6 hours of having fun.
The human heart always desires pleasurable activities instead of Consistent Worship. Activities that prevent us from giving God time in Personal Worship will leave us weak and vulnerable to Satan’s Schemes.
“In a world filled with evil, spiritual preparation means making the most of every chance for spiritual growth, service, and glorifying God. It means actively choosing God’s will over foolishness and worldly distractions, recognizing time as a gift to be managed for eternal purpose.”
The emphasis on “Consistent Worship” is not overstated; to remain steadfast in a spiritual war where we are Satan’s targets, we desperately require Jesus’ Supernatural Power and Protection to live as Overcomers.
Remain consistent! Devote yourself to live a Christ-Centered, Sacrificial Life of Consistent Worship, ensuring that you remain connected to Elohim, our Protector, and the Source of All Power and Might! Yes and Amen!
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).
Bible Study: Ephesians 6
Lord God, we desire to honor You through Consistent Worship, surrender, and faithful obedience. We acknowledge Your love and thank You for being our Protector against the schemes of the enemy. We ask for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.
“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:
They perceive God as harsh and selfish, giving us too many commands of “don’t do this, and setting Righteous Standards that we can never achieve.”
Or, they believe that we can live as we please, chase our desires, and still receive our reward of Eternal Life.
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.
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.
David’s Prayer of Praise and Gratitude: “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits—3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5, NIV).
God is the Source and Sustainer of Life, and the Giver of All Good Gifts: Yes, we love blessings! Yet when we think of God’s blessings, it usually produces thoughts of receiving money and tangible possessions.
But King David reminds us that the Spiritual blessings of God’s Love, Redemption, Forgiveness, Grace, Mercies, Patience, and Divine Strength are crucial to our spiritual walk with Christ because they empower us to live righteously.
“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). We value our daily gift of another day because the Scriptures remind us, “…For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”(James 4:14).
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you, I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27, NIV).
Every modality that is purchased with money, promising peace, is a counterfeit. Satan can mimic many things, but he will never be able to reproduce Jesus’ gift of Divine Peace.
To every believer, Jesus’ gift of peace is freely given, but only a few Christians actually experience the joy and happiness that come from having continuous spiritual peace.
“My people perish for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6).
A key obstacle to receiving Jesus’ peace is our failure to study the Bible, leaving us unaware of God’s expectations. The only alternative is to follow our thoughts and inclinations, which prevents the Holy Spirit from guiding us in our earthly journey.
No Peace From Traveling on the Highway of Self-Governance: Let’s face it, we live in an environment where the prevailing worldview is to rely on one’s thoughts and emotions.
Although the pursuit of happiness is the goal, traveling the world’s Expressway requires a lifestyle of self-reliance, which keeps the mind in overdrive. Relying on our thoughts to navigate this tumultuous journey comes at a high price; we have no time to commune with God in personal worship.
Without relying on Divine wisdom and discernment, the brain is overwhelmed by constant overthinking every day. Self-reliance demands payment that leads to spiritual and emotional bankruptcy. Self-gratification requires the continuous development of strategies that must be reevaluated and quickly restructured when failure occurs.
Enough is never enough! King Solomon tells us the human heart can never be satisfied: “Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.” (Ecclesiastes 1:8, NLT).
The decision to exclude God produces a state of “Emotional Exhaustion Leading to Spiritual Confusion that Separates Us From God.” Sadly, like the prodigal son, it usually takes a crisis to return to God on bended knees before we come to our senses.
The Spiritual Steps to Restoration and Receiving Jesus’ Peace
Changing Lanes: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).
God’s perspective is always spiritual. Jesus reminds us that we cannot save our souls. Staying on the Path of Righteousness has always required Divine Help. When Christ, our Shepherd, tells us that we were created without the ability to guide ourselves, we believe Him without question.
The Plan of Redemption includes the gift of Salvation, which is freely given to those who believe and accept Jesus as their Savior. But certainly it was not free for Jesus Christ, who was required to die a heinous death on Calvary’s Cross.
When we truly love God, we are grateful that through Christ, we have received the option of not paying the wages of sin. Loving God is demonstrated by seeking His will through daily personal worship, which should not be a burden.
Gratitude is Obedience: Daily personal worship [Prayer and Bible study] is a lifestyle that reveals a converted and sanctified heart willing to acquiesce to God’s Sovereign Authority.
The Standing Invitation: “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16, NLT).
Jesus is Still Interceding for the Righteous
Jesus Christ, Yeshua, our Heavenly Intercessor, receives our prayers, forgives our sins, covers us with His Righteousness, gives us our daily provisions, heals our minds and bodies, and sends angels to constantly protect us from unseen spiritual warfare and physical danger [Psalm 91].
We have a relentless enemy who desires our souls! Yes, believers, we are the target in The Great Controversy of Good and Evil! Our fight is not against flesh and blood.
Jesus’ Warning: “…He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”(John 8:44, NIV).
Satan, our greatest enemy, has deceived many to believe that we can live as we please and still inherit our Crown of Life. “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22).
Through daily Consecration, we realign ourselves with God’s Divine Purpose by choosing to exit from the Road of Self-Governance back to the Narrow Path of Righteousness.
The Sacrificial Life Is the Only Life Acceptable to God
“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).
A couple of years ago, I watched a documentary filmed in Japan on the reinvented life of a retired college professor who practiced the concept of “Need Over Greed.”
Although she developed a mindset of gratitude from the practice of “enough is enough and zero waste,” she denied any religious affiliation with her lifestyle.
Need Over Greed and Minimalism are lifestyle changes that require continuous discipline, practiced by unbelievers who never acknowledge God, which should raise a Red Flag for believers.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind [self control].” (2 Timothy 1:7).
We have 24/7 access to Jesus, who promises to give us the Divine Strength to live a disciplined, righteous life. The Apostle Paul tells us that we were created with spiritual gifts, so when tempted, we pray for Jesus’ supernatural strength to overcome; still, God expects us to use self-control.
Throughout the Bible, we learn that God is Love, and He has always fulfilled His promises to “never leave us.” We have Jesus Christ, the Mighty Warrior, who promises to fight our battles, giving us hope and peace: “No weapon formed against you will prosper.”
Gratitude for God goes beyond spoken words. Every day, our gratitude is reflected through a lifestyle of surrender and faithful obedience. We love Him because He first loved us. Yes and Amen!
The Pathway to Peace is Paved With Gratitude
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Bible Study: Galatians 5; Ephesians 6
Prayer: Thank You, Most Gracious, Heavenly Father, for Your Amazing and Continuous Love. Forgive us for nurturing a spirit of self-reliance. We acknowledge that we can do nothing without You. Lead us, guide us, correct us, and protect us as we navigate through our spiritual journey. We commit to living a life that reveals our desire to give You the honor, glory, and praise that You rightfully deserve. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray this prayer of gratitude, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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