Bank and Credit Card companies often compete for customers by offering perks and rewards. But the low interest rates, and rewards exclude those with a less than desirable credit history.
When we face difficulties that human effort cannot resolve, how do we respond? Either we put our faith and trust in God’s Sovereignty, Power, Promises, or because of a history of relying on ourselves, we exclude God as if He is a risk.
Yet, excluding God by attempting to resolve the issue places us in a high risk situation. Not only are human solutions unreliable, trusting in ourselves diminishes our faith and trust in God.
“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).
Steadfast faith is the foundation of our salvation and relationship with Christ. When facing adversity, although not expressed in spoken words, excluding God reveals our true feelings, “I do not trust God.” Self-Reliance is a bitter fruit of pride.
The proud heart always rejects God. Serving God requires a heart filled with reverence and humility. “If we come to God feeling as helpless and dependent as we really are” with childlike faith and trust, by asking for our Father’s Divine help, we will receive victory over every situation.
“Who then is able to stand against Me? Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine” (Job 41:10 -11).
God revealed His Omnipotence when Job questioned God as to why he had to endure the extreme suffering in his life. Yes, Job lived sinless, but trials are part of every believer’s life. Job repented for his haughty attitude against the Most-High God, and God blessed him with double the amount he previously possessed.
Throughout the Psalms, David, a mighty warrior, cried out to God, not because he was weak, but because he knew that God is a Loving Father, and human reasoning and ability does not compare to God’s Supreme Omniscience.
“Even before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24). Everyday we have the opportunity to pray and thank God for His amazing love, grace, and mercies. Only trust Him, and you will enjoy the blessings of peace.
Lord God, we confess that our faith is weak. We desperately need Your help in our journey of life. We ask for Your Divine Intervention in the struggles we face. Give us wisdom and the strength to persevere. Thank You for never leaving us alone. In the Righteous Name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.
“Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:7, 14-15, NIV)
“Of all creatures the sheep is one of the most timid and helpless…still, the shepherd’s care for his flock is untiring and incessant.” The defenseless sheep know they must always depend on their shepherd to keep them safe.
“In ancient times there was minimal safety outside of walled towns. Marauders from the roving border tribes, or beasts of prey from their hiding places in the rocks, lay in wait to plunder the flocks. The shepherd watched… knowing that it was at the peril of his own life.” He was always prepared to fight and protect his sheep.
Spiritually, Jesus compares us to sheep who are helpless against Satan, the enemy. Without the Divine power and strength of Christ, our Shepherd, we cannot live righteously, or overcome the covert, and highly effective deceptions of the enemy.
“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.” -Isaiah 53:6, NLT
Sadly, we think that attending weekly church service is the way to receive eternal life. Many believers refuse to live a surrendered, faithful, obedient, and consecrated life to God. But our self-reliance comes with a high price, we lose the safety of being led by our Shepherd which easily persuades us to embrace the enticements and deceptions of this world.
“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” -Matthew 16:26
The decisions we make without spiritual guidance will always bring consequences to our lives. Maybe all is well right now but the mindset of self-reliance is one of disobedience which ultimately separates us from God. We believe that we can lead ourselves, so there is no need to pray for guidance.
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” -Proverbs 16:12
From using our thoughts and inclinations to fulfill our desires, we exchange the hope of receiving the promise of eternal life for nothing but earthly treasures that will soon be destroyed when Jesus comes again.
The Christian Community has embraced many pagan practices in the attempt to gain Jesus’ gift of peace. Burning sage, Eastern meditation, yoga, the worship of Hindu deities, online gambling, CBD, secular music, pornography, living together without marriage, and friendships with unbelievers instead of living a sacrificial life dedicated to God.
We easily pursue our desires that are satisfied from hours of screen time, scrolling on social media, and seeking prosperity, pleasure, and political alliances. Without Divine power, we lose the internal battle against our heart’s desires, so we feel no need to be led by Christ.
“It is the gospel of the grace of God alone that can uplift the soul. The contemplation of the love of God manifested in His Son will stir the heart and arouse the powers of the soul as nothing else can.”
“Christ came that He might re-create the image of God in man; and whoever turns men away from Christ is turning them away from the source of true development.”
The decision to follow Jesus, our Good Shepherd is a tough spiritual journey that requires us to let go of our desires and pursuits. Yes, our faith is tested everyday by temptations, and fiery trials but we are not left defenseless.
“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
Prayer invites the Holy Spirit to intervene. To be under the loving care of Jesus is to live a life overflowing with hope, joy, and peace. We can live with the spirit of contentment when we choose Jesus, our Good Shepherd.
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ ” -Hebrews 13:5, NIV
Use your faith to live courageously! Even in adversity, we know that Jesus will give us the victory! From dedicating ourselves to the Shepherd, He will lead us safely through our earthly journey.
As obedient sheep who always follow their Shepherd, we have the hope of receiving the reward of eternal life in a perfect and loving New Heaven and New Earth. Yes and Amen!
“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, [b]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 being our Good Shepherd. Our desire is to return to Your loving arms. We ask forgiveness for leaving your safety by pursuing meaningless earthly practices and treasures. We pray for strength, wisdom, and an increase in faith, and ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.
“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Revelation 3:21
Every day, we fight against the internal conflict of following Christ or the enemy of self-gratification. Every believer also faces the external opposition of spiritual warfare, and temptations. To overcome, we must pray and ask Christ to give us His Divine strength, and use our gifts of power, and self-control.
God never coerces us to choose His will for our lives. We use our God-given gift of free will to choose to live with conviction and courage by praying and relying on Christ’s Divine strength received through the Holy Spirit, or we live to pursue our desires.
If our focus is on Christ then our lifestyle is one of worship, prayer, fasting, and surrender to God’s Sovereignty. With determination, we live to please God by seeking His will and plans. We do this because of love for God, and love and appreciation of Jesus, our Savior, Shepherd, and Heavenly Intercessor.
The human effort of daily consecration and living a sacrificial life of faith, obedience, prayer, and Bible study reveals our love and loyalty to Jesus Christ. Surrender invites the Holy Spirit to convert and transform our hearts and characters daily into the Character of Christ [John 8:29, Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 4:32].
Preparing for Kingdom Life One Day at a Time is to put forth the human effort of doing our part to maintain a faithful and thriving relationship with Jesus Christ. Our Triumphant King promises, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work (Revelation 22:12). Yes and Amen!
Lord God, we pray for strength, wisdom, and guidance as we strive to follow You on the Narrow Path of Righteousness. Thank You, Jesus, for Your steadfast love and the sacrifice of Your precious life on Calvary’s Cross. Lead us, protect us, and correct us, as we prepare one day at a time for Your soon coming. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.
“You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you…” -2 Chronicles 20:17
Often we forget that God is Omniscient and He knows every aspect of our lives from beginning to the end. The hardships, adversities, and spiritual warfare we face, God is already aware of, and He waits for us to ask for help.
The LORD is on our side! Who can stand against our Warrior God? Use your faith to believe in His Sovereign Power! Pray for help. Remain silent. Be patient. And watch God give you victory that honors His Holy Name. He is a God Who protects the righteous. Yes and Amen!
LORD God, our world is in turmoil, and we are facing obstacles that we cannot eliminate, and problems we cannot resolve. You commanded us to come to the Throne of Grace, and ask for Your help in the times of need. Jesus, we always need You. Thank You in advance for a victorious outcome. In Jesus’ Powerful Name we pray, Amen.
Our Heavenly Father Cares Devotional – April 18, 2025
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:9, NIV
Believing that we are loved by God increases our faith. Yes, our God is Faithful, even so, how well do we know His Character? We cannot love and trust a stranger. Learning God’s Character can only be accomplished by diligently studying the Holy Scriptures.
An attribute of God that we can appreciate is that He never changes—His yes is yes and His no is no. We do not have to guess who God is; from Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His love and the attributes of His Righteous Character: Lover of our Souls, Savior, Deliverer, Rescuer, Healer, Mighty Warrior, and so much more.
The Bible is God’s Spoken Words given to righteous men through the power of the Holy Spirit, and the only historically accurate book documenting His continuous intervention in the lives of the righteous. God desires to guide us victoriously through our journey of life, but we must decide if we will accept and trust Him with our lives.
“Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.’ ” —1 Samuel 17:45
David’s young life as a shepherd required dedication and the courage to place himself in jeopardy to protect the sheep from predators. David’s father, Jesse, taught his son to trust in God, which prepared him to use his faith when he fought vicious animals and volunteered to courageously slay Goliath, the Philistine giant.
Still, David’s greatest faith test of trusting God with his life occurred when King Saul’s jealousy and rage grew into a killer instinct against David, causing him to flee for his life. Bible scholars estimate that David lived as a fugitive in the wilderness for approximately 10 years.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1). From studying the book of Psalms, we learn that David never forgot that God was His Protector and Deliverer.
Although every believer understands that we are saved by Jesus’ sacrificial offering of His life on Calvary, from the failure to study the Holy Scriptures, many do not have knowledge of the history of Jesus’ love, grace, and mercy, and how He has consistently intervened in human life for 6,000 years.
From performing the first animal sacrifice to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness [Genesis 3:21] to protecting the Apostle Paul from many accounts of physical danger [2 Corinthians 11:22-29], Jesus Christ—YAHWEH Mephalti is committed to saving us from sin, rescuing us from the temptations of Satan’s spiritual warfare [1 Corinthians 10:13], protecting the righteous with guardian angels, and giving us His strength to persevere through life’s adversities.
What more can Christ do for us? Our Creator God desires that we invite Him daily [through prayer] to live a victorious life empowered by His wisdom and strength given to us by the Holy Spirit. Are we willing to comply with the Spiritual Conditions of Participation that require the human effort of daily surrender and faithful obedience?
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’ ” —Isaiah 55:8-9
We were created to have a relationship with Christ based on faith, obedience, and complete dependency. Although God desires to give us the best, sadly, many believers are using their free will of choice to live in a state of rebellion against God. Many decades ago, Frank Sinatra wrote a song entitled “My Way.” The lyrics included, “I can continue until the end my way.” This is the unbeliever’s bold proclamation of rejecting God.
Satan deceives us into believing we can live according to our desires as long as we attend church once a week. Faithful obedience keeps us in right standing with God. Beware of embracing and practicing Satan’s deceptions that persuade us to live according to our thoughts and strategies to gain wealth and success.
“Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46) highlights the importance of actions aligning with words, emphasizing that true discipleship involves not just professing faith but also obeying God’s commands. This rhetorical question challenges those who outwardly acknowledge Jesus as Lord but fail to live according to His teachings.”
“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” —Jeremiah 10:23
The Christian journey is one in which we desperately need Christ, our Deliverer, to keep us on the Path of Righteousness. Without seeking and obeying God’s will, we are practicing self-governance that always includes risks and consequences. Proverbs 3:5-7 tells us not to use our limited human wisdom to make decisions, as we can never see beyond the present day. Regret is painful!
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” -Psalm 34:17
Every day, we face Satan’s covert, intricate schemes of temptation, not only designed to separate us from God but also to cause instability and financial loss. The financial investment, starting the new business, purchasing a house or vehicle because of a low interest rate, or relocating for a new job may sound promising, but “Do not be wise in your own eyes.” Pray, asking God if the presenting situation is a blessing or a temptation, and wait for His answer.
God’s Providence: When we pray for clarity in our lives, we will not understand “the why” of God’s thoughts, ways, and plans. Without questioning or analyzing, we acquiesce to God’s will with a mindset of reverence and total obedience because He loves us, has the best plans, and knows the future.
We can only be tempted by the things we desire, and this is when the struggle of internal opposition begins, between God’s will and our desires. Always trust and obey God. If His answer is Wait or No, then He is saving us from devastating consequences. Learning to rely on God in everything leads to a rewarding life of peace and blessings.
When we include God in the small things that seem insignificant, our perspective of our Heavenly Father changes. The Holy Spirit empowers us with spiritual wisdom, and we develop a heart filled with love and loyalty for Christ. As time continues, our bond with Christ grows deeper, and Jesus becomes our All and All.
It is the heart-to-heart relationship with Christ that gives experiential knowledge and a personal testimony that our Lord and Savior is “יהוה מְפַלְתִי (YAHWEH Mephalti)… the God who rescues, delivers, and saves.” Yes and Amen!
Jesus, our Savior, Rescuer, Deliverer, and Triumphant King, we love You, Amen.
Our Heavenly Father Cares Devotional – April 17, 2025
“Who then is able to stand against Me? Who has proceeded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.” Job 41:10-11
Facing opposition? Use your faith to pray and ask for God’s Divine Intervention. Thank Him in advance for resolving your challenges. Remain Silent. Be patient. And wait on the Lord!
Lord God, we come to You asking for Your Divine help with the challenges we currently face and cannot resolve ourselves. We thank you for the victory, and ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
Our Heavenly Father Cares Devotional – April 11, 2025
“…For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” -2 Chronicles 20:12
When King Jehoshaphat acknowledged the impossibility of using human effort to win the pending war from pagan armies, his first response was prayer.
Every day, we face dilemmas that require God’s Divine intervention. If we live by this rule of always seeking God’s answer, whether it is a minor issue or a difficult life-changing dilemma then we are guaranteed a victorious outcome.
One thing is for certain, we should never ask for secular advice. Even those who are considered experts are looking at the situation from their perspective. Spiritually, unbelievers can never perceive a situation as God sees it.
“Do not be wise in your own eyes…” Proverbs 3:7
Truthfully, believers who serve God with obedience and steadfast faith still need help. Involve God in every aspect of your life by asking for spiritual wisdom and guidance before making decisions.
Pray and wait for God’s guidance. If we make prayer our first response and wait for God’s answer then He will resolve all of our challenges for our good and His glory.
“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 admit that we do not know what to do and ask for Your Divine Help in resolving this impossible situation. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we ask this prayer in faith, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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