Category: Sabbath Devotional

Why Doesn’t God Intervene and Stop the Cruelty and Chaos On This Earth?

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

“In Revelation, Jesus, God, the Son, identifies Himself as the ‘Alpha and Omega,’ the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, symbolizing that He is the beginning and the end, the Initiator, and the Sustainer of all creation.”

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” is a foundational biblical declaration from Psalm 24:1 (NIV), affirming that God is the Owner, Creator, and Sovereign Ruler of the world and all its inhabitants. And God has placed extensive boundaries on the devastation that humanity and Satan can cause on His Planet Earth.

Still, we wonder, is God in control of this earth? The answer is an unequivocal Yes! 2 Timothy 3 describes the behaviors that would be prevalent in the Last Days, which exist now. We are temporary travelers living on a temporary Earth that is not our Forever Home. Every day, we should be preparing for John 14:1-3.

Evidence of God Intervening and Correcting Out-of-Control Human Beings

The Tower of Babel: Humanity Thinking They Are Above God

“Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth…”

“But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, ‘If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.'”

So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there, the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:4-8, NIV).

Evidence of God’s Loving Intervention for Humanity: “Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21).

Adam and Eve’s disobedience not only resulted in their eviction from the Garden of Eden, but their sin required the first death in the universe, as they needed animal skins to protect their bodies from the changing seasons.

We do not give much thought to the death of animals because death is a part of our fallen existence, but immortality always existed; one can only imagine the angels must have been horrified at the presence of blood and the process required to make animal skins for Adam and Eve.

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5).

Adam and Eve’s disobedience also required the death of Jesus on Calvary’s Cross. Sin always requires the payment of death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, NIV).

Divine Intervention: Because Jesus fulfilled the Plan of Redemption, dying for our sins, we do not have to die for our sins unless we choose to reject Christ. Jesus offers us the option of not experiencing the only possible solution to being born in sin and shaped in iniquity, the second and final death.

The Bible provides indisputable evidence that God has always intervened for the righteous, even in the worst possible situation: facing death at the hands of their enemies.

The Exodus through the Red Sea; the Tower of Babel; Job’s extreme suffering; the three Hebrew young men in the fiery furnace; Daniel in the lion’s den; the angel delivering the apostle Peter from prison; and the earthquake in the jail where Paul and Silas’ chains fell off are just a few of the examples of God’s Divine Mercies intervening, protecting, and enforcing His Power and established boundaries over Satan’s schemes against the righteous on the planet Earth.

Reflecting on our lives reveals that God blesses us with miracles every day that we have never even thanked Him for: Breath, strength, provisions, protection from physical harm, scams, and most importantly, Satan’s Schemes.

The Great Controversy between Good and Evil has raged for over 6,000 years. Without studying the Bible, many are unaware of the invisible Spiritual War that every believer is involved in, every moment of our earthly lives [Ephesians 6].

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the Heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12).

Another Bible translation, GWT, states: “This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world.” (Ephesians 6:12).

Satan and his angels, who were cast out of heaven, are the powers who govern darkness. Yet they are angels [created beings] who have no power over the Triune GOD: God the Father, Jesus, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit.

One of the spiritual benefits for the faithful, obedient believers who dedicate themselves to surrender and follow Christ is that Christ, the Commander of Angel Armies, has given us the assurance in Psalm 91 that we are protected from Satan by Jesus’ legions of Heavenly angels.

Those who refuse to obey God have forfeited their angelic protection. Satan is so evil that he even punishes the unbelievers who are following him, which is evidenced by the terrible catastrophes and incurable diseases they suffer from.

Temptations, scams, physical danger, terminal illnesses, violence, sexual immorality, human trafficking, pornography, abuse, natural disasters, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, civil and international wars, and the uncontrollable desires to pursue material possessions and wealth are just a few of Satan’s diabolical schemes to persuade humanity to distrust God’s Love, Sovereignty, and Omnipotence.

False Teaching: Satan has convinced many believers that God is punishing the world by unleashing His wrath with disasters and terminal illnesses, but it is Satan who is responsible for death, plagues, famines, hatred, and violence.

Commentary: “We do not understand as we should the great conflict going on between invisible agencies, the controversy between loyal and disloyal angels. Over every man, good and evil angels strive. This is no make believe conflict.”

Commentary: The Invisible Spiritual War is over the souls of Believers: “It does not mimic [earthly] battles in which we are engaged. Satan is the prince of demons. The evil angels over whom he rules [obey and carry out all of his diabolical schemes]. Through them he…instigates all the evil that exists in our world.”

The condition of our world reveals the true nature of the human heart: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” [Jeremiah 17:9].

Satan knows that the human heart is never satisfied. Eve had everything, including immortality, yet she desired more. We inherited hearts filled with greed, so Satan uses the temptations of earthly treasures and pleasures to distract and persuade us to believe that God does not want us to have the best in life.

God’s Promises to the Righteous

“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 the believers who pray, study the Holy Scriptures, and are committed to follow Christ with faithful obedience, we cannot be persuaded; we know that God is a Loving and Protective Heavenly Father.

God’s Promise to Keep Us Safe: “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High…no evil shall be allowed to befall you…” (Psalm 91:9-10, NIV); “For He shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11).

If you [and your family] awakened this morning and returned home safe without any emotional or physical harm, it is Michael [Jesus Christ], our Triumphant King and Commander of Angel Armies, who assigned angels to keep you [and them] safe.

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.” (Nahum 1:7, ESV). If our faith and trust are in God, then we should never doubt God’s Sovereign Authority by asking, Is God still in control of this world?

“For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Brothers and Sisters, do we think that the credit agencies protect our identity from being stolen, or do the banking regulators have the power to prevent hackers [who serve Satan] from draining the money in our bank accounts?

It is God’s Divine Protection keeping our material possessions intact, including the deed of our houses from being duplicated, and sold while we are still living in the house. And it is the Holy Spirit who gives us the wisdom to discern when people are lying to us.

And for all of God’s goodness, have we given Him our reverence, love, loyalty, and gratitude in return?

God’s Answer: “All of us like sheep have gone astray, We have turned, each one, to his own way; But the LORD has caused the wickedness of us all [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing] To fall on Him [instead of us].” (Isaiah 53:6, Amplified Bible).

Truthfully, we have doubted God’s Love and Power; disobeyed Him by following our thoughts and ways; and still living a life of self-reliance by placing our faith and trust in human abilities and wisdom.

Today, God is asking those who doubt His Sovereignty: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.” (Job 38:4).

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NIV).

God, the Father, knows the exact date that He will tell Jesus Christ the time is now to bring the faithful to their Heavenly Home: Go, awaken the faithful, the martyrs, and the children from their graves who faithfully served You, and gather the living who followed and obeyed You by living a sacrificial, faithful, and obedient life.

“I Am Coming Quickly: He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly…'” (Revelation 22:20).

The Great Day of the LORD: “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16).

Prayer: “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

© 2026 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Jesus’ Peace Is Priceless – Sabbath Blessings

“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.

© 2026 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Jesus’ Promise: “I will come again”

“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. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” (John 14:1-3).

Sojourner: Biblical Context: Refers to God’s people as temporary residents in this world.

“A sojourner is a person who stays temporarily in a place, a traveler or temporary resident, not a permanent inhabitant…a spiritual pilgrimage, viewing oneself as a stranger or pilgrim passing through.”

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NIV).

“I Am Coming Quickly: He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).

“Are we following Christ with persistent faithfulness, trusting in God, and ready for His return?”

2 Timothy 3 describes the condition of most believers in the Last Days. But ready or not, Jesus is Coming! Yes and Amen.

Lord God, we thank You for the gift of Your Precious Son, Jesus Christ, who redeemed us from the wages of sin. We ask you to reveal any thoughts, habits, and lifestyles that will prevent us from inheriting Eternal Life. In faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

© 2026 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Responding to Conflict with Caution and Courage

“But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to Him, ‘I charge you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.'” (Matthew 26:63)

Jesus knew that He was the Son of God, yet He also had the wisdom to know that if He said Yes, their hearts were rebellious, and would immediately accuse Him of blasphemy.

Despite the phenomenal miracles Jesus performed, including raising Lazarus from the dead, the Jewish leaders, Pharisees, Sadducees, and their devout followers would never accept Him as anything other than the son of Joseph, the poor carpenter, who lived in Nazareth.

Jesus’ earthly purpose of dying on Calvary’s Cross to redeem humanity from death—the wages of sin remained His priority. If Jesus answered, Yes, His accusers would have stoned Him to death, resulting in the failure to fulfill the Plan of Redemption.

“Jesus demonstrated humility, submitting to God’s plan, revealing His identity on His own terms, rather than defending Himself against false accusations or questioning by authorities like the high priest and Pilate, showing profound love and obedience to God,  His Father.”

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” (James 1:26, NIV).

Inciting anger in believers is a significant part of the enemy’s spiritual warfare against those who love God. One of Satan’s most effective ways to entice us to sin is by using familiar people [family and friends] to offend us. The word choice, tone, and volume of our voices are effective weapons used to accuse, disrespect, demean, annihilate one’s self-worth, and defame one’s character.

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…Have nothing to do with such people.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5, NIV).

Yes, we are living in the Last Days, in a time where abusive communication has become an acceptable practice in our societies. Yet, God specifically addresses how Christians are to communicate even when we are attacked with fiery words:

“But now rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene (abusive, filthy, vulgar) language from your mouth.” (Colossians 3:8, Amplified Bible).

“[Verbal] Abuse is always sin. The Scriptures are clear. Abuse of authority or power…is always sin. Abusive speech and/or behavior are never an acceptable way to communicate with someone.”

God’s Warning: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” (Proverbs 18:21, ESV).

Many who attend church were raised in a home that included arguing and debating, and cultures in which it is a common practice for Christian parents, husbands, or older family members to verbally abuse their children, wives, and relatives, still God considers it sinful and unacceptable behavior.

Conflict is always fueled by uncontrolled anger. Domestic conflict has claimed the lives of many innocent victims, including church members. Never overlook threatening words—remain silent, remove yourself from the offender, and notify the police. It takes courage to say, “Enough is Enough!” And, it may result in saving your life.

“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the LORD.” (Romans 12:19, NLT).

One thing is for certain: Believers who use their words as weapons will eat the fruits of their behavior—they will experience earthly consequences, loss of employment, relationships, marriages, and often their freedom [incarceration] from using threatening words, which is assault—and most importantly, they lose their reward of Eternal Life.

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10). “For the Lord loves justice; He will not forsake his saints.”(Psalm 37:28). Because we are created in the image of God, and He loves us, God does not expect us to remain in abusive situations.

With faith, pray, and ask God to deliver you. We have a Loving Heavenly Father who promises to free us from the bondage of abuse. Never believe that staying in an abusive situation is your only option.

Conflict also occurs in environments outside the home, but it may be unrecognized because covert strategies are used. People frequently use humor to provoke anger.

There are many psychological techniques for Conflict Resolution, yet, for believers, God has given us His Divine Commands on Conflict Resolution.

“Know this, my beloved brothers [and sisters]: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20).

In a world of cruelty, abuse, and violence, when antagonistic words are freely spoken, it is our Christian duty to represent to others that we belong to Jesus Christ by remaining silent.

“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:14). Courage, Faith, and Steadfast Belief in God’s Power are demonstrated when we pray instead of responding. Unbelievers may perceive silence as weakness, but faithful obedience reveals our love and loyalty to God.

Conflict on the job is often experienced in employee break areas. In Micah 6:8, God tells us to stand for justice. It is our responsibility to document the incident, send an email to the immediate supervisor, and Human Resources to ensure compliance with the company’s policies.

“It takes the right situation to reveal a person’s true character.” When our hearts are converted and the Holy Spirit dwells within us, when confronted, we exercise discipline and self-control by remaining silent.

Yes, God expects us to take the appropriate actions to report conflict, but Christians must never retaliate with verbal sparring. Our response to conflict immediately reveals our character’s weaknesses, and most importantly, identifies whether or not we are true followers of Christ by obeying His commands.

Do not let your emotions cause you to sin by responding with anger and dishonoring God! We can apologize, but we can never retract spoken or written words.

“Ineffective Witnessing: Sinful actions by believers make God’s Holy and Righteous Name look bad to the world, bringing reproach on His love and mercies. (Psalm 69:6-7).”

From arguing, we not only lose our ability to witness the love of God, but we also lose our credibility as Christians and respect from unbelievers who silently observed our usual demeanor of kindness and self-control.

God’s Righteous Guidance on Conflict Resolution: “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” (Proverbs 21:23).

As the individual is speaking, or if you are reading a text message, remain silent, and immediately pray for guidance and the strength to silence your emotions, anger, and/or hurt. If you are on a phone call, the moment you sense hostility, immediately respond with, “God loves you, I am hanging up.”

Anger and Hostility Always Override Rational Thought Processes

“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind.” (Proverbs 18:12).

Fact: A person who is speaking offensive words is driven by negative emotions and does not have the mindset to be involved in a rational conversation. When they finish speaking, they are prepared to participate in an argument.

In John 8:44, Jesus describes Satan as ‘the father of lies,’ revealing his deceptive nature. Satan’s primary goal is to keep us annoyed, upset, and angry, which represents his unrighteous character, and brings shame and disgrace to the Name of God.

The Apostle Paul tells us to “Be angry and do not sin,” and “Let no corrupt words proceed out of your mouth.” To be honest, brothers and sisters, we cannot exercise that type of righteous self-control without the Divine Help and Strength from the Holy Spirit.

“Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, Amplified Bible).

The Apostle Peter used “this imagery to highlight the devil’s dangerous, relentless, and predatory nature, urging Christians to be alert, stand firm in their faith, and resist him.”

If our goal is to receive our reward of Eternal Life in the New Heaven and New Earth, where only love, peace, joy, and happiness will exist, then we must embrace God’s warning: “for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

Remember: Stay Silent! God Always Wins! Peace and Blessings.

Lord God, we ask for the courage, wisdom, and strength to remain silent when facing the spiritual warfare of Conflict. We pray for those who are in abusive homes that they will use their mustard seed faith to be courageous, pray, asking you to deliver them from the satanic bondage of mistreatment. Yet, Lord, you tell us to stand for justice, and we also, in faith, pray this Intercessory Prayer, asking You to deliver your sons and daughters from abusive environments. Lord, we realize that You are Elohim Shomri, our Protector, and You are The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, and we believe that You will fulfill Your Promise in Exodus 14:14, and with expectancy, we thank You in advance for deliverance. In faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Name, our Mighty Warrior, Amen!

© 2026 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Worship: A Time for Mental Peace, Emotional Healing, Physical Rest, and Spiritual Restoration

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'” (Matthew 11:28, NLT).

Overwhelming daily to-do lists combined with the unknown obstacles that occur throughout our day places a taxing effort on our mental, emotional, and physical health.

In fact, the busyness and distractions are preventing us from worshiping God every day through prayer and Bible Study, but God’s expectations have not changed. We were created to worship God seven days a week.

God’s Call to Worship and Obedience

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.” (Psalm 95:6-7).

Without daily personal worship, we are disconnected from Christ, which forces us to live according to our own thoughts, resulting in a state of disobedience.

Cain, and Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, and the men in Athens who only expressed belief in “The Unknown God” reveal that God rejects worship from those with disobedient hearts, and those who worship false pagan deities.

Disobedience is rebellion against God, and separates us from a Holy and Righteous God. Disobeying God places the believer on the same spiritual status as an unbeliever.

Obedience to God Is Worship

Because of God’s love and His desire for us to spend intentional time with Him, our Heavenly Father blessed us with 24 hours to redirect our focus from the vicissitudes of life to focus on His Faithfulness.

Yes, God has provided a Spiritual Sabbatical of 24 hours to escape life’s relentless schedules and responsibilities, and to receive a complete Spiritual Restoration of our mind, body, and soul.

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work…” (Exodus 20:8-10).

Because we honor God’s Commandment of not taking care of routine matters on the Sabbath, God blesses us with peace, joy, happiness, knowledge, wisdom, restoration, and spiritual healing.

The Sabbath protects us from the devastating impact on one’s health from life’s continuous stressors, still, we enjoy another benefit, a worry-free mind. 

David reiterates God’s faithfulness to the righteous: “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread.” (Psalm 37:5).

In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow, and from our obedience, we have the assurance that Jesus is Faithful: He promises to provide for us, and He does.

Yes, for our obedience, we also receive many rewards for honoring God’s Moral Law. From spending time in His presence every day, and engaging in Sabbath worship, our faith and confidence in God strengthens.

The Holy Spirit gives us the spiritual wisdom to receive a deeper understanding of the Holy Scriptures, which empowers us to perceive life through spiritual eyes.

Sanctification is the lifelong spiritual process of growth and transformation.

Because our focus is spiritual, during the Sabbath hours, the transforming power of the Holy Spirit works on molding our characters into the Righteous Character of Christ [Study Galatians 5:22-23].

Not only are we blessed with an optimal level of spiritual health and wellness, studies prove that Sabbath keepers enjoy a higher level of mental, emotional, and physical wellness, do not experience premature aging, and enjoy longevity.

Obedience to God is rewarded by God, who blesses those who keep His Commandments with continuous spiritual prosperity, guidance, protection, wisdom, and a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

Creation Sabbath was established by God for humanity [Genesis, Chapters 1-2]. Adam and Eve were the first human beings who enjoyed the first Sabbath hours of worship with God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, and the angels.

The Bible does not explain to us how the joint Sabbath worship occurred between Adam and Eve, God, Jesus, and the angels. We can only imagine the beauty of worshiping God face-to-face as Adam and Eve did before they sinned.

Jesus Says: “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” (Revelation 22:14).

“And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,’ says the LORD.” (Isaiah 66:23).

Throughout eternity, God will continue the observance of the Holy Sabbath, a time of rejoicing because the righteous will be home at last.

And after the 1,000 years following Jesus’ Second Coming, our Triumphant King will destroy Satan, those who chose to follow The Great Deceiver, and this present Earth.

“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.'” (revelation 21:5).

Our Lord, Savior, and King will create the New Heaven and New Earth for the faithful, obedient believers who [in their earthly lives] followed Christ, and lived a sacrificial life of self-denial, guided by the Holy Spirit. Yes and Amen!

Lord God we thank You for Your amazing love and faithfulness. And we thank You for the blessing of the Holy Sabbath, a time of worship, spiritual enlightenment, and the renewal of our mental, emotional, and physical health. We look forward to the time when we will praise and worship You face-to-face for eternity. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Happy Blessed Sabbath! Ask Yahweh to Fight Your Battles

Set aside personal time with God every day. Solitude and Silence are necessary to hear the Voice of God. Prayer invites God, the Holy Spirit to speak to us through our thoughts, our conscience, and the Holy Scriptures.

It is God’s will for us to depend on Him in every aspect of our lives. We desperately seek His intervention when facing dilemmas, but our Heavenly Father also desires to give us guidance in the routine matters of life.

Dependency on God alleviates anxiety, worries, and prevents suffering the guaranteed consequences from relying on our thoughts and human wisdom.

Make the commitment to trust God with your life. Faith, even if it is weak, is strengthened by the Holy Spirit, who empowers us with the wisdom to view life through spiritual eyes.

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? (Jeremiah 32:27).

Facing battles? Put your faith and trust in Yahweh! He is a Mighty Warrior who always wins. Believers, it’s time for us to depend on God, and live as Victorious Overcomers! Yes and Amen!

Lord God, You are so awesome. We thank You for all of the love and attention that You give to us, everyday of our lives. We repent for having a spirit of ingratitude. Lord, we commit to spending more time with you in personal worship. We are facing battles that we cannot win without your Divine Help. And we thank You in advance for giving us the victory. Thank you for the Sabbath. As we worship You, we pray for the spiritual blessing of strength to persevere in our earthly journey. We ask this prayer in faith and in the Loving Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Thanking God Is An Act of Worship

Jesus’ Prayer: “So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard me. I know that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent me.'” (John 11:41-42, NIV).

Prayers of gratitude acknowledge our heartfelt appreciation for God, the Sustainer of our lives. What do we mean when we refer to God as our Sustainer?

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26). We may think of housing, clothing, and food [provisions] needed to support the healthy function of the mind and body, but literally, God is the Giver of life.

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7).

We easily accept the scientific explanation for breathing—human beings inhale the perfect mixture of gases [nitrogen, oxygen, and more] and exhale carbon dioxide, a waste product, yet as believers, we must perceive life through spiritual eyes—the breath that flows through our Respiratory System is God’s Ruach breath.

Yes, we acknowledge that God is the Source of life, yet most of us struggle with expressing love for our Heavenly Father through heartfelt prayers and praises of gratitude. How often do we say, Thank You, God?

David proclaimed, “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1). When David wrote this Psalm, he was a fugitive living in the caves. King Saul possessed a spirit of jealousy and desired to kill David, who was only in his teenage years, but had God’s anointing of protection on his life.

The Psalms, Songs of Prayer and Praise, are the longest book in the Bible. David’s life, once he became King, was plagued with continuous strife because of his two heinous sins [adultery and murder], yet he continued to write Psalms and play beautiful music on his harp that always honored God.

So, I paused writing this devotional reading to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the roadblock preventing us from praising God like David did.

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'” (Matthew 22:37). Brothers and Sisters, you and I have an issue of the heart; our love is divided, we love God, but we love ourselves more.

Truthfully, from the moment we awaken, we may whisper a quick prayer, but our focus is on our personal agendas. How will we manage our time effectively to accomplish our goals for the day?

By excluding God, we have not only nurtured a spirit of self-reliance, but we have also adopted a worldview centered on the greed of acquisition. We are inundated by advertisements of lifestyles that promote two concepts: 1. “Enough is Never Enough!” 2. A strong character is revealed by the constant pursuit of assets: wealth, material possessions, success, and social status.

We must remember that although Adam and Eve received God’s best, including immortality, Satan convinced Eve that God’s command of “Do not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil” was because God did not desire for them to possess the knowledge that He had.

Not only has the majority of the Christian Community accepted the Prosperity Message, but Satan also offers distractions that fill our minds with ingratitude for God’s continuous Love, Grace, and Mercies, and His blessings of Sustenance. We love God, but why is our desire for earthly possessions and pleasures so overpowering?

Our Inheritance: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). This verse highlights the inherent tendency of human nature to be corrupt and unreliable, needing God’s intervention for true understanding and guidance.”

The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that we are involved in an unseen Spiritual War. The Great Controversy of Good and Evil is between Christ and Satan. Believers, we are Satan’s target!

Satan is determined to separate us from God by preying on our innate weaknesses. His goal is to manipulate our minds into believing that God is punitive, the Bible is filled with restrictive “Do Nots,” and that our Heavenly Father is selfish.

The Highly Effective Deception: Desire is fueled by our five senses, our eyes see, and our brains process Satan’s deceptive mirages of [what appears to be] magnificent lifestyles filled with the happiness, laughter, and contentment that only comes from status, wealth, material possessions, and pleasure.

How do we fight against our human nature of always desiring more than we have? The Path to Freedom Requires Human Effort and Divine Intervention.

We need Jesus’ Divine Strength to break the Stronghold of giving in to our desires, and we must exercise the Human Effort of Discipline and Self-Control.

Our spiritual breakthrough requires using our faith to consecrate ourselves daily to a life of surrender and faithful obedience. Personal Worship must become our priority. Our prayers should always begin with “God, I thank you for…” Every day, thank God for 5 blessings—Gratitude is Worship.

From whispering prayers of gratitude throughout our day, our faith strengthens because telling God, “Thank You,” invites the Holy Spirit to bring us into the presence of God, and give us the Divine Strength to say No to our desires.

“The manifestation of God’s love, His mercy and His goodness, and the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart to enlighten and renew it, place us, through faith, in so close connection with Christ that, having a clear conception of His character, we are able to discern the [masterful] deceptions of Satan.”

“And in view of the great things which Christ has done for us, we are ready to exclaim: ‘Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.'” (1 John 3:1, BSB).

Gratitude List: Thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your Love and Faithfulness!

God’s Agape Love: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

God’s Agape Love: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore, with loving kindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3).

God’s Faithfulness: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17, NIV).

Jesus Christ, our Savior and Triumphant King, made the ultimate sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross to save you and me from the wages of sin, which is death. What more can Christ do for us?

Yet there is more! This Earth is not our Forever Home! Yes and Amen!

Jesus’ Loving Promise: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3).

We cannot let the desire for earthly trinkets and success overpower our desire for receiving our reward of Eternal Life: “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.'” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

“Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is…” (1 John 3:2).

Continuously thanking God for His blessings keeps our hearts attached to Jesus’ heart. Instead of looking at life through eyes focused on desire, we develop a spirit of praise and worship from our gratitude and appreciation for all that God has given to us.

Lord God, we thank You for Your Amazing Love, Steadfast Faithfulness, and Continuous Blessings. Even though we have repaid you with selfishness, we have come to our senses, asking for forgiveness. Create in us a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within us. We ask for Your strength to resist Satan’s temptations. Lord, help us to move forward as we persevere with faith in this journey of life. All glory, honor, and praise to Your Holy Name. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

The Life and Character of Christ

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword [of division between belief and unbelief].” (Matthew 10:34, Amplified Bible).

Today, while studying my Bible lesson, the author asked, “How well do you know the Life and Character of Christ?”

God, the Father, Required Faithful Obedience from Christ

“So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The One who sent Me is with Me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.” (John 8:28-29).

Jesus’ life demonstrates that He always prayed for guidance and always obeyed God, the Father. Unless we have studied Genesis and the Four Gospels [Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John], then we do not have the foundational knowledge necessary to intimately know who Christ is.

But memorizing the Life and Character of Christ only gives us theoretical knowledge; without loving Him, our hearts will remain empty.

“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9, NIV).

Without a response, Matthew left a position of status with the Roman government, which provided great wealth, to follow Christ. From hearing others speak of Jesus’ Love and His Ministry of Healing, Matthew had already decided to follow Jesus if He extended the invitation.

Reflecting on why we accepted Christ as our personal Savior only has one answer: God is Love: “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). “Our capacity to love is a response to the love God has already shown us.”

Christ’s Love differs greatly from human love. For us to love is a lengthy process of learning who the person is. Yes, their morals, values, temperament, and goals reveal critical aspects of their character, but many have been disappointed when they learn the person is incapable of reciprocating love.

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7). Christ created us with the spiritual gift of love, which connects our hearts to His Righteous Heart.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3, Amplified Bible).

Spiritual Love is far greater and deeper than human love. Without the Holy Spirit giving us spiritual wisdom, we cannot comprehend God’s Agape Love. Yet, without making Christ’s Love personal, we will never fully understand the height and depth of His Love, nor can we appreciate His Sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross.

Separating ourselves from family members and distractions is vital to appreciating and personalizing Jesus’ Sacrificial Offering. From studying the Book of John, Chapters 17-21, we realize that Christ’s Overwhelming Love for us gave Him the courage to fulfill the Plan of Redemption. What more can Jesus do for us?

To Be a Christian Is to Be Like Christ: “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, NIV).

To abide in Christ requires us to pray continuously and study the Bible daily. Foundational knowledge of our Creator, Jesus, God, the Son, begins with the study of the Creation Story in Genesis Chapters 1-3, and His earthly life in the Four Gospels [Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John].

Christ was a Prayer Warrior: “But He would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” (Luke 5:16). From studying the Life of Christ, we learn that Jesus often chose hours of solitude to spend time in worship with God, the Father.

To follow Christ, we must have a heart-to-heart relationship with Him, which requires that we know His Righteous Character.

How do we know if we are true followers of Christ? “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:24).

“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23, NIV). “Not my will God, but Your will be done in my life.” A daily prayer of surrender reveals our desire to obey God and to involve Him in every aspect of 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; Fear [Revere] the Lord and depart from evil.” (Proverbs 3:5-7).

Satan has deceived us into believing this Command is optional. As Christ lived, we must also live. Loving God requires letting go of our plans and obeying and fulfilling His plans for our lives.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8, ESV)

The Life of Christ is our example of how to spend time in the Presence of God: Through worship, we learn God’s Perfect Plans for the given day. Daily morning and evening personal worship is when we receive spiritual nourishment, wisdom, and strength from the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live as overcomers.

Praying and studying the Scriptures gives us a deeper understanding of what it means to live righteously. Day by day, the Holy Spirit changes us from the inside out, transforming our hearts and characters—Sanctification, the lifetime spiritual process of growth and transformation.

Christ is our Spiritual Role Model

From studying the Life and Character of Christ, when facing temptations, we choose to pray for strength and use our gift of self-control to say No to sin.

“Knowing the beauty of Christ’s Character is foundational to knowing what our daily walk with Christ should be.”

“This is why time in the Word, every day, is so important. This is why, we should also spend time dwelling on the Life, Character and Teachings of Jesus. By beholding, yes, we do become changed.”

“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).

Bible Study: The Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

Lord God, we surrender ourselves to You. We thank You for Your love and the sacrificial gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who gave His life to save our souls. We love You, and because of our love, we have decided to follow Jesus with faithful obedience. Lord, we cannot do this in our own strength, so we ask for the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit on our lives. We look forward to the day that we will see Jesus, our Triumphant King, and receive our gift of the Crown of Eternal Life. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we ask this prayer, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Sabbath Peace and Blessings

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, KJV).

There are many who embrace and follow human wisdom, but in love, God warns us against following our thoughts. All will be judged against His Righteous Standard, The Holy Bible.

The righteous always seek God through prayer and study of the Holy Scriptures, and respond with obedience. Peace comes from staying aligned with God’s will and plans.

God honors those who worship Him with love, loyalty, and faithful obedience. The Holy Spirit rewards us with the daily blessings of spiritual wisdom, discernment, strength, and Divine guidance.

And on the day of Jesus’ Second Coming, we can joyfully expect to receive our reward of the Crown of Life. Amen.

Lord God, we ask for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our lives. As we seek knowledge from your Words of Life, we ask for the wisdom to understand the depth of Your Love. Teach us how to worship You in spirit and truth. We honor You on Your Holy Sabbath, and ask for the blessings of Spiritual renewal, restoration, strength, peace, and joy. With faith, we ask this prayer in the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry