Reflecting on this week reveals that when we invite Christ into our lives through personal worship, Jesus’ Divine Presence provides comfort, peace, and the miraculous proof that His promises are Yes and Amen!
If you haven’t let go of self-reliance then you are missing out on the abundant spiritual blessings and benefits that the righteous receive when they honor God, worshiping Him with love, surrender, and faithful obedience.
Lord Jesus, we thank You for bringing us safely through another week. As we prepare our hearts and minds to worship You for the next 24 hours, we ask for a double portion of the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Thank You for loving us so much, that You designated 1/7th of our week for the restoration of our mind, body, and soul. Every week, we look forward to being healed mentally, emotionally, physically, and most importantly spiritually.
As we worship You, Lord, we pray for those who are attempting to restart their lives without their loved ones. We ask You to provide healing, comfort, and strength to the mother at my doctor’s office, who is grieving the loss of her son.
Jesus, we look forward to the day when You will fulfill Your promise to come again, taking us to Heaven, where there will be no more tears, pain, or sorrow. Because of Your sacrificial gift on Calvary’s Cross, we have the opportunity for Eternal Life, and with gratitude and praise, we thank You, Beautiful Triumphant King. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Worthy and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“A Free, Undeserved Gift: Grace cannot be earned through human merit, good works, or costly offerings. Our deep need and unworthiness qualify us to receive it simply by asking.”
“God’s Grace is defined as an unearned, free gift of Divine favor and power given to undeserving human beings to save, transform, and empower them to obey God’s Moral Law [Exodus 20] out of love.
“If you love me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15, ESV).
“Harmony with the Law: Grace does not replace or nullify God’s Moral law. Instead, Grace and the Law work in perfect harmony, with Grace giving believers the spiritual power to align their lives with God’s Commandments.”
For it is written, Be holy, for I Am Holy. (1 Peter 1:16). “God’s Grace Is A Catalyst for Transformation: Sanctifying Grace actively works within a believer to renew the heart, quicken the conscience, and purify thoughts.”
The converted heart perceives Jesus as a Loving Savior, who redeemed humanity from the second and final death [the price of sin], with His death on Calvary’s Cross.
The mind and commitment of Jesus’ dedicated followers is to honor and worship Him with daily surrender and faithful obedience, always acknowledging Christ as their Resurrected and Triumphant King!
Yeshua is our Loving and Faithful Shepherd, who is steadfastly committed to protecting and providing for His sheep.
Jesus Christ is Heaven’s Mighty Warrior and Commander of Angel Armies, who are commissioned to protect the righteous from Satan, our greatest enemy.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27). To follow Jesus, we must love Him, learn His Righteous Character and Attributes, and study to learn how He lived in His earthly life.
To know Jesus requires knowing His Life and the Truth of His Righteous Principles. The Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John document The Life of Christ in the Holy Bible.
God’s Grace is freely given to those who actively desire to receive its Life-Giving Power.
Every day, our gratitude for the gift of God’s Grace is revealed by spending time in personal worship, expressing gratitude for His Steadfast Love and Faithfulness, and asking God to reveal His Will and Plans.
Loving God is the spiritual catalyst that produces humility and the willingness to surrender to God’s Higher Thoughts and Ways [Isaiah 55:8-9].
Faithful obedience invites the Holy Spirit to speak to us through the Holy Scriptures and our thoughts. God, the Holy Spirit communicates God’s Divine Plan to every believer, who uses their faith to surrender with the commitment to follow Jesus.
Active participation in our Salvation includes learning to hear Jesus’ Voice. When facing challenges, it is best not to involve other people, which facilitates the astute recognition of Divine Guidance.
We can differentiate Jesus’ Voice from our thoughts because Divine Thoughts and Instructions always reveal that God is Holy; and God always gives Glory and Honor to Himself, because He is The Sovereign Authority of this universe.
Obedience To God Is True Worship: Remaining Covered By God’s Grace
God’s Grace: We were Justified [forgiven of our sins and cleansed from all unrighteousness] when we accepted Jesus as our personal Savior.
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). From obeying Jesus’ Voice [His plans for our lives], we remain covered by His Righteousness, which is required for our Salvation and Sanctification.
Sanctification is the lifelong spiritual process of our mind, character, and personality being changed from carnal unholiness into Christ’s Righteous Character.
“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.” (Lamentations 3:25). Prayer keeps us connected to Christ.
Through daily surrender, we proclaim that Jesus is the Lord of our life; yet, it is continuous faithful obedience that reveals if Jesus is sitting on the throne of our heart as our Lord, Shepherd, and King.
Remaining Under The Spiritual Umbrella of God’s Grace
“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).
Spiritual growth and character transformation require the human effort of daily total surrender and cooperation with God. To remain anchored In Christ, we cease making decisions without spiritual guidance.
Surrender is revealed by letting go of our desires and plans in exchange for seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit through prayer and studying the Holy Scriptures.
“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14).
To remain covered by Grace, our lifestyle is one of continuous worship; Praying, Waiting for God’s answer, and Obeying His instructions, keeps us in Right Standing with God.
Through God’s Grace, the Journey of Spiritual Transformation is performed by the Holy Spirit, yet, we must actively participate in our Salvation.
The Fruit of The Spirit Describes Christ’s Righteous Character
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23).
We cannot change ourselves. The Fruit of the Spirit are Divine Attributes, which require the intervention of the Holy Spirit and our commitment to follow and obey God, and to live righteously.
To remain covered by God’s Grace, we let go of all behaviors, habits, lifestyle choices, and relationships that do not represent the Pure Righteousness of Jesus Christ.
“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:24-25).
From our commitment to put our faith and trust in the Strength of Christ, the Holy Spirit gives us the power to live a sacrificial life of self-denial. Every day, we will be tempted and our faith will be tested, Prayer is our Spiritual Weapon!
Through prayer, we have immediate access to Divine Help. Whisper prayers continuously throughout your day, always asking for the Spiritual Wisdom to recognize temptation and the Spiritual Strength to renounce sin in all of its devious forms.
Our Christian Journey requires faith, trust, courage, obedience, perseverance, and endurance. The psalmist, King David assures us, “When the righteous cry out for help, the Lord delivers them.” Yes and Amen!
Like the great Niagara Falls, God’s Grace, Mercies, and Power flows continuously to the heart of every surrendered believer; Jesus, our Loving Shepherd is always ready to give us Divine Help.
“Give us our daily bread” has a physical and spiritual meaning: To remain connected to Christ, we must receive the spiritual food of supernatural wisdom, strength, and power from the Holy Spirit to navigate in our spiritual journey.
Reflection: God’s Grace is the undeserving, free gift of His Divine Love, Favor and Power.
Jesus, our Shepherd leads us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness; and the Holy Spirit gives us the instructions and wisdom to live righteously, preparing us for an eternity in the presence of a Holy and Righteous God.
As time rapidly progresses toward the Second Coming of Jesus, we cannot afford to be separated spiritually from our Shepherd. A steadfast relationship with Jesus is required to be covered by His Grace.
To navigate through this tumultuous spiritual journey, we must stay under the Cover of Jesus’ Divine Grace, which invites the Holy Spirit to empower us with the supernatural wisdom and strength to “fight the good fight of faith.” Yes and Amen.
Lord God, we approach the Throne of Grace, realizing that we are powerless without Your Divine Presence, Guidance, and Power. We ask You to cleanse our hearts from all unrighteousness, and to give us the strength to keep persevering through our earthly spiritual journey. In faith, we commit to following Jesus, to establishing a life of worship filled with prayer, gratitude, and praise for Your continual faithfulness. We ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Throughout the Bible, God reveals that total dependence on Him will always lead to Deliverance and Victory!
Whether facing life’s routine duties, or the many unexpected challenges, hardships, and impossible battles, Jesus, our Mighty Warrior invites us to use our faith to Pray, Ask for His Help, and Wait on Him. And while waiting, we continue to praise Him with prayers and songs of gratitude.
King Jehoshaphat’s Prayer: 2 Chronicles 20
5 “Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord in front of the new courtyard,
6 and said, ‘O Lord, God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven? And do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, there is no one able to take a stand against You.
7 O our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Your friend Abraham? 8 They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your Name, saying,
9 ‘If evil comes on us, or the sword of judgment, or plague, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your Name and Your Presence is in this house) and we will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear and save us.’
10 Now behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You would not allow Israel to invade when they came from the land of Egypt (for they turned away from them and did not destroy them),
11 here they are, rewarding us by coming to drive us out of Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance.
12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless against this great multitude which is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.'”
The most powerful aspect of this prayer is the acknowledgement of God’s Sovereign Authority and Power:
‘O Lord, God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven? And do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, there is no one able to take a stand against You.’
And the second most powerful aspect of the King’s prayer reveals his humility, faith, and surrender to the Most-High God:
‘We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.’
Praising God before He intervenes reveals that we are using our faith to completely trust in His Omnipotence and gives Honor and Glory To His Most Holy Name:
“Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping Him.”
“The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel, with a very loud voice.” (2 Chronicles 20:18-19, Amplified Bible).
God’s Reminder to all of His Sons and Daughters: God’s Promises do not have an Expiration date. Yes and Amen!
“Listen carefully, all [you people of] Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. The Lord says this to you: ‘Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:15, Amplified Bible).
Lord God, our hearts are filled with praise and gratitude for giving us the Holy Scriptures with stories of men and women, who used their faith to pray, ask, and believe that Your Promises to help us are Truth, and Yes and Amen! Lord, today on your Blessed Holy Sabbath, we confess that we have faced many challenges this week, attempting to resolve them using our human thoughts and strategies. And for our doubt and unbelief, we ask for forgiveness. Lord, we have come to our spiritual senses, realizing that we can do nothing without You. and now, Lord, in faith, we seek You, asking for Your Divine Help, believing that you will give us Deliverance and Victory. We also ask for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s Presence, and the Blessings of wisdom and strength. With faith, trust, and praise, we honor and worship You on Your Holy Sabbath. In Jesus’ Loving and Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.
Adversity enters our lives in various ways. One of the toughest challenges to effectively deal with is when facing conflict with familiar people [family, coworkers, neighbors], who Satan uses to disturb our spiritual gifts of Jesus’ joy and peace.
“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” (John 8:29).
In His earthly life, Jesus continuously faced jealousy, hatred, and conflict from those who considered themselves to be religious. Not only did Jesus have an unbothered mind, He also established and maintained boundaries.
“Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about Him and had been hoping for a long time to see Him perform a miracle. He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer.” (Luke 23:8-9, NLT).
Jesus is our perfect example on how to handle conflict. Pray and ask for Divine Strength; Remain silent. We simply choose not to respond to antagonistic behaviors and spoken words, because we represent to the world that Christ makes a difference in our life.
“Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32, Amplified Bible).
Conflict in the home of a Christian believer reveals that satanic influence rules in the home, instead of the Spirit of God. “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?” (James 4:1, NLT).
Facing mistreatment and abusive behaviors prevents the Holy Spirit from performing our daily Spiritual growth and Character transformation required for us to receive our reward of Eternal Life.
“And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'” (Matthew 22:37).
Always Put God First! Jesus tells us that our love and loyalty to God is our priority, not to our spouse or family members. If conflict cannot be resolved then make the choice to leave. God promises to take care of you.
Conflict in the workplace should be handled according to the employer’s policy. Do not engage in verbal sparring or respond to hostile emails.
The Following Message is from the Pastor of the Oakwood University Church in Huntsville, Alabama:
“If you’re facing unfairness, betrayal, or watching others succeed through dishonest means, Psalm 37:7 encourages you to bring your concerns to God instead of becoming consumed by them.”
“Avoid comparing yourself to others; continue living with integrity; and trust that God is aware of the situation and that His justice will ultimately prevail.”
“The central message: ‘Stay calm, trust God, and don’t let the apparent success of wrongdoing cause you to lose faith in God or to compromise your values.'”
King David faced many enemies in his lifetime, and in Psalm 37, he reminds us to rest in the Lord because of God’s Love and Future Plans:
The Heritage of the Righteous and the Calamity of the Wicked
“Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.”
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.”
“For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth. For yet in a little while and the wicked shall be no more…”
Lord God, we look forward to the day when our lives will not include the many faces of adversity. Until then, we ask You to give us the strength to remain silent, and pray, always asking for Your Divine Intervention. We also ask for the courage and strength to persevere in our spiritual journey, and make the necessary changes to live according to Your Divine plan, which includes a calm and nurturing environment. Lord, we thank You for the future promise of the righteous living on a perfect New Earth that overflows with Your Agape Love, Peace, and Joy. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27, ESV)
Yes, the followers of Christ have received His steadfast promise of giving us Perfect Peace. And we know that His Promises are “Yes and Amen” indicating that we can always rely on His Word, because God is Forever Faithful.
If we trust God, then why do so many Christians live with worry, anxiety, and restless nights? When facing challenges, if our first response is, “What am I going to do?” then we do not trust God.
Many Christians have embraced the practices of unbelievers, who rely on their human wisdom and strategies. But it is the love of self [revealed by self-reliance] that brings unrest and is wearing out the vital life forces.
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16, ESV).
The Bible teaches us to use our faith to pray, ask God for help, and wait with joyful anticipation. We enjoy Jesus’ peace, because we believe in His Power and Promises.
Give your concerns to Jesus, and as King David said, “I will lay down in peace and sleep.” we will also enjoy Jesus’ gift of internal Peace flowing like a river in our hearts, minds, and souls. Yes and Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for being Yahweh Yireh, our Provider. You said, those who use their faith to trust and believe that You are the Sovereign God, You will honor their faith by performing miracles that give resolution and bring glory to Your Holy Name. We thank You for the privilege of prayer and the invitation to depend on You. Lord, we realize that we will always have spiritual needs, and every day, we need Your Divine Help and Strength. Jesus, we accept Your invitation to help us. With faith and trust, we cast our cares on You, believing your promise to give us resolution and Perfect Peace. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”
2 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it is not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
3 “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3).
God desires the best for us; He wants us to have a relationship with His Son, God, Jesus Christ; to know and do what is right; to live righteously, and to know and obey His One and Only Truth in the Holy Bible.
Because of the hardships in our spiritual journey with Jesus, we may become discouraged or disappointed, but if we feel that our life does not matter to God, then we are in a Spiritual Crisis.
To understand God, the Father, and God, Jesus, the Son’s phenomenal love requires that we maintain a heart-to-Heart relationship with Jesus Christ through daily personal worship.
“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).
“The Vine: Jesus represents the Source of Life, Strength, and Power.” “The Branches: Believers must stay attached to the Source.” “Bearing Fruit: Doing good works and living a faithful life happens naturally only when staying close to Jesus.”
“Staying Connected: To “abide” means to keep a close, daily relationship with Him through faith, trust, obedience, prayer, and Bible Study.”
To abide in Christ requires using our faith to follow Him and live a sacrificial life of self-denial. Study Romans 12:1-2.
Put God First: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” To stay connected to God, we must love God and dedicate ourselves to follow Jesus Christ, our Faithful Shepherd, with surrender and obedience.
“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…It will be health to your flesh [mind and body], And strength to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8).
Becoming weary and feeling as if we are carrying the weight of the world reveals that we have excluded God.
By attempting to use our thoughts and strategies to navigate through life, we have separated ourselves from the Divine Source of All Knowledge, Wisdom, and Strength.
Jesus tells us, “…you can do nothing without me.” Our spiritual journey of growth and transformation cannot be accomplished without Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.
“It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24).
We desperately need to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to empower us with wisdom and strength. Because we must eat physical food every day, we must also pray daily, asking for wisdom and strength.
Nothing creates discouragement and despair like a decision that leads to facing unnecessary consequences. Yet we do not have to live the chaotic life of unbelievers, who will never enjoy Jesus’ Gifts of Peace and Contentment.
Resolution To Our Spiritual Crisis: We Make The Commitment to Redirect Our Faith and Focus Back To El Roi
El Roi (אֵל רֳאִי), translates to “The God Who sees me” or “The God Who sees.” Jesus knows every challenge and every adversity that will happen in our lifespan.
“I will never leave you or forsake you.” Jesus is committed to resolving life’s routine challenges and the unexpected hardships, but we must choose to include Him. Accepting Jesus as our Savior also means the commitment to follow Him; we pray, ask for help, and obey His instructions, waiting patiently for His resolution.
“Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you” [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. (1 Peter 5:7, Amplified Bible).
The Prayer: ” Lord God, today guide me in my decision-making and give me the strength to keep moving forward.”
Faith, Trust, Courage, and Internal Joy and Peace are Spiritual gifts available to every dedicated follower of Christ. Imagine being in a one-sided relationship: you give your all, and the other person receives but never reciprocates.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on 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, NIV).
Jesus has given us above and beyond what we deserve. It’s time for us to lavish our love on our Loving and Compassionate Shepherd, Savior, and Triumphant King.
By dedicating personal time with Jesus, we can whisper words expressing our love and gratitude to Him for sustaining our lives with the daily blessings that we take for granted. God is the Sustainer of all life: Our greatest blessing is God’s Ruach Breath that flows through our bodies.
“Give us this day our daily bread.” Each day brings its own obstacles. We were never created to figure things out. The answer to building our faith and escaping the Spiritual Crisis is to restore our relationship with Jesus Christ by maintaining constant communication with Him through prayer.
“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27, NIV). Victorious faith requires that Jesus is actively involved in our lives, teaching and guiding us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Worshiping the King of Kings with consistent prayer and diligent study of the Holy Scriptures invites the Holy Spirit to give us the ability to see life through spiritual eyes.
The Holy Spirit empowers us with the wisdom and strength to persevere, keeps us spiritually connected to Jesus, and guides us to move forward and stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.
The Message of the Cross reveals the Plan of Redemption, which God, the Father, and Jesus Christ had in place before the world and before Adam and Eve were created. We have been rescued from the wages of sin [Romans 6:23]. Thank You, God!
“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, Amplified Bible).
All of Heaven, the Triune Godhead [God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit] and the host of angels are dedicated to guiding and giving us the spiritual wisdom and strength to persevere in our journey with Jesus from Earth to Heaven.
Does our life matter to God? The Cross answers with a resounding Yes! We are greatly loved! Through our faith, we are saved by God’s Grace, and we are alive because of Jesus’ Love and Mercies. “I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5).
God Validates Our Worth – The Spiritual Status of the Righteous: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” (1 Peter 2:9).
The Holy Bible reveals God’s Love, His Righteous Character, and is filled with countless stories of His Divine Intervention, which always produces victorious outcomes!
Does our life matter to God? We have 24/7 angelic protection! “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14, NIV). The righteous have guardian angels assigned by their Commander, Jesus Christ, to protect and guide us 24/7. (Study Psalm 91).
Not only do our invisible angels fight Satan’s invisible evil angels, but they also help us to recognize covert temptations [spiritual warfare] that the human mind cannot discern. The dedicated believer, who prays and relies on Christ, will never be scammed or suffer from financial loss due to deception.
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” (Jeremiah 31:3).
The Bible Is Our Spiritual Guide and Mirror
God has given us Commandments [His Moral Law] and Righteous Precepts that teach us the difference between His Truth and false doctrines, sin and righteousness, providing us with His never-changing expectations on how we are to think and live.
The righteous who remain faithful and persevere will be rewarded: “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21, NIV). Yes and Amen!
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12). It is just a matter of time, and He that shall come will come. Jesus asks, “…Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
In the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John gives us a limited description of the New Heaven and New Earth; Jesus reveals how sin and evil on this Earth will end; and His Ultimate and Definitive Plan to destroy the wicked and reward the righteous with our Eternal Crown of Life.
The Holy Scriptures reiterate that we are Sons and Daughters of the Sovereign God of this universe, who will inherit the Kingdom of God if we participate with the Holy Spirit by living righteously. Guarding our gift of time is crucial to progressing in our spiritual journey.
Busyness does not produce spiritual growth! “…making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil.” (Ephesians 5:15, Amplified Bible).
There is only one reason why Christian believers become despondent in their Spiritual Journey, questioning if their life matters to God: They are spiritually disconnected from Jesus Christ.
Too busy to spend time with God? We are drawn away by our digital devices, ChatGPT, wealth-building, pleasure-seeking activities, insatiable desires, and unholy relationships. “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 NLT).
“Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He [Jesus] is righteous. He who sins is of the devil for the devil has sinned from the beginning…” (1 John 3:7-8).
We cannot follow Christ with a divided heart. Without being anchored in Christ, Satan easily uses distractions to entice us. Many former Christians have drifted so far from God that they have lost their sense of direction.
“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). Believers who spend time with God in Prayer and Study of the Holy Scriptures are anchored spiritually, mentally, and emotionally to Christ.
The Christian Community has changed—We cannot look for validation from those who do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, which also includes many church members who only practice ritualistic worship. Attending church does not indicate that we are spiritually connected to Christ.
“Be holy, for I Am Holy.” God desires that we live a pure and holy life, made possible through the Power of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual Transformation and Maturity require a lifetime of steadfast determination to live holy, revealing our desire to cooperate with the Holy Spirit.
“I can come to Jesus just as I am, but I cannot stay just as I am.” Our earthly lives are a time of probation. We only have the here and now to actively participate in our spiritual journey. Make your relationship with Jesus your priority!
The Bible Is Our Guide to Eternal Life: We must study the Scriptures for ourselves. We cannot grow spiritually from listening to someone else’s Biblical knowledge. God never instructed us to only study part of the Bible—this false doctrine has pervaded today’s Christian Community.
No, animal sacrifice in the Old Testament does not apply to today’s Christians, but learning the Sanctuary Service helps us understand the magnitude of the Plan of Redemption and the Sacredness of the Sacrificial Offering of Jesus, the Lamb of God.
The perfect lambs that were brought to the temple and sacrificed pointed to Jesus, whose death was required on Calvary’s Cross. Yes, only Jesus, the perfect Lamb’s blood had the Power to wash away our sins and to save our souls.
According to Bible Scholars, the New Testament contains 70% of the Old Testament. We live in extremely evil times; believers are confused [My people perish for the lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6] and desperately need the power of God that comes from knowing and obeying the entire Bible [Genesis to Revelation].
The Bible identifies and teaches us how to differentiate between what is Holy and what is “filthy unrighteousness.” Always ask yourself before speaking, watching, or participating in an activity: Does this honor a Holy and Righteous God?
Studying the Bible teaches us God’s Higher Thoughts and Ways, and invites the Holy Spirit to empower us with the wisdom to understand the Message of the Cross, and God’s Love, Grace, and Mercies.
The Bible teaches us how we should honor and worship God. While on earth, Jesus lived a sacrificial life of self-denial, and He gave us instructions on how to live righteously and renounce sin in every form. The Holy Scriptures build our faith and trust in God, and teach us how to surrender, obey, and follow Jesus.
When God matters to us, we will stay connected to Jesus through prayer; we will abide in Christ by diligently studying the Bible; we will ask the Holy Spirit to teach us how to live a righteous life that honors, reveres, and glorifies God.
When our love for God is genuine, and our worship is revealed by a lifestyle of consecration, only then will the Holy Spirit begin and continue the Spiritual Process of Sanctifying and preparing us for Eternity.
Sanctification: Through the Holy Spirit, day by day, we will experience continuous spiritual growth and transformation, becoming more and more like the Righteous Character of our Triumphant King. Yes and Amen!
“And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6).
Lord God, with humble hearts, we approach Your Throne of Grace, surrendering ourselves to follow Jesus with love and loyalty. We ask for forgiveness for the sins of self-reliance and following our thoughts, instead of asking for Your perfect plans for our lives. Lord, we have hit the wall and can go no further without Your Divine Help. We ask for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, we are Your sheep, teach us how to recognize Your Voice. Today we renew our covenant to follow and obey our Shepherd. Lord God, we look forward to the day when we will see Jesus and receive our Eternal Crown of Life. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus, Amen.
“For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)
When three armies came against King Jehoshaphat, his immediate response was to declare a fast in the Kingdom of Judah. and using his faith, he prayed, asking for God’s Help.
“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are You not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and Might are in Your hand, and no one can withstand You.” (2 Chronicles 7:20, NIV).
King Jehoshaphat Prayer Focuses On God
If we look carefully at the King’s prayer, he honors and revere’s God by acknowledging God’s Sovereign Omnipotence: “You rule…Power and Might are in Your hand, and no one can withstand You.”
We were created to depend on Christ. Loving Christ is revealed by using our faith to follow and depend on our Shepherd with a spirit of humility, surrendering daily to follow and obey His will and plans.
Throughout the Bible, we find that God never focuses on human ability or weaknesses. God always redirects our focus to Himself: The Scriptures reveal His Love, Power, and Sovereign Authority.
“Behold I am the God of all flesh, is there anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
“God reminded the Prophet Jeremiah that He holds Absolute Power over all humanity and creation, affirming that nothing is too hard for the Sovereign God.
Reflection: Do we really believe that nothing is impossible for God to resolve? “Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44:21).
Joshua, Israel’s New Leader: Although Moses mentored Joshua to lead the people, when Moses died, because of the Israelites history of stubbornness and disobedience, Joshua not only feared the people, but he also doubted his ability to lead them.
God’s Response: (Joshua 1:5-6, 9):
“No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.”
“Only be strong and very courageous… Observe to do according to all the Law…Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.”
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Reflection: Recently I listened to a discussion by a panel of pastors, who stated the reason that most believers are having a difficult time in their spiritual Journey, and their routine duties of life: “We are always focusing on ourselves instead of God.”
Whether we are facing the routine obstacles of life, or overwhelming challenges and hardships, our initial thought should not be, “What am I going to do?”
With humility, King Jehoshaphat acknowledged our human limitations and the fact that we must depend on God: “For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”
Love and loyalty to God is revealed by our willingness to surrender to His Authority. In faith, we pray for guidance, with the commitment to trust and obey Jesus Christ, our Savior and Shepherd.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'” (John 14:6).
The Message of The Cross reveals that Jesus Christ has Redeemed us with His Life: “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV).
“From accepting Christ as our Savior, we acknowledge that His blood washes away our sins, which signifies, “New Ownership: Believers belong to God rather than to themselves or the ways of the world.”
God, the Father’s expectation is that we follow, trust, and obey God, Jesus Christ, His Son and our Shepherd by honoring Him with love, loyalty, surrender, faith, and obedience.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7). “And without faith it is impossible to please Him…” (Hebrews 11:6).
Do our thoughts and decisions reveal that our faith is in Jesus or in our abilities?
If we live from day to day relying on our thoughts and strategies then we have redirected our faith and focus to ourselves, which proves that we do not believe in the Power of God, nor do we trust Him.
A lifestyle of surrender and obedience is demonstrated through daily worship of Prayer, Bible Study, and asking God to reveal His will and plans for our lives.
Faith, trust, and obedience are the keys that prompt God to open the Windows of Heaven, and pour out His Abundant Blessings, especially when we need His Divine Help.
Great is His Faithfulness! God sustains our lives; it is His Ruach breath that flows through our lungs and His mercies that keep us alive.
The Failure to Reverence God is prevalent in today’s Christian Community: Sadly, because we have embraced self-reliance, rarely studying the Bible, we pray with a focus on ourselves, approaching God as if He is our equal. God will not acknowledge prayers that do not honor Him.
Our prayers should always begin with honoring and reverencing God’s Sovereign Authority: Jesus teaches us in the Lord’s Prayer to always acknowledge God, the Father’s Holy Name : “Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name.”
King David prayed: “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11).
“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7).
We have embraced the worldview of self-governance. Something is not right when Christians use their limited perception, and prior experience to evaluate a challenge, trust their feelings, and with a spirit of overconfidence, develop a strategy, believing that it will work.
Self-Reliance is the intentional decision to exclude God, revealing that we believe our mind is greater than God’s Omniscience, and His Higher Thoughts and Ways.
Not only does self-reliance dishonor God, but it also redirects our faith to trust in misguided human thoughts. “…Do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5).
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21).
Trusting in ourselves builds an impenetrable wall of resistance against depending on God, placing us in a state of disobedience, which immediately separates us from God.
Trusting in human wisdom compares to driving on a familiar road covered with a thick fog. Because we know every curve in the road, instead of driving with caution, we drive at our normal speed, because we do not anticipate encountering any hazards.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures reveal that God always redirects our faith and focus to His unlimited Power. Jesus created us to depend on His Wisdom, Strength, and Guidance: “Without Me, you can do nothing.”
“We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, God listens to him.” (John 9:31, ESV).
The Holy Spirit alerts every believer when they have detoured from the Narrow Path of Righteousness. Every day, we decide if we are interested in surrendering and following Jesus Christ.
“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:10, ESV).
When we live to please ourselves, we have an issue of the heart. God knows who loves Him, and although He knows we are attempting to serve Him with a divided heart, He will never coerce us to love Him.
When our response to John 3:16 is to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength then faithful obedience and surrender is not a burden or an inconvenience.
Receiving Forgiveness and Spiritual Restoration: “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).
First, we acknowledge that we have sinned against God by not revering and trusting His Love, Faithfulness, and Sovereign Power.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10).
God requires a prayer of confession and asking for forgiveness because we have rebelled against His Sovereign Authority by embracing and practicing self-reliance.
“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).
When we repent for our wrongdoing and in humility, admit our helplessness, we serve a Loving and Faithful God, who will give us His Divine Help.
We do not have to live a life of hoping for the best to happen. Jesus’ Invitation:
“Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need” [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]. (Hebrews 4:16, Amplified Bible).
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:12, ESV).
Lord God, You are the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory. We confess that we have trusted in our thoughts and strategies instead of placing our faith and trust in You. And we ask You to forgive us for dishonoring Your Holy Name and Your Sovereignty. We admit that we have reached a dead end in our spiritual journey, and are facing obstacles that we cannot overcome without You. Lord, we ask You to restore us spiritually. We confess that we desperately need Your Help, and we thank You for Your Divine Intervention. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] Only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, Amplified Bible).
If a coworker asked you, “What does it mean to be a Christian?” how would you respond?
Our answer is John 3:16: “God, the Father gave His only Son, Jesus Christ…” revealing that we understand that “The Message of the Cross,” always focuses on God, the Father’s, and [Jesus] God, the Son’s Life-Giving Plan of Redemption.
The Apostle Paul explains the difficulty of the human mind comprehending The Message of The Cross: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
“We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19).
When we initially accepted Christ as our Savior, it is God, the Holy Spirit, who gave us the wisdom to understand the spiritual meaning of Jesus’ Love, the Sacrificial Gift of His Life, and His Power to cleanse us from the unrighteousness of sin.
The Blood of Jesus Washes Us and We Are Spiritually Clean: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). What a beautiful and foundational Truth!
“God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14).
“The Message of The Cross [Jesus Christ] is the Core Foundation of the Christian Faith. It is God’s Ultimate Act of Sacrificial Love, the forgiveness of sins, and the Power of Salvation for those who believe!”
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding…” (Proverbs 2:6, ESV).
Without asking the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual wisdom and knowledge, our understanding and perception of God’s Saving and Redeeming Grace is severely limited.
Daily worship invites the Holy Spirit to give us the wisdom and strength we need for our spiritual journey and growth; The Spirit ofTruth also teaches us the deepest meaning of God’s Holy Scriptures [God’s Higher Thoughts and Ways, Isaiah 55:8-9].
Like the Athenians in the Apostle Paul’s era, who had an altar inscribed “To The Unknown God” many of today’s believers do not understand that Jesus is the Foundation of Christianity, or even know how to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Bible is our Spiritual Guide. We must study for ourselves. Not knowing who God is and how to apply Christian principles to everyday life, diminishes one’s faith in a Loving God, who gave His all when Jesus went to the Cross to save our souls.
It is God, the Holy Spirit, who gives us the spiritual wisdom and discernment to comprehend the Holy Scriptures, and The Life-Giving and Life-Saving Message of The Cross.
The Answer to Living a Victorious Life Through Jesus Christ: “Pray continuously!” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Jesus’ Promise: “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3).
God honors us when we consecrate and surrender ourselves daily to follow Jesus Christ, our Shepherd. The Christian Journey requires living a Christ-Centered life of faithful obedience, dedicated to worshiping God through Prayer and Bible Study.
In morning worship, ask for wisdom. And day by day, the Holy Spirit will empower you to see life through spiritual eyes, giving you the Spiritual Discernment to grasp the magnitude of Jesus’ Sacrificial Gift of His Life on Calvary’s Cross.
“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding.” (Proverbs 3:13, ESV).
God is Omniscient, perceiving time as Eternal, and His Wisdom is higher than we can ever imagine. The Bible is unequivocally Superior to all human knowledge, strategies, and thoughts, and artificial intelligence.
Our prayer for a deeper understanding of Jesus’ Love and the Message of the Cross is immediately answered by the Holy Spirit. Whether we are new to studying the Bible or have studied for years, we can never exhaust the Wisdom of God.
Our Heavenly Father is Loving, meeting us exactly where we are in our journey with Christ. When we do our part, the Holy Spirit establishes a spiritual foundation, gradually teaching us God’s Higher Thoughts, and how to live righteously.
Sanctification is the Spiritual process of being changed into the likeness of Christ Righteous Character. Study Matthew 11:29 and Galatians 5:22-23.
“For it is written, ‘Be holy, for I Am Holy.” (1 Peter 1:16).
When we pray and study the Holy Scriptures, God, the Holy Spirit gradually transforms our minds and hearts, preparing us for a Holy Heavenly Home.
Recognizing Spiritual Transformation: Not only will our desires be different, we will not speak words, or engage in activities that bring shame and dishonor to our Heavenly Father.
Reflection: Does your heart align with the Righteousness of Christ? Our thoughts reflect whether our eyes are on the prize of the Crown of Life, or if we are focusing on the meaningless things of this Earth.
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8, NLT).
Everyday we must remind ourselves that we are the blessed recipients of God’s Love, Grace, Mercy, and Salvation. Keep yourself on a high Spiritual Alert! In these Last Days [2 Timothy 3], Satan is busy!
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10).
Never let your emotions make decisions for you. Fight uncertainties and temptations by whispering prayers for God’s Guidance and Strength throughout your day!
The Holy Spirit responds by strengthening our faith, giving us directions, and redirecting our focus back to Jesus Christ, our Risen and Triumphant King.
The joy of the Lord is our strength! Because of the magnitude of Jesus’ Gift of Eternal Life, our hearts should overflow with love and gratitude.
Study Revelation Chapters 21-22, memorizing the love and beauty of our future Forever Home.
In John 16:33, Jesus warns us in advance that our Spiritual Journey would be tough, but with His Guidance, Strength, Power, we can face life with courage, “I will never leave you or abandon you.” Pray, trust, and depend on Jesus’ Strength.
From a spiritual perspective, there is no reason for a praying Christian believer not to be full of Jesus’ joy, peace, and happiness. Every minute of the hour of the day, we must fight the good fight of faith!
Immediately Respond to All Temptations With Prayer
Be aware of your thoughts and desires! Without the Holy Spirit converting our heart, the inherited human heart is filled with desires of greed that can never be satisfied!
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19, 21).
Allowing ourselves to be mesmerized by Satan’s temporary material possessions and money spiritually disconnects us from Christ.
Greed changes our hearts from pure to unclean, and evicts the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit no longer resides within us, we lose our spiritual focus, and the ability to think clearly.
Praying for our heart’s desires [success, material possessions, money, and relationships] will receive an answer of “No” from God. Why?
God’s priority is to change our character. We can come to Jesus, Just as we are, but we cannot stay that way. Spiritual Transformation is a slow process, requiring a lifelong journey of little steps of growth.
We cannot change ourselves, nor can we speed up the spiritual rate of growth, our responsibility is to follow, obey Christ, and to cooperate with the Holy Spirit.
God gave Jesus to save us from the wages of sin; and He desires to give us His Best Blessings in the New Heaven and New Earth, not on this temporary Earth that has no future.
Trust God, who knows the future and redirect your faith and focus back to Jesus! Change your prayer to, “Lord God, I want what You desire for me.”
“To him who overcomes, I will give the Crown of Life” is Jesus’ promise. It’s time for us to think, act, and live as if we are blessed recipients of Salvation and will soon receive our reward of Eternal Life.
We are Temporary Travelers Living on a Temporary Earth preparing everyday for our Forever Eternal home. Yes and Amen!
When our goals align with Jesus’ Promises in John 14:1-3 and Revelation 22:12, this Earth becomes insignificant. Jesus is Coming! We are waiting for our inheritance of the Crown of Life.
Use your faith to trust God and His Excellent Thoughts and Plans, which are designed to give us hope and a blessed Eternal Future with Jesus, our LORD of Lords and KING of Kings.
“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hell and of Death.” (Revelation 1:18).
Lord God, we pray for a Spiritual Revival and Reformation in our hearts. We ask You to forgive us for our sins, and to give us clarity and strength when we are uncertain of why we are Christians. We confess that we are not studying Your Holy Scriptures as we should and our prayer life is weak. Lord, today we commit to loving and honoring You as You deserve. Thank You for reminding us that because You gave Your only Son, Jesus Christ to save us from the second death, we owe You faithful obedience, and honor, glory, and praise. We know that You love us, forgive us for not returning Your love. Today, we desire to restart our spiritual journey. Lord, teach us how to be holy. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14).
The Wide Gate: “This path is easy and popular. It’s the path of least resistance—living for worldly pleasures, self-promotion, and following the crowd. But it leads to destruction.”
The Narrow Gate: “This Path is difficult. It requires faith and trusting God’s Plans, daily personal sacrifice, humility, and obedience to God’s Will. It demands commitment and denying our desires, Jesus tells us that only a few choose it.”
As I reflected on the daily struggle required to stay on the Narrow Path, the Holy Spirit reminded me of John 3:16 and John 14:1-3.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NIV).
God, the Father and God, Jesus, the Son are Omniscient, so they knew that Adam and Eve would disobey before Jesus created them. Still, Jesus said, Father, I will give my life to redeem humanity from certain death, the consequence of sin [Romans 6:23].
“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).
Yes, the Narrow Path requires us to say, No when our family and friends are inviting us to have fun and fulfill our desires, because you only live once.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27).
But deep within our hearts, we love our Shepherd, and we will continue our faith journey of being led and guided by the Holy Spirit, who tells us, “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 40:31, NIV).
Jesus’ Promises to His Faithful Sheep
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 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. 3 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).
“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). Yes and Amen!
Lord God, we love You and we are grateful for the Love Gift of Jesus Christ, Your Only Son. And Jesus, we love You, and appreciate the Love Gift of Your Life, which gives us Redemption, Grace, and Mercy. In faith, we will continue to follow You on the Narrow Path. Jesus, we know that we cannot follow You, using our thoughts and strength, so, we humbly ask You to please be our Strength. As we celebrate Your Holy Sabbath, we pray for all believers that they will decide to follow You with total surrender and faithful obedience. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Jesus Christ Is The Foundation of Christianity and Our Faith: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'” (John 14:6).
When Jesus knocked at the door of our hearts, we accepted Him as Lord and Savior, and we were adopted into the family of God as His Sons and Daughters.
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11).
Our spiritual responsibilities include loving God; loving others, including our enemies; and witnessing to the world that accepting Jesus makes a difference in our lives.
Yes, every believer has the responsibility to represent God’s Love and Jesus’ Saving Grace to the world.
A smile, kind words, being patient, helping others, and telling someone, Jesus, loves you reveals our heart to heart connection with Jesus, giving hope to those who are blind from living in a spiritually dark world.
“You are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14, 16).
“The Meaning: We are commanded to live an active, visible faith through love, compassion, and kindness so that our actions represent Christ’s love.”
“As lights of the world, we live this out by practicing daily acts of generosity, patience, forgiveness, and helping those in need.”
Being Lights of the World Requires Courage
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7). Every human being is gifted with the ability to love God, love others, and to love themselves.
God Is Love: Love Is The Greatest Gift
“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2).
“When love fills the heart, it will flow out to others…Love modifies the character, governs the impulses, subdues enmity, and ennobles the affections. This love is as broad as the universe, and is in harmony with that of the angels.”
“[God’s Love] cherished in the heart, sweetens the entire life and sheds its blessing upon all around.” It is His love, and only His love that can make us the lights who reflect His Divine Light.
When our hearts are converted by the Holy Spirit, we easily manifest God’s Love, Grace, and Mercy, because Christ’s Love and Righteousness spiritually transforms our hearts [minds], characters, and personalities.
The Challenge: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind… .” (Romans 12:2).
Because we inherited sinful hearts, Pride naturally exists within us. Without the transforming and sustaining Power of the Holy Spirit, we will manifest:
Self-Reliance, Individualism, selfishness, the lack of love and compassion, and diminished ethics, morals, and values. Human effort alone cannot stop these sinful behaviors from easily taking root and growing in our hearts.
“For what will a man give in exchange for his soul and eternal life [in God’s kingdom]?” (Mark 8:37, Amplified Bible).
The Challenge: Overcoming the temptations of the acquisition of wealth, success, secular pleasure, and relationships with unbelievers, who the enemy uses to weaken our faith and self-control.
Embracing and Relying on Jesus’ Powerful Strength: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10-11, NIV).
Overcoming Through Separation, Solitude, and Silence
Daily Personal Worship [Prayer and Bible Study] Keeps Us Connected to Christ: Every morning and evening, we set uninterrupted time [eliminating all distractions] to “Armor Up.”
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.” (John 15:4, NIV).
Loving God motivates us to stay connected to Jesus Christ. Daily Surrender, Prayer and Bible Study invites the Holy Spirit to give us the Spiritual Reinforcements of wisdom, discernment, and strength.
“Pray continuously.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Throughout our day, if we mentally whisper silent prayers for Divine Guidance and Strength, the Holy Spirit pours Christ’s Wisdom and Strength into our minds and bodies.
It is impossible for Satan to deceive us into embracing his temptations when we stay connected to Christ.
Consistent worship invites the Holy Spirit to transform our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character and empower us with Jesus’ Divine Strength to mature into loving, peaceful Sons and Daughters of God.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26).
Despite the impact that sin has on our hearts, from accepting Christ as our personal Savior, He cleanses our hearts, and gives us compassionate hearts that are responsive to His Voice and the needs of others.
“The object of God in choosing a people before all the world was not only that He might adopt them as His Sons and Daughters, but that through them the world might receive the Grace that brings salvation.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23).
When life is busy and things are chaotic, our calm facial expression and undisturbed demeanor speaks louder than spoken words, revealing that we are connected to a Higher Power.
Yes, representing the Character of Christ invites the Holy Spirit to touch the hearts of those who watch us. Some will assume that we are practicing the learned behavior of military discipline, but there may be one or two, who wish deep within their hearts they could have our peace.
How do they know we are Christians? When we are connected to Christ, His Light shines through us. Even those who have not accepted Christ, also received the same spiritual gifts [2 Timothy 1:7] that we have.
The Mysterious Power of the Holy Spirit [Acts 2]
The individuals who paid attention, desiring peace, invite the Holy Spirit to speak to their hearts. Whether it is at that point, or later, they will receive the invitation to accept Jesus, who is the Only One that gives the joy, peace, and patience, we manifested.
Prayer Is Our Spiritual Lifeline to Jesus Christ, Our Heavenly Intercessor: Every day, we must fight the good fight of faith on our knees.
We always need to take the time to pray, meditate, and reflect deeply on the Life of Christ and His sacrificial gift on Calvary’s Cross. Only Jesus’ strength can empower us to rise above life’s continuous stressors and daily challenges.
Alone, in secret prayer, we talk to Christ as if He is our Best Friend, with honor, respect, and genuine words that express our consistent need for Him, and His spiritual blessings.
“Lord, today, keep me anchored by revealing Your plans for my life. Guide my words, actions, and decisions and give me the opportunity to reveal Your Love to others… .”
The foundation of this prayer reveals our willingness to surrender in faith to God’s Will and Plans and our desire to witness Jesus’ Everlasting Love.
“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).
“Lord God, today, we ask for forgiveness of our sins. Thank you for sustaining our lives with spiritual and material blessings that we often take for granted. We surrender to follow and obey our Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Lord, keep us anchored by revealing Your Will for our lives, giving us the wisdom and strength to complete Your perfect plans. Guide us in our decisions and provide us with the opportunity to reveal Your Love to others. Lord, as your Sons and Daughters, we love You and bow to Your Sovereign Authority because You are our Holy Father. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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