The Spirit of Humility – Devotional – January 11, 2024
Our prayers reflect our true character. With humility, we surrender daily to God and pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s will for the given day.
Faithful obedience is the decision to honor and reverence God above our desires and plans. Humility proclaims “The LORD is My God and He is the LORD of my life,” therefore, I willingly place my life in His hands.
Prayer: Lord God, we pray for a spirit of humility as You possessed in Your earthly life by always seeking the will of Your Father. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Trusting in the God of Completion – Devotional – January 8, 2024
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” —Jeremiah 29:11
When studying the Bible, we learn about God’s Divine character. God is consistent and dependable, He always gives definitive instructions that result in victory. Believers are instructed to “Wait on the Lord, ” and “Do not trust your own understanding.” We are never told to follow our thoughts, develop strategies, or move forward unless directed by God. We know that the Holy Spirit is directing us because the outcome always brings glory and honor to God.
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16
Always pray and take your burdens, trials, and hardships to the throne of Grace first. Be very cautious when sharing your dilemma with others. Do not ask for answers or recommendations. When asking for prayer only disclose that you are facing a hard trial. An anointed prayer warrior will never ask you for additional information. Sometimes God uses a man or woman of God to relay His answer, but the person He uses is completely unaware of your circumstances.
Free will of Choice: Completion or Consequences
If we desire Divine intervention, God requires a prayer of faith asking for His help. Yet, there is a time of waiting. During the wait, either we will acknowledge [honor and reverence] God demonstrated through faith, trust, obedience, and patience, or, we will despise the waiting that we perceive as God’s silence and inactivity and follow our inclinations which results in suffering consequences.
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” —Psalm 37:7
The righteous do not have to suffer consequences! Only when we choose to disobey God can we reap sorrow and regret. There is a well-kept secret in the Christian community regarding, “I did it my way.” Many believers fail to share their true testimony—from their act of disobedience [following their thoughts and strategies] it appeared that all was well for a long time, yet, the consequences came to fruition many years later.
God’s Way: Completion and a Victorious Outcome!
“Our soul waits for the Lord, He is our help and our shield.” Psalm 33:20
Based on the miracles of the parting of the Red Sea, Naaman being healed of leprosy, Kings Asa and Hezekiah winning impossible battles, and Hannah, Sarah, and Elizabeth having babies after years of infertility, we witness the love and power of a God who gives victory to those who obey and wait.
Yes, it is a struggle to patiently wait. During the wait, pray without ceasing, study the Scriptures, and use your power of a sound mind to stand down all wayward thoughts and feelings of impatience. Ask for help! The Holy Spirit empowers us to exercise self-control and resist our thoughts.
Obedience to God is always rewarded! When you experience the blessings [spiritual, material, healing…] pouring down from the windows of heaven because of the decision to be a faithful follower of Christ, your perception of God and relationship with Christ deepens. You will have a testimony to share that focuses on the goodness of God!
We have a loving Heavenly Father who desires the best for us and deserves our faith, trust, and obedience. Who else can we trust with our lives? The righteous who wait on the Lord stay in His perfect will and live peaceful and abundant lives without suffering consequences. It’s time that we trust in the God of completion and experience His victorious outcomes. Amen.
Prayer: Thank You God for providing stability in our lives. We desire to put our faith and trust in You because we love You. In Jesus’ Name, we pray, Amen.
Rejoice and Be Glad! Appreciation of God’s Great Love – Devotional – January 7, 2024
In 2 Kings, Sennacherib the king of Assyria defiantly sent a message to King Hezekiah boasting against the LORD: “Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: What confidence is this in which you trust? You speak of having plans and power for war; but they are mere words. And in whom do you trust that you rebel against me?” (2 Kings 18:19-20).
King Hezekiah prayed fervently to God for deliverance from the king of Assyria. The prophet Isaiah delivered God’s answer to King Hezekiah: “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: “He shall not come into this city, Nor shoot an arrow there, Nor come before it with shield, Nor build a siege mound against it ” (2 Kings 19:32).
And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead” (2 Kings 19:35).
What is our first response when we face the unexpected vicissitudes of life? Do we pray immediately for Divine Intervention like King Hezekiah? Although we never think of fighting the spiritual warfare of physical harm without God’s help [the reason we pray for God’s Divine protection every day over our lives and those of our families], many believers attempt to resolve life’s challenges using their thoughts and strategies. Sadly, they never ask God for help until their solutions have failed.
“God cares for everything and sustains everything that He has created.” Steps to Christ
Studying the Bible increases our intellectual knowledge of who God is, but we must use our faith to believe in His promises and power. Faith allows us to live victoriously. Praying in faith every day is a significant part of a Christian’s lifestyle. When we fully trust God, prayer is always our first response. Like King Hezekiah, the words, God, I need Your help, immediately flow from our mouths.
Memorizing Scriptural promises prevents all anxiety and worries—God is our only stability. His promises are Yes, and we say, Amen [It is so]. Still, it is not enough to have intellectual knowledge of the Scriptures. Unwavering faith is vital in receiving Divine deliverance from our enemies and obstacles. A heart-to-heart relationship with Christ is based on our faith and gives us courage and confidence in God as we patiently wait for His help. Rejoice and celebrate His faithfulness!
Distractions are the enemy’s spiritual warfare designed to make us forget about God. In 2024, if we slow down, and eliminate unnecessary distractions, we will have time to focus on God’s love and promises. Through worship, the Holy Spirit gives us peace and reassurance that we are in God’s hands. The righteous have a reason to rejoice, we receive the unmerited attention of God every day.
For every battle, we have three Divine powers: God, the Father, Jesus, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit. Rejoice and celebrate God’s Divine Attention!
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” —Psalm 46:10
When strongholds arise, we do not have to develop strategies or try to resolve life’s issues. To “Be still” is to stop striving and to surrender to God. Pray in faith! “Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14, BSB). Yes, God will bring perfect resolutions and completion to our struggles. Rejoice and celebrate God’s Majestic Power and Divine Intervention!
Prayer: God, we thank You and celebrate Your Great love, attention, and intervention. We ask for forgiveness for self-reliance and being so distracted that we do not recognize Your loving-kindness toward us. We pray for greater faith and trust in Your Divine love. In Jesus’ Loving Name, we pray. Amen.
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
Every thought, decision, and action reveals the destiny we choose for ourselves. God is doing all He can to save us. Yet, we are the masters of our destiny.
The Chosen Path
For our spiritual growth and transformation, God has chosen for us the path of suffering. Yet, most complain or feel that God is unjust and punishing us. Even Christ who was perfect suffered in His earthly life. Our trials, sorrows, and hardships prepare us to live, think, and choose righteousness over the sinful desires of our carnal hearts. God’s goal is to lead us from this earthly journey to our forever home in the New Heaven and New Earth.
Called to Share in Christ’s Suffering Devotional – January 5, 2024
Called to Share in Christ’s Suffering -Sabbath Devotional – January 5, 2024
“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” —1 Peter 4:1-2
Today, the Holy Spirit gave me a new perspective on suffering trials and hardships. It is an honor to be chosen to suffer for Christ. In suffering, we relinquish self-reliance and choose righteousness over sin. Through daily self-surrender, we enter into a deeper love relationship with Christ, the Redeemer of this world. Because of God’s great love and faithfulness, we are not called to live a life of poverty and continuous suffering.
Yet, if we had the option, most would never choose suffering even if our reward of eternal life was at risk. Thankfully, God’s Divine Intervention designed our paths to produce the righteousness required for holiness in this life and the next life. God allows the trials that we must endure for the Holy Spirit to complete our spiritual restoration and transformation.
“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.’ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4
Our reward is eternal, filled with love, joy, peace, and happiness, living forever in a sinless world with Christ, our King.
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Revelation 22:12
Prayer: God, we thank You for covering us with Your grace and the mercies that allow us to live righteously. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
The Nature of the Holy Spirit – A Mystery Today’s Devotional – January 3, 2024
“And I will pray the father, and he will give you another Helper, that he may abide with you forever—the Spirit of Truth.” —John 14:16-17
“But the advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.” —John 14:26
“What? Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” —1 Corinthians 6:19
The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Triune Godhead who guides us into all Truth, transforms our minds, characters, and personalities, comforts us with Christ’s peace, gives us godly wisdom, and spiritual discernment, convicts our consciences of sin, and takes our prayers to Christ.
“And, ‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?’ ” —1 Peter 4:18
God knows we are impacted by our earthly [evil] environment and the countless voices promoting worldviews filled with compromise. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot fight the satanic power of spiritual warfare including daily temptations presented by Satan who uses masterful deceptions.
The Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom and discernment to understand God’s love, righteousness, grace, mercy, and the deeper meaning of the Scriptures. We require Spiritual guidance and strength to stay on the Path of Righteousness and to live every day as overcomers. Without the Holy Spirit, we are like the unbelievers who rely on their thoughts, live without a spiritual purpose, and seek peace in all the wrong places.
“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:7-8).” Where do we stand as disciples of Christ who are living in these last days? Revelation prophecies are soon to be fulfilled. We are living in times comparable to the abject sinfulness of Noah’s times.
Christ’s Disciples: The disciples were face-to-face and walked with Jesus, the Son of God for three years. Because of their hidden agenda of always wondering who would be the greatest their faith and spiritual understanding remained weak for most of Christ’s earthly ministry. Except for John, the other disciples fearfully abandoned Jesus when He was crucified.
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” —Acts 1:8
When Christ ascended, His disciples finally realized their desire to be great in an earthly kingdom would not happen. Yet, on the Day of Pentecost, all of Christ’s love, patience, and teachings given to His disciples, the Holy Spirit brought to fruition. Do we have a hidden agenda? Christ’s command to live holy and to be witnesses not only applied to His eleven disciples but we are also given the same spiritual responsibilities.
Yes, we desperately need the advocacy and power of the Holy Spirit! Most believers are familiar only with the name of the Holy Spirit. One of the reasons we suffer needlessly and become discouraged is that we attempt to use our strength to change and to live righteously. In the Scriptures, Jesus explained who the Holy Spirit is—the Spirit of Truth and His definitive purpose.
Because we do not enjoy studying the Bible, we seek human-derived explanations of the mysterious nature of the Holy Spirit which leads many to believe that He is optional in the believer’s life. Thankfully, God decided to only disclose certain aspects of His great power. We have enough on our plates without seeking human explanations regarding the mystery of the Spirit of Truth.
Reflection: Describe yourself from a spiritual perspective. It’s okay to be unsure. Everyone has weaknesses based on the desires of their hearts. What are your weaknesses? Since we cannot judge ourselves, the Spirit of Truth always reveals our sins.
Once we acknowledge, confess, and repent of our sinful traits, learned behaviors, and unrighteous desires, we receive God’s forgiveness and Divine intervention. Although we receive the supernatural strength to discard all unrighteous behaviors and habits, we must also practice self-control.
“Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.” —Psalm 37:24
Do not become discouraged when you fall! Confess, repent, and start over that same day. Spiritual transformation into the likeness of Christ’s character takes a lifetime of the Holy Spirit’s power and human cooperation.
“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
Our only strength is a heart filled with overwhelming love for God. Our love and loyalty produce the fruits of humility, faith, trust, and obedience [all of these characteristics are a result of using our free will of choice]. We choose to surrender to God’s will and plans. When we have a love relationship with Christ then we receive spiritual attributes given to us by the Holy Spirit.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” —Romans 8:26
Do we need the Holy Spirit? He is the One who takes our feeble prayers and presents them to King Jesus, our Heavenly Intercessor who hears and answers our prayers. God, the Holy Spirit delivers our prayers to God, Jesus the Son. “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:4).
Prayer: God, we thank You for Your overwhelming love and dedication to humanity. We ask for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Thank You for interceding on our behalf. Thank You Jesus for sending the Holy Spirit to lead us from our earthly journey to our heavenly home. In Jesus’ Loving Name, we pray. Amen.
Our lives would reach levels that we could never anticipate if we kept our focus on God. God’s thoughts, ways, and plans include Eternal blessings. Pray for the spiritual insight and the wisdom to reach for the hand of God who will lead you from this earthly existence to Revelation chapters 21-22.
Wait Patiently on the Lord – Today’s Devotional -December 31, 2023
Believing in God’s love and faithfulness provides peace and strength when facing impossible situations. We serve an All-knowing God who tells us to live with courage because He has promised to take care of our difficulties. All God desires is our faith and much patience.
“He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.” Isaiah 40:29
Pray in faith, thank Him for His Divine intervention, and wait. God always gives perfect completion and victory!
Prayer: God, on the last day of 2023, we want to thank You for all of the blessings we have received. Your love is amazing! In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
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