Choose to Stay on the Chosen Road that Leads to Victory Today’s Devotional Reading October 24, 2023
“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” —Philippians 2:8
Striving and Suffering for Christ are two requirements of every Christian believer. If we remain faithful in our fiery trials, Christ will refine our characters into pure gold—into the likeness of His Righteous Character. God chooses the road for each of us to travel on in our earthly lives. No two journeys are alike, yet, all chosen roads are spiritually designed to end in Victory—the Reward of Eternal Life.
Choose to Stay on the Chosen Road
Choose to stay on the chosen road of trials and sorrows even though it brings the landslide of bitter disappointments
Choose to put God first and live righteously even though you don’t understand His roadmap
Choose the strength of Christ even though the strongholds of sin and temptations appear as treacherous cliffs
Choose hope in Christ even though your circumstances are stumbling blocks that have you gridlocked
Choose to believe in the promises of God even though the uncertainties cause fatigue and you seek a rest-stop
Choose to obey the Voice of God even though you are weary but God says to keep going
Choose to pray and get back up even though you keep falling down from the rocky obstacles
Choose to study the Bible even though the winding, treacherous curves of doubt fill your mind
Choose to have faith in the Divine power of God even though your trials appear as dead-end roads
Choose to wait on God even though the obstacles on the one-way road prevent further travel—it’s your God-given rest stop
Choose to stay on your chosen road even though you see detours for alternate routes
Choose to keep walking ahead even though you cannot see beyond the hopeless roadblock
Choose to lift your head even though your hope of high beams cannot penetrate the insurmountable darkness of despair
Choose to redirect your focus on the small, glimmering light ahead even though the distance is great
Choose to keep walking in the direction of the glorious light even though you have stumbled many times in the darkness
Choose to direct your eyes to the figure in the light— it is Jesus standing with outstretched arms leading you on your chosen earthly road to victory.
In faith, when we pray for the strength of the Holy Spirit and keep our focus on Christ the “even though” of every hardship and challenge on our chosen road is cast down. Our earthly responsibility is to believe in the Triune Godhead’s Sovereignty and stay focused on the three Divine powers readily available to guide and empower every righteous believer.
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full into His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
Jesus also traveled on God’s chosen road in His earthly life. Like Christ, our greatest sacrifice to God is through daily surrender and faithful obedience. If we remain steadfast through daily prayer and consecration asking for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we will receive the wisdom and power to continue our earthly journey.
Yes, if we remain faithful, the Holy Spirit will empower us, and Christ, the Commander of angel armies, will direct angels to guide and protect us on this journey of life to reach our reward of the crown of eternal life. Hallelujah! Amen! Study Psalm chapter 91.
Prayer: God, we pray for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit. In faith, we surrender ourselves to obedience to Your will. Lord, we promise to give You the honor and glory You rightfully deserve for the rest of our lives. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
How would you react to this Spiritual Assignment from God knowing that you would be excluded from your family and friends who would not understand?
When God calls us to do His will, it always involves a sacrificial offering that not only proclaims our love and loyalty but also brings honor and glory to His Holy Name.
Prayer: God, we pray for the strength and the courage to do Your will. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray. Amen.
What Matters the Most in Your Life? Today’s Devotional October 22, 2023
“The way of the just is uprightness; O Most Upright, You weigh the path of the just.” —Isaiah 26:7, NKJV
“The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for the upright.” —Isaiah 26:7, BSB
For most of my life, the focus of my attention has been inward. Yes, my focus was on the fulfillment of educational goals, travel, and purchasing things to make my life comfortable. Even though I have always loved Christ, now as I reflect, I realize that most of my pursuits had nothing to do with my relationship with Christ.
Perilous times are upon us, as prophesied in the Scriptures. Jesus said in Matthew 24, that wars and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places are the beginning of sorrows. The pastors who have consecrated their lives to God are preaching different sermons—telling us to turn our eyes from worldly pursuits and to focus on Christ. The Holy Spirit is revealing the message to the faithful to prepare themselves because time is winding down.
What matters the most in our lives? Jesus gives us the answer.
“And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” —Deuteronomy 6:5
“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
Love is the Catalyst that Gives us the Desire to Receive Spiritual Transformation
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” —Romans 12:1-2
From Old Testament times to Jesus’ earthly ministry, we have received the command to make God our first love. In Romans 12, the apostle Paul is teaching believers what it means to live the Christian life of sacrifice. Unless our hearts are overflowing with love for Christ, we can never change our focus from ourselves to God.
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” —Revelation 22:7
Do we believe that we are living on the edge of eternity? Do we have the desire to put God first? Do we have the desire to surrender and consecrate our lives to God?
While waiting for Jesus’ coming, we are told to prepare daily by praying for God’s will to be revealed and to diligently study the Scriptures, especially the book of Revelation. Sadly, in 2023, many believers have chosen to focus on past obstacles, present distractions, and future accomplishments which prevent them from keeping their eyes on the prize of eternal life.
Focus on the Past: The past obstacles that produced disappointments affect these believers mentally and emotionally by destroying their optimism and skewing their perception of the ability to move forward. Because their focus is on things that once existed, they do not recognize their self-worth as determined by God. Not seeing beyond yesteryear prevents them from fulfilling God’s plans and robs them of having optimal health and happiness which comes from using their spiritual gifts and innate talents to glorify God. Because their minds are overwhelmed with memories, this group of believers have forgotten Jesus’ promise in John 14:1-3.
Focus on the Present: These believers’ lives are filled with the distractions of the worldviews they have readily embraced. They feed their carnal desires of seeking material wealth, enjoying an easy lifestyle, and practicing self-reliance by using human wisdom to interpret the definition of a spiritually productive lifestyle. Because they listen to the many voices of the influencers, they assume responsibilities that lead them away from God. From working excessive overtime and spending wasteful hours on social media, programs, and other activities based on pleasure, their focus is on living their best life on this earth. Their eyes are focused on the earthly prizes which prevents them from recognizing their spiritual decline. They do not have time to think about life in the New Heaven and New Earth.
Focus on the Future: These are the believers with strategic minds. They have calculated the necessary steps to produce a future utopia [an imagined place or state of things where everything is perfect] of heaven on earth. The future is perceived as the end of continuous challenges and the opportunity to live one’s best life. These believers are always focused, they are steadily pursuing academic and financial goals, and some eagerly look forward to retirement without any demands. Because they have designed their perfect future, which keeps their focus on looking ahead, they do not have the desire to fulfill God-given spiritual assignments in their lives. They look forward to a glorious future but it does not include life anywhere else but on this earth.
“…As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” —Romans 10:15
Yet, God has a faithful remnant. This group of people have a divine mission which is symbolized in the Three Angels’ messages [Revelation 14]. Their mission is to proclaim the “everlasting gospel” to humanity, to call true believers out of false religion (represented by Babylon), and to prepare the world for the final end-time crisis.”
The command given by Jesus that many Christians refuse to follow “Go and make disciples” is found in Matthew 28:18-20. Is any message more important than the Plan of Salvation and Redemption through Jesus Christ?
Witnessing is not complicated when our life revolves around Christ. John 3:16 reveals God’s love for humanity. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’ ” (John 14:26). Salvation is not complicated! When we do our part, the Holy Spirit gives spiritual understanding based on the person’s willingness to accept Christ as their Savior.
The step of human effort is met with Divine power as evidenced by young children with limited maturity and knowledge accepting Jesus. The simple truth is Jesus loves us and Jesus saves us. The simple heartfelt prayer of “Lord, forgive me of my sins, I accept You as my Savior.” demonstrates faith and we become Christ’s disciples. Yes, He changes our lives! Hallelujah! Amen!
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” —Ephesians 2:8-9
What matters the most to us is revealed by our pursuits, habits, and lifestyles. God never forces us to love Him. We are free moral agents who choose our final destiny. The beautiful news is we are the recipients of God’s grace and mercies. We have been given the privilege to change our priorities and habits that lead us away from God and prevent us from receiving our reward of eternal life.
Re-consecration: All God requires of us is to pray and ask for forgiveness for our self-satisfying pursuits and for us to rededicate ourselves to Him. Our heavenly reward is closer than we think. Love God, Love Others, and Love yourself!
What matters the most in the believer’s life is our relationship with Jesus Christ!
“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, NKJV
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are our First Love! We ask forgiveness for focusing on the obstacles, distractions, and the self-accomplishments of this earthly life. We desire to live with You forever and ever. From this day forward, we give ourselves to You. We pray for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Thank you for Your grace and mercies. In Your Holy Name, we ask this prayer, Amen.
Lay Every Burden at the Feet of Jesus — Today’s Devotional October 20, 2023
Humanity’s Plight: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
This morning as I thought about the challenges I faced, I felt weary. Still, I prayed for the Holy Spirit to breathe on me and give me strength. After I said, Amen, I began to hear a bird chirping its little song of gratitude to God. I smiled. Immediately the Holy Spirit brought Jesus’ promise to my remembrance: “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26).
Yes, we are of more value than the birds! God did not give His Son, Jesus to save the birds, Jesus willingly sacrificed His life for us. Although every believer knows that Jesus died to redeem humanity and the Bible contains hundreds of God’s promises, it appears there is a roadblock that prevents most believers from relying on Jesus’ promises when we face our tribulations.
“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
When burdens overwhelm our lives, believers react in one of three ways:
The Fearful Believers: Their fear manifests as anxiety, worry, and thinking about the situation over and over [which produces mental, emotional, and physical weariness]. They usually pray for help but also include family and friends asking for their opinions on how they should resolve the unresolvable challenge. The fearful believer also has a time limit on waiting for God to perform a miracle. They pray and wait for two to three days but when their prayers are met with silence, they become discouraged and fall into the pit of despondency.
The Overconfident Believers: They have a spirit of self-reliance. Reflecting inwardly on their many accomplishments, prior experience, and the ability to develop strategies that have brought resolution in the past, they fail to pray because their mind is consumed with themselves. Their time is spent on developing fail-proof strategies. Sadly, these believers end up with feelings of anger toward God, blame God for their misfortunes, and usually continue their lives as unbelievers.
The Faithful Believers: Yes, the faithful ones rely on God. They are the prayer warriors, the ones who easily remember and tell others of the miracles that God has consistently performed throughout their lives. The faithful will direct others to study the Scriptures such as Joseph’s [Genesis chapters 37-50] and David’s [1 Samuel chapters 21-23, Living as a fugitive when King Saul threatened to kill him] lengthy trials and tribulations. The faithful will pray for you, but they will use the Word of God to preach the truth. They boldly proclaim, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God. “
Did you know that humans are creatures of habit? It’s a proven psychological fact! Interestingly, most of our behaviors can be predicted based on our consistent habits. If psychologists utilize theories based on predictable behaviors then we have the assurance that our Sovereign Omniscient God knows how we will react.
Make constant praying a new habit and watch as your life transforms. Recently in a sermon, Pastor Wintley Phipps stated the key to his steadfast faith is his prayer life, he admonishes every believer to whisper a prayer every hour while awake. Communication with God allows the empowerment and anointing of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” —Proverbs 3:5-6
God is not concerned about our comfort; He will do whatever is necessary for our faith to become steadfast. We cannot resolve spiritually allowed trials. And if we attempt to carry out our feeble solutions, God says our thoughts are like a crooked path. Trials and tribulations bring every believer to the Crossroads of Faith and Trust in God.
Either we will put all of our efforts into self-resolution tactics which are certain to fail or we will confess that our faith is weak but keep striving by placing the little faith we have in God. God loves us and He will do whatever it takes for our spiritual growth and transformation. Yes, our Heavenly Father is preparing us to live with Him forever and ever. Amen!
I will readily admit that I am a fearful believer who is striving to grow my faith in God. Since January of 2023, my life has been filled with a succession of trials. Yet, I will continue to trust God in the struggle to become a faithful believer. It is not enough to possess knowledge of the Scriptures. For us to transition from fearful to rock-solid faithful believers, we must believe that God is in control of His world and He allows continuous, lengthy trials to strengthen our faith.
And for those who possess the spirit of self-reliance, there is a better way to live. Never give up on God! Acknowledge your human limitations, confess, repent, and begin walking on the Path of Righteousness. Every day, trust God through surrender and acknowledge His Love and Omnipotence. Victory only comes through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
God requires that our faith continue to grow throughout our earthly lives. Yet, there are believers whose faith has matured into total reliance on God. For the faithful believers, keep striving, pray for your brothers and sisters who are on the spiritual journey of strengthening our faith, and share your testimonies of God’s faithfulness.
Lay Every Burden at the Feet of Jesus
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” —Hebrews 4:15, ESV
Brothers and Sisters, think and live as overcomers by striving through your trials and tribulations. We receive power from the Holy Spirit to withstand our disappointments and hardships. The outcome is total reliance on God which gives us Steadfast Faith. We are nearing Home! Our King Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is returning for the faithful! Hallelujah! Amen.
Profiting from Trials 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. —James 1:2-8
Prayer: God, we confess that we have not put our faith and trust in You. We desire to have steadfast faith. We ask for the presence, power, and anointing of the Holy Spirit to give us strength when we are weak and weary. Lord, we know that You are All-Powerful. We surrender and make the vow to become totally reliant on You. Thank You for your love, grace, and mercies. Thank You Jesus for giving Your life for us. Help us to have a renewed conviction in our faith. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” —Proverbs 31:30
A Woman of God will never be like a woman of the world. A Woman of God strives to please God by seeking His will every day through prayer and study of the Scriptures. This woman surrenders herself through humility and faithful obedience. Her daily prayers for the presence, power, and anointing of the Holy Spirit ascend to God like a sweet-smelling aroma.
A Woman of God will never be like a woman of the world. She prays before speaking, ensuring her words are gentle and reflect Christ’s character. This woman avoids strife and conflict by remaining silent. Why? Because her lamp is filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit. Although her silence is perceived by others as a weakness of character, her silence reveals a spirit of self-control and strength empowered by the Holy Spirit. She relies on Divine Intervention to overcome her natural tendency to speak words fueled by angry emotions. Yes, this woman acquiesces to the Sovereignty of God because she believes in His promise to fight her battles.
A Woman of God will never be like a woman of the world. She does not adorn herself with many jewels of worthless trinkets and gaudy make-up to seek worldly attention. Nor is her dress too short, her top cut too low, or her pants too tight. No, a Woman of God dresses modestly because she is preparing to receive her heavenly crown and white linen robe from her Majestic King, Jesus Christ.
A single Woman of God can never be like a single woman of the world because she lives a chaste life. She reverences and honors God with her mind and body knowing that her temple is filled with the Holy Spirit. This Woman of God has a social circle of believers who pray and support each other spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.
A married Woman of God will never be like a married woman of the world who constantly opposes her husband. The [Proverbs 31] wife pursues righteousness by honoring God first and then her husband. When conflict arises, she honors God and her husband by praying and asking for Divine Help, not from her family or friends. [Disclaimer: Abusive marriages usually require additional human intervention to remove oneself and children.]
The married Woman of God knows that she is honored by God because her attributes are written in the Bible [Proverbs 31]. She prays for her husband and children and helps them to prepare for eternal life. This wife and mother is patient and loving because she represents the love of Christ to her children. This Woman of God understands the deeper meaning of her marriage—it is holy and represents Christ’s love for His church.
A Woman of God [single or married] separates herself from worldly people unless she is witnessing the love and saving power of Jesus Christ. Every day, this woman dedicates her mind, body, and soul to God. Yes, a Woman of God appreciates God’s grace and mercies and offers her heart, the only gift that she can give to the King. No, the Woman of God can never be like the woman of the world because she strives every day to live a sanctified life pleasing to God. After all, her eyes are on the prize—Revelation 22:12.
Prayer: God, your daughters are striving to possess the Character of Christ by living holy and acceptable lives. Many times, we have failed and fallen into sinful behaviors. And for our disobedience and disloyalty, we ask for forgiveness. Lord, we need Your strength to overcome our carnal desires. Hear our prayer and answer our pleas for help. We ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and fill us with Your Holy Spirit as we strive to represent Christ to a lost and dying world. Bless us with peace and joy. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.
The worldview of self-reliance has infiltrated the Christian Community of believers. Yet, at some point, every person will come to the Crossroads of life. Only then do we humble ourselves and bow to the Sovereignty of an Almighty God. Surrender to God is an internal battle that we fight every day. Our carnal hearts are driven to trust ourselves but we were created to follow Christ and seek God’s will.
Total surrender requires the character traits of humility, faith, and obedience. Even Jesus, the Commander of angel armies had to learn obedience to God, His earthly parents, and the prevailing laws. Still, His greatest test, “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8).
We cannot navigate through this life without Divine Intervention. Jesus, our Heavenly Intercessor promised us the Holy Spirit, our Teacher and Guide to direct us through this journey called life. Only with Divine Power can we enter through the narrow gate and stay on the narrow Path of Righteousness. Yes, the journey on our Chosen Path is rugged and full of disappointment. We will suffer tribulations that will bring us to our knees and hardships that produce a river of tears.
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful. He cannot deny himself.” —2 Timothy 2:13
Despite the challenges, we can rely on the three powers of the Triune God to bring us victory! I am a witness that God gives the faithful New Beginnings. Rid yourself of the satanic habit of self-reliance. Consecrate your life to God! Trust Him with your life! He is the God who says, “Is there anything too hard for me?” His promises are Yes to which we say Amen!
Sonya Johnson, Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries
“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord is everlasting strength.” —Isaiah 26:3-4
In 30 days, I will reach a milestone, the blessed age of 65. Even if we don’t think the aging process is a blessing, the insurance companies proclaim a different perspective. They are in strong pursuit of the precious commodities [seniors] who are turning 65. And their focus is intentional. My mailbox is full of offers every day. With so many voices, seniors without knowledge of the importance of benefits applicable to their medical condition will easily be influenced.
Thankfully, one of my previous positions was as a Quality Nurse with a health insurance company. Despite the countless letters of invitation to choose the best, I have already chosen the best coverage. This morning during worship I reflected on this thought, “Although I have the advantage of working knowledge of the health insurance industry, am I relying on my knowledge to make the best choices in serving God?
“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” —2 Timothy 2:22, NKJV
Youthful lusts are not only limited to sexual desires. Everyone has passed through the stage of being a teenager when we thought that we knew everything about life and resisted all wise counsel. According to psychologists, during adolescence, individuals are more susceptible to persuasion because of the struggle with establishing their identity. They have the desire to appear all-knowing and powerful to their peers. From a spiritual perspective, it is wilful pride that causes one to possess an arrogant demeanor and disobey sound morals, values, and concepts.
Sadly, many Christians have retained that same teenage mindset in their adult lives which prevents them from seeking godly knowledge and wisdom. “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12). By our thoughts, desires, and pursuits, we choose our own destiny!
Reflection: How would our lives change if we pursued Jesus like the ravenous insurance companies pursuing seniors who are eligible for Medicare coverage?
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” —Matthew 5:6
Certainly, our minds, personalities, and characters would change into the likeness of Christ. Self-centered pride would be replaced by humility, self-seeking attention would be washed away, and our desires for tangible things would disappear. Not only would we put God first, but we would reverence Him with honor, glory, and praise in our spoken words, choices, and lifestyles.
Still, we cannot achieve righteousness through our works. Human Effort and Divine Intervention are required for the spiritual transformation of our hearts and minds.
“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
Yes, many of us desire to live righteously but fail to stay on the Path of Righteousness because we attempt to use our human strength to remain in right standing with God. When Jesus says, we can do nothing without Him, believe Him! But once we invite the power of the Triune God into our lives, we are unstoppable! The Holy Spirit empowers us with a “Do Right” mind!
Through surrender, we acknowledge the Sovereignty of God. We acquiesce to His authority by our relentless pursuit of righteousness. Our commitment is reflected in our lifestyle. By seeking God as evidenced by praying throughout our waking hours and asking for the Holy Spirit to reveal the will of God, humanity is brought into alignment with God’s Plan of Righteousness by Faith.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” —Romans 12:2
Imagine how much more fulfilling our lives would be if we spent our time wisely, studying and living by the teachings of the Holy Scriptures. Instead of wasting unfulfilling hours on mindless entertainment, we could be growing in knowledge, wisdom, and faith. Steadfast faith, dedication, and total reliance on God are required to be transformed spiritually.
Choosing to follow Christ requires steadfast faith and the commitment required to make a covenant vow of daily surrender. It is then we are empowered by the Holy Spirit who gives us the spiritual strength to live a victorious life. In Christ, we gain the power to live as overcomers, and when He returns, we will receive our crown, robe of righteousness, and eternal life.
Prayer: God, we ask forgiveness for the sin of self-reliance. We ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to anoint us with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We pray for Divine wisdom and guidance in our journey of life. Thank You for Your love and the gifts of repentance and restoration. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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