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Devotional Reading September 11, 2023

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” —Ephesians 6:10-11

Where does humanity fit into the great controversy between the literal supernatural powers of good and evil?

For the righteous, we are the seed of Abraham who has made a covenant with Christ, the Source of the believer’s strength. Yet, we are the target of Satan’s spiritual warfare in which we are powerless without Divine Help. We derive our power from the Source of Life, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“We love Him because he first loved us.” —1 John 4:19

Our relationship with Christ is based on love. Through the gift of His life, Jesus has already proven His overwhelming love for us. Still, Jesus serves as our Heavenly Intercessor. Through Him, we receive Agape love, salvation, God’s grace, mercy, and the forgiveness of our sins. It is our choice to embrace His love through surrender and faithful obedience to His commandments and God’s will.

The Believers Requirement: The relationship with Christ requires a heart filled with love, surrender, faith, and obedience—Jesus must be our First Love.

As we progress into the unknown future, from studying Revelation prophecies, we know the battle of spiritual warfare will intensify. As the prophetic events unfold, those who fail to make a steadfast commitment of consecration and surrender to Christ will lose their courage to fight the good fight of faith. The connection to God is one that we establish and maintain through our daily worship practices of reverencing and honoring God. Christ is our anchor!

For this reason, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. —Ephesians 3:14-19

In our personal worship, we separate ourselves from spouses, children, and electronic devices to have alone time with God. It takes a concerted effort to maintain our one-to-one relationship with Christ. From our willingness to put God first, we receive strength, discernment, and wisdom from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. “…but now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed'” (1 Samuel 2:30, last part).

The Spiritual Conflict we face every day requires the sacrificial practice of putting God first. Facing the tasks of daily living along with the unexpected life events combined with ongoing spiritual warfare would leave us defeated without spiritual nourishment and reinforcement.

We cannot live off of yesterday’s worship. Every day we receive new mercies that require our commitment to much praying, studying the Bible, and taking the time to include the quietness of spiritual meditation. Our desire to listen to the Voice of God allows the Holy Spirit to reveal a deeper insight into our relationship with Christ. With a heart filled with gratitude, we can reflect on the goodness of God despite the circumstances.

“Strength for every current and future conflict is to be found in the believer’s solidarity [oneness] with the resurrected and exalted Christ.” John K. McVay, PhD

God’s Promise: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me, says the LORD.” — Isaiah 54:16-17

Although the battle is continuous, God has ensured that we can be Victorious Overcomers! All three members of the Triune Godhead are involved in every believer’s life. We have guardian angels who fight Satan and his evil angels 24/7. Thankfully we are unaware of these battles because our eyes are shielded from the activities in the spiritual realm.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” —Psalm 46:1 “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” —Isaiah 40:29

God’s promises to give us power through the Holy Spirit to fight against the battles of evil. Our role is to consecrate ourselves as soldiers in God’s Army. Striving to live holy is possible when we totally surrender ourselves to God. The human effort of putting God first by seeking Him in prayer throughout our waking hours unleashes God’s power and promises.

“Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God:” —Deuteronomy 28:1-2

God honors our dedication and obedience! We receive many blessings including the blessings of peace and joy from having the assurance that we are living in the perfect will of God. From our faithfulness, we have unwavering confidence and courage in the power and might of the Lord. It pays to serve the LORD!

Scripture: “Our soul waits for the LORD, He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.” — Psalm 33:20-21

Prayer: Lord, draw us close to you, closer than before, closer than we have ever been with You. We promise to dedicate ourselves to You by giving You the honor, the glory, and the praise for the rest of our lives, In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

Devotional Reading—September 10, 2023

“Pray without ceasing.” —1 Thessalonians 5:17

Today, I agonized in prayer all day into the evening regarding a powerful stronghold—I was fixated on thoughts for two days that I knew would cause me to lose eternal life. Yet, I could not stop the anger from thinking about the situation. Although I have read many Scriptures on continuous praying, I have never prayed like this before. But, I desperately needed God’s help!

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” —Psalm 34:15, 17-18

If I did not continue to persevere in prayer, I would have failed to gain spiritual victory. I kept praying! Finally, around 7 p.m., I received deliverance and the command to let go and move forward in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Now, I am able to understand from a spiritual perspective why God allowed the incident to happen.

The peace that I feel is from the Holy Spirit breathing into my soul. Yes, it feels as if a mighty, rushing wind of Divine peace and strength went through my mind, body, and soul. We should never limit the times that we pray! Prayer invites the presence of God into our minds, hearts, and souls. One thing is for sure, we will always experience change, and gain spiritual insight, and the victory from staying in God’s presence.

Reflection: What is the lifestyle, habit, or relationship that is preventing you from fully devoting yourself 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

We are rapidly moving forward in the last days of Earth’s history. Jesus is coming soon!

To make it through this journey of life and stay on the Path of Righteousness, we need to stay connected to the Source, Jesus Christ. We are told to boldly come to the throne of grace in prayer. We need Help! There are no surprises regarding the spiritual warfare the Christian believer will face in these perilous times. We cannot stay on the narrow Path without the Holy Spirit’s constant intervention which is only available through our prayers of surrender.

Jesus’ Warning: “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

The Reason for Our Spiritual Warfare: “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.” —John 14:27

We Are Fighting Against Satan, a Fallen Angel: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” —1 Peter 5:8

Like a lion in the African Savannah stalking his prey and using stealth moves hidden behind the tall grass or bushes, Satan has increased his warfare against the Saints of the Most-High God.

“Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” —Revelation 12:12

Yes, Satan knows that his time is running out. Through observation of our habits, spoken words, and the people we hang out with, he uses our heart’s desires to easily deceive us. Many believers who were once strong in the Lord, are separated from God because they followed the whims of their hearts.

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” —Matthew 24:7

With the increase in natural disasters, the events of Matthew chapter 24 are rapidly being fulfilled. Live with a spiritual sense of urgency and the determination to possess faithful obedience to God. Pray diligently before making [all] decisions! The outcome is only guaranteed when God is involved.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” —Matthew 7:21

Pray before you invite anyone into your social circle. Not everyone who believes in God serves God. And there are many individuals who are comfortable living on this earth who never think about eternal life.

Put on the Whole Armor of God—Ephesians 6:10-18

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which, you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…Ephesians 6:10-18

The Apostle Paul invites believers once they are fully armed to do what ancient Israel did before they engaged in battle against their enemies—and that is, to Pray! The time is now for us to pray specific prayers to overcome our weaknesses, habits, and unrighteous character traits. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us and give us wisdom, spiritual discernment of the truth, and the spiritual strength to live as victorious overcomers. Yet, we must pray and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to Christ.

Jesus’ Promise: “To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” —Revelation 3:21-22

Prayer: God, we pray for those who need Your help in overcoming the habits, relationships, thoughts, and desires that keep them from fully surrendering to You in faithful obedience. Many times, our victory is only a prayer away, yet, we fail to call on You for the strength to overcome. Lord, help us to realize that our lives are not our own and You are coming soon. We pray for the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit and the humility to do Your will. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray, Amen.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

Worshipping God Is a Lifestyle Devotional Reading September 5, 2023

Jesus Christ’s Omnipotence: O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” — Psalm 95:6

Our Identity in Christ: “Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.” —Psalm 100:3

We should love the Holy Scriptures because there is no guesswork or room for misinterpretation of Jesus’ status as our Lord and Maker and our status as His people who were created to worship God. Worshipping God is one of the most misunderstood concepts of Christianity. Our worship extends well beyond attending church services once or twice a week. Worshipping God is having a spiritual mindset and lifestyle of reverence, faith, and obedience to God, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Our duty to God: Every day, from the moment we awaken to the moment our eyes close in sleep, our thoughts, attitude, spoken words, and actions reveal our love for Christ. We can live Christ-centered lives because our hearts and minds are filled with an overwhelming love for God. And our most important goal is to remain obedient by staying in alignment with the will of God.

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth…” —John 14:15-17

Human effort is always required to stay connected to Christ. Yet, we cannot achieve righteousness without the intervention of the Holy Spirit who empowers us to live holy and acceptable lives. Still, God gives us the choice of asking for Divine Help. Our prayers express the desire for the Holy Spirit to be an active part of our lives.

Many years ago, I asked my best friend to go on a girl’s day out. Her response was, “Most likely, I will go with you, but I need to pray about it first.” Due to spiritual immaturity, I had no idea why she would need to pray about a social activity. And the expression on my face indicated my feelings. With a smile, she looked at me and said, “One day, you will understand.” My friend is resting in the grave until Jesus comes again, but she was right. As the years have passed, I finally understand my obligation as a believer—to stay in the will of God.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” —1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Yes, the apostle Paul was speaking to the believers in the Church of Corinth, yet his message applies to every believer. Our surrender of accepting Christ as our personal Savior includes the spiritual transformation of our bodies and minds to being one with Christ. Still, the Holy Spirit can only dwell within us when we are faithful and obedient to God.

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

Our lives are not our own. The desire to stay in the perfect will of God reflects the status of our love for God. Pleasing God is our priority. As we reflect on the love, greatness, faithfulness, and goodness of God, we must believe the promise that God gave to the prophet Jeremiah when the Israelites were in captivity for 70 years.

God promised deliverance when Israel was in physical captivity and He promises us deliverance from the captivity of spiritual warfare that will continue throughout our earthly existence. Sadly, we also place ourselves in captivity. Without the willingness to surrender and dedicate our hearts, minds, and souls to love and obey God, we are enslaved by the desires of our carnal hearts.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it…” —Matthew 7:13-14

As we reflect on our works, we measure ourselves by our own standards. Praying, studying the Bible, and attending church are outward signs that we love God, yet praying for the Holy Spirit to reveal our character flaws is an act of surrender. Following Jesus requires absolute obedience to the will of God!

Although staying on the Chosen Path is not easy, each of us can pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s will and the Holy Spirit will empower us to do the will of God. The human effort of daily surrender and obedience is a pleasing sacrifice to God. When Jesus said that we must “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, and mind,” He identified the requisite to living a committed and holy life.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” —John 15:5

Who can save themselves? We need Divine Intervention every second of our lives! Our acknowledgment of the need for constant help and direction is revealed in the believer whose life is filled with prayer and gratitude. From our humility, we receive spiritual strength from the Holy Spirit who empowers us to stay on the Path of Righteousness.

“We love Him because He first loved us.” —1 John 4:19

Worship is a Lifestyle that easily flows from the heart that loves and reverences God. We do not need anyone to tell us to put God first, our love for God is reflected in our heart’s response to His love and faithfulness. A loving relationship with Christ is one of high maintenance which requires time and effort every day of our earthly lives.

Love and appreciation for God’s love, grace, mercies, and the gift of His only Son, Jesus is the driving force that gives us the willingness to reverence and worship God through faithful obedience. We make Christ the Center of our lives because He is the never-changing Spiritual Foundation we need to live victoriously!

As Christ’s followers, we strive to live by the example that He left for us. Giving honor and reverence to God’s Omnipotence is demonstrated through a mindset to always give Him glory through our worship. Our worship begins internally from a heart that is dedicated to loving God first and foremost. We know whether or not we are living obedient to the will of God or by the desires of our hearts. Every day our priorities and activities reflect the destiny we have chosen.

Our life on earth either prepares us for eternal life with Christ or we deny Christ by fulfilling our desires and living our best life now. Studying the Bible is not enough. Our highest worship of God is demonstrated by the daily sacrifice of obedience in which we deny our will and desires and make the commitment to live by the Will of God.

Loving Christ allows us to maintain a Spirit of worship within our minds. Yes, it is possible to stay in God’s Presence when we ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s will and commit to obey God. To receive Divine power and guidance, we must whisper prayers throughout our waking hours. Worship keeps us steadfast and gives us the ability to live as overcomers.

Scripture: “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’ “ —Revelation 14:6-7

Prayer: God, we ask for forgiveness for our disobedience and not seeking Your will. We also ask You to sanctify our minds, hearts, and characters. Lord, we give You the reverence, honor, and praise that You rightfully deserve. Give us the strength to be obedient, patient, gentle, and kind. We desire to represent You to others and to worship You eternally. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

Jesus Christ, The True Vine Devotional Reading September 4, 2023

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” —John 15:1-2

To understand Jesus’ parable, one must possess knowledge of the growth of grape vines and the process of vineyard management. “The trunk of a mature vine will have arms, short branches…usually trained horizontally along a trellis wire. It should be noted that most basal buds…are generally not fruitful and do not grow out. These are often referred to as non-count buds during the pruning process…only the fruiting spurs that produce grapes are kept on the vine.” https://grapes.extension.org/parts-of-the-grape-vine-shoots/

The pruning severity relies on several factors as determined by the vinedresser whose goal is to produce only the highest quality fruit. The branches [buds] that do not produce fruit are cut away because they serve no purpose.

Jesus is the true vine, God, the Father is the vinedresser, and converted believers are the branches. In this parable, Jesus defines the role of Himself, God, the Father, and Christian believers. Jesus also clarifies that all believers are dependent on Him to receive the spiritual nourishment necessary for spiritual growth and transformation.

God, the Father [The Vinedresser] prunes us to transform our mind, character, and personality into one of righteousness and also to produce the Fruit of the Spirit. “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you” (1 Peter 4:12).

Christian believers are the branches that receive pruning to produce the fruit of righteousness. Every day, we receive God’s grace and mercies, spiritual guidance from the Scriptures, continued hope from answered prayers, and revelation of our character deficits. The Holy Spirit empowers us to resist temptation and gives us discernment of the truth.

We will always require Divine Intervention to stay in our relationship with Christ. Without the Holy Spirit, we could never achieve God’s command to “Be holy, for I Am Holy.”

Sanctification is the lifelong spiritual process of our transformation into the likeness of Christ accomplished by the Holy Spirit. Yet, our part requires total surrender and faithful obedience. We are living in the last days of Earth’s history and must take a decisive stand of total commitment to receive the Seal of God before Jesus’ Second Coming.

“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.” — John 15:3

What did Jesus mean by “You are already clean?” “You have confessed your sins, and in your heart put them away. You have resolved to give yourself to God. Now go to Him, and ask that He will wash away your sins and give you a new heart.” Steps to Christ, Ellen G. White

Faith, Acceptance, Surrender, Confession, and Repentance is the human effort required to have salvation. Jesus, the Living Water washes away our sins and we live as steadfast followers of Christ who possess the determination to go all the way with Christ who is ready to give us our reward of eternal life [Revelation 22:12].

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” —John 15:4.

Many believers do not understand that we do not belong to ourselves once we accept Christ as our Savior. A Christian is a disciple, a follower of Christ who commits to doing the will of God. Our desires change, we do not follow our whims and inclinations, and our spoken words and actions reflect holiness.

To abide in Christ, we must have the mindset of faithful obedience and practice self-denial. Our willingness to surrender and obey is evidenced by much prayer and diligent study of the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit empowers us and gives us strength and guidance to stay in alignment with the will of God.

Jesus’ earthly life demonstrated His desire to always do His Father’s will. Jesus spent hours in prayer each day to faithfully abide in God, His Father. Christ’s Attitude was always, “Nevertheless, not My will, but Your will be done.” And our obedient Savior committed Himself to a heinous death on Calvary’s cross for our redemption— to save us from death, the wages of sin.

“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross” Philippians 2:7-8, KJV, BSB).

Our relationship with Christ is based on surrender, faith, and obedience. The sacrifice of total surrender and obedience that God requires of us is defined by God. Cain serves as an example that disobeying God and following your own thoughts can lead to rejection and removal from the Vine.

“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. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” —John 15:5-6

“The vine and the branches explain how believers are intimately connected to Christ, receiving moral and spiritual power through the Holy Spirit who makes Christ present within.” Katrina B. Blue, Andrews University

Every branch that bears fruit is a living representative of the vine, for it bears the same fruit as the vine…Every branch will show whether or not it has life; for where there is life, there is growth. There is a continual communication of the life-giving properties of the vine, and this is demonstrated by the fruit which the branches bear. Ellen G. White

Scripture: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” —John 15:7-8

Prayer: God, we are praying and asking You to save us from ourselves. We confess that we are half-heartedly serving You and for our disobedience, we ask for forgiveness. Lord, we desire to be thriving branches which bear much fruit. We ask for the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit to give us strength and direct us in our daily lives to do Your will and fulfill Your plans for our lives. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries