The Desire to Receive Your Heavenly Reward of Eternal Life

The Desire to Receive Your Heavenly Reward of Eternal Life Devotional Reading July 3, 2023

“Not My will, but Thine be done.” —Luke 22:42

Every person who accepts Jesus as their personal Savior must travel the Chosen Path which requires the humility of daily surrender and obedience. Jesus surrendered His will to God, His Father to take the cup of suffering which led to a horrendous death on Calvary’s Cross, and we must surrender our will to Christ to receive our reward of eternal life.

For many, the gift of Jesus’ life for our salvation and redemption from sin has lost its significant meaning. Our earthly desires have overpowered the desire to surrender and walk with Jesus. Our prayers reflect a half-hearted commitment to Christ, we pray, “Lord, bless me with…” as opposed to praying “Lord, I surrender myself to You today.”

Reflection: Am I willing to surrender and travel the tough [but rewarding] path Christ has chosen for me?

“…And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” —Matthew 28:20

“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

The Condition: “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

Jesus gave us these precious promises to keep our minds focused on Him. Our Loving Savior desires for us to know “Your earthly journey of following Me cannot be done without receiving My Strength and My Grace.” More than ever, we need spiritual strength, wisdom, and discernment from the Holy Spirit to recognize and fight off the daily and continuous attacks of spiritual warfare.

Reflection: How much time do I give to God in daily worship?

“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” —Matthew 6:6

Prayer, Bible Study, and Meditation require intentional time with God. The busyness of life prevents us from separating ourselves and having meaningful worship with God.

The Dilemma: Our hearts are filled with earthly desires. And we are continuously overwhelmed by the daily schedules overflowing with distractions [which is Satan’s spiritual warfare]. Every day Satan makes personalized plans of temptation to keep us from having a heart-to-heart relationship with Christ. His overall agenda is for us to be lost because his destiny of destruction is certain.

Human Effort: With the concerted effort of praying and studying the Scriptures even the weakest Christian receives strength from the Holy Spirit to overcome temptation. If we do our part by remaining faithful and obedient, we have the promise of Divine Intervention to keep us on our Chosen Path.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” —James 1:5, NIV

Without godly wisdom, we cannot recognize the distractions that steal our time away from God. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal every individual and personal habit that is preventing you from surrendering and obeying God. You will be surprised that your Chosen Path requires letting go of most of the people, places, and things that you enjoy. The spiritual reward of eternal life requires going deeper with Christ.

“I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose]…” Philippians 4:13, Amplified Bible

Distancing ourselves from the obstacles that prevent us from receiving daily spiritual growth and transformation is necessary to live righteously. Once the Holy Spirit has revealed the obstacles, we pray for the Divine strength, wisdom, and courage to take the earthly steps of surrender and obedience. Letting go is not an easy task. Add spiritual fasting to overcome the desire to keep anything that prevents receiving your crown from King Jesus.

Remember that our Chosen Path is decided by Christ who requires the same surrender and obedience that God required of Him in His earthly journey. Choose a time of seclusion and think deeply about your heavenly reward. Whom do you love more than Christ? What programs and online activities are you willing to give up?

The daily tests proving our commitment to Christ always require us to change our behaviors and lifestyles. We will be tempted to return to the former things that keep us from total surrender. The characteristics of Surrender and Obedience are not innate desires—pleasing our carnal desires is the battle within of good versus evil that we inherited and will face until the day of Jesus’ Second Coming. Yet, we can overcome with prayer, perseverance, and daily spiritual strength from the Holy Spirit.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” —2 Timothy 1:7, NLT

Witnessing to others by gently telling them you have decided to spend more time with God may not be received well, but do it anyway. One of the characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit is self-control. The human effort of telling ourselves no is possible because we were born with innate spiritual gifts from God.

“But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” —Hebrews 11:6

God created us to worship Him in our earthly lives which prepares us to worship Him eternally in the New Heaven and New Earth. The sacrificial gift of Jesus was an expression of love that we will never fully understand until we are changed and made perfect when Jesus comes. Yet, we can gain deeper spiritual insight by staying in His presence. Seeing life through spiritual eyes reveals that immediate change is required to walk on the Narrow Path with Jesus.

By our willingness to surrender, obey, and diligently seek God through prayer and study of the Scriptures, we have the promises of God, the Father, Jesus, the Son, and the Holy Spirit’s Divine Intervention to keep us on our Chosen Path that leads to a glorious, eternal life in Heaven.

Through the sacrifice of Jesus’ life, we are the recipients of God’s Grace and Mercies. The Human Effort of Surrender and Obedience is always rewarded by God. We receive spiritual discernment to recognize and resist temptation. From our prayer for Divine Help, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, along with our guardian angels, to fight the spiritual warfare that Satan masterminds to separate us from God.

Scripture Reading: “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness…’ “…That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.…” —2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Prayer: Lord, we ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and fill us with Your Holy Spirit. We commit to following You by dedicating ourselves to fully surrender and obey Your Will. Thank You for the gift of Salvation and Your grace and mercies. We ask for spiritual insight, strength, godly wisdom, and direction as we travel on the Narrow, Chosen Path of Righteousness. We ask this prayer in Your Worthy Name, Amen.

Pray, Be Still! And Watch the LORD Fight Your Battles!

Pray, Be Still, and Watch the LORD Fight Your Battles! Devotional Reading July 2, 2023

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” —Jeremiah 29:13

Our Spiritual journey is one of continuous growth and development. We gain spiritual insight, discernment, and wisdom as the Holy Spirit works His transforming power in us. As we reflect on our lives, we are thankful that history is not repeating itself—we are not making the same mistakes that brought disruption and negative consequences into our past life.

“And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” — Psalm 9:10

Yes, the best feeling ever is to enjoy the calmness of peace and the happiness of joy in our minds and souls that comes from praying, obeying, and studying the Scriptures. Even in our trials, we never lose our peace because we receive spiritual strength from the Holy Spirit and have the utmost confidence that our God will deliver us.

“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” — Psalm 105:4

Those who worship God several times a day receive spiritual strength from the Holy Spirit. They have unrealistic faith and trust in God because their lives are in alignment with God’s will and plans. “Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the path chosen for him” (Psalm 25:12). The human effort of loving God with faithful obedience results in a thriving relationship with Christ who is the foundation for our salvation and faith. And the righteous always receive God’s benefits!

Reflection: You may think, I wish this was my life. If this is not your story then you are relying on your own strength which is inadequate for life’s journey.

Seeking God only in times of trouble reveals a spirit of self-reliance. Trusting in oneself produces overconfidence and we cease praying [in faith] for God’s daily spiritual blessings. Sporadic worship not only decreases our faith in God, but we also lose courage and the desire to persevere in hardships.

“The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.…” —Psalm 37:23-24, BSB.

Because we have distanced ourselves from God, we see ourselves as alone. The seed of discouragement flourishes and changes our perception of God. We have forgotten God’s promise, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Still, He is our Loving Heavenly Father who possesses unlimited POWER and is just a prayer away!

“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). When the righteous face adversity [whether from spiritual warfare, a trial, or our disobedience], in humility, we come boldly before the throne of grace for our Father’s Help. With confidence and faith, we rely on the LORD’s promise to intervene and give us a victorious outcome.

The Old Testament has many stories of humanity’s faith, failures, repentance, and victories which give us hope and substantiate that God loves us. And these real-life stories indicate that God is not expecting the impossible from us. God knows our human limitations. He desires that we love Him, and place all of our faith and trust in His love and Power.

King Asa’s Dilemma–2 Chronicles Chapter 14

The Human Effort of Obedience—”2 Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God, 3 for he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places, and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images. 4 He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. 5 He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him. 6 And he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest; he had no war in those years, because the Lord had given him rest.” Verses 2-6

The Impossible Dilemma—”And Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah who carried shields and spears, and from Benjamin two hundred and eighty thousand men who carried shields and drew bows; all these were mighty men of valor. 9 Then Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah. 10 So Asa went out against him, and they set the troops in battle array in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.” —Verses 8-10

King Asa’s Prayer of Faith—”And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, ‘Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!’ ” —Verse 11

The Warrior God’s Divine Intervention—”The Lord helped Asa and his army defeat the Ethiopians. The enemy soldiers ran away, 13 but Asa and his troops chased them as far as Gerar. It was a total defeat—the Ethiopians could not even fight back! The soldiers from Judah took everything that had belonged to the Ethiopians. ” —Verses 12-13, Contemporary English Version

King Asa had the confidence to bring his army out for battle. Yet, he prayed and waited for God’s answer before the soldiers moved forward against their enemies who outnumbered them. God always requires the human effort of a prayer of faith before He intervenes. Even if our faith is weak, we can approach God with confidence because He always answers our prayers.

Pray an honest prayer by confessing your fears, doubts, and sin of self-reliance to God—He knows the true condition of our hearts. To know God is to stay in His presence not only during times of private worship but throughout our waking hours.

There are prayers that God answers immediately, but most of the time, He requires us to “Be Still.” The waiting has a purpose—to build our faith. Do not attempt to rush God’s Divine Intervention by thinking of strategies for a quick resolution [that will always fail]. Wait in faith and trust God.

Something wonderful happens when we stop trusting in ourselves. We begin to totally rely on God for help in our adversities and dilemmas and our faith and trust in God increase. Despite the situation, we know that we know God never fails! We receive peace, courage, and strength from the Holy Spirit. No more worries!

Try God! In every aspect of your life including Him, faith will replace fears, anxieties, and worries. Your outlook will change and you will view life through spiritual eyes with confidence. God promises to give us spiritual joy, and peace and to provide us with a victorious outcome that demonstrates His glory and power! His promises are Yes, to which we proclaim in faith, Amen [It is so!].

Scripture: “It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” —Deuteronomy 31:8

Prayer: Lord, we confess that we trusted in ourselves and have not included You in our daily lives. Yet, today, we lay our burdens, trials, and hardships at Your feet asking with the meager faith we have for Your Divine Intervention. We thank You with a heart of gratitude for never leaving us or forsaking us. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

He Is a Warrior God Who Will Fight Your Battles!

God desires dedicated worshippers not warriors. Pray, Praise, and Worship when facing opposition. He is our Warrior God!

The Situation: “It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. 2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, ‘A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar’ (which is En Gedi).” —2 Chronicles 20:1-2

The Prayer: 2 Chronicles 20:6-12

“O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? 7 Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? 8 And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, 9 If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.”

“10 And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them— 11 here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will You not judge them? 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.”

God’s Answer: “And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” —2 Chronicles 20:15-17

Every day, every believer faces spiritual warfare that we cannot win. But we serve a Mighty Warrior God who will always fight for us! God knows every battle that will enter our lives. And He waits for us to invite Him into our situation through prayer. When facing life’s battles, immediately pray for Divine Intervention!

Prayer: Lord, without You, I am nothing and going nowhere. I cannot fight this battle without You. Lord, help me. I am in serious difficulty and do not know what to do. Lord, I am looking to You for Direction, Protection, and Help. In Jesus’ name and in faith, I pray. Amen.

Deliverance From All of Our Troubles

Deliverance From All of Our Troubles, Sabbath Devotional Reading, June 30, 2023

“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him And saved him out of all his troubles.” —Psalm 34:4,6

When David wrote the 34th chapter of Psalm, he was a fugitive, living in caves, and on the run from King Saul who planned to kill him. Although we cannot relate to his extreme situation, all of us have experiential knowledge of how it feels to have troubles that we cannot resolve. Yet, David gives us his testimony that God is faithful and will always deliver us when we pray in faith and wait on the Lord.

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.” —Psalm 34:17,19

“The Contemporary English Version of Psalm 34, verses 17 and 19 reads: “When his people pray for help, he listens and rescues them from their troubles. The Lord’s people may suffer a lot, but he will always bring them safely through.”

With confidence, we trust our Heavenly Father to answer our cries for help. The Bible reveals that God is a Loving Father who promises to take care of the righteous by giving us victory over all obstacles. We pray and are ever hopeful for a quick answer to our prayers.

How do we react when we have to wait for God’s Divine Intervention?

David was a fugitive for many years. Bible scholars tell us he became king at the age of 30. He was a young teenager when anointed by the prophet Samuel. A guestimate would be between 15 and 20 years living on the run. Although David tells us that God always keeps His promises and to wait on the Lord (Psalm 27:14), most believers begin to experience anxiety and worry within 24 hours of praying for God’s Divine Intervention.

Reflection: Why do I have the expectation that God will answer my prayers immediately?

The Waiting Period—When will God answer my prayers? And why hasn’t God answered my prayers?

We begin to overthink and create various reasons why God has not immediately answered our prayers. Sadly, we become discouraged or angry because God is silent. But impatience is a bitter fruit that causes us to lose faith, resulting in us not trusting in God’s promises and His power.

As our emotions escalate, our faith dwindles! Without a biblical foundation and consistent prayer, in troublesome times, our faith is weak or nonexistent. Suffering from spiritual malnutrition, we easily place ourselves under a dark cloud of unbelief and worry consumes our thoughts.

God is Omniscience—All-Knowing. We can have the assurance that God has knowledge of every trial and unexpected life event before they happen. Yes, He allowed us to journey through this tribulation. And He already knows how we will react! Prayer Warriors will keep on praying and believing in faith, but those who are sporadic in praying and studying the Scriptures will falter almost immediately.

It is comforting to know that God is infallible and incapable of making mistakes. Our Heavenly Father knows the level of faith each of us possesses and whether it will remain unwavering. Will we strengthen our faith while waiting or will we attempt to solve the issue on our own?

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” —Isaiah 40:31

Jesus asks the question: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” —Luke 6:46

Waiting on God is not only a spiritual test, waiting produces spiritual growth! Our love for Christ is demonstrated through obedience. Never minimize the spiritual importance of obeying God. How crucial is obedience to our righteousness? Obedience to God results in living an earthly life that allows the Holy Spirit to change our character in preparation to receive eternal life.

God expects every believer to have the spiritual qualities that are required for us to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

” ‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” Mark 12:30

“But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” —Hebrews 11:6

Psalm 34:15: NKJV—”The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.” CEV—”If you obey the Lord, he will watch over you and answer your prayers.”

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. —Psalm 34:18. NIV—”The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

The characteristic of a broken heart is bitter disappointment producing sorrow and grief. “Contrite means ‘penitent,’ humbled by our own sins and failures, seeking after God.” openthebible.org

“…At the right time, I, the LORD, will make it happen.” —Isaiah 60:22

Waiting on God requires much faith and a spirit of humility demonstrated by our heart’s desire to reverence and honor God by seeking His will. We can develop the mindset, “I don’t mind waiting on God because His resolution to my challenges is perfect.”

Will we feel discouraged [at times] while waiting? Yes! Never forget that God is transforming us. Waiting on God has a purpose—waiting through troublesome times produces perseverance and a righteous character! The human effort of remaining patient, faithful, and obedient is honored by God. Continue or start having daily worship [praying and studying the Scriptures] to build your faith and endurance. Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you spiritual strength while waiting for your breakthrough miracle of deliverance.

Waiting is not punishment nor indication that God has forgotten. David waited 15 years before He became king at the age of 30. During the waiting, God is transforming our character and strengthening our faith. Trusting in God is more than verbalizing the spoken words of “God, I trust You.” We are guaranteed a victorious outcome if we remain steadfast until we receive deliverance.

Scripture Reading: “Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.’ ” 13 “I would have lost heart [courage], unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! ” —Psalm 27, Verses 7,8,13, and 14

Prayer: Hear our prayer, O LORD, forgive us of our transgressions, and deliver us from our adversity. We ask for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to give us the spiritual strength to persevere through this trial. Jesus, we need You to help us to remain steadfast during the time of waiting for the promise of deliverance. We pray in faith and in Jesus’ Worthy Name, we ask these things. Amen.

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

Careless Words and Whispers

Careless Words and Whispers Devotional Reading June 29, 2023

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

The ability to use words effectively in verbal sparring is lauded—highly praised as a priceless character trait. We love to demonstrate to others that we will not be taken advantage of and readily use our words to defend ourselves. We love to speak harmful words and we love to hear harmful words spoken about others. The entertainment industry has promoted gossip for decades. Nothing published attracts millions of views like “juicy gossip!” But the emotions of jealousy and hatred are the root causes of gossiping about others whether the information is true or false.

Careless words and gossiping whispers reveal the hidden sins of our hearts. “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” —Jeremiah 17:9

The journey of Sanctification is lifelong and we cannot be transformed without the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit. It takes the human effort of humility, confessing our unrighteous habits, and inviting the Holy Spirit into our lives for the spiritual transformation of our character that God requires.

Our God-given gift of a sound mind must take precedence over the emotional responses that we speak to hurt others or in retaliation because we are hurt. The truth is brutal so it must be spoken gift-wrapped in much love! Make prayer your first response! Praying for the power of the Holy Spirit to give us self-control and wisdom in times of conflict empowers us and builds our Christian character. Should we respond? Jesus used silence many times when He knew that His words would not change the hearts of those listening.

Gossiping is always damaging! It is a prevalent sinful habit among many Christians. When we engage in talking about others whether the information is the truth or lies, we possess an unrighteous spirit from Satan. Gossiping is destructive! It hurts others, destroys relationships, defiles our character, and separates us from God!

Take strong action against gossip! Be bold and let everyone know that you do not participate in gossiping by walking away [using silence effectively], if on the cell phone, text or verbalize, “I do not gossip.” Choose alternate programs to watch or listen to, and pray for Divine Intervention. Gossiping is one of the hardest habits to break.

We can never retract our spoken words nor can we soothe the hearts of the recipients of our harmful words. Replace careless words and whispers with prayer. And always pray before you respond! Remember to use silence as a weapon against the spiritual warfare of speaking harmful words.

Scripture: “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips [to keep me from speaking thoughtlessly].” Psalm 141:3, AMP

Prayer: Lord, we ask for forgiveness for the many times our spoken words were harmful. We admit that we need the Holy Spirit’s fruit of love and self-control to overcome our unrighteousness. We pray for the strength to be silent and to walk away from strife. In Jesus’ Worthy name, we pray. Amen.

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

Reflecting On Your Life with Joy

Reflecting On Your Life with Joy Devotional Reading, June 28, 2023

In the first year of my academic studies, I majored in Psychology. The concepts and theories explaining human behavior were fascinating. But as I progressed in the program’s core theories, my mind became troubled as conflict arose between psychological views and the Bible. I observed that therapeutic intervention tends to focus excessively on the past and also justifies a person’s wrong choices by attributing them to being a victim of life’s circumstances.

From pursuing my desires, I was torn between the psychological and biblical viewpoints. I found myself in a state of confusion. Seeking guidance, I prayed for God’s direction in my academic pursuits. Jesus always answers our prayers. I was blessed with a scholarship for nursing studies.

This opportunity not only equipped me with the necessary knowledge of human behavior to comprehend mental and emotional disorders, but also enabled me to teach patients personal health strategies that would aid in their mental, emotional, and physical healing. My nursing career has been a source of gratitude, as it has allowed me to inspire hope and facilitate new beginnings for others.

As I reflect on God’s Intervention, I am thankful to God for protecting me from the spiritual consequences of not seeking His guidance when following my dreams and transitioning me to this very fulfilling profession.

All of us can share a memory of the bitter disappointment that comes from making mistakes. Whether life-changing or mere obstacles, our mistakes usually occur as a result of a decision-making process that excluded God. We relied on our human wisdom and strategies to choose what appeared to be the best choice. When our plans failed, the discouragement we felt was overwhelming.

Not every consequence of a negative outcome happens because of our decisions!

Many children have been raised in abusive homes without the love and nurture from their parents that they rightfully deserve. Spouses [especially husbands] have made decisions that have train-wrecked their family’s financial status or the fidelity of their marriages. And children who are raised without structure and discipline because the parental focus is to establish a friendship mature into self-centered adults who do not know how to love others and break the hearts of those who fall in love with them.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” —Galatians 6:7

Because of the sinful condition that permeates our hearts and the worldviews that encourage us to “Just Do It!” we easily gravitate toward making counterproductive decisions [without godly guidance] and end up suffering negative consequences. Whether we messed up by thinking our own thoughts or someone else [including parents and caregivers] made decisions that compromised our life, God is a Heavenly Father who specializes in giving New Beginnings.

Reflection: Are you stuck in the past? What are you thinking about? Are you traveling on the road of life with the baggage of shame and guilt? Do you harbor feelings of bitterness and anger because of someone else’s mistakes impacting your life? Then God has a message for you. The Contemporary English Version of Isaiah 43 says, “Forget what happened long ago! Don’t think about the past. I am creating something new. There it is! Don’t you see it?” (Verses 18 and 19).

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.” —Isaiah 43:18-19, NKJV

God’s promises never fail! Are you ready to live a God-given joyous life? There is a mandate for every one of us to fulfill before we can move forward: A Prayer of Confession, Repentance, and Forgiveness. Before we can receive a new and joyous life through Christ Jesus, we must confess and repent for excluding God from our lives.

Confession and Repentance: “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge” (Psalm 51:2-4).

Forgiveness: “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions” (Mark 11:25).

And we must forgive those who sinned against us by making poor decisions. The worldview, “I will forgive, but will never forget,” is not biblical. Unforgiveness is hatred! Without forgiveness, God will not bless us with the new life that He promises to give in Isaiah chapter 43. Nor can we hope to receive eternal life.

Feelings of Shame and Guilt? Forgive yourself! Do not beat yourself down or allow others to weigh you down with the burdens of never-ending shame and guilt for past mistakes because they are unwilling to forgive. Having a relationship with someone who fails to forgive will rob you of your God-given right to live a peaceful and joyful life. Pray for guidance and sever the relationship if no other options are available.

Confession and Repentance are not to be misused by thinking one can commit intentional repetitive sins of wilful disobedience. Our hearts reveal their true condition. When we approach God with humility, [a broken heart and contrite spirit], He forgives us. “He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19).

God forgave King David for his heinous sins involving Bathsheba. Yes, there were consequences for His sins, the first child died and David’s family would always have internal chaos. Still, after David’s confession in Psalm chapter 51, our loving God restarted David’s life and blessed him with a son. King Solomon the wisest man ever to live on this earth was the son of King David and Bathsheba.

Because of sinful desires, we have the innate tendency to act impulsively and exclude God. We sin, repent, and God forgives. Jesus selflessly sacrificed His life for us, which makes us the recipients of God’s abundant love, grace, and mercy. We receive God’s gifts without asking for them. Yet, there are spiritual gifts that we must pray and ask for—wisdom and spiritual discernment.

Include God by Praying for Wisdom: “To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding. To receive the instructions of wisdom…The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.” —Proverbs 1:2-3, 7

The human effort of confession, repentance, and forgiveness allows the Holy Spirit to create a new heart within us and gives us spiritual insight, wisdom, and discernment. We begin to view life through spiritual eyes. Our desires align with the will of God. Before making decisions, we humbly pray and wait for God’s answers before moving forward.

Despite our shortcomings, God makes all things new when we are faithful and obedient. Can we live a joyous and peaceful life on this earth? Yes, we can! God’s promises always produce blessings. Therapeutic advice says to reflect on the past, God says, Let go of the past! Trust Me! I am doing something new in your life that will make you reflect on Me and rejoice with gladness! Amen.

Scripture: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3; NIV).

Prayer: God, we confess that we have messed up and stopped Your perfect plans for our lives by our disobedience. And for this grievous sin against You, we repent. We forgive everyone who has harmed us mentally, emotionally, and physically. We ask You to remove all feelings of shame and guilt from making past mistakes. Lord, we ask You to start our lives over today. We surrender and commit to bringing everything to You in prayer and will wait for Your answer. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Worthy name, Amen.

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