Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

The Prayer of a Sincere Heart

Question: Describe your best friend. I will begin. He is loving, humble, caring, and protective, always warning me before making a mistake. Still, the best gift that he gave me was to die for me to have a new forever home when He comes back again. The initial description probably had you thinking she has a great man–husband or best friend. But the ending caused a mental reroute to the spiritual realm. Yes, my best friend is Jesus Christ.

Truth be told, it took me a few decades to understand that Jesus was my best friend. I accepted Jesus as my Savior. Still, my knowledge of Jesus was superficial. I attended church one to two times a week and helped those in need. I did not intentionally break the commandments. Nor did I engage in sinful, worldly pleasures. But my prayer life and studying the scriptures were at the bottom of my priority list. I fulfilled my Christian duties. Even so, my heart was in conflict.

Sadly, I didn’t realize I had a heart [relationship with Jesus] problem. It was an online sermon that brought the flashing red warning lights. Like a half-baked cake that appeared good to eat, but the inside was soggy, my relationship with Christ was based on an insincere and disobedient heart. A spiritual analysis of my lifestyle reflected priorities based on self. And my prayers asked God to bless my dreams, not reveal His plans for my life.

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Psalm 37:23

Although many Christians acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, their mindsets are self-directed. They live to please themselves, which leads to disobedience–the dilemma of sin. The love of self leads us to a life of disobedience, which puts us outside of the will of God.

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15 ESV).

Jesus is our role model. In His humanness, Jesus prayed, “He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, ‘My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.'” (Matthew 26:39 NLT). It wasn’t that Jesus had an insincere heart, or was seeking a way out, He was fully aware of the agonizing physical torture and death that He faced.

For Jesus’ priceless sacrifice and promise of Eternal life, a sincere heart reflects much gratitude. In humility and thankfulness, our daily prayer is, “God, Not my will, but Your will be done in my life. Amen.” A simple yet heartfelt and powerful prayer that keeps our hearts devoted and obedient to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Assurance of God’s Help

“The darkest hour is just before dawn.”

The English theologian and historian Thomas Fuller appears to be the first person to commit the notion that “the darkest hour is just before the dawn.” Although this is not true from a scientific concept, when we are suffering from the harsh trials and sorrows of our lives, we are not seeking scientific theories or relativities.

If you are a Christian believer, then you will face an unresolvable challenge that requires God’s Divine Intervention at some point in your life.

Steps to Build Your Faith and Rely on God for Victory

Pray and ask God for help.
Study the Scriptures, memorize and journal God’s promises.
Believe in total faith while you wait for Divine Intervention.
God requires total dependence on Him. Do not help God with plan B!
Long-suffering [patience] is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit.

“Wait for and confidently expect the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14, Amplified Bible).

Face your Test With Courage and Strength

When Paul was in prison, his protege, young Timothy feared persecution. The Apostle reminded him, “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).

God Promise to His People [Isaiah 40–verses, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26, and 28-31]

To whom then will you liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare to Him?

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told to you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers…

To whom then will you liken Me,
Or to whom shall I be equal? says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high,
And see who has created these things,

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?

The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might, He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on 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.

The Struggle is Real, but Victory is Sure! Praise God that we never have to wonder or fear our Heavenly Father’s desire and promise to deliver us.

Prayer: God, we need Your help. We pray for strength and guidance from the Holy Spirit. Thank you for the spiritual growth and character changes that will occur because of our trials and sufferings. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Your Ways Are Higher Than Mine–Courtney Collingsworth Metz-Video

Watch “You are holy – Chorus – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir” on YouTube

It’s Growing Time

The headline on the front cover of the Better Homes and Garden Magazine read, “It’s Grow Time.” Beautiful flowers in an array of colors announced the arrival of the planting season.

Many are still experiencing cold temperatures in April. Remember, winter cannot last forever. Yes, waiting for spring is a time of mental and emotional endurance. But there is a significant purpose for the winter season. Our plant kingdom requires a resting period for new growth. Energy increases during the rest.

Winter is good for the world around us. Many plants need shorter days and low temperatures to become dormant. This way plants can store up energy for new growth. If a fruit tree doesn’t have enough chilling time, it will produce fewer, weaker buds. Impactnews.com

Our physical bodies also require adequate rest. Not only does our mental and emotional psyches require adequate rest and relaxation, we cannot experience spiritual growth without sufficient energy reserves.

Why is it essential that we have the physical energy to grow spiritually? The state of “being tired” is detrimental to the mind and body. Feeling weary cancels our desire to give God adequate praise and worship. Honestly, who feels like praying for the anointing of the Holy Spirit to study the Bible when you are irritable due to exhaustion?

The Root Cause of Depleted Energy Reserves

The dynamics of our world are ever-changing. Our priority is to achieve innovative technological advancements, which lead to mental burn-out. Many people live their entire day in front of a screen [IPhones, IPads, Smart Phones, Laptops, Televisions]. Screen life has become a norm. But the impact has affected our Circadian rhythm: 24-hour cycles that are part of the body’s internal clock, running in the background, which allow us to carry out essential functions. Either we fall asleep from exhaustion or suffer from insomnia.

“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” 1 Corinthians 13:11

The lack of physical rest also causes us to act like children. We are bombarded with stimuli that fail to promote mental, emotional, or spiritual growth. Our culture has evolved from controlling our emotional responses to a dominant characteristic of uncontrolled emotional reactions. We live in a world of immature human beings who are proud of their feelings. Attempting to locate individuals who can respond with logical and rational thought processes is nearly non-existent.

Characteristics of Spiritual Growth

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23.

The Apostle Paul was certainly an expert on the devastation of acting on emotional responses. Before his spiritual transformation from Saul to Paul, he killed many early Christians–he felt that he was doing the right thing.

Overstimuli, lack of physical rest, uncontrolled emotions, and pride has suffocated our desire to grow spiritually. Throughout the Bible, God has defined the spiritual change required for Christian believers. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to change.

Self-effort can never produce the characteristics that God requires us to have. To receive the reward of eternal life, we must experience daily spiritual growth and development–Sanctification [the likeness of Jesus].

Yes, it’s growing time.

Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God… (1 Corinthians 13:11)

Prayer: God, we ask for the forgiveness of our sins caused by uncontrolled emotions. We pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Please teach us how to have the character of Christ. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

The Small Tasks Matter

Can you recall your first important assignment? The overwhelming excitement gives us the courage to anticipate a successful outcome. With increased responsibilities, one may have a healthy level of anxiety. Yet, self-confidence propels us forward as we set out to prove our abilities.

What about the small tasks? Are we just as excited to be asked to do the grunge tasks?

Chris Caine of Propel Women shares a powerful testimony of twenty-plus years being asked by her Pastor to be a driver for Joyce Meyer. At the time, Chris was a successful Youth Pastor of a large church. With humility, she readily accepted the assignment. The outcome included having Joyce Meyer as a friend and spiritual mentor who encouraged and advised her to begin Propel Women.

Do you have a testimony of how God used your small act of service to perform a tremendous blessing?

I can recall a position that I accepted as a Clinical Supervisor with the responsibilities of making home supervisory visits. I usually waited until the last 10 minutes of the nurse or home health aide visit to observe the interaction between the healthcare worker and the patient. My final supervisory visit was at 4:30 pm with a patient who had a previous fall with an injury history. It had been a long day, and I eagerly looked forward to 5 pm.

As we were chatting, she relayed that her daughter, who usually arrived at 5 pm, was running late due to heavy traffic. Her following statement, ” I am so sorry to ask you this, because you are the supervisor, but can you help me walk to the bathroom?” Yes, I assisted the patient, and once she was safely back to bed, I explained that I became a nurse to render care to patients regardless of my position. It was 5:30 when I left her home, yet, I felt a burst of renewed energy.

The Blessing: Our company’s patient census growth was slow. Within one week, we began to receive many patient referrals from the patient’s physician because of the desire to serve.

Our Calling: A Life of Servitude

Moses was raised by the pharaoh’s daughter and next in succession to become the Pharaoh of Egypt. Yet, when God called to him…”He said, ‘Here I am.'” (Exodus 3:4). David was anointed by the prophet Samuel to become King as a teenager. Yet, he lived as a fugitive warrior in caves for 15 years until God’s appointed time for Him to replace King Saul [At the approximate age of 30].

Our most remarkable example of servitude was from Jesus. He gave up Divinity to become human. Jesus was born in a stable for animals and placed in a manger [a feeding trough]. His ministry required learning obedience, leaving the home of His loving parents, and homelessness. “Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.'” (Matthew 8:20).

Assimilation of the Be Successful Mindset

The world-view is to pursue success, enjoy entertaining pleasures, possess career and social status, expensive assets, a stable investment portfolio, and money. Jesus places our priority on serving, “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:11-12)

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'” (Matthew 25:37‭-‬40)

In the Scriptures, we have received the spiritual standards of service as defined by God. It is the desire to render menial, insignificant tasks of alleviating the burdens and suffering of people [not philanthropy or random acts of kindness] that indicate our relationship of love with Christ.

Studying the Scriptures, especially the life of Jesus, enables us to change our perspective of the small, menial tasks. A purpose-driven life for a Christian reflects continual service to God and others.

Prayer: God, we confess that our priorities do not include serving You and others. We pray for forgiveness for seeking prosperity and recognition. Please reveal our purpose and how we can help. In Jesus’s name, we pray. Amen.