Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Happy Holidays

Because of God’s unconditional love, grace, and mercies we should celebrate Jesus’ sacrifice everyday. He is the matchless Lamb of God!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Amen.

Have you heard the message that “Jesus saves?” Yes, His birth as a baby was in a lowly place where a manger was his first baby bed. A manger or trough is a structure or feeder used to hold food for animals. Can you imagine a precious newborn baby–the Son of God being placed in an animal feeder? Jesus Christ, the majestic Son of God, made the ultimate sacrifice for you and me.

Throughout Jesus’ short time on this earth, 33 years, His focus was always to serve humanity. He ministered to the spiritual needs, fed the hungry, healed physical impairments, and cast out demons. Jesus had many devout followers who desired to be His disciples. However, they were not prepared or willing to pay the cost of discipleship.

And one of the scribes came to Him and said, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” 20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” Matthew 8:19-20 BSB

We love God, and alose have the desire to follow Christ, but the people, places, and things we chase after cause us to turn away like the rich, young ruler.

16 Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.”

18 “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. 19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.'” 20 “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”

21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” Matthew 19:16-24

Do you have a spiritual understanding of this parable? God does not require us to be homeless, hungry, or live in poverty to serve Him. Yes, we must have the necessities of life to sustain our well-being, which Jesus says in Matthew 6 that He will provide. God loves us. Blessed and highly favored with innate abilities, talents, and spiritual gifts to live healthy and productive lives, God proves His love for all of humanity.

Love, Faith, Trust, and Obedience make up the foundation to establish and maintain a relationship with God. It is human effort combined with Divine Intervention that gives us the ability to have continuous spiritual growth. Still, we must take additional steps to fulfill the requirements of discipleship. We must give up and let go of the desires and the distractions that prevent us from having an up-close and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Commitment to God includes a journey filled with the pangs of suffering, but also we possess perfect peace because God has promised to always take care of us.

What is your testimony? What has God done for you? Has He filled your life with unconditional love, hope, peace, and joy? Then tell as many people as you can that over 2,000 years ago, Jesus, the Son of God was born, lived, died, and was resurrected to redeem humanity from the horrible curse of sin.

God’s Gift to Humanity

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Hold on to Jesus’ promises:

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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. 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

“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.” Revelation 22:7

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20

Heavenly Father, in this season of gift-giving and receiving, help us never to forget the price paid for our redemption. We desire to be your disciples whatever the cost we are required to pay. We look forward to the day when you will return to take us to our heavenly home. Until then, we will love and serve you with our hearts, souls, and minds. We pray this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

God’s Answer: Yes or No

Growing up in a home with a Mother who was an ordained minister was not easy. “Mommy, can I do…?” Minister Johnson measured our every request with God’s ruler. Did it meet the standards of righteousness? The King James version says: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6. But due to the varied modern methods of training children, the Contemporary English version makes God’s command plain-spoken for 21st-century parents: Teach your children right from wrong, and when they are grown, they will still do right. Proverbs 22:6. As I matured, I finally realized that if there were any possibilities of suffering negative consequences, then the answer would be an automatic “no.” My mother fulfilled the requirements of raising her children according to God’s truth.

What about us? Can we accept when God says, “No?”

Because our desires have a strong influence on us, often it is difficult to know what is acceptable to God when we pray for an answer of yes. Let’s say that you need a vehicle. You begin to do research and find a dealership that is offering a special with “zero down and 60 payments of $485 a month.” You pray and ask God for His blessing, and the next day, you decide to stop by the dealer, just to look. After speaking to the sales rep, he or she bypasses the vehicle that you are interested in and shows you an upgraded version. You readily agree to the offer for a test drive, and now you’re caught up in the bait and switch tactic. After the test drive, the offer is extended with the same criteria, only the monthly payment is $575, which will begin in 45 days, and this deal is only available for 24 hours. The offer is not from God.

As unbelievable as this sounds, we place ourselves into predicaments all of the time. The other day, I was asked, “How do you know if what is presented is a blessing from God or a gift from Satan?” Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17. Because Satan cannot give good gifts, nor can he offer a perfect situation, there is always an “if, and, only, or but” that we have to fulfill, which leads us into the journey of suffering negative consequences.

“Watch the stealthy approach of Satan, watch against old habits and natural inclinations lest they exert themselves; force them back if need be a hundred times. Watch the thoughts, watch the plans, lest they become selfish and self-centered. Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” TMK 351. Ellen G. White

Back to our vehicle dilemma: Purchasing a vehicle includes the additional expenses of full-coverage insurance with deductibles, registration fees, new vehicle tax, and operating expenses. Also included are the routine maintenance expenses and the unexpected, which may or may not be covered in the warranty. Working within our financial budget includes developing an alternate plan if a loss of income occurs. Will you have the means to pay these expenses if you are laid off or permanently lose your job? Vehicle payment+ insurance + routine/uncovered warranty maintenance + operating expenses = Total cost of the purchased vehicle.

God is already aware that you need a vehicle, and He promises, “I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” Isaiah 65:24. So when you do your part (Human Effort) through financial planning of the monetary resources that God has blessed you with, then God acts (Divine Intervention) and presents the perfect vehicle within your budget. And even if you lose your job, God has plans to provide for your monthly payment until you are employed again. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. 2 Corinthians 1:19

God never wavers between yes and no—he’s completely affirmative in all his dealings with us. All of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Jesus. Because of Jesus, all God’s answers are yes, as you pray in his name and Spirit. Are you waiting for a “Yes” from God but secretly afraid he’ll say “No”? If what you want is his will, you can be sure his answer will be “Yes.” Wait for the Yes to work itself into your life, in God’s timing.
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions

Faith, trust, and obedience are always required to serve God.

And without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 NIV
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:6
Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

God, please teach us how to seek your will. Many times we have placed ourselves into situations with negative consequences due to disobedience. And for this, we ask forgiveness. We desire to bring our petitions to you and to wait and accept your answer, even if it is no. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Overcoming the Obstacles that prevent Peace

When we plan a vacation, we choose a refreshing but serene location or an urban city that offers shopping, restaurants, and excitement. But the ultimate goal is to get away from the busyness and struggle of our routine lives. Only if it were that simple to leave our challenges and never look back, even if we leave everything behind and choose new beginnings, we will face obstacles.

The greatest obstacle facing the multiple generations that co-exist in this world: Possessing Peace of mind!

I watched a movie that documented a young man who decided that nature was his best friend. So, he left his job, took his life savings and power tools to live alone. Choosing a perfect mountainous spot was easily done due to his previous hiking expeditions. He could live off the land in a cabin that he built without running water or electricity. All was well for many years. But unfortunately, one day, he mistakenly ate poisonous berries and suffered a slow and painful death. Months later, he was found at the base of a tree with his journal in hand. Although his daily journal entries indicated that he was “living in paradise” and was extremely happy, because of one mistake, he documented that his lapse in judgment cost him his life. “I mistakenly have eaten berries that must contain a neurotoxin because I have lost all ability to move my legs. You will find me dead.” Indeed this was a heart-wrenching real-life account of someone who met a premature death—never thinking that his pursuit of peace through isolation would eliminate much-needed medical help.

Even so, as I reflected on this young man’s life, I realize that he possessed inner joy and achieved his definition of peace of mind. It is difficult to imagine that someone would find happiness in isolation from all human contact, hunt and gather food, and live without utilities. And that is why most individuals should not be unhappy. We have so many things (needs and wants) in our lives that we are miserable.

We are self-medicating with anti-depressants, anti-anxiety prescription medications, CBD, feel-good drugs, alcohol, food, excessive spending habits, and the list goes on and on. Our minds are constantly in motion because we are always chasing something. I remember the first time I watched a self-help podcast that recommended taking a pen and paper and making a list of the things you required to sustain your life. And then, make a list of the things you desired, compare the two lists, and tear up the list of desires. The action of tearing up the paper reinforced the elimination of the stressful desires that prevented having peace of mind.

My first list was not a list. I had everything that I needed. When I looked at the list of desires, I asked myself, “Why?” Is this what is destroying my peace of mind? Self is our greatest obstacle! Possessing Peace is not based on the process of elimination. No God, No peace. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

During this pandemic, I have been able to realign my mindset to be in sync with God. My list of priorities has gone through a significant renovation. Faith and trust in God have replaced the destructive habit of self-reliance. Gratitude has replaced the greed for needless things.

The holiday season should not be one of sorrow. Yes, we are in another tumultuous wave of illness and death from the Coronavirus. But I encourage you to make a list of the blessings that you have received from God this year, this month, and today. Acknowledge the unconditional love of God: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

It is possible to overcome the most significant challenge facing the multiple generations that co-exist in this world: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Allow God to enter your life as your Heavenly Father. Believe and receive His promises, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:33-34

God, we ask for your help to overcome the obstacle of ourselves. The desire for needless things plagues our minds. We are seeking peace from everything else, including a location change. Yes, we have failed to realize that peace is a gift from you. Please show us how to increase our faith and trust in you. We thank you for your love, grace, and mercies of this new day. Thank you for hearing and answering this prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Faith in God Brings Guaranteed Results

No one else has the power to make this promise!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Happy Sabbath! We are Not Forsaken!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Today, I read in Matthew chapter 27, the words spoken by Jesus just before His death on the cross:

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Matthew 27:45-46 NLT

If you are in a time of darkness, please know that God has not forsaken you. God has promised: He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. Psalm 147:3. I know that God keeps His promises. In October, I experienced loss, which left me as a family of one. Through my tears, many times, all I could do is pray, “God help me.” And just as God promises, the gaping wound in my heart has healed. It is said that time heals all wounds, which is not true. There is only one, our Heavenly Father, Jehovah Shalom-the God of Peace who brings us peace, comfort, and above all, healing.

Yes, I am grieving my loss. Still, I did not stop reading the Bible at Matthew 27. I continued to read Matthew chapter 28, which tells us of Jesus’ resurrection. God did not forsake Jesus, nor will He ever abandon those who He created in His image. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11.

Never give up the hope that we will have a better life. God gave us His best, His Son, Jesus Christ. No, human beings did not kill the Son of God. Jesus willingly gave His life to redeem humanity. Our greatest need was a Savior who would save us from our sins through forgiveness.

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11

The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords is coming soon:

12 “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Do not let any situation leave you hopeless!

20 He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! 21 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people. Revelation 22:20-21

Hold on! Continue, even in the midst of your tears, grief, and suffering, praise and worship God.

O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. Psalm 95:6

God, thank you for loving us and giving your Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Please help us remember that you have glorious plans, promising us eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth. We love you, and we ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

The Gift of Time

One of the Devotional websites that I have read for many years made a significant change. They drastically reduced the readings in size with a subtitle indicating it was only a “1 minute read.” Was it necessary to make the change to appeal to and increase readership?

The Master had special times and places for quiet conversation with His disciples. He met with them…more often on the sacred slopes of the Mount of Olives. Every Christian should have his own Mount of Olives. Most of us today, especially those of us in cities, live under great stress.

From early morning until bedtime, we are exposed to the whirlwind of life. Amid all the turmoil, there is little opportunity for quiet thought, God’s Word, prayer, and fellowship of the heart! Come close to the Master for your personal mountain top experience with Him! From Today’s Devotional–Streams in the Desert–by L. B. Cowman

Time is a gift from God. We have received 24 hours to rest, sleep, work, enjoy recreational activities, but most importantly, to worship God. Many do not give 5% (1.2 hours) of their day to pray, study, and sing to praise and worship God. Are you part of the majority who glorifies and honors God with a spiritual relationship of one-minute reads?

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:21

Day-to-day activities are structured to distract us and consume the valuable time that we should spend worshiping God. Our love for God is not only revealed by our character, Galatians 5:22-23. The time that we spend worshiping demonstrates the importance that we place on having a relationship with God. Please do not believe that “Quality over Quantity” applies to the time we spend praising and worshiping God.

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1

Throughout our day, we can whisper a prayer. Memorizing and reciting a scripture that reminds us of God’s love is comforting and builds our faith in a Heavenly Father who is always available. Never forget the plans that God has for the righteous who love and serve Him. We will receive eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4.

God is intentional in revealing the things that will not exist when Jesus comes again, which is everything related to sin. God did not say that He would wipe out our complete mind or memory. We will recognize our family and friends and possess the same character traits that we have now. The righteousness that we pursue and the godly habits that we practice are preparing us for a perfect, sinless life with God, forever and ever. Amen.

Thankfully, God has given us the guidelines for living a holy and righteous life:

Jesus declared, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” 38 “This is the first and greatest commandment. “Matthew 22:37-38
And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think on these things. Philippians 4:7-8

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

Receive your gift of time! Now is the time for us to work on transforming our character to align with God’s requirements. Studying the Bible imparts the knowledge, and praying gives us the reinforcement, the strength, and the Divine power to accomplish those changes. We are told in Hebrews 12:14 to work at living a holy life, or we would not see the Lord. This scripture reiterates that now is the time to acknowledge, confess our faults, repent, and ask God to help us to live holy. When Jesus comes again, it will be too late to pursue righteousness.

Let us walk with decency, as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and don’t make plans to gratify the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:13-14

God, thank you for giving us the much needed time to acknowledge, confess, and repent of our sins. We desire to get rid of the traits and habits that prevent us from loving you with all of our heart, soul, and mind, and from living holy. Please forgive us for our sins, and give us the strength to change. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Changing your Life by Witnessing-Happy Sabbath

At least once a week, I participate in online surveys. Two questions appear in every survey: Are you influenced by your family and friend’s experiences with a particular product or company? If you were offered a job equal to your current job, would you be proud to work for this company? All companies that expect to thrive in the current economic decline environment are very concerned about their reputation and the consumers’ perception of their business culture.

We can also perform a self-survey. Do other individuals influence your commitment to serve God? What opportunities do you seek out to share your faith by telling of the goodness of God?

God has given us a commission-a work that He considers our duty in serving Him. We must witness to others! Not only does sharing our testimony of spiritual transformation strengthen our relationship with God, witnessing is a faith-building activity that encourages others to include God in their lives.

Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20

Read verse 17. Although the disciples were with Jesus and eyewitnesses of His ministry, which included the healing power of physical ailments, casting out demons, and providing food for a multitude, some of the disciples still had doubted the divinity of Christ. What is the road-block that kept them from having 100% faith and trust in Jesus? In verse 18, take notice that Jesus had to remind them that He was the Son of God, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.”

Even though we live in times of economic instability, we have total faith in our employers that we will receive our salary, or the supermarket we shop at will always have food for purchase. And certainly, we believe in our abilities. Who doesn’t enjoy completing goals in which we entirely relied on ourselves to accomplish? How many of us think about the gift of God’s grace for a new day of life and the ability to function with mental and physical strength? We receive many blessings that God lovingly provides, yet, our doubt is targeted at Jesus, the Son of God who sacrificed his life for our salvation.

1. Taking the Giant Leap of Faith-serving God is a spiritual decision and requires an unwavering faith-wholehearted belief that God will do exactly as He says he will do. 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

2. Self-forgiveness and God’s forgiveness-Forgiveness is often an area of intense struggle. Perhaps we have hurt others who will never accept forgiveness because they refuse to interact with us. Even so, we can always pray and ask God to forgive us, and then we must forgive ourselves and move forward in the power of Jesus’ name. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19

3. Human Effort-Serving God always requires action on our part. We must put forth the determination to fulfill our role in the Plan of Salvation. …and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open, and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.…2 Chronicles 7:14-15

4. Remaining Motivated-Accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior brings many low in the valley experiences. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. Trusting in Jesus provides us with the confidence to enjoy the sweet peace and comfort from knowing that God will bring us through victoriously.

5. Perseverance-Never become weary in serving God. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11. The plans that our Heavenly Father has for His faithful children end with living in a perfect New Heaven and New Earth.

Many are fearful of sharing their testimonies with others. How has your life changed since accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? As unique as our fingerprints, so are our testimonies of the transforming power of Jesus that has touched our lives.

Sharing our testimony is essential for spiritual growth. When the Apostle Paul was before King Agrippa, he testified of his conversion from Saul to Paul.

“‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future. Acts 9:5-6

The Apostle Paul always shared the powerful story of his spiritual transformation with unbelievers. When we can tell our personal experience of how God has transformed our lives by accepting us, usually at our lowest point, then our testimony proves that God is real. And that He is waiting for each and everyone to come to him.

Our spiritual eyes must be fully open before we can tell others about Jesus Christ. We must possess a firm foundation of belief, trust, and faith in God. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance when testifying of your deliverance from sin. For example, if you have a history of child molestation, most individuals do not need the intimate details of the suffering you experienced. Your focus is to bring glory to God and how He provided deliverance by giving you complete mental and emotional healing.

From my experience, I have been told many deep, dark secrets while witnessing. Because there are many atrocities that I have never suffered, I often share the story of the Apostle Paul’s transformation. Read Acts chapter 9. Saul had a thirst to seek and kill Christians who believed in the saving power of Jesus Christ. And the worst part is that Saul thought he was doing this under the cloak of religion. Because of his level of wickedness, God physically blinded him, and for three days and nights, he did not eat or drink. But, our God always brings a victorious end. God not only took away Saul’s desire to kill, to complete his spiritual transformation, but God also changed his name from Saul to Paul. Hallelujah!

Do not be discouraged if the person you are sharing God’s love with does not accept God. If they have taken the time to listen to your testimony, then their heart is open to change. The Holy Spirit will minister to them as they reflect on the words of truth they have heard. It is not only spoken words that convey our relationship with God. We may never know the burdens that lift from the persons to whom we said a joyful “Good Morning,” or performing a kind deed when it was least expected. Our smiles and cheerful disposition are an outward reflection that we have the inner joy that comes only from serving God.

Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, we can use social media for witnessing. It has been a rough and turbulent ride in 2020. Pray and ask God to reveal the opportunities to share your faith with or without words. Your relationship will continue to grow deeper with God, and your faith will strengthen. In a world filled with hopelessness, we must proclaim that we serve a mighty and loving God who delivers us. God is always faithful! Despite our trials and sorrows, like Job, we can proclaim, But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end, He will stand upon the earth. Job 19:25

God, we thank you for the Sabbath. We ask in your name to grant us the holy boldness to tell of your great love and plan of salvation to others. Please fill our hearts with compassion and the desire to serve you with all of our heart, soul, and mind. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

“**Hawaiian Sunset**” no_foreign_lands, B. Domino-Reyes photography

Changing your Life by Surrendering

What is your first thought when you hear the word surrender? Many think of giving up or defeat. After-all the dictionary definition is: to cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority. And yes, in the case of interaction with an adversary, the dictionary definition accurately describes the situation.

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NLT

Take my Hand

Surrender takes on a totally different meaning when God is involved. When the storms of life have beat us down, and we feel as if we cannot deal with another problem, if we allow ourselves to surrender to Jesus Christ, He takes the impossible and performs miracles. Surrendering is asking Jesus to be a part of our lives by confession and repentance of our sins. Having a relationship with God is not complex, nor is it complicated. The spiritual component in humanity and the seed of faith that God has given to everyone automatically connects to God when we commit to serving Him.

We do not have to understand or attempt to analyze the peace and inner joy we receive from serving God. It is in the midst of our raging storms of trials and sorrows that all we have to do is say, “God, help me.” And the hands of Jesus reach out, and the spiritual bonding begins as our hearts start to calm down from the reassurance that we are no longer alone to bear our burdens.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

With our Heavenly Father, defeat or the feelings of being overwhelmed are part of our past. We decided not to ever surrender to our harsh trials and tribulations again. Feeling empowered and victorious is the outcome of giving ourselves to the only One who can tell our storms, Peace, be still! Who else would know exactly what we need when we need it? Never forget who you belong to: Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us… Genesis 1:26

Make your life complete by surrendering to God. It takes human effort to nurture the seed of faith. By believing, trusting, and obeying God in all circumstances will guarantee that you will never be defeated again.

God, we are ready to surrender to you. We confess and ask forgiveness of our sins. We commit to love and serve you with all of our hearts, souls, and minds from this day forward. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

**Surrendering to God gives us constant peace, despite our circumstances. Image credit: no_foreign_lands, B. Domino-Reyes photography**

Changing your Life with Love Series

Retraining our Mindset, part 1

Who is Jesus? Without having an up-close and personal relationship, our initial answer would probably be, “He is the Son of God.” But for those who have a testimony of deliverance, Jesus Christ is much more than the Son of God. Prayerfully, today we will learn who Jesus is and how we can grow closer to Him.

To establish, build, and maintain any relationship, we must possess unconditional love, utilize healthy, ongoing communication, and be willing to serve. Yes, there are many other characteristics, but these three traits form the foundation for the building blocks, such as mutual respect, trust, forgiveness, etc.

Before we move forward, study and memorize 1 Corinthians 13, the Love chapter that identifies the traits that grow from the tree of unconditional love:

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT

Who does Jesus say that we have to love?

“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” 37 Jesus declared, “ ’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:36-39 BSB

Self-evaluate: If you can verbalize these words: “I don’t like him, her or them,” then God has a message for you:

19 We love because He first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God, but hates his brother and sister, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother and sister, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother and sister as well. 1 John 4:19-21

Loving others is not based on ethnicity, physical likeness, socioeconomic status, or religious preferences. Nor do the participation in peaceful protests, rallies, or giving financial support indicate that we possess the love that God requires of us. Loving others unconditionally (without stipulations) is a core character trait that we must possess, or we do not have a love for God, nor can we have a relationship with God. In fact, God says we are “liars” Ouch!

Finally, we must believe that God is Unconditional love, and He is Omniscient-all knowing. Let’s use our creative abilities to script a probable conversation between God, the Father, and Jesus His Son before the Creation:

Son, you know if I create human beings, they will disobey and fall into sin by pursuing self-seeking pleasures. The relationship they need to have with us will be a constant struggle because the “Seed of Faith” that we give them will remain the same size because of their doubt and unbelief in our power. They will be distracted by the things that Satan will present to them, and their greatest love will be for money. You know that they will not love us and they will hate each other. Jesus, are you sure that you want me to create human beings? Yes, Father, I will give my life for their redemption from sin. But, Son, you will be born as a human into poverty, have a life of suffering, you will be rejected, despised, hated, and falsely accused of blasphemy against me. And the most terrible thing is that you will die on a cross with large spikes driven through your hands and feet. Yes, Father, I understand. Still, I am willing to die for all of humanity.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1

God, we want to say thank you, and we love you. Please forgive us for our sins against you and each other. Help us never forget the gift of your Son, Jesus that died and was resurrected so we may have eternal life. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.