Loving Others Reveals We Love God

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Matthew 22:37-39, NIV).

Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 13; and Ephesians 4:32 are the Christian Character Traits that we must have to be righteous followers of Christ. Peace and Blessings.

© 2026 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

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Jesus’ Promise: “I will come again”

“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. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” (John 14:1-3).

Sojourner: Biblical Context: Refers to God’s people as temporary residents in this world.

“A sojourner is a person who stays temporarily in a place, a traveler or temporary resident, not a permanent inhabitant…a spiritual pilgrimage, viewing oneself as a stranger or pilgrim passing through.”

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, NIV).

“I Am Coming Quickly: He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).

“Are we following Christ with persistent faithfulness, trusting in God, and ready for His return?”

2 Timothy 3 describes the condition of most believers in the Last Days. But ready or not, Jesus is Coming! Yes and Amen.

Lord God, we thank You for the gift of Your Precious Son, Jesus Christ, who redeemed us from the wages of sin. We ask you to reveal any thoughts, habits, and lifestyles that will prevent us from inheriting Eternal Life. In faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

© 2026 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Uncertainty, Hardships, Loss, and Blessings: The Life of Persecuted Christians

At my most recent Library trip, I looked in the freebie bins and saw a magazine entitled Voice of the Martyrs. Never did I realize how my perspective would change from reading the experiences of persecuted Christians.

Excerpt from “The LAST to Leave” [The Story of a Christian Family Risking Their Personal Safety to Witness Christ to Others].

“The sound of gunfire and explosions was terrifyingly familiar. Sophia waited for the return of her husband Lewis at 3:00 a.m. one morning in March.”

“Lewis, a Missionary and Pastor who ministered to villagers deep in the __________ jungle, had taken a boat full of 30 Christians to a location safe from the violence occurring in their village.”

“As they pulled away from the riverside, Lewis prayed, “God, take care of us. Clear the way for us to go with no danger.”

Lewis and Sofia are resolute about God sustaining them through the loss of their home and all their personal possessions: “It is a passion for the souls. There are so many people who are lost. It is worth serving the Lord.”

Later that evening, I read multiple stories of the persecution that many Believers [globally] are suffering in their Journey of following Jesus, yet they remain committed and never complain.

I immediately prayed and asked God to forgive me for my self-centered and selfish heart. What do I know about the need to remain anonymous, or taking refuge in safe houses with minimal personal belongings, because I decided to follow Jesus?

And yes, with living in a country where Religious Liberty is my Constitutional right, God gave me a much-needed spiritual reality check to redirect my focus from myself to continuously pray for my Christian brothers and sisters, who could never imagine the blessing of the freedom to serve and follow Jesus without constraints.

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12). Truthfully, are we preparing ourselves spiritually for the day when we will suffer persecution for being a follower of Christ?

Our world is in chaos, and corruption and violence are steadily escalating. Still, while we have the opportunity to strengthen our relationship with Christ through daily personal worship, we must.

“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).

“Suffering, to some degree, is the lot of us all. In the end, though, it is better to suffer for Christ’s sake than for anything else.”

Lord God, please forgive our self-centeredness and help us to think beyond ourselves. In faith and with compassion, we pray for the persecuted believers who are faithfully and courageously following You with unwavering faith, despite their perilous circumstances. Lord, we ask You to supply all of their needs, to comfort them in their times of uncertainty, and to strengthen their faith. We joyfully look forward to the day when there will be no more persecution, fear, and sorrow. And when we can openly worship Jesus, our Triumphant King. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

© 2026 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Created To Fulfill God’s Divine Purpose

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, ESV).

God has a Divine Purpose for your life. Consecrate yourself daily through personal worship, asking Him to reveal His plans for the new day.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV).

Although each person is at a different time in their life; before our conception, God had individualized plans for you and me.

We are the Christians living in the Last Days of Earth’s history. Now is the perfect time for intentional spiritual growth and discovering your creative talents.

Every day, set aside time to Separate in Solitude and Silence to honor and worship God.

When we focus on our relationship with Christ, our faith and focus is redirected from ourselves back to God.

Before humanity was created, God’s goal has always been to redeem, reconcile, and restore our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Every day, we prepare for Jesus’ promise in John 14:1-3. By aligning ourselves with God’s plans, we demonstrate our faith, love, and loyalty to God.

Our Heavenly Father, desires that we ask Him to reveal His priorities and purpose for the blessing of a new day.

During personal worship, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through the Holy Scriptures and our thoughts.

We do not have to limit our worship with God to once or twice a day; whisper prayers throughout your day to receive Divine wisdom, strength, and guidance.

By fulfilling God’s plan for our lives, the Holy Spirit empowers us to prepare for our eternal reward in Revelation 22:12.

Bible Study: Romans 12; 2 Timothy 3

Lord God, we thank You for this new day of life. And we ask You to speak to our hearts, guiding us throughout our day to fulfill Your plans. In faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

“Do Not Worry About Tomorrow”

What is our ultimate purpose as Christians? To honor Christ with a sacrificial life of self-denial and faithful obedience.

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

We also represent to the world that following Christ results in a Loving Character and the ability to live righteously through the power of the Holy Spirit.

“Cast your burden on the LORD [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail).” (Psalm 55:22, Amplified Bible).

Because of our faith and trust in God’s Love, Power, and Promises, there is a significant difference when believers who pray continuously face challenges and hardships; from trusting in God, we are confident that God will resolve our battles.

“Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24).

Yes, placing our faith in God’s promises prevents us from seeing our dark, stormy times as hopeless. We know that Jesus, the Light of the World, is ever-present, serving as our High Priest, receiving and answering our prayers.

Trusting God is the only way for us to enjoy the gift of Jesus’ peace.

“I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:9-10).

Because our Heavenly Father is All-Knowing, God gave us His Divine Plan for living happy and healthy lives: Put God First, Pray for Guidance, Live by Faith, and Trust and Obey His plans for our lives, and we will experience continuous peace and joy.

Despite God’s Instructions and Blueprint [the Bible] on how to enjoy peace and happiness [regardless of our circumstances], many Christian believers are not living Christ-centered, Faith-based, obedient, contented, happy, and healthy lifestyles.

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” (James 1:14).

Christ created us to depend on God; unfortunately, the worldview of self-reliance has infiltrated the Christian Community, resulting in the redirection of our focus, faith, and trust from God to ourselves.

If our response to personal challenges is, What strategies can I develop to produce favorable outcomes?; then we have assumed burdens of life that God never intended for us to carry.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46, ESV).

Self-reliance is dangerous because it leads to the spiritual dilemma of disobeying God. Not only are we separated from God, but we also lose our spiritual gift of Jesus’ peace, which produces a Domino Effect on the mind, body, and soul.

“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7). From attempting to resolve life’s continuous struggles without God, we begin to suffer from mental restlessness, unstable emotions, and incessant thoughts, which produce anxiety, worries, frustration, and sleepless nights, stressors that cause most physical illnesses.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV).

Trusting God is not easy for most of us. Yet, God tells us in the Scriptures that He knows the end from the beginning and has plans to give us an expected end, which is Eternal Life in the New Heaven and New Earth.

Today, I attempted to contemplate what Heaven would be like. Although I have a creative mind, even with the Apostle John’s description in Revelation, I could not imagine the magnificent beauty that no human eyes have seen, except for the vision Christ gave to the Apostle John.

But we do know that perfect love, peace, joy, and happiness will exist. No anger, arguing, profane behaviors, hatred, violence, sickness, or death. And for those who say, No to a vegan diet, guess what? All will be vegans! Including the predatory animals.

“‘The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,’ says the LORD.” (Isaiah 65:25, NIV).

From studying 2 Timothy 3, we realize that we are living in the Last Days of Earth’s history. As time on Earth moves forward, we cannot afford to let our desire for self-governance jeopardize our reward of Eternal Life.

The Plan to Reconcile With Christ: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

“He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way.” (Psalm 25:9). “Submission to God’s will is honorable; in fact, it is the only way to be victorious in the spiritual war [Ephesians 6] in which we find ourselves.”

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). How would your life change if you prayed, waited, and used your faith to completely trust God? When we surrender to Christ, worry never enters our minds.

I am currently in my first week of using my faith to totally trust in God. Truthfully, the first two days, I felt anxious, but prayed often, “Jesus, give me the strength and courage to trust You.” I studied The Book of Ruth, Philippians 4, and memorized Isaiah 26:3-4.

For the next 14 days, utilize your time in personal worship to consecrate your life to Christ. Total surrender to God requires Divine strength and human effort. Ask Christ to guide you in every decision that you need to make.

“‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'” (Jeremiah 33:3). The consistency of daily surrender invites the Holy Spirit to give us the blessing of perceiving life through spiritual eyes.

“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).

Separation, Solitude, and Silence is the worship posture that invites the Holy Spirit to speak to us through the Holy Scriptures and our thoughts. To live as overcomers, we need the spiritual discernment that only the Holy Spirit can give.

Each day, we are one day closer to when Jesus, our Triumphant King, will come for His faithful and obedient followers. We are nearing the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise in John 14:1-3. Yes and Amen!

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:1-5).

Lord God, we come to You in faith, surrendering our will, and asking for Your guidance. We believe in Your love and promises to give us resolutions that bring honor and glory to Your Holy Name. Speak to our hearts, and reveal any habit, behavior, character trait, or relationship that would prevent us from receiving our reward of Eternal Life. Lord, give us the strength to persevere through our challenges, and teach us how to distinguish Your Voice from our thoughts and other voices. Jesus, we look forward to the day when You will come again. In faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

© 2026 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Representing Christ With Loving, Compassionate Christian Characters

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5, NIV).

From studying the Life of Christ, the one characteristic that was always present in His character was one of compassion.

“Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As He approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry…'”

“Then He went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, get up!’ The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.” (Luke 7: 11-15, NIV).

[bier: a simple wooden frame used to carry the dead to the grave, essentially a portable bed for the corpse, rather than a modern enclosed coffin].

How can we demonstrate the love and compassion of Christ to others? We must possess the Righteous Character traits of Christ.

  1. “…and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:3, NIV).
  2. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5: 22-23).
  3. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:23, NIV).

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” (1 Corinthians 13:37-38).

Unconditional Love is the spiritual foundation necessary for the Holy Spirit to change our stony hearts [Ezekiel 36:26] into a loving heart filled with the Fruit of the Spirit.

In Jeremiah 17:9, God tells us the condition of every human heart. Although we would like to think that our hearts are naturally good, God tells us the hearts we inherited are not good.

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” (Ezekiel 36:26, NLT).

Through our willingness to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, our hearts can be changed into the heart of Christ.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:7-8, NIV).

Bible Study: Matthew 5

Lord God, we ask you to cleanse our hearts from all unloving behaviors and unrighteous traits. We desire to have hearts filled with Your unconditional love. We ask for new hearts that love You and love others. We need Your Divine Help and Strength because we cannot change ourselves. Lord, we love You and thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in faith and in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

© 2026 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry and Blessings