Bible – Page 15 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

“My Thoughts Are Higher Than Your Thoughts”

Resetting Our Priority to God First

“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord.” —Lamentations 3:25-26

Surrendering to God’s Sovereignty is the daily, intentional decision to put God First. By asking for God’s will to be done, our love for God is revealed by the desire to consecrate ourselves to Him. Faith, surrender, and obedience are the righteous attributes that keep us connected to Christ, who taught us by His earthly life what it means to put God First.

The ‘God First’ commitment is renewed each morning. We use our faith to invite God to perform the miraculous. Asking our Heavenly Father for help is always answered immediately. Our prayer invites the Holy Spirit to impart the spiritual wisdom required to recognize God’s Voice and to align us with His will.

“Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually!” (1 Chronicles 16:11). Since the human heart naturally rebels against God, we always need Divine help to fight Satan’s continuous spiritual warfare and the internal conflict of pursuing our desires. Consistent prayer is our Spiritual Lifeline to our Advocate, Jesus Christ.

The Christian Journey is tough! We need the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit to live as overcomers. Receiving supernatural strength is Christ’s response to the faithful who know we must depend on our Shepherd to persevere and resist distractions and temptations.

Putting God First requires us not to react with feelings. Failure comes from following our natural thoughts and inclinations. Even with the best strategies, human wisdom cannot predict outcomes.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” —Proverbs 3:5-6

Believers do not awaken with a mindset of defeat, but each day, our desires, goals, and to-do lists also awaken, always posing the threat for us to exclude God. Our response will either include God by asking for His Divine intervention, or completing our agenda using the risky behavior of relying on our strength.

“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” —Proverbs 3:7

Human wisdom is often praised, but it always leads to unforeseen consequences. God warns us not to rely on our thoughts. Without God, we exchange internal peace for racing thoughts. Focusing on the present circumstances instead of God’s Faithfulness creates pressure, anxiety, worry, and doubt.

The Bible says that unbelievers always stumble by making the wrong decisions because their faith is displaced from God to themselves. Faith in God separates us from unbelievers; therefore, we should not embrace and practice their worldviews of self-reliance and following one’s heart.

Unbelieving believers only acknowledge that God exists; they do not trust God’s faithfulness, love, and power. But most importantly, trusting in self excludes God and places us outside of His perfect will, which is disobedience against God.

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). God First is a lifestyle of surrender and faithful obedience. It is also God’s command to the righteous. Self-reliance reveals our rejection of God’s daily blessings. Unless we travel on the Narrow Path of Righteousness paved by humility and faithful obedience, we forfeit our reward of Eternal life.

How to Live a “God First” Lifestyle

Accept God’s Truth: “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9-10). Through obedience, we fight against internal conflict.
We must acknowledge that spiritual warfare against believers does exist. Satan’s greatest goal is to make us feel that God does not care about the small details of our personal lives, leaving us alone to figure it out. But Satan is the master deceiver whose modus operandi is the skillful use of lies and chaos. Study Matthew 6. We are loved! Yes and Amen!
Choose to stand down unreliable emotions with prayer. We cannot see clearly when we follow our feelings instead of praying. Asking “Why now?” only escalates emotions and diminishes our faith. Feeling overwhelmed occurs when we try to create strategies to tackle our challenges. Turn it over to Jesus!
Putting God first requires a dedicated lifestyle of much prayer. Prayer is our highest priority. We can expect a perfect outcome when we obey God. Pray for help and thank God in the same prayer. Our Heavenly Father already has the answer.
Describe the attributes of God’s Character. We must know Who our Faithful God is to completely trust Him. The Bible is the least read among Christian believers. Something is not right! Even pagan worshipers know the attributes of their deities. For Beginners: Study Genesis 1-3, and the Life of Christ found in the Four Gospels [Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John].

Putting God First is a matter of the heart: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength”(Mark 12:30).

God’s Invitation: “When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek’ ” (Psalm 27:8).

Our Responsibility: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7).

God’s Faithfulness: “It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

We Have This Hope: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Turning our hearts to Christ, even in the smallest matters, guards against developing a spirit of self-reliance and increases our faith. Total dependency on God is living the most beautiful life filled with peace. Why? When our response to adversity is praying in faith, we possess courage and confidence in the Power of God!

Lord God, we desire to change our response to life’s challenges by putting You First. We admit that we cannot resolve our current challenges, and ask for Your Help. Lord, teach us how to recognize Your Voice above our thoughts. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.

This Is How the Story Ends: A Forever Life!

Life may be tough, but for the faithful and obedient believers, we are preparing every day for the blessed return of our Triumphant King.

The reward of forever establishes our priorities: “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”
(Matthew 16:26, NLT).

Jesus, we thank You for redeeming us from the penalty of sin. We ask for strength, guidance, wisdom, and discernment in our earthly journey. In Your Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

When We Don’t Understand Why

Jesus’ Answer: “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

Because Adam and Eve rejected God’s command, the domino effect of sin has intensified to almost unbearable in the 6,000 years of humanity’s existence on the planet Earth. The calamities of wars, disease, death, violence, natural disasters, homelessness, hunger, and hatred are the result of the evil one [Satan].

“Everything under heaven is Mine.” -Job 41:11

No, God does not intervene to save us from the consequences of humanity using our free will to reject His perfect decisions and plans, but we are suffering greatly from following human wisdom, and giving into our desires, and the enemy’s temptations. When will we tire of sin and its results?

Still our God is Love! The Holy Scriptures provide the answer to receiving the Divine Help and Strength to live holy in an unholy world.

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” -John 14:15-17

Everyday, from the moment we awaken, if we choose to follow Christ, we have access to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit who gives us the wisdom and strength to overcome every obstacle and temptation.

Through a daily prayer of surrender, we make the covenant promise to serve our King with faithful obedience. As Christ’s disciples, we obey and fulfill God’s plans because we dedicate ourselves with love, loyalty, and allegiance to God’s Sovereignty.

Rejecting our heart’s desires is a tough battle, but obedience to God is a righteous characteristic that distinguishes the True believers who worship God in Spirit and Truth from ritualistic believers.

Throughout the Bible, God makes it clear that He expects us to worship Him with total obedience. Because God is Sovereign, His Providential Authority must be revered without asking why. Obedience is the only choice that keeps us in perfect alignment with God’s Perfect thoughts and ways.

At some point, we must reflect on the rapid decline of all morals and values, and the escalating chaos permeating our societies, and global nations. Not only are these times perilous [2 Timothy 3], but this present Earth has nothing to offer the righteous believer.

The only “why” question we should ask God, “Lord, why have you waited so long to rescue us from this sin and degradation?”

“The Lord is not slow in fulfilling His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

If we remain faithful, when Christ comes, He will reward us with eternal life, [and a mansion], in the New Heaven and New Earth. Yes and Amen!

Bible Study: Revelation 21-22

Lord God, we thank You for the gift of Jesus, Your only Son who willingly sacrificed His life for us. We ask You to guide, protect, and correct us, so we will stay on the Path of Righteousness. Lord, if it is not your will, we ask you to speak to our hearts, and give us the strength to stand down our internal desires, and to walk away from all temptations. We ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of your Son, and our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Internal Peace that Comes from Following Jesus

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” -John 14:27

This week, the postal worker delivered my package to the wrong mailbox, and whoever received it kept it. I contacted the seller, whose response was surprising: “We have no control over the package once we mail it.” Yet, I reminded the manager of the company’s policy to assign tracking numbers and insurance, which requires filing a claim if the buyer did not receive the merchandise.

Although I filed the missing package claim, the postal email reminded me that it was the seller’s responsibility to file a claim for the missing package, and they closed my case without resolution. I prayed for Divine intervention and guidance, and the Holy Spirit reminded me I had another option.

Thankfully, I paid for the purchase with my credit card [that I rarely use], so I had the option to file a dispute, which I did. The next day, I received an email from the seller stating they filed a claim for the missing package, and the post office sent an email informing me they reopened my claim.

“It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.” -Isaiah 65:24

Prayer, Bible Study, Faithful Obedience, and total dependency on God are the habits of a converted and consecrated Christian. Prayer is a privilege. Although we have unlimited access to a Sovereign God, seeking His help is usually not our first response to adversity.

“I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” -Psalm 4:8

Not using human wisdom to resolve our challenges changes the trajectory of our lives. With God involved, who can challenge His Authority? Honoring God by praying for His intervention means never suffering consequences or losing our peace. We can sleep like newborn babies when God is involved. No worries because we know that our God is always faithful.

“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!’ ” -2 Chronicles 14:11

A prayer of faith moves the arms of Jesus Christ, our Mighty Warrior, who commands angel armies to fight the spiritual warfare that threatens to discourage and overpower us. Pray, wait, and be still.

“When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” -Matthew 6:6

We must learn to distinguish God’s voice from the voices of human opinions; therefore, do not involve family and friends in developing resolutions, for God’s thoughts and ways never coincide with human strategies. If human intervention is needed, then God will speak to the hearts of the individuals He chooses, and they will help us.

Have you ever misplaced something important, searched, and just couldn’t find it? Say a prayer. God desires to be involved in the routine duties of our lives. Even when we think we can resolve the issue, if we choose to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), not only will we develop the habit of immediately praying, but our faith will be redirected from ourselves to God who rightfully deserves our faith.

Adversity has a spiritual purpose; God requires that 100% of our faith is in Him. To save our souls, eventually, He allows a trial that human effort cannot resolve. Yes, standing at the Crossroads of decision reveals our limitations, still, God does not infringe on our free will. He knows the true feelings of our hearts, and many believers have chosen the path of least resistance by rejecting God’s help.

Obedience gives us confidence and courage, and our faith, hope, and peace are renewed.”I will never leave you or forsake you.” Surrender invites the Holy Spirit to give us the spiritual strength to persevere. Divine guidance empowers us with spiritual perception and wisdom.

When our faith is weak, God reminds us of His Omnipotence: “Who then is able to stand against Me?…Everything under heaven is Mine” (Job 41:10-11).

The Holy Bible is our Spiritual Guide. Spending time in the Scriptures is life-changing. In Jesus’ humanity, He no longer knew the thoughts of God, His Father, as He did in heaven. Mary, His mother, had the responsibility to teach Jesus the Old Testament Scriptures, but at the age of 12, the Holy Spirit empowered the child Jesus to discuss the Holy Scriptures with the formally educated Rabbis.

One of my favorite Scriptures is John 8:29, “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” Obedience is Jesus’ answer to enjoying His ever-present gift of internal peace. If God expected obedience from Christ, then His expectations are the same for every believer.

Consider Jesus’ tumultuous earthly journey of living in poverty and being despised by the Jewish leaders who consistently schemed to trick Him with never-ending questions that appeared to have no right answer. In the Four Gospels, the writers reveal that Jesus always relied on God, the Father for His spiritual strength and wisdom.

Jesus knew his human limitations. With humility and surrender, the Scriptures reveal that our Savior spent hours in prayer with His Father. Prayer is our only channel for receiving the Divine wisdom and strength to overcome the continuous challenges of spiritual warfare. We cannot guide ourselves on the Path of Righteousness; we desperately need Divine guidance and resolution to receive victory!

Jesus, Our High Priest: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Prayers of Faith asking for Divine help are immediately answered by Christ, our Heavenly Intercessor. Our reward for approaching the throne of Grace is received through the Holy Spirit, who gives us Spiritual Wisdom, Strength, and Peace. Yes, the ways of the Triune Godhead are a mystery, but we do not have to understand, we just need to pray and believe.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” -Psalm 121:1-2

King David reminds us that in every challenge, we are just a prayer away from receiving help from our Loving Creator, Jesus Christ, who is always Faithful. In faith [even when weakened] like a trusting child, we simply believe God’s promises to resolve our challenges.

Faith is a spiritual muscle, we must exercise our faith to believer that God loves us and knows what is best. The decision to include God in every aspect of our lives requires that we let go of the disobedient spirit of self-reliance.

“Trusting and obeying God” is our greatest challenge, yet it is the key to living a peaceful and victorious life that is perfectly aligned with God’s Will and plans for which we will receive our reward of the Crown of Life.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” -Isaiah 26:3

Lord God, we thank you for Your faithfulness even when we are unfaithful, for which we ask forgiveness. We pray for the desire and strength to overcome our habit of self-reliance that opposes Your Perfect Plans for our lives. With this prayer, we renew our covenant to be faithful, obedient, and to depend on You by seeking Your guidance every day. We ask You to shower us with Your Divine Peace, and ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of Jesus, Amen.

Who Will Go?

Our love for God is the catalyst that propels us to reveal Christ’s Divine Love to others. Brokenness and hopelessness has permeated humanity as never before. Every day, we are given the opportunity to witness and tell everyone within our reach, “Jesus loves you.”

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” -Revelation 22:12

Historically, as Christians, we were taught, acknowledged, and prepared daily for Jesus’ Second Coming which is proclaimed in the Books of Daniel, Isaiah, and Revelation.

Yet, there is a marked difference between believers of yesteryear and today’s Christian Community who appear disinterested in a Heavenly Home. Too many pursue earthly success and prosperity as if this present Earth will be our forever home.

In John chapter 17, Jesus prayed for Himself His disciples, and His future disciples (you and me) that we would be ready to meet Him when He comes again. Read John 14:1-3.

“Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.’ ” -Matthew 9:37

Yes, Salvation is a free gift flowing with God’s love, grace, and mercies that we receive every day. Still, what about the estimated 3.2 billion people who do not know about Jesus Christ?

As Christ’s disciples, how can we despise our spiritual assignment of telling others there is a Savior who forgives their sins and cleanses them from all unrighteousness?

“The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household ‘ ” (Acts 16:29-31, NIV).

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” -Ephesians 2:8-9

Witnessing is not a merit-based work. We tell others who are lost in the despair of sin because Jesus rescued us. God needs dedicated workers who will spread the message of Salvation which flows from Jesus’ ever-abiding Love for humanity.

Yes, our Triumphant King hung on Calvary’s Cross, and from His blood sacrifice, Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

From using our faith to believe in Jesus Saving Power along with repentance of our sins, the Holy Spirit performs a daily spiritual transformation of growth and maturity within our hearts.

This spiritual transformation is described in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Loving God equates to loving everyone who God loves. With Christ’s love and compassion, we tell others, Jesus Saves! The Holy Spirit will continue our efforts by touching the individual’s heart to accept Christ.

We may never know in our earthly lives the outcome of our witnessing. Still, it will be wonderful when we get to heaven and someone approaches us and says, I accepted Christ because you told me that He loved me. Yes and Amen!

Who will tell them? Will you go?

Lord God, in Your Holy Name and Saving Power, we will go. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

Seek God, Not Gifts

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?” -Luke 9:25

“Worldly people bless themselves in the
abundance of this world’s goods; but
God’s servants bless themselves in Him.”
In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus promised to
provide all of our necessities of life.

We use our faith to believe and to be content
with what we have. We must learn to practice “Need over Greed.” Preparing for eternal life does not include success, prosperity, or pursuing the acquisition of material things.

Our Character Matters to God: Romans 12; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:32; and, 1 Peter 1:16. To be sons and daughters of God, we seek His will, obey, and fulfill our Heavenly Father’s desires and plans.

Put God first! Spiritual growth and
transformation is accomplished by the Holy
Spirit. The human effort of daily consecration
through prayer invites Christ to bless us with
wisdom, discernment, and His strength to live as Victorious Overcomers!

Lord, God, thank you for giving us our daily
provisions.In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we
pray, Amen

Obedience Is the Sacrificial Life

” ‘And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.’ As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.” -John 8:29

Jesus Prays for Himself: “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4).

We have Jesus’ Righteous example of the humility and faithful obedience required to honor and revere God, the Father. Our love and loyalty to Christ must supersede loving ourselves, and the world’s prosperity and pleasures.

Daily consecration through prayer, fasting, and diligent study of the Bible keeps us close to God, inviting the Holy Spirit to perform the daily transforming work of Sanctification.

Lord God, we thank You for living a life of faithful obedience that we could be redeemed from the consequences of sin. We ask for the anointing, power, presence, and spiritual wisdom from the Holy Spirit to live a sacrificial life of surrender and faithful obedience. Thank You, Jesus for leading, protecting, and correcting us in our daily walk with You. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray, Amen.

Look to Jesus, He Is Our Good Shepherd

“Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:7, 14-15, NIV)

“Of all creatures the sheep is one of the most timid and helpless…still, the shepherd’s care for his flock is untiring and incessant.” The defenseless sheep know they must always depend on their shepherd to keep them safe.

“In ancient times there was minimal safety outside of walled towns. Marauders from the roving border tribes, or beasts of prey from their hiding places in the rocks, lay in wait to plunder the flocks. The shepherd watched… knowing that it was at the peril of his own life.” He was always prepared to fight and protect his sheep.

Spiritually, Jesus compares us to sheep who are helpless against Satan, the enemy. Without the Divine power and strength of Christ, our Shepherd, we cannot live righteously, or overcome the covert, and highly effective deceptions of the enemy.

“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.” -Isaiah 53:6, NLT

Sadly, we think that attending weekly church service is the way to receive eternal life. Many believers refuse to live a surrendered, faithful, obedient, and consecrated life to God. But our self-reliance comes with a high price, we lose the safety of being led by our Shepherd which easily persuades us to embrace the enticements and deceptions of this world.

“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” -Matthew 16:26

The decisions we make without spiritual guidance will always bring consequences to our lives. Maybe all is well right now but the mindset of self-reliance is one of disobedience which ultimately separates us from God. We believe that we can lead ourselves, so there is no need to pray for guidance.

“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” -Proverbs 16:12

From using our thoughts and inclinations to fulfill our desires, we exchange the hope of receiving the promise of eternal life for nothing but earthly treasures that will soon be destroyed when Jesus comes again.

The Christian Community has embraced many pagan practices in the attempt to gain Jesus’ gift of peace. Burning sage, Eastern meditation, yoga, the worship of Hindu deities, online gambling, CBD, secular music, pornography, living together without marriage, and friendships with unbelievers instead of living a sacrificial life dedicated to God.

We easily pursue our desires that are satisfied from hours of screen time, scrolling on social media, and seeking prosperity, pleasure, and political alliances. Without Divine power, we lose the internal battle against our heart’s desires, so we feel no need to be led by Christ.

“It is the gospel of the grace of God alone that can uplift the soul. The contemplation of the love of God manifested in His Son will stir the heart and arouse the powers of the soul as nothing else can.”

“Christ came that He might re-create the image of God in man; and whoever turns men away from Christ is turning them away from the source of true development.”

The decision to follow Jesus, our Good Shepherd is a tough spiritual journey that requires us to let go of our desires and pursuits. Yes, our faith is tested everyday by temptations, and fiery trials but we are not left defenseless.

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” -Hebrews 4:16

Prayer invites the Holy Spirit to intervene. To be under the loving care of Jesus is to live a life overflowing with hope, joy, and peace. We can live with the spirit of contentment when we choose Jesus, our Good Shepherd.

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ ” -Hebrews 13:5, NIV

Use your faith to live courageously! Even in adversity, we know that Jesus will give us the victory! From dedicating ourselves to the Shepherd, He will lead us safely through our earthly journey.

As obedient sheep who always follow their Shepherd, we have the hope of receiving the reward of eternal life in a perfect and loving New Heaven and New Earth. Yes and Amen!

“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, [b]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).

Lord God, we thank you for being our Good Shepherd. Our desire is to return to Your loving arms. We ask forgiveness for leaving your safety by pursuing meaningless earthly practices and treasures. We pray for strength, wisdom, and an increase in faith, and ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

Maintaining Our Connection to the Source of Life

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes…” —Proverbs 3:5-7

We can agree that successful personal relationships require love, forgiveness, quality time, creating goals, and working together to achieve them. For a relationship to thrive, the individuals must align their morals and values, agree to become interdependent, and communicate using loving, compassionate, and respectful responses, which are the primary building blocks for bonding with each other.

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

The Scriptures teach us that we were created to depend on God. Every day, our Heavenly Father desires that we approach Him in prayer to seek His will and plans for the day. How do we describe our relationship with Christ? Strong and thriving, or weak and wavering? Many believers do not have a personal relationship with Christ because of the character trait of self-reliance.

“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew sitting in the tax collector’s office; and He said to him, ‘Follow Me!’ And he got up and followed Him.” —Matthew 9:9, NASB

“Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him, and Matthew immediately leaves everything and follows.” Although our Christian experience differs, accepting Jesus as our Savior is comparable to sheep following their Shepherd. Dependency on God requires us to redirect our faith from ourselves to God and to relinquish our desires in exchange for His Divine plans for our lives.

“…blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28). One of Satan’s most effective deceptions in the Christian Community is for us to believe the Holy Scriptures [God’s Spoken Word] are optional suggestions. Jesus refutes this false doctrine of having the privilege to decide whether or not to obey and practice God’s Righteous Commands.

Consider this: Every employer has policies and procedures that comply with State, Federal, or National Labor laws. Upon hire, the legal contractual agreement between an employer and an employee is presented and accepted based on a written agreement between both to adhere to the existing policies.

“Corporate Compliance and Human Resources departments ensure their organizations adhere to all applicable laws, regulations, internal policies, and ethical standards.” All employer/employee infractions are immediately dealt with and resolved with disciplinary measures, and may escalate to legal action.

The Bible, spoken to righteous men by God, is our Spiritual Guide and Blueprint, teaching us how to live holy and acceptable lives pleasing to God. Without studying the Scriptures, we are relying on our thoughts, which will never coincide with God’s command to “…Be holy, for I Am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

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

Something is not right when we can pledge faithfulness to obey employers who can only offer us salaried compensation, but we practice disregard for God’s Righteous Precepts. The acceptance and daily practice of the worldviews of self-governance have caused many believers to reject seeking God’s guidance, resulting in a life of disobedience.

Before Jesus took on humanity, His mind was one with God the Father, perfectly synchronized to His Father’s thoughts and desires. Although it is a mystery, Jesus always knew exactly what His Father was thinking. In Jesus’ earthly life, He did not have the privilege of knowing God’s thoughts and plans as He did in the Heavenly Courts.

Born as a human, Jesus had many limitations. Without prayer, He could not know God’s will. Jesus spent countless hours praying, which empowered Him to live a sinless life. He knew the importance of communing with God in personal worship. With humility and surrender, our Savior always asked for His Father’s will to be revealed. If Jesus required spiritual guidance, may God have mercy on us, we desperately need God’s Divine Help!

Jesus, Our Role Model: “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him” (John 8:29).

In John 17, Jesus prayed, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” (verse 4). To love God is to live a sacrificial life of surrender and faithful obedience. King David reminds us, “Your Word is a Lamp to my feet, and a Light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV)

The Plan to Reconnect to Christ: What steps can we take to align ourselves with God’s will and plans?

Every morning, we consecrate ourselves as followers of Christ through personal worship. We pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit before making all decisions. Invite God in every aspect of your life, and you will learn to hear His voice. The Holy Spirit speaks to us through our conscience, and the Scriptures [Study Romans 12, Galatians 5:22-23, and Ephesians 6].
Do not believe everything you think! Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal and teach you what God requires to live a Christ-centered, Faith-based life. Learn to whisper prayers for Divine strength throughout your waking hours.
Humility Cures Worldliness: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). When we commit to following and obeying Christ, we face the spiritual warfare of temptations on a greater level. Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. Remain prayerful, and study the Scriptures every day.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind [self-control]. (2 Timothy 1:7). We were given spiritual gifts meant to be used with prayer. We need Jesus’ Divine strength to renounce sinful temptations that Satan creates based on our personal desires. Still, we cannot be coerced into sin against God. It is a free will choice to say yes to temptation.

Will we accept God’s mandate for the righteous? “LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps” ( Jeremiah 10:23, NIV). If yes, we will receive the spiritual power from the Holy Spirit to live as victorious overcomers.

Trusting in God is the willingness to let go of one’s thoughts, inclinations, and desires. We use our faith to honor and reverence God because He is the Sovereign Ruler of the universe. When we accept our spiritual adoption as sons and daughters of God, we begin to think differently, and our choices reflect holiness.

Last week, I consecrated myself to a life of surrender and faithful obedience. Honestly, it is the toughest journey I have ever encountered. Our battle against Satan is one of External Opposition. We have the power to resist temptations with Divine strength. Thankfully, Christ sets limits on Satan; if it were Satan’s choice, he would aggressively pursue and intimidate believers, leaving us worn out and hopeless.

Still, our greatest battle is the battle of the mind! We inherited carnal hearts that are driven to pursue prosperity and pleasure. The Internal Conflict of renouncing our heart’s desires is one in which we must have Divine help. Not all temptations are easily discerned, especially after an 8 -12 hour, busy day.

After work, we are tired and just want to relax, so one of our favorite podcasts or programs just happens to be on, so we choose screen time instead of worship. If exhausted, pray for strength and spiritual clarity, listen to the audio Bible of one of the Psalms, and pray again before falling asleep.

Prayer is Power! When we pray continuously for Divine strength and guidance, the Holy Spirit transforms our minds, characters, and personalities daily into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character. Sanctification is the lifelong process of spiritual growth and transformation performed by the Holy Spirit when we strive to live faithful and obedient lives.

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame, success], but forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” —Matthew 16:26, Amplified Bible

Faithful obedience is our highest worship. As time draws closer to Christ’s Second Coming, we must decide whether we will surrender and faithfully obey God or continue to operate with a mindset of self-governance. Nothing on this present Earth is worth giving up our reward of the Crown of Life. Yes and Amen!

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” —Isaiah 41:10

Lord God, we ask forgiveness for living according to our thoughts and plans. We seek Your guidance because we love you, and desire to live a faithful and obedient life that we may receive our reward of eternal life, and meet our Triumphant King who willingly gave His life for us. We pray for the strength to live as faithful overcomers awaiting Your soon return. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, Amen.