Bible – Page 2 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

God Is Always Good!

“The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him.” (Nahum 1:7).

This morning, I read a Devotional on how easy it is for us to react negatively to the darkness of trials and hardships. But the author reminded us that God is Always Good, and the dark times are allowed for our spiritual transformation and redirecting us to depend on our Heavenly Father.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, NIV). From a perfect love that we cannot understand, God gave His only Son, Jesus, who sacrificed His life on Calvary’s Cross to redeem us from sin and to save our souls.

Yes, God’s priority is to give us Eternal Life, but we choose our destiny. Receiving immortality in our Forever Home requires us to actively participate with the Holy Spirit in our spiritual journey by obediently following Christ, our King, Savior, and Shepherd.

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). We abide in Christ through daily personal worship. With a spirit of surrender, we commit to faithfully obey our Shepherd. Our Daily Prayer: Lord, what do You want me to do?

Although we desire our heavenly reward, there is an obstacle that each of us must overcome: We have become too attached to this earthly home. Our lifestyles reveal that we are making future plans that have nothing to do with living righteously now and in our Forever Home.

Scenario: You purchased a house, and the closing date is 30 days away, but today the company announced immediate layoffs, and your supervisor informed you that you would also be impacted.

Feeling disappointed, you reach out to the seller to explain your situation. To your surprise, they respond by stating that they will not accept other offers. Instead, they give you a timeline of 3 to 4 months to find another job because they genuinely want you to purchase the house.

Your prayers of gratitude would include joy, happiness, and excitement, you know that God has given you a miraculous blessing.

Jesus’ Promise: “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).

Jesus’ promise of life in the New Heaven and New Earth that He gave to His disciples is for all believers. From Adam and Eve to every faithful believer who has lived on the planet Earth will receive their reward of immortality when Jesus comes again [Revelation 22:12].

In Revelation, the Apostle John describes the righteous as a number like the grains of sand. Every day, with joyful anticipation, we should reflect on Jesus’ love, preparing ourselves spiritually for Heaven through daily prayer and Bible study.

Jesus’ Warning: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16, NIV).

According to 2 Timothy 3, we are the generation of Christians who are living in the Last Days on this present earth. We cannot afford to waste our gift of time. Our lifetime is the only opportunity we have for the Holy Spirit to transform our minds, characters, and personalities.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19, 21).

Success and prosperity have the power to change us from the outside in, which opposes the spiritual process of Sanctification. We cannot experience spiritual growth if the majority of our time and efforts are spent fulfilling our hearts’ desires and pursuing personal and professional success.

To clear out excess inventory, many stores offer reduced prices for “As Is” items. We purchase these items because we have the vision and skills to modify them. When we come to Jesus, He accepts us “As Is: “I can come to Jesus, just as I am, but I cannot stay just as I am.” We must be changed into the likeness of Christ by the Holy Spirit in our earthly lives.

Perform a spiritual self-assessment. Do your behaviors, habits, and lifestyle demonstrate a God First or a Me First mindset? If we desire to live an obedient life, surrendering to God’s plans, then we have given access to the Holy Spirit to convert our hearts. Faithful obedience reveals that our hearts are filled with love and loyalty to Christ.

God Is Always Good: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8, ESV). God honors and rewards those who obey Him.

God Is Always Faithful: Jesus knows that our spiritual transformation requires His Divine Help and Strength, so He allows the “Chisels of Trials and Hardships” to enter our lives.

God’s Rescue Plan: “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident…be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, Amplified Bible).

“We must overcome through His Strength and Grace, that we may be partakers of [His] Divine Nature…Our pride, selfishness…passions, and love of worldly pleasure must all be overcome; therefore God sends us afflictions [adversity] to test and prove us, and show us that these evils exist in our characters.”

“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). The Fruit of the Spirit describes the attributes of Jesus’ Righteous Character that we must also have.

“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 12:2, NIV).

One thing is for certain: Self-discipline and self-denial are within our power to exercise under all circumstances. But overcoming our internal desires requires the willingness to live a sacrificial life of saying no to the world’s treasures and pleasures. Sadly, this is the turning point for many believers who decide to detour from the Path of Righteousness.

Loving God motivates us to agree to become Spiritual Works-in-Progress. Every day, the Holy Spirit gradually performs the work of our spiritual transformation from the inside out [heart conversion]. Through daily personal worship, we ask God to reveal His plans, and we obey, without doubting His Divine Wisdom.

“This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21). God reveals His promise to provide guidance and direction for His people.” Faithful obedience invites the Holy Spirit to teach us how to live righteously. We are never alone. The Holy Spirit guides us day by day in our rugged journey on the Path of Righteousness.

The Life of Self-denial: “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.” (Romans 12:2, NIV).

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).

Yes, the Christian journey is tough! Although human effort is required, we cannot save ourselves. Every day we pray, asking the Holy Spirit to empower us with Jesus’ Divine Strength to overcome the internal conflict of our heart’s desires, and the external opposition of temptations.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2-3, NIV).

God Is Always Good! We have 24/7 access to Christ, who gives us His strength to persevere through our trials and hardships. Pray for guidance, wisdom, and strength throughout your day. Jesus lived on this earth, and He knows that daily self-denial is a tough journey.

God’s Divine Intervention: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV).

Human Effort: “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7, NLT).

Live With the Mindset: “I will not disobey God!” Our enemy, Satan, the roaring lion, knows our weaknesses, developing personalized temptations that are temporary and worthless. Still, we can never be coerced into sinning against God; we choose to sin.

When tempted, immediately pray with audible words that you can hear, asking Jesus, our Mighty Warrior, for His Help. Every prayer asking for Jesus’ Strength to overcome temptations and challenges is immediately answered by Jesus, our High Priest.

God is Always Good! Before we can blink our eyes, Psalm 91 tells us Michael [Jesus], the Commander of Angel Armies, sends His angels to strengthen us and to fight the unseen spiritual warfare of Satan’s evil angels. Hallelujah and Amen!

The days we live in are filled with evil. Become a prayer warrior! Prayer keeps us connected to Jesus, who receives every prayer. The Holy Spirit empowers us with Divine wisdom and supernatural strength to live righteously.

God is Always Good! The Triune God [God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit] is doing all that is possible to ensure that every believer receives their Crown of Life. The decision to choose life is up to us.

Human Effort plus Divine Intervention Always Ends in Victory!

Lord God, we thank you for your Amazing Love, Grace, and Mercies. We desire to change and ask You to reveal the traits in our characters that prevent us from living a sacrificial, faithful, and obedient life. We ask for forgiveness for wasting our gift of time, chasing after worthless desires. Lord God, thank You for Your love, faithfulness, and for always being Good. Teach us how to worship you in Spirit and Truth, and guide us in our journey so we can receive our reward of Eternal Life. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.

Surrender is Freedom!

Can you imagine a life without the chains of uncertainty, anxiety, worry, and fear of the future?

Every believer has the opportunity to live a life overflowing with Jesus’ gifts of peace, joy, and happiness. Brothers and sisters, I am finally living that life!

The Commitment to Live a Sacrificial Life Dedicated to Follow Christ Is Required to Receive Spiritual Freedom

“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. 2 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).

“Yes we are stained by sin, but the Supreme King of the universe says to come before His throne to receive help in our time of need. We are always in need of Jesus’ Divine Help.”

Through daily personal worship, we learn God’s plan for the new day. We pray the Prayer of Surrender: “God, what do you want me to do today?” Pray, Wait, and Obey.

When we commit to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through our thoughts and the Holy Scriptures, leading and keeping us on the Path of Righteousness.

The willingness to surrender our self-reliance and totally depend on our Shepherd with faithful obedience is rewarded with Jesus’ Righteous Blessings.

Despite the uncertainties of life, the faithful have no worries. But most importantly, we do not have to wonder if we are going to receive our reward of Eternal Life.

The Fruit of the Spirit describes the attributes of Christ’s Righteous Character: His followers must also have the Fruit of the Spirit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:22-24).

Faithful obedience keeps us connected to Christ. In Philippians 1:6, Jesus promises to complete the work of spiritual growth and the transformation of our character, if we follow Him.

“Pray continuously!” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Jesus Christ, our Savior, Shepherd, and Triumphant King invites us to come boldly before God’s Throne of Grace with our failures, weaknesses, sorrows, and cares.

Pray more! Perfect peace comes from letting go of our thoughts and inclinations to resolve life’s challenges. We were created us to have a dependent relationship with Christ.

“I will never leave you or forsake you.” Jesus desires us to know that we are never alone. Created in the image of God, all of Heaven is dedicated to helping us in this journey of life.

Yeshua, the Commander of Angel Armies Promise: “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways…” (Psalm 91:11, NIV).

Christ always protects the righteous! We have guardian angels who fight the unseen spiritual warfare of Satan’s evil angels. Whisper prayers throughout your day to express gratitude for Jesus’ Abundant Love, Faithfulness, and Protection.

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding…” (Proverbs 2:6). God desires for us to have the spiritual wisdom necessary to perceive life through spiritual eyes.

Every day, ask for the free gift of wisdom. The Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom to discern truth from error, to understand the deepest meaning of the Holy Scriptures, and to understand the complexities of life.

Divine wisdom prevents us from becoming victims of scams, and being manipulated by Satan in matters of everyday life.

Divine wisdom and strength are required to recognize and overcome the internal conflict of following our hearts desires, and the external opposition of temptations.

Thank you Jesus for your Love! Yes, we have access to our Shepherd’s Divine Help 24/7. Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we come before Your Throne of Grace, yes, we are stained with sin, and have weaknesses, sorrows, cares, and failures. Still we accept Your invitation to help us, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We ask for the forgiveness of our sins. Guide us and empower us with the strength to live as victorious overcomers. Lord, we acknowledge that You are the Supreme King of the universe, and the Sustainer of our lives. With faith and joyful expectancy, we believe that You have answered this prayer that we ask in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Beauty of Solitude: Time Alone In God’s Presence

On my first day of orientation as a Nursing Supervisor, I recall an unusual job training method conducted by Allison, the Regional Director, who informed me that for the next three days, I would spend time alone studying and learning the organization’s policies and nursing protocols.

When I entered the conference room, half of the table was covered with 4-inch binders bursting at the seams. From Monday to Wednesday, I studied for eight hours each day, absorbing all of the information my frontal lobe could manage.

On Thursday, Allison entered the conference room and stated, “I know that you do not understand why I instructed you to spend alone learning these policies and procedures, but in time, you will.”

Much to my surprise, I learned that although healthcare professionals must abide by the state’s licensure regulations for delivering care, regardless of their professional status, personal morals and values significantly impact a person’s judgment, critical thinking, and decision-making abilities.

It was disappointing to address the numerous policy violations during my tenure, which required staff remediation and additional training due to their knowledge deficits. The plan of correction included changes in the initial orientation and continuous education for the staff.

As I reflected on this past experience, I thought about Allison’s productive and effective training strategy of learning in solitude. From not spending time alone with God in personal worship, many believers have a knowledge deficit of God’s Righteous Character and how to live righteously because of the failure to study the Holy Scriptures.

Reflection: How are we managing our God-given gift of Time? “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, ESV).

Each new day, we stand at the Spiritual Crossroads: We must choose, will we put God first, or ourselves? Do we have a God-First mindset? Our initial morning thoughts reveal who our priority is: God or ourselves. If our default is reflecting on the busy day ahead, then sadly, we are number one.

Loving God requires the sacrificial gift of using our time to worship Him every day. We should not try to squeeze God into a busy schedule, but from the moment we awaken, our gratitude for another day of life is expressed by asking God to reveal His plans for the new day. Because God is God, He deserves the First Fruits of our gift of time in morning worship.

Evening worship is our opportunity to reflect on and to thank our Heavenly Father for the many blessings of provisions and protection from unseen spiritual warfare, physical harm, and the strength to complete our daily activities.

Which activities are covertly consuming our time? Are we spending more time at the gym than in worship? Or working countless hours of overtime in the pursuit of success and financial stability? Is Social Media, or watching the World News and Politics, our way of relaxing instead of praying? If we have a family, are the children’s schedules packed with numerous extracurricular activities that prevent daily family worship?

How do we put God first when we face countless distractions, crammed schedules, and overwhelming responsibilities? Managing our time not only requires the Big Chop, but we must also ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, so that nothing comes before our God-First commitment and our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Over 6,000 years ago, Jesus revealed The Perfect Time Management Plan: “He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while’—for there were many [people who were continually] coming and going, and they could not even find time to eat.” (Mark 16:31, Amplified Bible).

“Following Christ’s Example: Jesus often withdrew for solitary prayer, demonstrating that even He needed this time for wisdom and strength, [from God, the Father] a vital example for His followers.”

“Solitude isn’t loneliness; it’s a purposeful withdrawal for spiritual connection, allowing one to enjoy God’s presence and power, transforming moments of being alone into encounters with the Divine.”

One of Satan’s greatest deceptions that many believers have embraced is that we do not have to study the Bible. In fact, a most recent study finds that only “11-15% of Christians study the Bible daily.” But to remain committed, faithful, and obedient to God requires that we study the Holy Scriptures for ourselves.

“My people perish because of the lack of knowledge.”(Hosea 4:6). The Bible is our Spiritual Roadmap: Staying on the Narrow Path of Righteousness Requires Divine Intervention and Human Effort.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible reveals God’s Love, the attributes of His Righteous Character, Jesus’ earthly ministry, Promises, Prophecies, and teaches us how to live righteously. Before studying the Scriptures, we ask the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual wisdom, discernment, and clarity of God’s Word.

Isaiah 55:8-9: “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'”

In faith, we ask for Divine Strength, and put forth the human effort to learn God’s Righteous Character, and obey His Commands, Precepts, and Principles. It is the Holy Scriptures that teach us how to prepare ourselves daily to receive our reward of Christ’s promise to take the righteous to Heaven when He comes again [Revelation 21-22].

“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).

In the quiet stillness of solitude, through prayer and studying the Holy Scriptures, Jesus gives us the Living Water and the Bread of Life necessary for our Spiritual Nourishment, and the Holy Spirit instructs us to do our part [obeying God], guiding us moment by moment as we strive to stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.

From dedicating time to be in the presence of God, we are changed into the likeness of Christ’s Beautiful Character, and as the Apostle Paul did, in the strength of Christ, we can also proclaim:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Lord God, we commit our time that You have gifted us with to worship You in Spirit and Truth. We thank You for Your faithfulness even when we are not, and for our unfaithfulness, we ask for forgiveness. We look forward to the day when Jesus will come again and take us to Heaven. Until then, we ask You to empower us with Your strength to persevere through this journey of life. In Jesus’ Loving and Powerful Name, we pray, Amen.

The Life and Character of Christ

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword [of division between belief and unbelief].” (Matthew 10:34, Amplified Bible).

Today, while studying my Bible lesson, the author asked, “How well do you know the Life and Character of Christ?”

God, the Father, Required Faithful Obedience from Christ

“So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The One who sent Me is with Me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.” (John 8:28-29).

Jesus’ life demonstrates that He always prayed for guidance and always obeyed God, the Father. Unless we have studied Genesis and the Four Gospels [Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John], then we do not have the foundational knowledge necessary to intimately know who Christ is.

But memorizing the Life and Character of Christ only gives us theoretical knowledge; without loving Him, our hearts will remain empty.

“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9, NIV).

Without a response, Matthew left a position of status with the Roman government, which provided great wealth, to follow Christ. From hearing others speak of Jesus’ Love and His Ministry of Healing, Matthew had already decided to follow Jesus if He extended the invitation.

Reflecting on why we accepted Christ as our personal Savior only has one answer: God is Love: “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). “Our capacity to love is a response to the love God has already shown us.”

Christ’s Love differs greatly from human love. For us to love is a lengthy process of learning who the person is. Yes, their morals, values, temperament, and goals reveal critical aspects of their character, but many have been disappointed when they learn the person is incapable of reciprocating love.

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7). Christ created us with the spiritual gift of love, which connects our hearts to His Righteous Heart.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3, Amplified Bible).

Spiritual Love is far greater and deeper than human love. Without the Holy Spirit giving us spiritual wisdom, we cannot comprehend God’s Agape Love. Yet, without making Christ’s Love personal, we will never fully understand the height and depth of His Love, nor can we appreciate His Sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross.

Separating ourselves from family members and distractions is vital to appreciating and personalizing Jesus’ Sacrificial Offering. From studying the Book of John, Chapters 17-21, we realize that Christ’s Overwhelming Love for us gave Him the courage to fulfill the Plan of Redemption. What more can Jesus do for us?

To Be a Christian Is to Be Like Christ: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, NIV).

To abide in Christ requires us to pray continuously and study the Bible daily. Foundational knowledge of our Creator, Jesus, God, the Son, begins with the study of the Creation Story in Genesis Chapters 1-3, and His earthly life in the Four Gospels [Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John].

Christ was a Prayer Warrior: “But He would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” (Luke 5:16). From studying the Life of Christ, we learn that Jesus often chose hours of solitude to spend time in worship with God, the Father.

To follow Christ, we must have a heart-to-heart relationship with Him, which requires that we know His Righteous Character.

How do we know if we are true followers of Christ? “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:24).

“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23, NIV). “Not my will God, but Your will be done in my life.” A daily prayer of surrender reveals our desire to obey God and to involve Him in every aspect of our lives.

“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; Fear [Revere] the Lord and depart from evil.” (Proverbs 3:5-7).

Satan has deceived us into believing this Command is optional. As Christ lived, we must also live. Loving God requires letting go of our plans and obeying and fulfilling His plans for our lives.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8, ESV)

The Life of Christ is our example of how to spend time in the Presence of God: Through worship, we learn God’s Perfect Plans for the given day. Daily morning and evening personal worship is when we receive spiritual nourishment, wisdom, and strength from the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live as overcomers.

Praying and studying the Scriptures gives us a deeper understanding of what it means to live righteously. Day by day, the Holy Spirit changes us from the inside out, transforming our hearts and characters—Sanctification, the lifetime spiritual process of growth and transformation.

Christ is our Spiritual Role Model

From studying the Life and Character of Christ, when facing temptations, we choose to pray for strength and use our gift of self-control to say No to sin.

“Knowing the beauty of Christ’s Character is foundational to knowing what our daily walk with Christ should be.”

“This is why time in the Word, every day, is so important. This is why, we should also spend time dwelling on the Life, Character and Teachings of Jesus. By beholding, yes, we do become changed.”

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21).

Bible Study: The Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

Lord God, we surrender ourselves to You. We thank You for Your love and the sacrificial gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who gave His life to save our souls. We love You, and because of our love, we have decided to follow Jesus with faithful obedience. Lord, we cannot do this in our own strength, so we ask for the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit on our lives. We look forward to the day that we will see Jesus, our Triumphant King, and receive our gift of the Crown of Eternal Life. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we ask this prayer, Amen.

Sabbath Peace and Blessings

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, KJV).

There are many who embrace and follow human wisdom, but in love, God warns us against following our thoughts. All will be judged against His Righteous Standard, The Holy Bible.

The righteous always seek God through prayer and study of the Holy Scriptures, and respond with obedience. Peace comes from staying aligned with God’s will and plans.

God honors those who worship Him with love, loyalty, and faithful obedience. The Holy Spirit rewards us with the daily blessings of spiritual wisdom, discernment, strength, and Divine guidance.

And on the day of Jesus’ Second Coming, we can joyfully expect to receive our reward of the Crown of Life. Amen.

Lord God, we ask for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our lives. As we seek knowledge from your Words of Life, we ask for the wisdom to understand the depth of Your Love. Teach us how to worship You in spirit and truth. We honor You on Your Holy Sabbath, and ask for the blessings of Spiritual renewal, restoration, strength, peace, and joy. With faith, we ask this prayer in the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.

Gratitude is a Lifestyle – Developing A Grateful Heart

David’s Prayer of Praise and Gratitude: “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits—3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5, NIV).

God is the Source and Sustainer of Life, and the Giver of All Good Gifts: Yes, we love blessings! Yet when we think of God’s blessings, it usually produces thoughts of receiving money and tangible possessions.

But King David reminds us that the Spiritual blessings of God’s Love, Redemption, Forgiveness, Grace, Mercies, Patience, and Divine Strength are crucial to our spiritual walk with Christ because they empower us to live righteously.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16). We value our daily gift of another day because the Scriptures remind us, “…For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”(James 4:14).

“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, NIV).

Every modality that is purchased with money, promising peace, is a counterfeit. Satan can mimic many things, but he will never be able to reproduce Jesus’ gift of Divine Peace.

To every believer, Jesus’ gift of peace is freely given, but only a few Christians actually experience the joy and happiness that come from having continuous spiritual peace.

“My people perish for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6).

A key obstacle to receiving Jesus’ peace is our failure to study the Bible, leaving us unaware of God’s expectations. The only alternative is to follow our thoughts and inclinations, which prevents the Holy Spirit from guiding us in our earthly journey.

No Peace From Traveling on the Highway of Self-Governance: Let’s face it, we live in an environment where the prevailing worldview is to rely on one’s thoughts and emotions.

Although the pursuit of happiness is the goal, traveling the world’s Expressway requires a lifestyle of self-reliance, which keeps the mind in overdrive. Relying on our thoughts to navigate this tumultuous journey comes at a high price; we have no time to commune with God in personal worship.

Without relying on Divine wisdom and discernment, the brain is overwhelmed by constant overthinking every day. Self-reliance demands payment that leads to spiritual and emotional bankruptcy. Self-gratification requires the continuous development of strategies that must be reevaluated and quickly restructured when failure occurs.

Enough is never enough! King Solomon tells us the human heart can never be satisfied: “Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.” (Ecclesiastes 1:8, NLT).

The decision to exclude God produces a state of “Emotional Exhaustion Leading to Spiritual Confusion that Separates Us From God.” Sadly, like the prodigal son, it usually takes a crisis to return to God on bended knees before we come to our senses.

The Spiritual Steps to Restoration and Receiving Jesus’ Peace

Changing Lanes: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

God’s perspective is always spiritual. Jesus reminds us that we cannot save our souls. Staying on the Path of Righteousness has always required Divine Help. When Christ, our Shepherd, tells us that we were created without the ability to guide ourselves, we believe Him without question.

The Plan of Redemption includes the gift of Salvation, which is freely given to those who believe and accept Jesus as their Savior. But certainly it was not free for Jesus Christ, who was required to die a heinous death on Calvary’s Cross.

When we truly love God, we are grateful that through Christ, we have received the option of not paying the wages of sin. Loving God is demonstrated by seeking His will through daily personal worship, which should not be a burden.

Gratitude is Obedience: Daily personal worship [Prayer and Bible study] is a lifestyle that reveals a converted and sanctified heart willing to acquiesce to God’s Sovereign Authority.

The Standing Invitation: “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16, NLT).

Jesus is Still Interceding for the Righteous

Jesus Christ, Yeshua, our Heavenly Intercessor, receives our prayers, forgives our sins, covers us with His Righteousness, gives us our daily provisions, heals our minds and bodies, and sends angels to constantly protect us from unseen spiritual warfare and physical danger [Psalm 91].

We have a relentless enemy who desires our souls! Yes, believers, we are the target in The Great Controversy of Good and Evil! Our fight is not against flesh and blood.

Jesus’ Warning: “…He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”(John 8:44, NIV).

Satan, our greatest enemy, has deceived many to believe that we can live as we please and still inherit our Crown of Life. “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22).

Through daily Consecration, we realign ourselves with God’s Divine Purpose by choosing to exit from the Road of Self-Governance back to the Narrow Path of Righteousness.

The Sacrificial Life Is the Only Life Acceptable to God

A couple of years ago, I watched a documentary filmed in Japan on the reinvented life of a retired college professor who practiced the concept of “Need Over Greed.”

Although she developed a mindset of gratitude from the practice of “enough is enough and zero waste,” she denied any religious affiliation with her lifestyle.

Need Over Greed and Minimalism are lifestyle changes that require continuous discipline, practiced by unbelievers who never acknowledge God, which should raise a Red Flag for believers.

“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 have 24/7 access to Jesus, who promises to give us the Divine Strength to live a disciplined, righteous life. The Apostle Paul tells us that we were created with spiritual gifts, so when tempted, we pray for Jesus’ supernatural strength to overcome; still, God expects us to use self-control.

Throughout the Bible, we learn that God is Love, and He has always fulfilled His promises to “never leave us.” We have Jesus Christ, the Mighty Warrior, who promises to fight our battles, giving us hope and peace: “No weapon formed against you will prosper.”

Gratitude for God goes beyond spoken words. Every day, our gratitude is reflected through a lifestyle of surrender and faithful obedience. We love Him because He first loved us. Yes and Amen!

The Pathway to Peace is Paved With Gratitude

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Bible Study: Galatians 5; Ephesians 6

Prayer: Thank You, Most Gracious, Heavenly Father, for Your Amazing and Continuous Love. Forgive us for nurturing a spirit of self-reliance. We acknowledge that we can do nothing without You. Lead us, guide us, correct us, and protect us as we navigate through our spiritual journey. We commit to living a life that reveals our desire to give You the honor, glory, and praise that You rightfully deserve. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray this prayer of gratitude, Amen.

To Be Like Jesus: Understanding Christ’s Righteous Character

“The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, Faith meekness temperance against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

The Fruit of the Spirit describes the attributes of Christ’s Righteous Character, which God expects us to also possess. Because we inherited hearts filled with the desire to sin, we cannot change ourselves without the power of the Holy Spirit.

“…I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong.” (Romans 16:19, NLT).

“In…Romans, the apostle Paul speaks about two antagonistic forces trying to shape our lives.”

“On the one hand, the surrounding world, with its various influences, tries to force us daily into its own mold, effecting a conformation in us that works from the outside in.”

Satan’s goal is to manipulate the righteous into sinning against God by any means necessary.

Everyday, we face Satan’s customized temptations that strongly appeal to the desires of our hearts. And he uses people to provoke our emotions, so we react with the bitter fruit of words that do not represent the Righteousness of Christ.

“To counteract this impact, the Holy Spirit is able to transform us inside out in a manner similar to the way a caterpillar metamorphoses into a beautiful butterfly.”

But we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit for our character to be transformed into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character. Are we willing to honor and revere God with daily surrender and faithful obedience?

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ” (Matthew 22:37).

Love is the catalyst that motivates us to live as Christ did, always seeking the will of God, His Father.

Without loving God more than ourselves, we will never see our need to acquiesce to His Sovereign Authority by living a life of self-denial and obedience.

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:24).

Human Effort: Our lifestyle must be one of daily worship, faithful obedience, and self-control. We choose to let go of worldly affections, pursuits, habits, and behaviors because we love God, and desire to follow Jesus.

“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).

We were never created to navigate through the Christian Journey using only human effort. Throughout the Bible, Jesus promises to help us to overcome every hardship and temptation:

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV).

From striving to live righteously, we can depend on Christ to send the Spiritual Reinforcements of Divine Strength, the Wisdom to discern covert deception, and the Power to strengthen our faith.

God expects us to live courageously and with a mindset of total dependency on God. It is with holy boldness that we consistently pray in faith, “Lord, I need Your help to overcome my self-reliancee.”

“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)

In His earthly life, Christ continually separated Himself from others to pray and ask God, the Father for strength and guidance.

Whether we are at work, driving, or relaxing, we can pray silently, or audibly at any time of the day or night. Staying connected to Christ allows us to perceive life through spiritual eyes, and to receive the strength to obey God.

With humility, we acknowledge that we cannot fight Satan without Divine help. We must live as Prayer Warriors!

“No weapon formed against me will prosper…” (Isaiah 54:17).

Forming the habit of much prayer invites Christ, our Mighty Warrior to send angels to fight Satan’s unseen spiritual warfare, and to protect us from physical harm.

Unlike unbelievers who are constantly deceived, the believer who consistently prays will never fall victim to scams of covert deception.

Prayer allows us to stay connected to Jesus’ Divine Power. Prayer invites the Holy Spirit to keep us on the Path of Righteousness. Only Divinity can empower us to live as victorious overcomers!

A life of surrender and self-denial is the only way for us to be empowered by the Holy Spirit who keeps us on the Path of Righteousness.

God requires us to put Him first. Love for God produces loyalty and the desire to obey Him instead of pursuing our desires.

It is an issue of the heart when we find it difficult to obey God. Self-Reliance is the result of us redirecting our love and faith from God to ourselves.

To overcome self-reliance, from the moment we awaken, we make a covenant vow to put our faith and trust in God by including God in every decision and challenge.

From praying for His will to be done, we are rewarded with the spiritual wisdom and strength to live a sacrificial life dedicated to God. Pray, wait, and obey!

The willingness to surrender with faithful obedience not only keeps us in right standing with God, but we are also rewarded with the spiritual blessings of peace, joy, and happiness.

To emulate Christ, we must know who He is.
Studying the Life of Christ in the Four Gospels [Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John] is a life-changing experience: “Looking unto Jesus we obtain brighter and more distinct views of God, and by beholding we become changed.”

“Goodness, love for our fellow men, becomes our natural instinct. We develop a character which is the counterpart of the Divine Character. Growing into His likeness, we enlarge our capacity for knowing God.”

“But for that process to happen, we need to consecrate ourselves to God and ask Him to continue the good work that He has started in us (Philippians 1:6).”

“[Every day] we have to make the conscious choice, moment by moment, to walk in the Spirit.”

Powerful Message of Truth. It was my mother who told me that I would never grow spiritually, or have the desire to follow Christ until I began studying the Scriptures to learn His Loving Character.

“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). The Scriptures are God’s Spoken Words revealing His Loving Character.

From our willingness to receive Spiritual Nourishment, the Holy Spirit deepens our understanding of our Heavenly Father’s Love.

Under the guidance and teaching of the Holy Spirit, search the Scriptures daily to learn who God says He is: “I Am Who I Am.”

“In the beginning God created…” Studying the Book of Genesis gives us insight into Jesus’ history of intervening in the lives of the righteous to give them victory.

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.'” (Matthew 28:18).

From the Holy Writ, we learn that Jesus, God, the Son is Elohim Shomri, God, Our Protector who dispatches angelic protection to shield us from the evil one’s diabolical schemes.

As we come into the knowledge of the Truth, we no longer perceive God’s Commandments and Righteous Precepts as being restrictive.

Through the Holy Spirit, we receive the spiritual wisdom to understand that God’s Directives were given to shield us from evil, and to guide our steps.

We require Biblical knowledge for the Holy Spirit to speak to us when temptation threatens to detour us from the Narrow Path of Righteousness.

We strive to honor God with love and loyalty because every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God empowers us in our spiritual journey from Earth to Heaven.

Prayer and Bible Study are Faith-builders!

The Scriptures give us knowledge of Christ’s Righteousness and instruct us on how to live a sacrificial life of worship and obedience.

In the strength of Jesus Christ, while we are overcoming the trials and temptations in our earthly journey, the Holy Spirit is performing the daily transformation of our character into the likeness of our Lord and Savior’s Righteousness.

Preparing for Eternity One Day At a Time in the Strength of Our Triumphant King, Jesus Christ. Peace and Blessings!

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be Glory and Majesty, Dominion and Power, Both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25).

Embracing the Spirit of Humility

“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8, NIV).

Jesus’ “profound act of obedience and self-emptying, where He willingly gave up His Divine glory to become a human, a servant, and ultimately, to die on a cross for the sake of others” is not understood and appreciated.

Before Adam and Eve were created, God the Father and Jesus, God the Son, had a Father and Son discussion regarding Adam and Eve’s fall, due to disobedience.

John 3:16 states: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Because of God’s love for humanity, the Father gave His Divine approval for His One and Only Son to come to Earth, only live for 33 years, and experience rejection, hatred, and die a criminal’s death on Calvary’s Cross.

“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.” (1 John 3:1, NLT).

The Plan of Redemption was not an afterthought. Jesus said, “Father, I am willing to die for humanity,” even though He knew that most would still reject Him as Lord and Savior. We can’t even begin to imagine the depth of the Agape Love that was the catalyst for Jesus’ great sacrifice.

Jesus’ Gentle, Humble Spirit

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29).

“And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’ ” (Luke 9:58).

“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).

No human being can ever make the proclamation that our Savior made, “I always obey my Father.” But we can certainly strive from today forward to love God more than ourselves by embracing the Righteous Spirit of Humility, and making a Covenant to faithfully obey God.

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

Satan has deceived the Christian Community into thinking that Heaven is cheap, that we can live as we please, not study the Bible, and fail to pray for guidance before we make decisions.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2 that we must live an obedient life of self-sacrifice and renounce the practices of unbelievers to please God.

“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 easiest way for us to know if pride is ruling our hearts is to pray and ask God if our lives represent faithful obedience. If we awaken each morning with pre-planned agendas, never praying for God to reveal His plans, then we are following our own thoughts.

Excluding God from our daily decisions reveals that we have redirected our faith from God to ourselves, for which there is no reward of Eternal Life.

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…” (Colossians 3:12, ESV).

Reflection: Are we willing to invite Jesus to change our naturally selfish hearts to hearts overflowing with surrender and humility?

Jesus’ Promise to those who use their faith to embrace a spirit of humility: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26).

A heart of stone symbolizes stubbornness, resistance, and insensitivity to God’s will and commands. The people of Israel had become hard-hearted due to their idolatry and disobedience.
A heart of flesh contrasts with this, representing a tender, responsive, and obedient heart that is sensitive to God’s guidance.

“For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; he adorns the humble with salvation.” (Psalm 149:4).

Lord God, we ask that You forgive us for our spirit of pride, which leads to a lifestyle of self-reliance. We confess that we often fail to think of praying and asking for Your Divine guidance before we begin our daily agendas. Lord, we ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and anoint us with Your Holy Spirit. Today, we make the commitment to serve you with love, humility, and faithful obedience. Jesus, we thank You for loving us with an everlasting love that prompted You to give Your all for us, and ask this prayer in Your Righteous and Loving Name, Amen.

A Testimony Revealing the Transforming Power of Jesus Christ

“Behold, I am the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me. (Jeremiah 32:27).

Brothers and sisters when we surrender ourselves to follow Jesus Christ, His power is unlimited! Preparing for eternal life one day at a time. Peace and Blessings.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRLcNvOjrIE/?igsh=MXQ3NnBsaDlrYjBvOA==

Trust God With Your Life

Redirecting our faith and focus from our challenges to God’s Sovereign and Unlimited Power proves that we believe God is who He says He is, “I Am that I Am!”

Elisha Prays, “Lord, Open His Eyes”

“Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, ‘I will set up my camp in such and such a place.'”

9 “The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: ‘Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.’ 10 So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.”

11 “This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, ‘Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?'”

12 “‘None of us, my lord the king,’ said one of his officers, ‘but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.'”

13 “Go, find out where he is,’ the king ordered, ‘so I can send men and capture him.’ The report came back: ‘He is in Dothan.’ 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.”

15 “When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?’ the servant asked.”

16 “‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.'”

17 “And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

18 “As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, ‘Strike this army with blindness.’ So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.” (2 Kings 6:8-18, NIV).

This morning at 3 am, God awakened me to speak to my heart, and reminded me, that He is the God of all flesh, and nothing is too hard for Him.

God’s primary method of speaking to us is through the Holy Scriptures. Sadly, we have become too comfortable with only attending church once a week, and hearing second hand knowledge of who God is from others who dedicate their time and effort to studying God’s Holy Word.

Elisha was a great prophet, and in Biblical times, servants lived with their masters. Servitude was not like the atrocious enslavement that the Israelites suffered in Egypt.

Although Elisha’s servant had witnessed God perform countless miracles through His faithful and dedicated prophet, Elisha’s servant remained faithless.

How is it possible for someone to witness the power of God and still not believe?

“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).

To believe in God requires that our hearts are converted and we place 100% of our faith in God.

When challenges arise, instead of us thinking, What am I going to do? We immediately fall to our knees and pray for Divine Help, and in the same prayer, thank God for giving us the victory.

Why? Because we believe that God loves us, and we have a Heavenly Father Who is Sovereign and Omnipotent.

To have the faith and courage that God requires us to completely trust Him with our life. We relinquish self-reliance through daily surrender.

Whether we are facing dilemmas, or the routine duties of life, when we include God, we reveal that our love, loyalty, and trust is completely in Him.

“The joy of the Lord is my strength.” (Nehemiah 6:8).

It is wonderful to awaken with a mind filled with peace, joy, and happiness. Involving God in every aspect of our lives is a faith-building activity that removes all doubts, fears, anxieties, and worries.

From our willingness to trust and obey God, Christ promises to shower us with His greatest spiritual blessings of steadfast faith, courage, wisdom, discernment, endurance, and perseverance, which is required to run the Christian race and win.

Steadfast faith in God redirects our focus to God’s power instead of the circumstances. We can only live as Victorious Overcomers, if we stop trusting in our limited abilities.

How important is faith in God? Faith in God is the foundation of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Faith, or the lack of faith also determines our destiny.

Reflection: If we did not honor and revere God with steadfast faith in our earthly lives, can we expect to spend eternity with God?

If we did not trust God on Earth, it would also be impossible to trust Him in Heaven.

The character that we develop on Earth must reveal steadfast Faith and the attributes of the Character of Christ, written in Galatians 5:22-23 to receive Eternal Life.

Yes, we were given a mustard seed size faith, but God expects our faith to strengthen and experience growth based on our belief in His Sovereign Power, which requires knowledge of His Divine Character.

Our daily personal worship should consist of prayer and studying the Bible. The Scriptures feed our faith. The same God who parted the Red Sea and the Jordan River says, “I do not change! Trust Me.”

Those who trust in God are empowered with the Divine Strength of Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit.

Trusting God with your life produces spiritual growth and development. Not only will you begin to perceive life through spiritual eyes, but your character will also change to reflect the Righteousness of Christ.

David’s prayer reveals that humility, surrender, and obedience is worship: “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.” (Psalm 34:4, 6).

Preparing for Eternal Life One Day At a Time

Lord God, we come to You on bended knees, seeking Your forgiveness for redirecting our faith and trust from You to ourselves, and for not studying your Holy Scriptures. Lord, we confess that our faith is weak because we have failed to worship you in Spirit and Truth. We ask you for strength, wisdom, and discernment. And we thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.