Tag: Bible

Recognizing [Covert] Spiritual Warfare Designed to Separate You From God

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – September 9, 2024

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind…” —James 1:5-6, BSB

“In the life of a Christian believer there are no coincidences, luck, karma, or ‘out of nowhere, it just happened.’ ” Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

We know this because, in Psalm 91, God says, “Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:9-11).

Our lives are monitored under God’s Omnipotence [Power] and Omniscience [Knowledge]. Not only are we protected by guardian angels who consistently obey Jesus Christ, the Commander of Angel Armies, but nothing arises in our lives without Jesus’ permission. Satan is restrained by the power of God when attempting to wreak havoc in our lives. [Read Job chapter 1 for God’s boundaries on Satan during Job’s tribulations].

The Conditions of Participation God Requires of Believers

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’ ” —Psalm 91:1-2

“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

Because we were created with free will of choice, God never coerces us to love and serve Him, yet, we must cooperate with Divinity to receive God’s blessings and protection against our greatest enemy and his evil surmisings. We cannot live as victorious overcomers without Divine Intervention. Abiding in Christ requires faith, daily surrender, obedience, much prayer, and knowledge of the Scriptures which are the Voice of God.

Our Enemy: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” —1 Peter 5:8

The Whole Armor of God
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” —Ephesians 6:10-13

In Ephesians 6, the Apostle Paul compares our spiritual journey to a Roman soldier who was always prepared to fight in their many battles. Our weapons: Prayer and diligent Bible study. We intentionally keep ourselves in the presence of God by whispering prayers throughout our waking hours. Memorize Scriptures of God’s promises and protection. Study the book of Joshua.

The Holy Spirit speaks to us through the Scriptures and our thoughts and alerts us of spiritual and physical danger. Have you experienced discomfort or not feeling right when facing a given situation? That is the Holy Spirit’s warning that all is not well, and you should walk away. Safety comes from praying before you make decisions, even in the routine activities of daily life, we should seek God’s guidance.

Qualities and Habits Required of Christian Soldiers

  1. Knowing Jesus’ Character. Study the Four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
  2. Knowing God’s Righteous Principles and Standards for Pursuing Righteous Living: “Be holy, for I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Study the book of Philippians.
  3. Do what is Right! Never compromise under pressure or give in to those with “bad characters” who attempt to influence your walk with Christ. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear [timidity], but of power and of love and of a sound mind [self-control]” (2 Timothy 1:7).
  4. “Pray without ceasing [Never stop praying, ESV]” 1 Thessalonians 5:17. In His earthly life, Jesus prayed constantly, always seeking God, the Father’s will. Pray over every aspect of your life. God is our Guide and Protector, always giving us perfect outcomes.
  5. Study the Bible every day. When Christ was tempted, He quoted the Scriptures,”Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test ‘” (Matthew 4:7, ESV). “This would amount to testing God to keep His Word, instead of obeying God by following His will…” Bible Reference

Enoch, Elijah, Job, Abraham, Esther, Mary, Daniel, and Paul are examples of those who lived according to the will of God. Even when we fall into temptation because we fail to pray and obey, God forgives and comforts us: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” (Psalm 32:8).

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

God, we thank You for being our Heavenly Father who loves us with everlasting love and always forgives and guides us on the Path of Righteousness. Forgive us for our disobedience when we choose self-reliance which opposes Your Perfect will and Your Sovereignty. We ask for wisdom as we seek knowledge. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.

© 2024 Steps to Success with Spiritual Solutions

Reflecting God’s Character To Others

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

“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” —1 John 4:20-21

Lord God, we pray for a converted heart that loves God and all people, even our enemies. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.

© Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

The LORD Is on Our Side

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – August 26, 2024

“… With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” —Mark 10:27

God gifted us faith, love, power, and a sound mind. Consciously, we may not realize the importance of faith [belief], but every day we use our faith in various ways that empower us to trust in God. We pray for God’s protection and direction in our lives, fulfill our job duties with the expectation that we will be paid at the designated times, and rely on God to love us unconditionally.

For the believers who place their lives in God’s hands, we also use our faith to humbly surrender and obey, the character traits God requires for traveling on the narrow Path of Righteousness. From our faith, we have joy and peace. Yes, we feel great, easily praising God when all is well, but what happens when our peaceful times are interrupted by a stormy trial. What is our first response? Faith or fear? Prayer or Anxiety?

“And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ ” —Matthew 14:28-31

Peter walking on the water represents many Christians who follow Jesus but have wavering, unreliable faith. Financial hardships, challenges in our daily activities of life, sudden illnesses, divorce, job loss, family turmoil, and even unexpected death of family and friends will arise in our earthly lives. When facing an overwhelming and impossible situation, we should self-reflect, Did I disobey God and now am suffering consequences?

“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 undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]” —John 16:33, Amplified Bible

Unless we have relied on our thoughts and intuition, Jesus tells us that as His followers, we will suffer a life filled with tribulations. Yet, the apostle James defines the spiritual response to adversity: “… Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work (endurance), that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4).

Faith must grow and mature. Trials and hardships are the spiritual channels that produce strong faith and redirect our focus to rely on God. Spiritual hardships strengthen, encourage, and produce spiritual growth, and maturity. God desires us to be strong, not giving up, but praying and believing His Divine intervention will resolve every challenge in 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…” —Proverbs 3:5-6

Trusting in our abilities guarantees that we will experience disbelief and discouragement. What does God expect of us when we face challenges? “Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22).

Even Jesus in his earthly life had daily challenges. Yet, with courage, He prayed continuously because Jesus was confident that He would always receive God’s help and strength in His times of need. Jesus’ command: Have courage, because I have overcome every trial and will give you the victory!

“Only fear (reverence) the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.” —1 Samuel 12:24

“Count your blessings, count them one by one. Count your many blessings to see what God has done.” Despite the many victories our Heavenly Father has blessed us with, we easily forget His Loving character and Sovereign power when we face adversity. Daily, we receive the breath of life and the necessary provisions to sustain our lives. A heart filled with gratitude has steadfast faith in God.

“So I said, ‘Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed, I would wander far off and remain in the wilderness.’ ” —Psalm 55:6-7

In the Psalms, we note that King David suffered from emotional highs and lows from the chaos of the continuous covert betrayal from his sons and hatred from his enemies. We cannot fly away from adversity, but we can speak prayers expressing our deepest concerns to our Loving Savior, King Jesus who always hears and comforts our hearts.

God’s Promise: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ” —Hebrews 13:5-6

Faith is our anchor to the power of God. Always go to God first. Remember He commands us to have faith in His power. We are heaven’s priority! Despite what you are going through, God’s got you and you will be okay if you only trust Him. Use your mustard seed Faith and believe in His Grace and Great love for you.

Prayer: God, we believe but help our unbelief. We are facing challenges that only You can resolve. We ask for Your divine help and strength to face our trials. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Holy Name. Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Victory Is Through the Righteousness of Christ

Our Daily Walk with Christ – Sabbath Devotional – August 24, 2024

If your life is difficult, study the lives of Joseph, Abraham, Naomi, Ruth, and Job. The Bible gives us true knowledge of people who struggle with the same issues we face. King Solomon said, “There is nothing new under the sun.” Until we accept our God-given purpose, our lives will never reflect spiritual growth and transformation nor will our earthly accomplishments produce the faith and works that indicate we are preparing for eternal life.

“I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” —Psalm 32:8

Resistance to letting God lead us results in practicing Compromised Christianity—attending church but never changing and growing spiritually. Deciding to commit and consecrate oneself to follow Jesus Christ gives us true peace and victory despite our trials and hardships. Throughout the Scriptures, we find righteous men and women who dedicated themselves to surrender and faithfully obey God. Yes, they had the assurance of receiving the Crown of Life.

“I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end, he will stand on the earth…
And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” —Job 19:25-27

Job suffered greatly but still proclaimed victory because he truly believed in Jesus’ promise that He would come again to take the righteous to heaven. Where do we stand? Live for Christ. True victory can only be obtained through the Righteousness of Christ. Heaven is real. We cannot afford to choose the temporary things of this earth and forfeit the reward that Jesus died on Calvary’s cross to give us.

Declaration of True Surrender: “I have decided to follow Jesus and whether I lose family, friends, or wealth, I am going to heaven to receive my reward, Revelation 22:12.” Amen.

Sabbath Peace and Blessings ©Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Giving God Your Best

Our Daily Walk with Christ Sabbath Devotional – August 23, 2024

“In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” —Proverbs 3:6

The struggle to put God first impacts every Christian Believer. Still, in this modern world, we can put God first through consecration, prayer, Bible study, and monitoring our time closely. We make plans that either include or exclude God. “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).

Excerpt from Livingontheedge.org: “First, God has a plan for every nation on this earth. In addition, He has a plan for every man, woman, and child on this planet, too. His plan can be contained in one word: LIFE. By comparison, Satan has an agenda as well. His agenda can be summed up in an opposing word: DEATH. He has an intricate plan for every nation and every person, and it’s to steal, kill, and destroy.

“It is incredibly easy to think the world consists of what we see in our worlds every day, and completely miss the larger picture. There’s an invisible battle happening all around us: life and death are fiercely competing for our devotion.” Livingontheedge.org

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” — 1 Peter 5:8

The apostle Peter describes every believer’s struggle with spiritual warfare in their earthly lives. Jesus told Peter, “Satan is trying to sift you like wheat, but I am praying for you.” Following Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter’s internal struggle of fear included denying Christ three times. Yet, he was reconciled with Christ and became an integral leader in the “Day of Pentecost” [Acts 2].

Reflection: Are we denying Christ by our desires, decisions, and lifestyles?

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.” —2 Timothy 1:7

To give God our best requires steadfast spiritual strength, the human effort of perseverance, resistance, and the ability to say no when everyone else is engaging in worldly pleasures. We pray often to receive Jesus’ Divine Strength and Wisdom through the Holy Spirit, yet, we must exercise the gift of self-control in our daily activities of life.

“Be holy, for I Am Holy.” —1 Peter 1:16

Living holy requires our cooperation with God. We cannot achieve holiness without the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Giving God our best is to have planned times of worship twice daily. Prayer keeps us connected to God, the Source of Power. Studying the Bible is necessary because God communicates His Righteous Character and His expectations of our daily walk with Christ. The Holy Scriptures define living holy.

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

The Bible is our Spiritual Guide and Roadmap, preparing us for our reward of eternal life. The Old Testament tells us of the real-life struggles of individuals like Joseph [sold into slavery by his brothers, Elijah [Queen Jezebel seeking to kill him], Queen Esther [boldly entering the King’s presence without an invitation], and Daniel [in the lion’s den]. From the New Testament, we learn Christ’s earthly life and His love, devotion, and obedience to God, His Father.

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.” —Isaiah 41:10. BSB

Our confidence in God’s Love and Sovereignty gives us strength and the courage to fight the good fight of faith when we face temptation and daunting situations. Giving God our best is placing all of our faith and trust in Him. Knowledge of God’s Divine Character produces obedience in the heart of a true believer who allows the Holy Spirit to convert their hearts.

Give God your best by praying throughout your waking hours, studying the Scriptures, and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you on the Path of Righteousness. Having confidence in God, who will never fail you, requires astute knowledge of His loving character. God has promised to always give us victory when we strive to give Him our best. Sabbath Peace and Blessings!

Lord God, we thank You for Your Divine Love. It is our desire to give You our best. We ask for the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. We pray for a blessing as we celebrate the Sabbath. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Separation Is the Key To Preparing for Eternal Life

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – August 22, 2024

“Be holy, for I Am Holy.” —1 Peter 1:16

For those striving to live holy, the Holy Spirit reveals the Truth, gives us wisdom, and leads us in our earthly journey of Sanctification. Without daily consecrating oneself to God, diligently praying, and studying the Bible, we cannot distinguish between Holy and common [sinful] practices. The Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom and discernment to recognize compromised Christianity.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven..” —Matthew 7:21

“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals’ ” (1 Corinthians 15:33). The next time you are with family or friends, stay quiet, and listen to their conversation. Are they leading you to have a stronger relationship with Christ or pulling you away from the Path of Righteousness?

There are no worldly Christians. Too many Christians are thinking, speaking, dressing, and participating in earthly pleasures and chasing prosperity. Set yourself apart from unbelievers. Surrounding ourselves with believers who can pray with and for us, study the bible, and prepare for Jesus’ Second Coming constitutes the Family of God.

“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

In love, Jesus gave His life, suffering a cruel death so we can be redeemed from sin. We owe Him our lives. Revelation 22:12 is sooner than we think. Get ready and stay ready! Only those with a pure and obedient heart will receive the reward of Eternal life. Jesus is waiting for you and me to dedicate ourselves to fulfilling our calling as His disciples.

Prayer: Thank You Jesus for Your unfailing love. We ask You to teach us how to be Holy. In Your Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

With Joyful Expectation, Pray, and Wait On God

Trust in the LORD, and do good, dwell in the land, and feed on his faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noon day. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him…” Psalm 37:3-7

God is a Loving Heavenly Father. God is a Promise-keeper. God is All-knowing, which includes our lives from beginning to end. What God is Not, He is not a God of instant gratification, He knows what we need when we need it. God’s ultimate goal is to save our souls by sanctifying us through the Holy Spirit. Therefore He will not bless us with anything that interferes with His promise to give us eternal life.

“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

Pray in faith and wait on the Lord. Jesus has invited us to the Throne of Grace to receive His Divine help. God will never fail us. While waiting for our blessings, we should excitedly wait as children anticipating wonderful blessings from the Father above.

Lord, we thank You for Your loving care and faithfulness toward us. We ask for strength as we walk daily in this journey of life. We ask this prayer in your Holy Name, Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

The True Cost and Challenges of Following Jesus

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – August 19, 2024

“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’ ” —Mark 8:34

There is a stark difference between Jesus’ requirements to follow Him and the Compromised Christianity practiced by many of today’s believers. Jesus says that we must deny ourselves, and take up our cross to be His disciple. The life of a true converted believer is not easy. We must relinquish our desires by surrendering ourselves to God daily: “God, not my will, but Your will be done.”

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” —Mark 8:36-37

Pursuing success, financial wealth, relationships, and pleasure has never been included in the spiritual journey of the followers of Christ. Chasing the world’s prosperity and marrying unbelievers is history repeating itself [the days of Noah]. Jesus forewarns us of the consequences of choosing the world, the loss of one’s soul is the loss of the reward of Eternal life.

“…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” —Joshua 24:15

“In the simplicity of humble faith ask the Lord to open your understanding, that you may discern and appreciate the precious things of His Word. Thus you may grow in grace, grow in simple, trusting faith.” God’s Amazing Grace, EGW

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me.” —John 15:4

“Our Saviour compares Himself to a vine, of which His followers are the branches. He plainly declares that all who would be His disciples must bring forth fruit; and then He shows how they may become fruitful branches.” Reflecting Christ, EGW

“…Be holy, for I Am Holy.” —1 Peter 1:16

Faith, humility, surrender, obedience, much prayer, fasting, and study of the Holy Scriptures along with abandoning all worldly habits, desires, and lifestyles including liaisons with unbelievers are required to follow Christ. Our earthly lives are the only opportunity for our characters, minds, and personalities to be changed into the likeness of Christ.

The human effort of cooperation with God joins us with God’s plan to save our souls. We choose Christ and the Holy Spirit transforms us daily into the likeness of Christ’s Character. Sanctification is evidenced when our desires change and we pursue righteousness. We stop watching, listening, and chasing sinful pleasures, nor do we seek success because Jesus is our First Love.

The believers whose hearts are converted love God and cherish Jesus’ selfless sacrifice on Calvary. We do not have ambivalent feelings over giving up everything for Christ. When we are dedicated followers of Christ, we prepare daily for Kingdom life with our Triumphant King. Reflection: Where do you stand in your relationship with Jesus?

Study Mark chapters 8-10: “…the follower of Jesus—whether the disciples 2,000 years ago or disciples in the twenty-first century— [must prepare daily] for the challenges that come with discipleship.” SSNET

Lord God, we pray for the strength to persevere on this tumultuous journey. Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to lead us on the Path of Righteousness. We love You for Your great sacrifice that we have the opportunity to inherit eternal life. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry