Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 26, 2024
“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…’ ” —Genesis 1:26
When hardships, sickness, and death enter our lives, we need Christ’s Healing Balm to soothe our anxieties, emotional or physical pain, and sorrows. Jesus, the Man of Sorrows lived a bittersweet life. He knows the extreme side of suffering. Trust Jesus, God the Son to give you His Divine peace and strength. Only His love and power can provide the Spiritual Touch to heal our mental, emotional, and physical infirmities.
We do not have to pray lengthy prayers. The prayer of faith, “Jesus, help me” receives an immediate response from our Loving Savior. Jesus, the Great Physician is meek, loving, and compassionate. Although we are not promised physical healing, we always receive the Divine strength to persevere. All of heaven is involved in the believer’s Chosen Path of suffering. Never stop praying!
When Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane, in response to His prayers, God, the Father sent angels to minister and impart Divine strength to His Son needed to complete the Plan of Redemption for you and me. Our prayers for Divine Help receive the same heavenly response.
The Holy Spirit intercedes by taking our prayers of faith to Christ, our High Priest and Intercessor. We receive Christ’s supernatural strength and peace from the Holy Spirit, and the Commander of angel armies sends His angels to refresh our minds, bodies, and souls with His Living Water. Oh, what love the Father has for us.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 24, 2024
“As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” —Deuteronomy 33:25
The perplexities, lengthy trials, and hardships we endure will never overpower us. “We have the promise that…God is faithful. “He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT). (Joy in Tribulation).
The converted believer’s earthly journey is tumultuous because all unrighteous character traits, sinful desires, and habits must be removed. The journey on our chosen paths differs, yet, God’s goal of the spiritual transformation of our minds, characters, and personalities will reach completion until the day before Jesus comes if we are living.
We are granted the mercies of enough time to choose Christ and experience spiritual growth, but the moment we close our eyes in the sleep of death, our spiritual transformation ceases. “For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward…” (Ecclesiastes 9:5). The Apostle Paul explains the state of the dead in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4.
Salvation is a gift but includes Spiritual Conditions of Participation—we embrace and align our lives with God’s Righteousness. Our human cooperation with the Holy Spirit is manifested by daily surrender and faithful obedience. The Holy Spirit transforms us if we place our faith and trust in God, only then can our hearts be connected to Jesus, our High Priest, and Intercessor. The Holy Spirit teaches, imparts wisdom and strength, and convicts us of our cherished and hidden sins.
“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 14:2-3
When planning spiritual goals, we look beyond our present circumstances, this earthly home is temporary. We must let go of our love for the life we have on Earth. Few believers memorize Revelation chapters 21-22 and reflect on Jesus’ promise to have true happiness in a sinless, most beautiful New Heaven and New Earth. Nothing should distract us from reflecting on the fulfillment of Christ’s promise to see Him face to face and receive our Crown of Life.
In times like these [the last days of Earth’s history], we desperately need to study and memorize the Scriptures that convert our hearts and reveal God’s will for living righteously. We cannot face spiritual warfare without the Spiritual Ammunition of the Word of God. Now is the time to ask the Holy Spirit to fortify our strength so we can live as overcomers destined for heaven.
Our trust and obedience to God must be solid and built on Christ the Solid Rock. Jesus has not only brought us through past trials, but He also promises to hold us in His Righteous Right Hand to guide us safely through our present hardships, temptations, and future tribulations.
Christ rewards our faithfulness by giving us His strength to keep us moving forward on the Narrow Path. We receive Divine wisdom from the Holy Spirit to recognize and overcome satanic deceptions that we cannot discern with our human ability. Our role is to pray and filter the stimuli of the many voices who proclaim their messages are God’s Truth.
“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24). Never place your confidence in human wisdom. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal all beliefs that are not in agreement with God’s Bible-Based Truth. Jesus’ battle plan of sending the Teacher, the Spirit of Truth prevents us from accepting Satan’s erroneous interpretations of the Holy Scriptures.
“The conditions of receiving spiritual discernment and wisdom require that we have an honest, pure heart, and the desire to know God’s will, which can only happen when we surrender to God.” Pastor M. Finley
Pray before you study. Our love, loyalty, and allegiance are to the Most High God. The Spirit of Truth supersedes all human interpretations of the Scriptures. One of our greatest challenges is letting go of beliefs not substantiated by the Bible. Only an unconverted heart refuses to acknowledge their belief system does not coincide with God’s Truth when the Holy Spirit reveals error. We cannot worship God in Spirit and Truth by holding onto misinterpretations and false beliefs that hinder our spiritual growth.
“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” —Jeremiah 33:3
Our goal is to hear well done. Monitor the time spent on entertainment, disruptions, and distractions by creating a Spiritual cease-and-desist order to take back control over your God-given time. Make Jesus your Best Friend. We form an unbreakable bond by talking to Christ throughout our waking hours. Our spiritual goal is to grow stronger and become part of the remnant who have the Faith of Jesus Christ.
“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ.” —Revelation 14:12
According to the Daniel and Revelation prophecies, we face a future of end-time prophetic turmoil with intense spiritual conflict that will challenge our faith in God. Preparing now through consistent prayer, fasting, and study invites the Holy Spirit to give us a continuous outpouring of spiritual reinforcement. The Holy Spirit is our only guarantee of remaining steadfast. We desperately need to go deeper in our spiritual walk with Christ and like John become the disciples that Jesus loves.
“Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters…” Revelation 1:12-15
The Roman Emperor Titus exiled John the Revelator [affectionately known as the disciple that Jesus loved] to the Isle of Patmos. Even so, John’s banishment was part of Christ’s perfect plan. The disciple’s tribulation of isolation was for our benefit—the book of Revelation contains the history of the early Christian churches to the future End Time prophecies that foretell a repeat of Christian persecution.
Covered by God’s grace and living off of abundant mercies is a blessed privilege that we do not deserve. We have received Jesus’ warning and directive to His Apostle for future believers: “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7). Praise God, Revelation ends with Christ and the righteous as Victors standing on the Sea of Glass and Satan and all evil destroyed!
Since Jesus cast Satan and his angels to the Earth, we have always been his focus in the Great Controversy between good and evil. Now is the time to cultivate an aversion to the evil of sin. The truly converted heart does not suffer from an internal conflict of choosing Christ over Satan. We know that we cannot save ourselves and our only hope is Jesus Christ!
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” —James 4:10
God has given Christ, His Son, and sent the Holy Spirit, our Teacher so we can live as overcomers who receive their blessed reward of immortality when Christ comes again with majesty and glory. Take sufficient time and study the book of Revelation under the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Revelation’s plain truth prophecies will impact you as no other book of the Bible.
If you truly desire Eternal life then study the books of Daniel and Revelation. Your perception of this Earth will radically change, and you will strive to live a sacrificial, surrendered life pleasing to God. From our failure to study Bible prophecies and the Old Testament, we only have a limited understanding of the Characters of God, the Father, and Christ, God, the Son.
The lack of knowledge of Redemption, Sanctification, the Judgment, and Eternal life makes it impossible for us to live holy and surrendered lives because there is missing knowledge vital to our salvation. Not knowing the complete story tempts us to fill in the blanks with our interpretations, leaves us vulnerable to Satan’s many deceptions, and we do not possess the spiritual enthusiasm for the Second Coming of Christ.
Throughout the Old Testament, God revealed the earthly arrival of the Messiah. From Adam and Eve to Jacob, Daniel, and King David, to Malachi chapter 4 which describes the Great Day of God, we have Scriptural evidence the plan of Salvation was revealed to those living in the Old Testament times, “The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever” (Psalm 37:29).
Lord God, we pray for the strength to persevere in this earthly journey and to keep our eyes focused on You as we walk on our Chosen Path. In Jesus Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 22, 2024
“Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. (2) With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.”
“Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? (4) Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.’ “
“When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. (6) Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.” —Acts 5:1-6
Integrity reveals righteousness. Believers live by God’s righteous standards—always speaking and acting according to the righteous moral and social laws given by God. The lack of integrity is a heart issue. It reveals that sin is ruling our hearts instead of the righteousness of Christ.
“When it comes to human integrity, the Apostle Paul, quoting from various Psalms says, “There is no one righteous, not even one….for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:11-23), so the opposite of righteousness is sin. As much as this word is avoided, and even hated today, the truth is that lack of integrity is not merely an issue of behaviour that can be improved…”(Cross Current).
“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
Many years ago, I was hired for a nursing management position in one of the best nursing homes. After many years of clinical nursing, I was very excited that God blessed me with the opportunity to develop my skills. When I was introduced to the Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), all but one welcomed me. One of my responsibilities was to make supervisory rounds to assess staff challenges while rendering resident care. As I slowly opened the door to *Mr. Smith’s room, I witnessed an act of horror—the CNA slapped the patient’s face in response to his combative behavior. The CNA was unaware that I had entered the room until the patient cried out, “Miss help me, she hit me in the face.” She let go of his arm, turned to me, and stated, “I did not hit him! He hit me!” My response was, “Yes, you did slap his face!” As I turned to leave, she immediately followed me and without remorse stated, “I have five children to support.”
The Outcome: I reported the incident to my Director who informed the Administrator. Not all of the state agency’s protocol was followed, yes the CNA was reported to the State Department responsible for Certification, but the facility’s responsibility to file criminal charges for assault and battery was not carried out [a decision by the home’s administrator]. The reason given was to protect the facility’s reputation.
The restoration of humanity’s lost righteousness is a central theme of the Bible. The only person in human history whose life was absolutely integrated, in whom there is nothing to blame, whose beliefs, words, and deeds were in perfect harmony was Jesus Christ. His character and life is a perfect example of integrity. (Cross Current)
“So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him” (verse 14 NIV) “…beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:17-18, NKJV)
Our faith and righteousness are tested when facing situations that require a compromise of integrity. To possess spiritual integrity under all circumstances is not a work we can accomplish without the Holy Spirit. From praying daily for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, we receive the spiritual wisdom and discernment to recognize and respond to corrupt situations as Christ would respond.
“The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.” —Proverbs 11:3
We have to make a decision. The courage to do what is right in God’s eyes is not given to us by the Holy Spirit. Courage comes from within. Will we stand strong although we may endure loss? Choosing right reveals our love for God and our true character. The decision to stand for God’s Righteous moral code reveals that we faithfully trust in God’s promise to never leave us or forsake us. We boldly proclaim, “No, I will not agree to do that!” when our morals and values align with the holiness of Christ, our Rock of Righteousness.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” —Matthew 7:13-14
Without the humility to surrender and be led by the Holy Spirit, we will live a life of compromise, never growing spiritually. Because our hearts are desperately wicked, we were born with the inner drive to choose evil over good. Yes, the Christian life is a continuous struggle! Temptation is covert—always concealed as the best option, but sin requires a compromise of sanctified holiness.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” —Matthew 5:6
Integrity flows from a converted and committed heart that seeks after the Righteousness of Christ. Christ completed His spiritual mission on earth. God clearly defines our responsibility in the plan of Salvation, to seek righteousness. To overcome the enemy’s tactics, we need Divine Help continuously.
Our Daily Walk with Christ – Sabbath Devotional – April 12, 2024
Did you know that the busyness of life is a significant strategy of spiritual warfare? Distractions are Satan’s number one tactic to keep us from maintaining a close relationship with God. Social media, cellular devices, and the little unexpected but obsolete things that provide entertainment often waste our valuable time.
Well-meaning individuals who ask for favors can also add additional burdens to our already full schedule. At the end of the day, we are too exhausted to worship God. So, we promise to do better tomorrow, say a quick prayer, and fall asleep.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” —1 Corinthians 10:31
Reflection: What exactly am I doing with my time?
Certainly, it is not our intention to waste the blessing of each new day. Yet, every believer is accountable for how they use the 24 hours received from God’s faithfulness and mercies. Take immediate action! Pray a prayer of repentance and ask for the wisdom to restructure your life. Thinking about yesterday and how we failed to accomplish the important tasks on our to-do list and feeling guilty over days of missed worship is counterproductive. We can never retrieve lost time.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” —James 1:5
Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal all time-eating obstacles including the behaviors of procrastination. Be honest! Do you allow others to interrupt your daily schedule? Pray for the courage to respectfully decline and say no [even to your whims of spontaneity].
With enthusiasm, approach your plan to identify and eliminate time-wasting activities, and move forward with determination. Begin today by making a written time log of the activities you have completed and the unfinished tasks. Revise your schedule and make worship with God your number one priority. Be consistent with the designated times that you choose for worship.
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” —Matthew 6:6
Restructuring your life to achieve the highest level of productivity appears to be the goal. But spending time in worship with God every day is our spiritual goal which is the believer’s priority. Minute Devotionals are fine for a quick read while taking a work break, but do not substitute for the Prayer and Bible Study needed daily to enrich our relationship with Christ.
Every morning and evening, we need uninterrupted time with God [which includes spiritual meditation] to receive the blessings to replenish our minds, bodies, and souls. A hurry-up mindset produces ritualistic worship. As a result, we miss out on spiritual blessings necessary to maintain our relationship with Christ. No time for God results in spiritual depletion. Rushing through worship does not include time for the Holy Spirit to respond to the needs of our soul.
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.” —1 Peter 3:12
When I transitioned from direct patient care to a corporate setting, the constant grind produced extreme mental fatigue. By 2 pm, my stamina was down, and I had little energy to work for three more hours plus drive the hour-long journey home. The overwhelming fatigue threatened to overpower my ability to cope with the complexities of the job.
When I applied for the job, I prayed and was confident that transitioning to a non-clinical setting was God’s blessing. But my faith was weak, and I began to doubt whether or not God had blessed me. Discouraged, I made plans to look for another job. When God blesses us, He does not allow Satan to rob us of our blessings.
Holy Spirit to the rescue! One evening, I read a Devotional on using one’s lunchtime and work breaks to pray for strength. Believe me, I never thought about having worship while on the job. On my afternoon breaks, I separated myself and prayed for the blessings of mental acuity and physical strength.
Does God answer our prayers for help? Yes, He does! The Holy Spirit gave me the spiritual strength to complete my day and the guardian angels watched over me as I drove home.
Although the Quality versus Quantity concept does not apply to worship, we do not have to conduct lengthy worship sessions on our jobs. From the whisper of short but meaningful prayers, we receive supernatural power for our minds and bodies.
“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” —Matthew 14:23
One thing is for certain when we invite the presence of God to come into our hearts through prayer, we will always receive the spiritual blessings of strength, wisdom, and peace. We have the privilege of praying any time of the day or night. With Divine Intervention, the activities of daily living and meaningful worship can easily be accomplished when our lives are in sync with God’s plans.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” —Jeremiah 29:13
Scripture: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” —1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 2, 2024
We are living in a critical time of earth’s history and must decide whether we are all in for Christ by praying daily, Lord, what is your will for my life? If only it were that easy for believers to give up the desires and traits that build our Walls of Resistance to a commitment of total surrender and faithful obedience.
“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’ ” (Matthew 16:24). Our inherited carnal hearts drive us to pursue our desires. The act of following our hearts nurtures a spirit of disobedience resulting in a loss of faith and denial of the power of God.
When the disciples were unable to cast out the child’s demons, they asked Jesus why. “So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief…” (Matthew 17:20). The disciple’s hearts were filled with ambivalence which left them faithless. They imagined Jesus would set up an earthly kingdom and overthrow the Roman government, so they fought with each other as to who would sit on the right and left of King Jesus’ throne.
Although Christ knew their desires were responsible for their internal Walls of Resistance, Jesus never addressed emotional feelings. He identified the solution that would increase their faith and cast out the stronghold of a spirit of contention: “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” —Matthew 17:21
And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. —Matthew 4:2
Christ practiced what He preached. Jesus was a Spiritual Advocate of much prayer and fasting. His wilderness experience consisted of 40 days and 40 nights of prayer and fasting to overcome temptation and prepare for His earthly journey. Before Jesus chose the 12 apostles, he separated Himself to commune with God. “One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night” (Luke 6:12).
We agree that although Jesus was human, He was also Divine. If His life consisted of unceasing prayer and fasting, how much more do we need to stay before the Throne of Grace? We cannot let our pride produce overconfidence regarding our spiritual status with God. Never trust your heart or opinion regarding your righteousness!
The Spiritual Traits that Breakdown Our Walls
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” —Psalm 139:23-24
Worldviews, family, and friends influence us. Would Jesus live our lifestyle, make the same decisions, or bless our recreational activities? To break down the “Wall” we must humbly present ourselves before God, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to perform a spiritual analysis of the desires and habits that are separating us from God.
Spiritual Fasting Breaks Down Our Walls of Resistance
Two weeks ago following morning worship, I noticed that I was not experiencing hunger for an additional 4-6 hours. It wasn’t until the third day that I realized the Holy Spirit was leading me to initiate fasting into my life. This was a response to my fervent prayers to have a deeper relationship with Christ.
I can only express that since I began fasting my entire life including my spiritual perception is changing. The Holy Spirit has identified the unrighteous characteristics that I used to build my Wall of Resistance. With prayer and fasting, I am striving to break down this wall of separation day by day.
Spiritual fasting is not the same as Intermittent Fasting which is commonly practiced for weight loss. Nor does fasting during our hours of sleep fulfill the qualifications of fasting for spiritual reasons. The Biblical definition of spiritual fasting is the wilful act of abstaining from food to receive the spiritual strength to endure our tribulations and overcome temptation or sinful habits and behaviors.
Jesus fasted during His earthly life to remain in the perfect will of God, the Father. To experience a deeper relationship with Christ, incorporate daily fasting into your life. Choose a time you can separate yourself from others and all distractions to pray, praise, and study the Bible.
Begin your spiritual fast with 2 hours every day for seven days. The first two days will be your greatest struggle. Yes, your body will betray you by escalating hunger pangs. Maintain hydration with adequate amounts of water. Avoid rigorous exercise before your fast. Your mind and body should be relaxed, anticipating the presence of God.
“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.” —John 3:16
Through fasting, the Holy Spirit empowers us with the wisdom to assimilate the deepest meaning of God’s love. When our hearts are filled with love and loyalty to God, we possess overwhelming gratitude for the Day that God, the Father and Jesus, God the Son created the Plan of Redemption. For the sacrificial gift of Jesus’ life, the only gift we can give is to willingly place our minds and bodies in submission to God.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” —Psalm 51:10
Fasting invites the Holy Spirit to reveal every sin and character trait within our hearts whether open or hidden. These are the behaviors and sins that we used to build our Wall of Resistance. When we learn our true status with God, we are standing at the Crossroads which requires a decision to follow Christ or ourselves.
If we confess, repent, and ask for forgiveness then we begin a new life in Christ Jesus. From our humility and the desire to change, our burdens are lifted, and our minds are peaceful. To be in the right standing with God gives us unspeakable joy. From our willingness to surrender, we receive many spiritual benefits.
“Call to Me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” —Jeremiah 33:3
As we search the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit empowers us with the wisdom to gain the deepest meaning of the Truth. The Spirit of Truth guides us in our study of the Scriptures. Our focus changes from studying to gain intellectual knowledge to studying the specific Scriptures necessary for correction, guidance, perseverance, and spiritual growth.
“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 noonday.” —Psalm 37:5
Lord, we dedicate ourselves to worship You in faithful obedience. We ask You to let Your will be done in our lives and pray for the strength to think, act, and live as overcomers. In Jesus Holy and Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 1, 2024
“For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” —Romans 7:19, NIV
Think about a time when you experienced an overwhelming inner conflict between right and wrong. Despite the obvious consequences you still chose to do wrong. Psychologists suggest that the teenage stage is characterized by rebellious behavior. However, is it truly the most rebellious period in one’s life?
Since the 2020 pandemic that brought lockdown and sadly, many deaths, some Christian believers have not resumed their steadfast relationship with Christ. The bold revelation of increasing resistance to obeying Biblical principles can be seen in social media responses. Trending is the decision to pursue and fulfill one’s desires versus seeking the will of God and waiting on the Lord.
Recently, a pastor in Fresno, California was asked, “What is the greatest problem you face in your church?” He lamented over the Christians in his congregation who choose unbelievers for relationships that evolve into premarital sex, living together, or marriage.
The number one desire of single Christian women of all ages is to have a financially stable husband. For most single Christian men, financial success is their first desire with few expressing an interest in marriage at present, but would consider marriage in the future.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” —Matthew 6:21, 24, 34
Approximately 2000 years ago, Jesus addressed the desires and worries that would override our devotion to God. Instead of enjoying our gift of peace, pastors are preaching sermons on how to rid oneself of worries, anxieties, and depression. Disobedience creates internal ambivalence.
To live holy requires the daily practice of self-denial and self-control. Surrendering to God is reflected in our daily worship and lifestyles. We invite the Holy Spirit into our lives and are required to strengthen our relationship with Christ.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” —2 Peter 3:9
Currently, prophetic signs [Matthew 24, 2 Timothy 3] indicate we live in the perilous times of the last days. Instead of preparing daily for the Second Coming of Jesus, many are distracted by their heart’s desires. Sadly, we have built an impenetrable wall of resistance to the warnings and promises in the Holy Scriptures. In Revelation, we are told this earth is temporary and will be destroyed and replaced by the sinless New Heaven and New Earth.
Breaking Down Our Wall of Resistance
What steps are necessary to redirect our focus to Eternal life when we are constantly praying for God to fulfill our desires or we become impatient and are fulfilling our desires?
“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). An immense love for God motivates us to serve God through surrender and faithful obedience. The Holy Spirit enlightens our minds by giving us spiritual wisdom and discernment.
Love for God allows the Holy Spirit to convert our hearts. Our responsibility is to bring our minds into harmony with God. Instead of thinking our thoughts, we pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. God has given us the Holy Bible which contains the Only Truth to live by.
Intellectual knowledge does not convert our hearts. From our love, surrender, and faithful obedience, the power of God transforms our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ.
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” —Psalm 32:8
We must face the inner struggle to choose righteousness over unrighteousness every day. And that’s when we cry out as many times as needed for Jesus to give us strength to overcome. “David gives a word of caution to sinners. The reason for this caution is, that the way of sin will certainly end in sorrow. Here is a word of comfort to saints. They may see that a life of communion with God is far the most pleasant and comfortable.” Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
“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
To believe this beautiful promise, we must think outside of the box [beyond life on this earth]. A future refers to our forever life in the New Heaven and New Earth. The hope that burns within our hearts must be for the Second Coming of Jesus. Daily we ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds by giving us spiritual wisdom and discernment.
Study Revelation chapters 21 and 22 until you can form a mental image of the New Jerusalem. Can you imagine having a conversation with Jesus? What would you say to Jesus?
Lord God, we are distracted by too many earthly activities that are preventing us from having a relationship with You. We ask You to search our hearts and reveal all unrighteousness. Forgive us of our past and present sins. We desire eternal life. In Jesus Holy Name, we pray. Amen. [End of Part 1 of 2]
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 31, 2024
Each new morning, we celebrate our Risen Savior and King, Jesus Christ. Our worship is given through prayers, songs of praise, and studying the Holy Scriptures. Yet our highest worship is demonstrated through surrender to God’s will and faithful obedience. Living a sacrificial life is to emulate the life of Christ while He was on this earth.
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” —1 Corinthians 13:12, NIV
One day, we will see our King face-to-face. Developing the habit of bowing in worship in our earthly lives prepares us to join the angels for the heavenly worship that gives honor and adoration to the Lovely One who gave His life so we may have eternal life.
Jesus, Lamb of God, our King, we love You! We worship You, Holy One. Our desire is to live with You forever and ever. Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 29, 2024
“Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.’ ” —Luke 11:1
One day, after observing [and listening] to Jesus praying, His disciples humbly approached Him, saying “Lord, teach us to pray.” From walking with Christ, they finally grew tired of the bickering about who would be the greatest and began to desire spiritual transformation. The disciples realized the wisdom and power that Jesus possessed came directly from God, the Father.
“They had a deep longing to connect with God the way Jesus did. As they traveled with him, they witnessed the power of his prayers and the intimacy he shared with the Father.” (christianwebsite.com).
“…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” —2 Chronicles 7:14
Christ’s Model Prayer is found in Matthew 6:9-13. What do we pray for? According to Jesus, our priority is for God’s will to be done. God has one agenda: To save our souls. Our minds, characters, and personalities require spiritual transformation to receive eternal life. The foundation of our daily prayer is for God’s will to be revealed. We also pray for spiritual growth and transformation, wisdom, discernment, and the strength to overcome temptation.
In the morning and evening, we should pray for repentance of sins and ask the Holy Spirit to convict us of our known and unrecognized sins. Each of us practices habits and behaviors that do not reflect the righteous character of Christ. Because we are influenced by the world we live in, our standards are not in alignment with God’s command to be holy. The Holy Spirit reveals the hidden sins that prevent us from receiving our heavenly reward.
Pray Over Every Aspect of Your Life: Pray for confession, repentance and forgiveness, peace, comfort, provision, guidance, and the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Pray for healing, for God to fight your battles, for safety, and intercession for others. When answering our prayers, God always prioritizes our spiritual needs.
“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). Nowhere in the Scriptures do we find instructions to pray for material wealth or tangible items. If we practice excellent stewardship over our financial blessings then God knows that we desire the house or vehicle and He will perform the supernatural miracles for us to receive our tangible desires that are within His will and plans.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” —Ephesians 2:8-9
Initially, the Holy Spirit touches our hearts with the invitation to accept Christ as our personal Savior. Once we say yes then God always requires human effort before He intervenes. A dedicated life of prayer reveals our desire for God’s continuous intervention. The spiritual prerequisites of humility, a contrite spirit, and faithful obedience allow the Holy Spirit to perform the daily work of spiritual growth and transformation.
“For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.” —Romans 7:14-15
Even the Apostle Paul recognized his pitiful state by proclaiming, ” O wretched man that I am!” Christian believers are often offended by the statement that we are sinners saved by grace through faith. Without recognizing our desperate need for God, the Holy Spirit cannot perform the work of heart conversion.
The Converted Heart: Conversion is a change of heart, a turning from unrighteousness to righteousness. Relying upon the merits of Christ, exercising true faith in Him, the repentant sinner receives pardon for sin…fighting against natural inclinations and selfish desires and bringing the will into subjection to the will of Christ. Daily he seeks the Lord for grace, and he is strengthened and helped. (A Change of Heart Devotional)
“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
The reason we fail to consistently use our privilege of prayer is that we do not recognize our constant need for Christ. If we have a list of the challenges that we can resolve ourselves without praying for Divine help then we develop a spirit of self-reliance. This mindset results in self-satisfaction that not only separates us from Christ but also produces a false sense of our true status with God—when life flows smoothly, we feel spiritually content.
“Let us therefore come boldly [with confidence] to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” —Hebrews 4:16
For the converted heart to remain so, we must view ourselves as “spiritually wretched” and live a life of total surrender and faithful obedience to God by staying on bended knees. “It’s me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer!” The quality of our worship and the persistence of our prayers indicate our desire to be transformed by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. The penitent soul always realizes its’ need for God.
In Revelation 12, “the remnant of her seed” refers to those who follow Christ. Like Christ’s disciples, we also need to ask Him to teach us to pray. Those who come to the throne of grace with persistent prayers receive the continuous spiritual blessings of peace, joy, and confidence. Despite life’s challenges, a consistent prayer connection with Christ gives us the strength to endure the hardships and suffering required to receive our greatest reward of eternal life.
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” —Romans 8:26-27
Through the Holy Spirit, we have the assurance that our prayers of faith ascend as sweet incense to Jesus our Heavenly Priest and Intercessor. Our misspoken words are accepted by the Holy Spirit who translates our prayers and intercedes for us by taking our pleas and presenting them with clarity and reverence to Jesus, our King, Lord, and Savior. Jesus and the Holy Spirit are both making intercession for us. What more can Divinity do for us?
Lord God, teach us how to pray. We ask for Your Divine Intervention, in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 25, 2024
This morning, I read a Devotional on the New Heaven and New Earth. Although the author included many Scriptures from Revelation chapters 21 and 22, her descriptive words expressed a deep longing, joyful anticipation, and excitement from the thought of living forever with God, Jesus, and the heavenly angels in a perfect universe. Upon reading her written words, I felt overjoyed. Yes, the Holy Spirit ignited a fire in my heart.
“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” —Revelation 21:10-11
After the Devotional, I opened my Bible to study Revelation chapters 21 and 22. Why did it require someone else’s desire for heaven to ignite the desire in my heart? As I reflected on Jesus’ promise of coming soon and His description of the new replacing the former sorrowful things, I had a come-to-Jesus right now experience. My spiritual focus needed realignment because the heartfelt desire for heaven is not based on intellectual knowledge.
Truthfully, the embers of my enthusiasm for eternal life were nearly extinguished by earthly concerns. I know that I am not alone. Sermons and digital content on the Second Coming of Jesus are rarely found. How did the Christian Community lose our joyful excitement over Jesus’ promises in John 14:1-3 and the book of Revelation?
What earthly magnet is pulling us away from excitedly preparing every day for Jesus’ Second Coming and receiving our heavenly reward of eternal life?
We are sojourners traveling on a chosen path that is tedious because God requires every believer to be transformed into the likeness of Christ. But we must never forget this temporary journey has an eternal heavenly destiny. The earthly life that we love is a distraction that has led us to feel comfortable with our present spiritual status.
Reflection: Is our answer a resounding Yes? “Am I living a sacrificial life holy and pleasing to God? If Jesus came today, would I receive eternal life? “
“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” —2 Peter 1:10-11
How do we make our calling and election sure?
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” —2 Peter 1:5-7
“For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” —2 Peter 1:8, NIV
How do we prepare for Jesus’ Second Coming? Jesus reminds us that the gate is narrow and few enter in. We choose to renounce sin. And we ask the Holy Spirit to rekindle our fire and desire for heaven. Our love for God is manifested by daily consecration, surrender, faithful obedience, much prayer, Bible study, and daily preparation for eternal life which reveals true heart conversion.
Like David, we pray, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).
“…the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people…” —1 Samuel 13:14
David was the appointed ruler who replaced the disobedient King Saul. God honored David by identifying him as, “A man after His own heart.” From studying his life and the Psalms, how was it possible for sinful David to hold such a high spiritual status with God? King David always acknowledged the dilemma of being born into iniquity—we have a deceitful heart and without the Lord, we are helpless to change ourselves.
“Lord, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.” —Psalm 141:1, 4
David’s response to his sinful nature was to persistently approach the Throne of Grace with humility and surrender. The Psalms are not only songs, but, they are prayers [desperate cries for God’s help] for the deliverance of inheriting a carnal heart that is driven to sin against God. David acknowledged, confessed, and repented of the sinful thoughts that dominated his mind.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” —Psalm 51:10
The Spiritual transformation required to receive eternal life occurs in our earthly lives. Until Christ comes again, we will face the internal battle of good and evil. Our response to overcoming a heart that is driven to please itself is to consistently fall to our knees. The Holy Spirit empowers us to change learned behaviors, inherited character traits, and secret desires.
“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
We are the only obstacle that prevents us from becoming men and women after God’s own heart. Yes, we must strive to live righteously, yet, the breakthrough to victory over sin is to acknowledge that we desperately need Jesus Christ. When we stay before the Throne of Grace, Jesus our Heavenly Intercessor covers us with His Righteousness, and we are presented as righteous to God, the Father.
“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” —John 17:24
When our heart-to-heart connection with Christ is strong, we will naturally desire to be where He is. A pure heart gives us the courage to remain steadfast and to look upward despite our earthly struggles. With Christ as our First Love and King, the Holy Spirit sharpens our spiritual focus—Christ’s goal for us to overcome is also our goal. The fire for a heavenly life burns within our hearts and at the forefront of our minds is the desire to hear, Well done!
“This world is not my permanent home, heaven is real, and with God’s help, I will receive my reward of eternal life!”
“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.’ ” —Revelation 21:5-7
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 20, 2024
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin’ ” —John 8:31-32, 34
“He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.” —Proverbs 21:21
To abide in Christ is to delve into the Scriptures and to obey and follow His commands. Jesus is the Word. Jesus is Truth! The Omniscient eyes of God roam the earth and He sees the true status of our hearts [Hebrews 4:13]. If our love for God is genuine and we desire to know the Truth then we are spiritually connected to the heart of Christ, and the Holy Spirit imparts the wisdom to understand the deeper meaning of the Scriptures and the Righteousness of Christ.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” —Matthew 5:6
Recently I read a post entitled “When will sermons change from feel good and return to the Gospel Truth?” To commit oneself to live a surrendered life, strive for holiness, pray fervently, and study the Scriptures only to hear “feel-good sermons” with selected truths must be a profound disappointment. Yet, one must not despair. Loving God with all of our hearts not only increases our faith, but our dedication allows the Holy Spirit to strengthen our bond with Christ.
“O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water.” —Psalm 63:1
The believer who wrote the post on seeking sermons based on spiritual sustenance was alerted by the Holy Spirit [our Spiritual Alarm] that something was not right. Not only will the Holy Spirit convict us of the sin within our hearts, but we will also receive warnings regarding the half-truths of omission when preached, written in many Inspirational books, and posted on the Christian blogs. Sadly, pastors and authors exist who are more interested in member and reader recognition than in Christ’s saving grace and teach messages that reinforce the false belief that eternal life is an easy reward.
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” —John 7:38
The believers who are desperately thirsting for Christ, the Living Water receive immediate Divine intervention. God does not allow those who seek to remain spiritually empty nor does He leave them in the darkness of only hearing the feel-good messages. The Holy Spirit responds to our prayers of faith for guidance by always revealing a Bible-based church whose pastoral staff is preparing its members for eternal life.
The apostle Paul wrote a warning for the church: “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3).
“The Greek word translated ‘itching’ literally means ‘to itch, rub, scratch, or tickle.’ To want one’s ears ‘tickled’ is to desire massages rather than messages—sermons that charm rather than challenge, entertain rather than edify, and please rather than preach.” Gotquestions.com
The reality is that Biblical prophecies are rapidly being fulfilled. We are the “Last Days” generation who desire to hear and read the all-is-well sermons and blogs that promote happiness and to enjoy one’s life because Christ paid it all. The messages of doing nothing for our spiritual transformation because we are covered by grace, or to do good and believe in your heart that you are going to heaven along with the “Name it and Claim It” prosperity and healing concepts are not Bible-Based.
“…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” —Hebrews 12:1-3
How did we transition from praying for the strength to persevere and run daily in the tumultuous Christian race to desiring an earthly life of bliss and contentment? “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).
In Matthew chapter 7, Jesus addressed Judging Others, Asking and Seeking Spiritual Blessings, the Narrow Way versus the Broad Way, Recognizing Signs of False Prophets and Teachers, I Never Knew You, and Building Our Spiritual Foundation on Christ, the Solid Rock. Jesus forewarned us that our lives would be filled with tribulations, yet, we must never lose hope because our victory is found in Him.
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” —1 Peter 3:15
Every member of the church is a disciple and was left with the responsibility to do our part in sharing the Gospel Truth. Whether we are Christian bloggers, writers, digital content and social media creators, prayer warriors, musicians, singers, poets, missionaries, Bible teachers, or on the maintenance crew in the upkeep of the church, every believer has the responsibility to tell others that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Praying for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to speak through us and for us only has one outcome, we post the One and Only Entire Truth, not from our perspective, but as willing vessels whom the Holy Spirit anoints. Yes, we have the freedom to use our individual styles of creativity, yet, we must never present God’s Truth as watered-down or carefully designed buffered messages of omission that flatter the readers, viewers, or ourselves.
Too much is given, much is expected. We must use our spiritual gifts to scratch itching ears with the powerful, life-changing Truth of the Word of God. Christ has chosen us to write, speak, sing, pray, and share the Scriptural messages of Truth given by the Holy Spirit that challenge, edify, and provoke both the creator and the viewer/hearer to experience deep conviction and desire true conversion of the heart.
“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.” —Luke 12:40,43
God, we thank You for the gift of Jesus, Your Son that we may receive eternal life if we so choose. Lord, we pray for the courage to share the One and Only Biblical Truth without hesitation even when we are rejected and scorned. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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