Bible – Page 33 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Rejoice and Be Glad! Appreciation of God’s Great Love

Rejoice and Be Glad! Appreciation of God’s Great Love – Devotional – January 7, 2024

In 2 Kings, Sennacherib the king of Assyria defiantly sent a message to King Hezekiah boasting against the LORD: “Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: What confidence is this in which you trust? You speak of having plans and power for war; but they are mere words. And in whom do you trust that you rebel against me?” (2 Kings 18:19-20).

King Hezekiah prayed fervently to God for deliverance from the king of Assyria. The prophet Isaiah delivered God’s answer to King Hezekiah: “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: “He shall not come into this city, Nor shoot an arrow there, Nor come before it with shield, Nor build a siege mound against it ” (2 Kings 19:32).

And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead” (2 Kings 19:35).

What is our first response when we face the unexpected vicissitudes of life? Do we pray immediately for Divine Intervention like King Hezekiah? Although we never think of fighting the spiritual warfare of physical harm without God’s help [the reason we pray for God’s Divine protection every day over our lives and those of our families], many believers attempt to resolve life’s challenges using their thoughts and strategies. Sadly, they never ask God for help until their solutions have failed.

“God cares for everything and sustains everything that He has created.” Steps to Christ

Studying the Bible increases our intellectual knowledge of who God is, but we must use our faith to believe in His promises and power. Faith allows us to live victoriously. Praying in faith every day is a significant part of a Christian’s lifestyle. When we fully trust God, prayer is always our first response. Like King Hezekiah, the words, God, I need Your help, immediately flow from our mouths.

Memorizing Scriptural promises prevents all anxiety and worries—God is our only stability. His promises are Yes, and we say, Amen [It is so]. Still, it is not enough to have intellectual knowledge of the Scriptures. Unwavering faith is vital in receiving Divine deliverance from our enemies and obstacles. A heart-to-heart relationship with Christ is based on our faith and gives us courage and confidence in God as we patiently wait for His help. Rejoice and celebrate His faithfulness!

Distractions are the enemy’s spiritual warfare designed to make us forget about God. In 2024, if we slow down, and eliminate unnecessary distractions, we will have time to focus on God’s love and promises. Through worship, the Holy Spirit gives us peace and reassurance that we are in God’s hands. The righteous have a reason to rejoice, we receive the unmerited attention of God every day.

For every battle, we have three Divine powers: God, the Father, Jesus, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit. Rejoice and celebrate God’s Divine Attention!

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” —Psalm 46:10

When strongholds arise, we do not have to develop strategies or try to resolve life’s issues. To “Be still” is to stop striving and to surrender to God. Pray in faith! “Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14, BSB). Yes, God will bring perfect resolutions and completion to our struggles. Rejoice and celebrate God’s Majestic Power and Divine Intervention!

Prayer: God, we thank You and celebrate Your Great love, attention, and intervention. We ask for forgiveness for self-reliance and being so distracted that we do not recognize Your loving-kindness toward us. We pray for greater faith and trust in Your Divine love. In Jesus’ Loving Name, we pray. Amen.

How Far Will You Go in Your Spiritual Journey?

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

Every thought, decision, and action reveals the destiny we choose for ourselves. God is doing all He can to save us. Yet, we are the masters of our destiny.

The Chosen Path

For our spiritual growth and transformation, God has chosen for us the path of suffering. Yet, most complain or feel that God is unjust and punishing us. Even Christ who was perfect suffered in His earthly life. Our trials, sorrows, and hardships prepare us to live, think, and choose righteousness over the sinful desires of our carnal hearts. God’s goal is to lead us from this earthly journey to our forever home in the New Heaven and New Earth.

Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Called to Share in Christ’s Suffering

Called to Share in Christ’s Suffering
Devotional – January 5, 2024

Called to Share in Christ’s Suffering -Sabbath Devotional – January 5, 2024

“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” —1 Peter 4:1-2

Today, the Holy Spirit gave me a new perspective on suffering trials and hardships. It is an honor to be chosen to suffer for Christ. In suffering, we relinquish self-reliance and choose righteousness over sin. Through daily self-surrender, we enter into a deeper love relationship with Christ, the Redeemer of this world. Because of God’s great love and faithfulness, we are not called to live a life of poverty and continuous suffering.

Yet, if we had the option, most would never choose suffering even if our reward of eternal life was at risk. Thankfully, God’s Divine Intervention designed our paths to produce the righteousness required for holiness in this life and the next life. God allows the trials that we must endure for the Holy Spirit to complete our spiritual restoration and transformation.

“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.’ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4

Our reward is eternal, filled with love, joy, peace, and happiness, living forever in a sinless world with Christ, our King.

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

Prayer: God, we thank You for covering us with Your grace and the mercies that allow us to live righteously. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

The Nature of the Holy Spirit – A Mystery

The Nature of the Holy Spirit – A Mystery Today’s Devotional – January 3, 2024

“And I will pray the father, and he will give you another Helper, that he may abide with you forever—the Spirit of Truth.” —John 14:16-17

“But the advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.” —John 14:26

“What? Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” —1 Corinthians 6:19

The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Triune Godhead who guides us into all Truth, transforms our minds, characters, and personalities, comforts us with Christ’s peace, gives us godly wisdom, and spiritual discernment, convicts our consciences of sin, and takes our prayers to Christ.

“And, ‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?’ ” —1 Peter 4:18

God knows we are impacted by our earthly [evil] environment and the countless voices promoting worldviews filled with compromise. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot fight the satanic power of spiritual warfare including daily temptations presented by Satan who uses masterful deceptions.

The Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom and discernment to understand God’s love, righteousness, grace, mercy, and the deeper meaning of the Scriptures. We require Spiritual guidance and strength to stay on the Path of Righteousness and to live every day as overcomers. Without the Holy Spirit, we are like the unbelievers who rely on their thoughts, live without a spiritual purpose, and seek peace in all the wrong places.

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:7-8).” Where do we stand as disciples of Christ who are living in these last days? Revelation prophecies are soon to be fulfilled. We are living in times comparable to the abject sinfulness of Noah’s times.

Christ’s Disciples: The disciples were face-to-face and walked with Jesus, the Son of God for three years. Because of their hidden agenda of always wondering who would be the greatest their faith and spiritual understanding remained weak for most of Christ’s earthly ministry. Except for John, the other disciples fearfully abandoned Jesus when He was crucified.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” —Acts 1:8

When Christ ascended, His disciples finally realized their desire to be great in an earthly kingdom would not happen. Yet, on the Day of Pentecost, all of Christ’s love, patience, and teachings given to His disciples, the Holy Spirit brought to fruition. Do we have a hidden agenda? Christ’s command to live holy and to be witnesses not only applied to His eleven disciples but we are also given the same spiritual responsibilities.

Yes, we desperately need the advocacy and power of the Holy Spirit! Most believers are familiar only with the name of the Holy Spirit. One of the reasons we suffer needlessly and become discouraged is that we attempt to use our strength to change and to live righteously. In the Scriptures, Jesus explained who the Holy Spirit is—the Spirit of Truth and His definitive purpose.

Because we do not enjoy studying the Bible, we seek human-derived explanations of the mysterious nature of the Holy Spirit which leads many to believe that He is optional in the believer’s life. Thankfully, God decided to only disclose certain aspects of His great power. We have enough on our plates without seeking human explanations regarding the mystery of the Spirit of Truth.

Reflection: Describe yourself from a spiritual perspective. It’s okay to be unsure. Everyone has weaknesses based on the desires of their hearts. What are your weaknesses? Since we cannot judge ourselves, the Spirit of Truth always reveals our sins.

Once we acknowledge, confess, and repent of our sinful traits, learned behaviors, and unrighteous desires, we receive God’s forgiveness and Divine intervention. Although we receive the supernatural strength to discard all unrighteous behaviors and habits, we must also practice self-control.

“Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.” —Psalm 37:24

Do not become discouraged when you fall! Confess, repent, and start over that same day. Spiritual transformation into the likeness of Christ’s character takes a lifetime of the Holy Spirit’s power and human cooperation.

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Our only strength is a heart filled with overwhelming love for God. Our love and loyalty produce the fruits of humility, faith, trust, and obedience [all of these characteristics are a result of using our free will of choice]. We choose to surrender to God’s will and plans. When we have a love relationship with Christ then we receive spiritual attributes given to us by the Holy Spirit.

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” —Romans 8:26

Do we need the Holy Spirit? He is the One who takes our feeble prayers and presents them to King Jesus, our Heavenly Intercessor who hears and answers our prayers. God, the Holy Spirit delivers our prayers to God, Jesus the Son. “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:4).

Prayer: God, we thank You for Your overwhelming love and dedication to humanity. We ask for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Thank You for interceding on our behalf. Thank You Jesus for sending the Holy Spirit to lead us from our earthly journey to our heavenly home. In Jesus’ Loving Name, we pray. Amen.

God Desires to Give Us Eternal Blessings

Devotional – January 2, 2024

Our lives would reach levels that we could never anticipate if we kept our focus on God. God’s thoughts, ways, and plans include Eternal blessings. Pray for the spiritual insight and the wisdom to reach for the hand of God who will lead you from this earthly existence to Revelation chapters 21-22.

STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Wait Patiently on the Lord

Wait Patiently on the Lord – Today’s Devotional -December 31, 2023

Believing in God’s love and faithfulness provides peace and strength when facing impossible situations. We serve an All-knowing God who tells us to live with courage because He has promised to take care of our difficulties. All God desires is our faith and much patience.

“He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.” Isaiah 40:29

Pray in faith, thank Him for His Divine intervention, and wait. God always gives perfect completion and victory!

Prayer: God, on the last day of 2023, we want to thank You for all of the blessings we have received. Your love is amazing! In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Reflecting on the Majesty and Glory of the Triune God

Reflecting on the Majesty and Glory of the Triune God – Sabbath Devotional – December 29, 2023

It was very saddening and disappointing to read the advice given to a new believer on a recent IG post. The majority did not speak about God’s love, majesty, power, grace, and abundant mercies. Instead, they gave many warnings about Satan’s power.

Ephesians chapter 6 tells us that spiritual warfare is real and we must stay faithful and armor ourselves through prayer and studying the word of God. Still, from Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with countless examples of God’s love and divine intervention for those created in His image.

Has Christianity declined to the point that our focus is on Satan and the fear of spiritual warfare instead of the love and Omnipotence of God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit?

We should never give credence to any power in heaven or earth above the Triune God. If so, we are not fully committed to God and need a revival of our love for Christ. As believers, we face constant battles [internal and external], which is the reason the Apostle Paul emphasized putting on the full armor of God along with maintaining unity and fellowship in the Christian community.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6

We hear and share a lot of non-essential information. Nothing compares to the gospel message of Jesus Christ. By witnessing, we can fight against the trending belief that Satan is more powerful than God. Witnessing is easily accomplished with the use of technology. Use social media to share Scriptures revealing God’s powerful love and faithfulness to humanity.

Many who are desperately seeking peace have not heard the message of a loving and powerful Savior who specializes in new beginnings. Living in perilous times requires that we also think of those who are living hopelessly in this dark world. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Share the gospel of Jesus Christ!

“Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it, the LORD is His name: Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” —Jeremiah 33:2-3

How well do you know God’s character? We will lose interest in God if we only have a minimal understanding of Him. From dedicating time to studying the Scriptures, God becomes real to us. The Holy Spirit, our Teacher, gives us a deeper understanding of God’s power and majesty, as well as the spiritual strength to live a holy life.

Our preparation for eternal life begins in our earthly lives. Worshiping God is the reason we were created. We serve a loving Father who patiently waits to commune with us. Persevere in prayer! Let your prayers be specific—pray for guidance, wisdom, and discernment from the Holy Spirit.

With faithful dedication, you will rejoice in your experiential knowledge of an awesome God to whom you will readily give all of your honor, glory, and praise, and share His goodness with others.

Prayer: God, we pray for a revival in our hearts so we will have the desire to seek and abide in You. We ask You to reveal Your plan and give us guidance in using our spiritual gifts to witness. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray, Amen.

Jesus Makes a Difference in Our Lives

Jesus Makes a Difference in Our Lives – Today’s Devotional – December 27, 2023

The pastor’s question, “Does your heart belong to Jesus?” was not rhetorical, yet the congregation remained quiet. Not one person responded with an affirmative answer. He then stated, “I expected to hear a resounding Amen to that question.”

“Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin…” —Romans 6:12-13

Documentaries have always been my absolute favorite. I enjoy learning about different cultures and ways of life around the world. My interest was piqued by the previews of a particular documentary that focused on amazing homes throughout the world built by indigenous persons.

The first hour was amazing—the creativity and skills revealed men and women using natural materials to build structurally sound homes that rivaled many of the proven architectural concepts. But halfway through the documentary, the content shifted from exploring different types of homes to an in-depth explanation of how one can enter the spirit world and worship the spirits of deceased ancestors.

I had a decision to make, would I ignore the discussion of pagan practices and continue watching the program?

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” —Proverbs 4:23, NLT

All stimuli that we embrace through our eyes and ears impact our morals, values, and most importantly our relationship with Christ. Satan always appeals to our senses of vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch to pull us into sinful activities. Striving to live holy is a challenge we face every day. Do not make your life harder by embracing worldviews and habits that are not easily forgotten.

The Old Testament documents the inner struggle of the Israelites who were mesmerized by the sensuality of paganism. Sadly, the chosen people who cried out to God for deliverance from Egyptian bondage never let go of idol worship. Due to a history of wilful disobedience, God only granted Joshua and Caleb from that generation and those who were under the age of 20 to enter the Promised Land.

Today’s idols are not wooden statutes nor would most Christians ever consider an in-person visit to a pagan church, yet modern Christians have more idols than documented in the Bible. Our money, jobs, relationships, entertainment, pursuit of desires and goals, and the use of our time are dedicated to pleasing ourselves.

Yet, we worship technology! Families no longer communicate with each other or enjoy meals together because everyone is on their devices. Advanced technology along with social media has pulled many Christians into embracing the corrupt content of popular programs, games, and online worldly conversations. Whether in ancient or modern times, idols still accomplish the same purpose—to separate us from God.

None are exempt from the influence and desensitization by the worldviews, violence, and greed that are an accepted way of life. Guarding our hearts [minds], eyes, ears, and spoken words every day is a tough assignment. Our activities will either draw us closer to Christ, or we will live as once-a-week Christians, attending church but never having a heart-to-heart relationship with Christ because of our misaligned habits.

Reflection: The answer to “Does my heart belong to Jesus?” is revealed by our decisions, actions, and lifestyles. We may be perplexed about many things, but we know whether or not our hearts belong to Jesus.

Old Testament: “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” —Deuteronomy 6:5

New Testament: “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

How can we understand Agape love? 1 Corinthians 13 is the Love Chapter from God’s heart to our hearts. For us to surrender our hearts to Christ, we must love as Jesus loves God, His Father, and fallen humanity. Surrender requires faith! Once we consecrate ourselves to God, the Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom to understand the magnitude of Jesus’ Righteous Love.

David prayed often for God to search his heart and reveal all wickedness. Much prayer is needed daily for our hearts to remain connected to Christ. Whether your prayers are silent or audible, talk to Jesus throughout your day. With the innumerable distractions we face, building a relationship with Christ requires steadfast dedication and great communication. We can never pray too much.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” —Philippians 4:8

The Bible reveals God’s great love for humanity. Most of the stories of God’s Divine intervention are in the Old Testament. The books of Joshua and Judges reveal that we serve a Warrior God. Yes, our Defender empowered a fickle people to win seemingly impossible battles against the massive armies of pagan kings. Although the children of Israel had a track record of disobedience, God revealed His tender heart when they repented of their sins by giving them victorious outcomes.

The Love and Life of Christ

The Four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John give four perspectives of Jesus’ earthly life. His Righteous Character impacted and changed the hearts of these men whose minds were focused on who would be the greatest. From studying the Scriptures, we learn our Savior’s character—His life demonstrated love, grace, and compassion that no human being will ever possess, still, we can strive to become Christ-like in our characters and temperaments.

Certainly, if we took the time to learn who Jesus is, and love Him, we would surrender our hearts to the One who says, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly [humble] in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

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

Internal Spiritual Transformation is Always Silent

Yes, Jesus makes a difference in our lives! When our hearts belong to Jesus, the Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome the temptations of sinful pleasures. We love, think, and act differently because we are being transformed from the inside. The Holy Spirit gives us the Divine strength needed to change our character and habits.

Christ’s Love Removes the Stains of Our Sins. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

Prayer: Jesus, we love You and thank You for Your amazing love. We invite You into our hearts and ask You to change us into Your likeness. In Your Holy Name, we pray, Amen.

Let Jesus Be the Reason for Your Life

Let Jesus Be the Reason for Your Life – Today’s Devotional – December 24, 2023

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” —Philippians 2:8

Jesus was born in a barn and for His first bed, He was lovingly placed by Mary into a feeding trough. Throughout His life, Jesus maintained the same humility. No home to call His own, our Savior lived to serve humanity. Yes, during His ministry, Jesus was homeless. Though guiltless, He obeyed His Heavenly Father and drank from the cup of sorrow [death], so we would not have to suffer the second and final death.

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” —James 4:10

Humility is the posture we take in surrendering our thoughts and ways to seek God’s direction. If we seek and abide in Christ, we are the recipients of His promises to give us abundant spiritual blessings. Yet, in His loving mercies, we do not have to be homeless or hungry because Christ has promised to supply all of our needs [Matthew 6:25-34].

Just as God required faithful obedience from His only Son, Jesus, we must also be willing to drink from the cup of sorrow every day by surrendering our will to God. Only then can we be led by the Holy Spirit to stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness that leads us from our earthly journey to our forever heavenly home. Let Jesus be the reason for every season in your earthly life.

Prayer: Jesus, we are in awe of Your great love and sacrifice. We ask for the strength to dismiss our desires and to surrender willingly to Your perfect plans. We ask this prayer in Your Holy Name, Amen.

Desire Peace? Do Not Remember the Former Things

Desire Peace? Do Not Remember the Former Things – Today’s Devotional – December 15, 2023

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” —Philippians 4:8

What do you think about in your spare time? Our thoughts are the number one reason we do not possess God’s peace. Take a moment to reflect on your thoughts for today. Were your thoughts positive and healthy? Did you focus on God’s goodness? Or did past memories steal your joy?

The memories of an unhealthy past has a stronghold on many believers. If our thoughts include regret from mistakes, anger from the loss of material things, unforgiveness from unhealthy childhoods, and the break-up of relationships and marriages, or hopelessness from unexpected life events that changed the trajectory of our life then we have major stumbling blocks to overcome before we can receive and enjoy God’s gift of internal peace.

Every Believer’s Spiritual Gifts: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” —2 Timothy 1:7

For those suffering from intrusive thoughts of the past, please know that unforgiveness produces the emotions of fear, anger, bitterness, despair, and resentment which take root in the heart. If your past causes regret then your heart is filled with guilt, remorse, and sorrow.

As time progresses, these emotions escalate and weaken your sound mind. Not only are you facing past remembrances, but your heart is filled with unrighteous traits that separate you from God.

“And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, ‘Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts?’ ” (Matthew 9:4). From Jesus’ question to the Pharisees, we see that our thoughts reveal the hidden condition of our hearts. To gain victory over our thoughts [and receive peace] our hearts must be converted.

For us to rid ourselves of unrighteous thoughts, we must pray for forgiveness, and ask God to give us a clean heart. Our surrender allows the Holy Spirit to convert and transform our hearts and characters into the likeness of Christ. Overcoming intrusive thoughts and displaced emotions becomes part of our spiritual journey.

“Do not remember the former things, Or ponder the things of the past. ‘Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.’ ” —Isaiah 43:18, [Amplified Bible]

Christ is Our Example: The attitude of a believer is to resemble the attitude of Christ. Every day Christ was rejected by the Pharisees and many scoffers. Did you know that when Jesus was in the synagogue at Nazareth [the town in which Joseph, Mary, Jesus, and His siblings lived], the people became angry and attempted to throw Him off of a cliff? [Read Luke chapter 4, verses 16-30].

Jesus left us with a characteristic we must model. On the cross, He prayed, “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’ And they divided His garments and cast lots” (Luke 23:34).

The habit of focusing on the past is one of the toughest habits to overcome. Many Christians have held onto unforgiveness or guilt for so long that they no longer have a relationship with Christ. We must let go! When negative thoughts threaten to break our resolve and leave us feeling powerless, we must immediately pray! Persevere in prayer!

“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

The intentional action of talking to God is our only effective weapon against past thoughts. Pray the simple prayer of “God, I need Your help.” Do not rush your worship with God. You are praying for deliverance! Keep praying, day-by-day, until you gain victory.

All heaven is on alert from the cries of the righteous for Divine help. No, we cannot cleanse our minds or prevent the triggers that produce the uprising of painful memories. Yet, with the strength of the Holy Spirit, we are given the spiritual ability to do what we cannot do in our human weaknesses.

Only Divine Power can break the stronghold of our thoughts. We must remain in the posture of worship until we feel the comfort and power of the Holy Spirit. Yes, we can feel the sweet peace of deliverance. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ imparts His peace and spiritual strength which permeates your mind, body, and soul. You will feel empowered by the Spirit of God.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” —Psalm 147:3

God does not desire for the righteous to remain broken. Although we are not promised physical healing, Jesus promises to heal our mental and emotional wounds and to fill our spiritual emptiness when we ask for healing. To remain broken not only prevents us from having a relationship with Christ, we would fail to receive spiritual growth and transformation.

Only Christ can give us freedom from past remembrances and displaced emotions. If we understood the power of prayer, without fail, we would intentionally place ourselves in the presence of God throughout our waking hours. Prayer redirects our focus to the majesty and power of our Heavenly Father.

STOP: [Stand-down Thoughts of Past Events]

Humanity was not only created in the physical image of God but we also were created to have the mind of Christ. We have identified praying as the first response to cease thinking about the past, but we also must exercise faith in God and utilize self-control. Self-control is a Fruit of the Spirit that allows us to STOP the unhealthy thoughts of our past lives.

Reflection: Think of something you want to buy, and you don’t have enough money, but can’t use credit. Your sound mind and the attribute of self-control prevent you from becoming obsessed with your desire. Would you let that desire overpower your mind and think about nothing else? Certainly not! Until you are in the position to financially afford the item you choose not to remember your desire.

Desire Peace? The Path to Peace requires us to use our gift of a sound mind, exercise the fruit of self-control, and focus on the Giver of all Good Gifts. Choose not to remember! God has promised to do new things in our lives if we give up the negativity of our past. With joyful anticipation, we can expect God to bring His promises to fruition in our lives.

Prayer: Lord God, we thank You for creating us in Your image. We pray for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit to deliver us from the stronghold of the intrusive thoughts of our past or an unknown future. Lord, we pray for healing and peace. Thank You for Your abundant love. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.