“And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:22-23).
Jesus tells us that every human being has sinned by disobeying God. Peter messed up and denied Jesus three times, still Jesus did not condemn him, Jesus restored him by asking Peter three times, “Do you love Me?”
We give Praises to God, the Father and God, Jesus the Son Jesus, who completed the Plan of Redemption on Calvary’s Cross, which includes confession, repentance, and God’s forgiveness for our sins.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).
Do not hold onto and grieve over your past experiences and mistakes. Refusing to forgive, nurturing anger, sadness, and despair over the past reveal unbelief [not using our faith to actively believe] in God’s Gift: “…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
“Through Christ’s atoning sacrifice, we are adopted into the family of God, and we proclaim, ‘Abba, Father!'”
Even God cannot change our past, but if we are willing to use our faith and believe in His promise of “making something new,” He will reset our lives and make beauty from the ashes of our past.
“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19, NLT).
The Gift: Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are declared righteous. The Apostle Paul tells us that from accepting Christ as our personal Savior, we become “new creations,” who are covered by Christ’s Righteousness, and as Sons and Daughters of God, we can expect to receive God’s greatest blessings.
Spiritual Restoration is a gift from God that requires us to live holy: “Be holy, for I Am Holy.” (1 Peter 1:16).
We connect to Christ and stay anchored in Him through daily surrender, faithful obedience, and personal worship [Prayer and Bible Study].
Yes, we use our faith to love, honor, and revere God by implicitly trusting and obeying Him. To receive God’s promises of Spiritual Renewal and Restoration, we cannot have a divided heart.
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).
Our inherited Hearts naturally gravitate toward fulfilling our desires, but Self-Reliance is willful disobedience against God. The heart filled with love for God easily embraces and practices a “God First” mindset and lifestyle.
The Lifestyle of Daily Surrender: We let go of our thoughts and strategies by always praying for God’s Guidance before making decisions. “Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7).
Even when we fall, with Agape Love and Mercy, Jesus extends His hand, which is an invitation for us to get up and try again. But this time, we use our faith to trust and obey our Shepherd by relying on His Divine Guidance and Strength. Yes and Amen!
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27).
Lord God, we confess that by living to fulfill our desires, we have redirected our faith and focus to ourselves. Our decisions are based on our thoughts and emotions, and for these sins of disobedience, we ask You for forgiveness. Our past experiences and mistakes have produced many consequences, but most importantly, we have forgotten that loving You requires us to put You First and to obey Your Will. In faith, we ask You to teach us how to love, to heal us from our past, and to restore our relationship with You. With gratitude and joy, we look forward to receiving Your promise of doing something new in our lives. With humility, we ask for these spiritual blessings in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“I spoke my message with spiritual power so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.” (2 Corinthians 2:4-5, GW)
The Apostle Paul’s message to the members of the Church in Corinth is a reminder that it is God’s Word and His Power that strengthens our faith.
God does not ask us to have blind faith, He has already given us so many reasons to believe:
God’s Love is evident through the Divine Gift of His Son, Jesus Christ; we pray and immediately receive His Help; and Yahweh Yireh freely gives us the daily Blessings of life, health, strength, provisions, and protection from His Army of guardian angels.
“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). And, we have a sound mind with the ability to reason and make prudent choices.
And yet, even with all these blessings, we choose doubt over faithfully trusting God. How do we get past the obstacle of doubting God?
We were given a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). Every day, we use our faith to believe and trust in human thoughts and strategies.
“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7). Letting go of the unbeliever’s practice of self-reliance, which always excludes God is not as easy as we think.
Overcoming the Stronghold: Relying on human wisdom satisfies the sin of Pride hidden deep within our hearts.
To have steadfast faith in God requires the humility to redirect our faith and focus from human wisdom and artificial intelligence, back to God.
“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13). This command cannot be obeyed without receiving Divine Strength from the Holy Spirit.
Each new day brings distractions and temptations that we will not recognize and overcome unless, we surrender ourselves to God, asking the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and strengthen our faith.
Requisite for Intentional Faith: Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures
The Bible tells us that God is Eternal, Holy, Sovereign, and has Absolute Power and Authority:
“Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: ‘Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge. Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. ‘Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?'” (Job 38:1-4, NIV).
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'” (Matthew 28:18).
Yes, trusting God requires that we have Scriptural knowledge of God’s Sovereignty, still there is so much more to learn about God’s Character:
God Is Omniscient: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'” (Isaiah 55:8-9).
God Is Love: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3, Amplified Bible).
Our Heavenly Father has a tender, responsive and forgiving heart that Loves, Cares, Helps, Protects, and Provides for His [obedient] Sons and Daughters.
God’s Proclamation: “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
Scriptural knowledge provides the Spiritual Foundation to build a strong faith and trust in God, but we must also honor God by using our faith to believe that God is Who He says He is.
The Invitation: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the Throne of Grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16).
The Promise: “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” (Ezekiel 36:26, NLT).
Committing to follow Jesus with faithful obedience results in a spiritual heart transplant. Our faith invites the Holy Spirit to convert our heart, connecting us to Jesus’ Heart.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28, ESV).
As long as we use our faith to trust and obey God’s Plans for our lives, the Holy Spirit keeps us anchored in Christ, resulting in an unbreakable relationship with our Shepherd.
Humility Cures Worldliness: “So place yourselves under God’s authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.” (James 4:7, GW).
Reflection: How often do you have personal worship? Praying, Studying the Bible, Singing, and Thanking God for His Abundant Blessings?
“Could it be that we too need a spiritual renovation, a genuine, real, moment-by-moment walk with God?”
Using our faith, every morning, we must put on our Spiritual Armor [Ephesians 6].
“But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6, Amplified Bible).
Although we participate in Family Worship, we should practice the habit of “Separation, Solitude, and Silence.” Our daily journey with Jesus is sustained by having an intimate one-to-one relationship with Him.
Spiritual Bread: “Give us this day our daily bread. Beyond physical food, it is a prayer to partake of Christ, who is the ‘Bread of Life.'”
“As physical food strengthens our bodies daily, we must also feed every day on the Word of God through the Holy Spirit to renew our souls.”
Every morning and evening, separate yourself from all distractions, praying for the forgiveness of your sins, which is required for us to enter into God’s Holy Presence.
Our willingness to surrender to faithfully follow Jesus is rewarded by God, the Holy Spirit, who renews our mind, body, and soul with the refreshing Living Water of Jesus Christ, giving us increased faith, wisdom, discernment, and strength.
Spiritual growth and transformation of our mind and character into the Righteousness of Christ cannot be accomplished through weekly Church attendance.
The time spent in personal worship praying, praising, and thanking God along with studying the Bible, affirms and strengthens our faith, preparing us for an eternity of worshiping God, the Father and God, the Son [Jesus Christ]. Yes and Amen!
“I have decided to follow Jesus, and there is no turning back!”
Lord God, we confess that our faith is weak because we have used our thoughts and limited perceptions to attempt to navigate through life. And for this sin against You, we ask for forgiveness. Thank You, for Your love and faithfulness, and our abundant daily blessings. Lord, in faith, we come to You, asking for restoration and a new beginning in our Journey with Jesus. With humility, we express the desire to surrender and renew our covenant of faith. And we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Loving and Righteous Name, Amen.
“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).
The Wide Gate: “This path is easy and popular. It’s the path of least resistance—living for worldly pleasures, self-promotion, and following the crowd. But it leads to destruction.”
The Narrow Gate: “This Path is difficult. It requires faith and trusting God’s Plans, daily personal sacrifice, humility, and obedience to God’s Will. It demands commitment and denying our desires, Jesus tells us that only a few choose it.”
As I reflected on the daily struggle required to stay on the Narrow Path, the Holy Spirit reminded me of John 3:16 and John 14:1-3.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NIV).
God, the Father and God, Jesus, the Son are Omniscient, so they knew that Adam and Eve would disobey before Jesus created them. Still, Jesus said, Father, I will give my life to redeem humanity from certain death, the consequence of sin [Romans 6:23].
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV).
Yes, the Narrow Path requires us to say, No when our family and friends are inviting us to have fun and fulfill our desires, because you only live once.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27).
But deep within our hearts, we love our Shepherd, and we will continue our faith journey of being led and guided by the Holy Spirit, who tells us, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.'” (Isaiah 40:31, NIV).
Jesus’ Promises to His Faithful Sheep
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3).
“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21). Yes and Amen!
Lord God, we love You and we are grateful for the Love Gift of Jesus Christ, Your Only Son. And Jesus, we love You, and appreciate the Love Gift of Your Life, which gives us Redemption, Grace, and Mercy. In faith, we will continue to follow You on the Narrow Path. Jesus, we know that we cannot follow You, using our thoughts and strength, so, we humbly ask You to please be our Strength. As we celebrate Your Holy Sabbath, we pray for all believers that they will decide to follow You with total surrender and faithful obedience. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“You have not because you do not ask” is a Scripture that many of us have memorized. With expectation that God will say, Yes, we eagerly pray, asking God for the things that will make us happy.
“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13).
The Condition: We will only receive a “Yes” from Jesus, [our Heavenly Intercessor, who receives all prayers], if we ask for things that glorify God, the Father.
God, the Father’s Priorities For Every Believer
Our necessities of life; a relationship with Jesus; renouncing sin; daily spiritual growth; and the transformation of our character into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character, required to receive Eternal Life are God, the Father’s Plans for every faithful believer.
In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus promises to give us all of our necessities of life:
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Verse 25).
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles [unbelievers] seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Verses 31-32).
God Is Yahweh Yireh: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17).
Spiritual Healing: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3).
God promises to heal us from mental disorders and emotional trauma because those conditions prevent spiritual growth and transformation.
“The book of James contains a lot of practical instruction for how Christians should live their lives. The Apostle wrote to believers who seemed to have quite a few problems with their [desires] and behavior.”
Reflection: How are we spending our money and our time? Do our habits reflect that we recognize that time and money are blessings and gracious gifts from God?
Stewardship is properly managing our resources that God has given to us. Conservative management reveals that our heart is filled with gratitude and we use our ability to practice the discipline of self-control.
God Answers Our Question: “Why hasn’t God answered my prayer?”
God’s Reasons For Unanswered Prayers
#1: “You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your desires.” (James 4:3, Amplified Bible).
In this Scripture, James specifies selfish desires as one of God’s reasons for denying our requests.
#2: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19, 21).
Although, not every prayer is a request for money, our focus is on material possessions; a car, house, or a better job, a husband or wife, and many other specific desires.
#3: “But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:10, NLT).
God knows the hidden secrets of our hearts that reveal our true characters and personalities. Will we value the gift instead of The Giver?
#4: Self-reliance Instead of Faithful Obedience: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46).
Reflection: Ask yourself, What is my relationship like with Jesus Christ? Do I use my faith to surrender and let go of my desires, asking God to reveal His plans for the new day?
Recap of God’s Priorities: Revealing His Plans For Your Life, Meeting Our Spiritual and Physical Needs, and Rewarding Faithful Believers With Eternal Life
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'” (Isaiah 55:8-9, NKJV).
“So is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11, NIV).
God gifted His only Son, Jesus to redeem us from the consequences of sin and to reward the faithful with Eternal Life in the New Heaven and New Earth.
Have we aligned our desires with God’s desire to save our soul? Yes, we were created with free will of choice, yet, we are required to acquiesce to God’s Sovereign Authority.
“Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5).
Every day, our desires, decisions, and lifestyles reveal whether or not, we are faithfully following Christ, Our Savior and Shepherd on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.
In John 16:33, Jesus tells us that our Spiritual Journey will be a tough journey, but for us to be courageous, because He will give us the strength to overcome our challenges.
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'” (Matthew 11:28, NLT).
To establish and maintain our relationship with Jesus, the focus of our daily prayers should be spiritual, asking God to increase our faith, teach us humility, and to empower us with wisdom, courage, and strength.
“Ask, then; ask, and you shall receive. To every sincere prayer an answer will come. It may not come just as you desire, or at the time you look for it; but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your needs.”
“The prayers you offer…God answers, not always according to your expectations, but always for your good.”
“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.'” (Luke 11:1, NIV).
Lord God, we thank you for life, health, strength, and our daily provisions. Lord, teach us how to pray. We struggle with prioritizing our spiritual needs over our desires. We know that Your ways are perfect. And we ask You to teach us how to live a life of self-denial, which is necessary to prepare for Eternal Life. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Jesus Christ Is The Foundation of Christianity and Our Faith: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'” (John 14:6).
When Jesus knocked at the door of our hearts, we accepted Him as Lord and Savior, and we were adopted into the family of God as His Sons and Daughters.
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11).
Our spiritual responsibilities include loving God; loving others, including our enemies; and witnessing to the world that accepting Jesus makes a difference in our lives.
Yes, every believer has the responsibility to represent God’s Love and Jesus’ Saving Grace to the world.
A smile, kind words, being patient, helping others, and telling someone, Jesus, loves you reveals our heart to heart connection with Jesus, giving hope to those who are blind from living in a spiritually dark world.
“You are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14, 16).
“The Meaning: We are commanded to live an active, visible faith through love, compassion, and kindness so that our actions represent Christ’s love.”
“As lights of the world, we live this out by practicing daily acts of generosity, patience, forgiveness, and helping those in need.”
Being Lights of the World Requires Courage
“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). Every human being is gifted with the ability to love God, love others, and to love themselves.
God Is Love: Love Is The Greatest Gift
“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2).
“When love fills the heart, it will flow out to others…Love modifies the character, governs the impulses, subdues enmity, and ennobles the affections. This love is as broad as the universe, and is in harmony with that of the angels.”
“[God’s Love] cherished in the heart, sweetens the entire life and sheds its blessing upon all around.” It is His love, and only His love that can make us the lights who reflect His Divine Light.
When our hearts are converted by the Holy Spirit, we easily manifest God’s Love, Grace, and Mercy, because Christ’s Love and Righteousness spiritually transforms our hearts [minds], characters, and personalities.
The Challenge: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind… .” (Romans 12:2).
Because we inherited sinful hearts, Pride naturally exists within us. Without the transforming and sustaining Power of the Holy Spirit, we will manifest:
Self-Reliance, Individualism, selfishness, the lack of love and compassion, and diminished ethics, morals, and values. Human effort alone cannot stop these sinful behaviors from easily taking root and growing in our hearts.
“For what will a man give in exchange for his soul and eternal life [in God’s kingdom]?” (Mark 8:37, Amplified Bible).
The Challenge: Overcoming the temptations of the acquisition of wealth, success, secular pleasure, and relationships with unbelievers, who the enemy uses to weaken our faith and self-control.
Embracing and Relying on Jesus’ Powerful Strength: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10-11, NIV).
Overcoming Through Separation, Solitude, and Silence
Daily Personal Worship [Prayer and Bible Study] Keeps Us Connected to Christ: Every morning and evening, we set uninterrupted time [eliminating all distractions] to “Armor Up.”
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.” (John 15:4, NIV).
Loving God motivates us to stay connected to Jesus Christ. Daily Surrender, Prayer and Bible Study invites the Holy Spirit to give us the Spiritual Reinforcements of wisdom, discernment, and strength.
“Pray continuously.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Throughout our day, if we mentally whisper silent prayers for Divine Guidance and Strength, the Holy Spirit pours Christ’s Wisdom and Strength into our minds and bodies.
It is impossible for Satan to deceive us into embracing his temptations when we stay connected to Christ.
Consistent worship invites the Holy Spirit to transform our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character and empower us with Jesus’ Divine Strength to mature into loving, peaceful Sons and Daughters of God.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26).
Despite the impact that sin has on our hearts, from accepting Christ as our personal Savior, He cleanses our hearts, and gives us compassionate hearts that are responsive to His Voice and the needs of others.
“The object of God in choosing a people before all the world was not only that He might adopt them as His Sons and Daughters, but that through them the world might receive the Grace that brings salvation.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23).
When life is busy and things are chaotic, our calm facial expression and undisturbed demeanor speaks louder than spoken words, revealing that we are connected to a Higher Power.
Yes, representing the Character of Christ invites the Holy Spirit to touch the hearts of those who watch us. Some will assume that we are practicing the learned behavior of military discipline, but there may be one or two, who wish deep within their hearts they could have our peace.
How do they know we are Christians? When we are connected to Christ, His Light shines through us. Even those who have not accepted Christ, also received the same spiritual gifts [2 Timothy 1:7] that we have.
The Mysterious Power of the Holy Spirit [Acts 2]
The individuals who paid attention, desiring peace, invite the Holy Spirit to speak to their hearts. Whether it is at that point, or later, they will receive the invitation to accept Jesus, who is the Only One that gives the joy, peace, and patience, we manifested.
Prayer Is Our Spiritual Lifeline to Jesus Christ, Our Heavenly Intercessor: Every day, we must fight the good fight of faith on our knees.
We always need to take the time to pray, meditate, and reflect deeply on the Life of Christ and His sacrificial gift on Calvary’s Cross. Only Jesus’ strength can empower us to rise above life’s continuous stressors and daily challenges.
Alone, in secret prayer, we talk to Christ as if He is our Best Friend, with honor, respect, and genuine words that express our consistent need for Him, and His spiritual blessings.
“Lord, today, keep me anchored by revealing Your plans for my life. Guide my words, actions, and decisions and give me the opportunity to reveal Your Love to others… .”
The foundation of this prayer reveals our willingness to surrender in faith to God’s Will and Plans and our desire to witness Jesus’ Everlasting Love.
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3, Amplified Bible).
“Lord God, today, we ask for forgiveness of our sins. Thank you for sustaining our lives with spiritual and material blessings that we often take for granted. We surrender to follow and obey our Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Lord, keep us anchored by revealing Your Will for our lives, giving us the wisdom and strength to complete Your perfect plans. Guide us in our decisions and provide us with the opportunity to reveal Your Love to others. Lord, as your Sons and Daughters, we love You and bow to Your Sovereign Authority because You are our Holy Father. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus, Amen.
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26). This conversation between God, the Father, and God, Jesus, His Son, reveals the Christian believer’s identity.
In John chapter 17, Jesus prays for Himself, His twelve disciples, and His future disciples, which included everyone who accepts Christ as their personal Savior.
“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, ‘Follow Me!’ And he got up and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9, NASB).
Matthew’s silence and his decision to abandon his corrupt job and lifestyle revealed that deep within his heart, he desired to give up sinful habits and follow Jesus Christ on an unknown spiritual journey.
Reflection: Do we perceive ourselves as committed disciples who desire to follow Christ with love, loyalty, and obedience?”
“Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). Yet for the Holy Spirit to live in us, we must fulfill God’s Spiritual Qualifier: “Be holy, for I AM Holy.” (1 Peter 1:16). How does holiness affect the minds and lives of true believers?
Can you imagine being invited to an event requiring formal evening wear, only to hear in the closing remarks an invitation to play volleyball in your finest clothing? As absurd as this sounds, many believers accept Christ as their personal Savior, but engage in the world’s sinful, filthy habits.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8). To be clothed with Christ’s Righteousness, we must renounce sinful thoughts, habits, behaviors, and spoken words, and live a Christ-centered, Faith-based life of daily surrender and obedience.
Since we cannot live holy without Divine Power, through daily personal worship, we establish a heart-to-heart relationship with Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit begins the lifelong process of Spiritual growth and transformation. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).
Every day, our priority is to renew our spiritual commitment to follow Christ, which connects us to our Shepherd and reinforces our status as Sons and Daughters of God. We ask God to reveal His plans for the new day, and the Holy Spirit instructs and gives us guidance on fulfilling God’s Will.
Yes, God knows that we have jobs and the routine duties of life to take care of, yet we are commanded to put God first. Time Management is God’s Specialty. With His guidance, we can accomplish our daily tasks and still have time and energy to fulfill our spiritual assignments.
The Challenge of Remaining Faithful and Obedient to God, Our Father
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). As Sons and Daughters of God, we have a spiritual requirement to always obey God. We honor God’s Sovereign Authority through faithful obedience because He is God, our Father, who loves us, and we love Him because we are His heirs.
“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23, NIV). Always pray for Divine guidance before making decisions. Although the challenge can appear insignificant, following our thoughts and solutions is disobedience to God, “I say, ‘My purpose will stand.'” (Isaiah 46:10).
When we love and honor God, how can we justify playing the Game of Chance by trying to resolve our challenges, which can result in escalation and consequences that we can avoid by asking God for the answers?
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9). God is always faithful! Each new day brings unknown obstacles, temptations, and dangers that only our Protective Heavenly Father knows and can resolve.
Pray, Wait for God’s Answer, and Obey: Dependency on God is not a burden when we desire to follow Christ with love, loyalty, and faithful obedience. Obedience is the worship that keeps us aligned with God’s Will because God’s Intervention always ends in Victory!
“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, NIV). Without Christ, we are no match for Satan. Praying for Spiritual Guidance keeps us aligned with God’s plans and invites Jesus, our Mighty Warrior, to send angels to intervene when we face daily unknown obstacles, temptations, and dangers.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1, NIV).
As children of God, we maintain our spiritual connection with Christ through Prayer and Bible Study. Every day, we pray for God’s Will to be revealed, relying on the Holy Spirit to instruct us in our Heavenly Father’s plans for each new day.
In John chapter 10, Jesus tells a parable of the loving and tender relationship between a shepherd and his sheep: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27). “But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” (John 10:5, NIV).
Not only are we bombarded by the world’s voices, promising that if we follow their suggestions, our lives will improve and we will live peaceful and contented lives, but we must also fight against thinking our own thoughts [Proverbs 3:5-7] and Satan’s temptations.
Let go of self-reliance! To avoid embracing Satan’s schemes, we must do as Jesus did in His earthly life; Jesus prayed continuously. Whisper prayers at work and throughout the day and night. Always pray for Spiritual Wisdom and Discernment, and the Holy Spirit will empower you with spiritual insight and guide your steps.
Loving God and Following Christ With Surrender Is A Daily Choice
In Matthew 22:37, Jesus reiterates the command given in the Old Testament to love God with immense love: “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).
When we love God with our all, we will not hesitate to pray and obey our Heavenly Father, who loves us and desires to give us our best lives, including the reward of Eternal Life. Yet, we were created with free will, and we must choose to obey God, which reveals the true condition of our hearts.
Many believers have their own agendas, plans, and goals, never considering that we must love and obey God by following Christ, our Shepherd. Sadly, if we refuse to surrender, then we have chosen to disinherit ourselves as Sons and Daughters of God, for which there is no reward, except the life we are living now.
“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind.” (Jeremiah 17:9, ESV). “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21, ESV). Since it is impossible to hide secrets from God, He knows who genuinely loves Him and desires to surrender and obey His Will and Perfect Plans.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” (John 14:6, NIV). When we love God, we strive to follow our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, with faithful obedience. Jesus tells us that He is the Living Water and the Bread of Life, and that we should seek Him daily through Prayer and Bible Study.
“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). As Sons and Daughters of God, accepting our spiritual identity is the catalyst for making definitive changes. We no longer participate in worldly habits and behaviors, and our thoughts and spoken words reveal God’s Love.
Using our faith to trust and obey our Heavenly Father, we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, who performs the lifelong, daily spiritual process of Sanctification—Spiritual growth and transformation into the Righteousness of Christ.
By studying the Holy Scriptures, we learn Christ’s Character and how to live righteously. Prayer invites God, the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Truth and our Teacher, to give us spiritual wisdom and discernment of God’s One and Only Truth, instructs us on how to recognize Jesus’ Guiding Voice, and empowers us to stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.
God Speaks With a Quiet and Peaceful Voice: The Holy Spirit conveys God’s messages through our thoughts and the Holy Scriptures. God meets us where we are spiritually; His instructions are clear and concise, so that even a child can understand.
John 16:13: “When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth…” (The Holy Spirit reveals truth and direction). We recognize the difference between human thoughts and God’s higher thoughts and ways, because His instructions always glorify and honor His Holy Name.
From eliminating distractions and putting God First, we will see ourselves through spiritual eyes as Sons and Daughters of the Most-High God. Jesus, our Savior and Triumphant King, is preparing us [through the Holy Spirit] to receive the Eternal Reward of our Forever Home in the New Heaven and New Earth with Abba, God, our Father, and Jesus, our Triumphant King. Hallelujah! Yes and Amen!
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh…those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16, 21-25).
Lord God, with surrender, we acknowledge that we are the temple of the Living God, in which the Holy Spirit resides. Today, we accept our identity as Your Sons and Daughters, with the commitment to strive every day for righteousness by not embracing the darkness of worldviews or following the path of self-gratification. Lord, it is only through your strength that we can remain faithful, and today, we ask for Your Strength. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Powerful Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Lord God, As we worship and honor You on Your Holy Sabbath Day, we ask for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This week has drained us physically, mentally, and emotionally. We thank You for renewing us during our daily morning worship. Lord, from ceasing our secular activities in obedience to Your Commandment, we ask for a double portion of the blessings of wisdom, discernment, and restoration. Refresh us spiritually, as we eat the Bread of Life and drink from the Well of Living Water. With love and faith, we ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24).
Why do we worry about the future? The only future event we should be preparing for is found in John 14:1-3 and Revelation 22:12.
Choosing to be grateful is a daily commitment, revealing that we are following Jesus’ Commandment to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Gratitude changes our perception of life from “I want” to “God has given me everything that I need for today.” Our most frequent prayer should be, Thank You, God, which reveals that we honor and revere The Giver of all good gifts.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17, CSB).
Reflecting on our blessings and whispering, Thank You, God is an intentional act of worship, recognizing that our Heavenly Father is always faithful and loves us unconditionally.
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.'” (Hebrews 13:5, BSB).
The future belongs to God. Praise and worship Him for the gift of today! Yes and Amen!
LORD God, thank You for this new day that offers new challenges and abundant opportunities. Thank You, for Your Ruach breath flowing through our lungs. And Thank You, that we are not hungry, can care for ourselves, and if not, we thank You for dedicated caregivers. With this new day, we recognize that our minds are alert and oriented, and with gratitude, we say, Hallelujah for Your Faithfulness! Lord, most importantly, we humbly bow, thanking You for the gift of Jesus Christ, who has redeemed us from the deathly consequences of sin. With immense gratitude, we pray in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5)
Ask God for a Pure Heart: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10). Planning for eternity with our Savior and King, Jesus Christ, requires daily preparation.
Morning worship is our daily priority. Prayer establishes and maintains our spiritual connection to Jesus Christ. We pray, expressing gratitude for the gift of a new day, thanking God for His faithfulness and blessings.
And most importantly, we ask God to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Yes, every day, we must ask for a pure heart, spiritual wisdom, discernment, and the strength to overcome our desires, and to stand against the enemy’s temptations.
In John 16:33, Jesus warns us that our lives will include exposure to the world’s love for and promotion of wealth, material possessions, and relationships, which always require compromise.
Satan’s goal is to entice us to embrace his redefined morals and values instead of preparing for Revelation 22:12.
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (Revelation 22:12-13).
Although it is common for us to think that Jesus’ Promise of making a New Heaven and New Earth was given first to John, the Apostle in Revelation, the prophet, Isaiah, also received Jesus’ Promise: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” (Isaiah 65:17).
We Are Temporary Travelers Living On A Temporary Earth: Sadly, the goals, pursuits, and lifestyles of many believers reveal they are not preparing to receive their Eternal Crown of Life. Salvation is free; Eternal Life is a reward.
“And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].” (Romans 12:2, Amplified Bible).
Because we are affected by what we see, hear, smell, taste, and touch, we must be on high Spiritual Alert, intentionally filtering the stimuli we allow into our brains.
Yes, we love God, still, every believer has inherited a sinful heart and struggles with unfiltered thoughts and desires running through our minds.
When unrighteous thoughts and desires enter our minds, we must react as if it is an emergency! Immediately separate yourself to pray, asking God for strength.
If we continue to dwell on impure thoughts, Jesus tells us, “We are already guilty of committing the sins we are thinking about.”
“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, NIV). For over 6,000 years, Satan has presented his highly skilled covert temptations as minor deviations from God’s Truth that really are not so sinful.
The Devastation of Embracing Satan’s Temptation
Satan told Eve: “Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die.'” (Genesis 3:4). Not only did Adam and Eve lose their immortality, but the first death was required to give them animal skins for clothing, Cain killed his brother Abel, and the Earth was cursed with human, animal, and plant death, which will last until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Covert Temptations: Conversations and activities that entice us to compromise and disobey God, resulting in our separation from the Righteousness of Christ.
The work environment is one of the easiest ways that Satan uses to expose us to conversations involving pleasure-seeking activities. Active listening always piques our mind’s interest, easily persuading us to compromise God’s command “Be holy, for I AM Holy.”
Political Debates: The statement, “We can agree to disagree, ” is a deceptive entrapment. Conversations involving opposing viewpoints produce hidden and lingering emotional feelings of anger and resentment.
As believers, if we are connected to Christ, we should easily avoid the obvious sinful activities of watching programs and games with sexual content and violence, but “Secular Music” also produces unholy effects on the brain:
“Music profoundly impacts the mind by activating multiple brain areas…It boosts dopamine for pleasure and motivation, lowers cortisol to reduce stress, enhances memory retrieval, and [redirects] our focus. Music evokes strong emotional responses… .”
Covert Temptation [Example]: Grape vineyards are phenomenal plants that produce beautiful and delicious grapes. However, as Christian believers, we should avoid attending winery tours, even if we do not participate in wine tasting. If the event is promoted by unbelievers, then Christ would never attend or approve our participation.
“Jesus hung out with sinners,” is a malicious lie that has permeated the Christian Community for a long time to attempt to justify our friendships with unbelievers.
Jesus’ Response to All Accusations Against Him: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do…” (John 8:44).
God’s Command: “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14, ESV).
No, we should not have close friendships with unbelievers, including family members. It is always the Christian believer who must compromise to remain in a relationship with those who do not love, honor, and obey God.
Two weeks ago, our neighborhood experienced a 6-hour blackout. And then the following week, we experienced another blackout for 2 hours.
One of our newest neighbors approached me and began discussing the frequency of the blackouts, to which I responded, Yes, it does occur at a higher rate than I have experienced in the past.
And from my response, she stated, “I was in my house cussing for hours,” and her next words included a flood of profanity, to which I responded, “Yes, it is upsetting to experience a blackout, but tell me how did your cussing help the situation?” And she was silent.
For the next few days, her profane spoken words replayed in my brain. It took much prayer, Bible Study, and listening to Inspirational music for my mind to be cleansed from those filthy words.
Now, when we see each other, I simply wave and enter the safety of my home. My love and loyalty are dedicated to Jesus Christ, and I will not allow Satan to use people to disrupt my relationship with Christ and destroy my gift of peace.
“Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flows springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23). We guard our hearts by maintaining a strong relationship with Christ by praying throughout our day for Jesus’ Strength and Guidance.
“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Guarding our hearts is accomplished through prayer, which keeps us connected to the Power and Strength of Jesus Christ, which we receive from the Holy Spirit.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105). We guard our hearts by studying the Scriptures under the guidance and teachings of the Holy Spirit, and incorporating God’s Holy Word into our daily lives, which keeps us anchored in Christ, the Rock.
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4).
Lord God, you know our struggles and the temptations we will face, yet You promised in 1 Corinthians 10:1, “And 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.” Lord, we ask for the wisdom and discernment to recognize and the spiritual strength to overcome Satan’s covert temptations and the conflicts of our internal desires, which oppose Your Righteous Plans for our lives. In faith, we ask this prayer, knowing that You will help us, in Jesus’ Loving and Powerful Name, Amen.
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