Christian Believers – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Living Our Best Lives

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

Steadfast Faith, Trust, Peace, Joy, and Courage are enjoyed by followers of Christ who love Him and worship God in spirit and Truth.

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:13).

Daily Surrender and Obedience is our highest worship to God, and is rewarded with receiving many spiritual benefits and blessings.

Yes, God promises to bless us, but the false prosperity message of wealth building that Satan wants us to believe that we deserve, Jesus tells us that earthly prosperity has no spiritual purpose for His followers.

Jesus teaches that the accumulation of earthly treasures is not aligned with God’s Spiritual Precepts.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…”( Matthew 6:19). Unbelievers feel that living one’s best life includes wealth, social status, material possessions, and a lifestyle of pleasure.

Sadly when those with unbelieving hearts face life-changing circumstances, they realize that their earthly treasures are meaningless, and that reality fills their minds with hopelessness and despair.

In John 16:33, Jesus warns us that our spiritual journey will always include challenges, adversity, loss, and changing circumstances; yet he encourages us, “But, Be of good cheer.”

Good cheer does not refer to the pretense of being happy and overjoyed when experiencing life’s overwhelming hardships; yet, as followers of Christ, praying and knowing He will take care of us, gives us spiritual comfort.

Always pray an honest prayer, “Jesus, I am devastated by this situation.” invites the Holy Spirit to permeate our mind and soul with jesus’s Divine Peace, instead of hopelessness and despair.

Embracing Jesus’ Love and Promises of Peace absorbs the impact of sorrow, disappointment, and loss: “He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds [sorrows].” (Psalm 147:3).

When tears are flowing from heartbreak, we can maintain a spirit of Hope, because Jesus has promised to give us the strength to overcome our daily battles and to give us beauty from ashes.

“The Divine Exchange: God promises to trade despair and mourning for joy, praise, and restoration.”

Only Jesus Christ, our Creator and Savior can give us our best life: “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). Jesus’ Promise: “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

Loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength is the spiritual catalyst that keeps us connected to Jesus, who empowers us through the Holy Spirit to live victoriously: “You can do nothing without Me.”

The Narrow Way
“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).

Daily personal worship must become our lifestyle. Consistent Prayer, Bible Study, and the Commitment to Surrender to God with Faithful Obedience keeps us spiritually anchored to Christ.

“My people perish for lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6). Unless we know and believe that God is Faithful, memorizing His Promises to always be with us throughout our difficulties, then we will experience the same emotional distress as unbelievers.

The Holy Scriptures teach us that God is our Father, and is committed to lovingly taking care of His Sons and Daughters: God’s Character is the definition of Love! Study 1 Corinthians 13.

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15).

God’s perspective of giving us “our best life” is spiritually focused; The Father gave Jesus, His Son to save our souls, because His goal is to prepare us for Eternal Life.

Just As I Am: “We come to Jesus just as we are, but we cannot stay that way.”

God’s Love Always Includes Divine Purpose: He allows us to experience only the hardships that are designed to Sanctify our mind and character into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character [Galatians 5:22-23].

Because this Earth is only a temporary home, we must not allow Satan to distract us from cooperating with the Holy Spirit, who performs daily spiritual growth in every faithful believer, who trusts, obeys, and follows Christ.

“Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25, ESV).

Our Risen and Triumphant King is serving as our Heavenly Intercessor, receiving and answering all of our prayers. Every day we must make the intentional decision to pray, redirecting our faith, focus, and gratitude back to Jesus.

The righteous are receiving their best earthly lives: King Jesus commands His angels to protect us from satanic spiritual warfare and physical danger, and blesses the faithful with all of life’s necessities.

Because we cannot keep ourselves on the Narrow Path of Righteousness, or maintain a consistent spirit of Hope, through prayer, we receive Christ’s abundant Peace, Joy, and Strength needed to endure our spiritual journey from Earth to Heaven.

Eternity with God in the New Heaven and New Earth is Jesus’ Promise to give us a Perfect Life of Eternal Love, Peace, Joy, Happiness, and Magnificent Beauty.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3).

The Holy Scriptures give us the assurance that God is always in control, and changes the way we think and live.

Like young children who believe exactly what they are told, we use our faith to trust that if God said it, then it is so. His Promises are Yes and Amen!

Yes, Living our best life requires a sacrificial life of self-denial. but if we love Jesus and appreciate His Ultimate Sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross then it is a joy to follow our Shepherd and Triumphant King on the Narrow Path that leads from Earth to Heaven.

Every morning, we receive the gift of New Mercies, and with immense love and gratitude, we use our faith to surrender, obey, and follow Jesus, who promises to give us a Victorious Life.

In Proverbs 3:5-8, God teaches us how to live our best life, one with a Spiritual Focus, and complete dependency on His Sovereign Authority:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.”

“Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.”

Lord God, we come to You, asking for Your Help. Please give us the wisdom, guidance, and strength to redirect our faith and focus back to Jesus. We confess that we cannot overcome life’s challenges using our little strength. Anoint us with the Oil of Gladness [the Holy Spirit], and teach us how to prepare every day for the Soon Coming of Jesus Christ. We look forward to Eternity in a Perfect New Heaven and New Earth. Jesus, thank You for Your Divine Love and Your Ultimate Sacrifice on Calvary. We love You and ask this prayer for Your Divine Help, in Your Loving and Righteous Name, Amen.

Will You Receive the Reward of Eternal Life?

Recently I watched four Instagram reels on disobeying God, but the word Disobedience was skillfully avoided in the presentations. It is better for us to know the Plain Truth than to lose our reward of Eternal life because we never obeyed God.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you…” (Hosea 4:6). We cannot depend on social media, sermons, and podcasts to save our souls.

Worship God everyday through prayer and careful study of the Scriptures. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the wisdom and discernment to understand the depth of God’s Transforming Word.

“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him” (John 8:29). Jesus is our perfect example of obedience to God. In The Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “…nevertheless, not my will but Your will be done.”

Our Savior’s death on Calvary’s Cross reveals that He loved God, the Father more than He loved Himself. Obedience to God in every aspect of our lives reveals that our hearts are converted, and filled with more love for God than for ourselves.

If we willingly obey our employer’s policies because we are rewarded with keeping our jobs and receiving our salary, how much more emphasis should we place on our destiny of eternal life?

Disobedience to God’s Sovereign Authority always brings devastating consequences to our lives. Not only do we lose our desire to please God, but we pray calculated prayers filled with request for blessings instead of praying for Spiritual transformation.

“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” (Mark 8:36). From studying the Book of Revelation, we know this Earth is our temporary home. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6 to be content with His blessings.

Why are we chasing the raggedy things of this Earth, and entering into relationships with individuals who do not desire the Forever reward Jesus has promised us?

Eternal Life Is the Reward for Faithful Obedience to God

The only thing we can take with us to Heaven is a “Righteous character” that must be developed in our earthly lives through daily surrender, faith, and obedience to God. We honor and reverence God through the worship of obedience to His plans for us.

From our daily prayer of submission to Jesus Christ, the Alpha and Omega, and our Mediator, we invite the Holy Spirit to transform our unrighteous minds, characters, and personalities daily into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character.

The spiritual journey is a tumultuous experience, yet, if we seek God’s will, and willingly obey His directives, day by day, the blood of Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

We are never alone in our walk with Jesus. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Obedience allows the Holy Spirit to give us Christ’s Supernatural Strength to overcome the internal conflict of pursuing our desires, and the external opposition of temptations.

Proclaim out loud everyday, “I am going to heaven!” Amen!

For the faithful, Jesus is waiting to reward us with our golden crowns, and Eternal Life in the New Heaven and New Earth. Hallelujah and Amen!

“However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him—’ ” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we as forgiveness for disobedience, and pray to have a heart that loves You, filled with steadfast faith and obedience. We ask you to reveal the behaviors and habits that prevent us from being aligned with Your perfect will and plans. It is our desire to receive Eternal Life. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray, Amen.

Praying For Others: The Power of Intercessory Prayer

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – December 17, 2024

In Colossians, Chapter 1, verses 9-14, the Apostle Paul expresses his prayer for the members of the Colossae Church. The members faced many challenges including “The pressure to conform to the religious beliefs and practices of their Jewish and pagan neighbors and false teachers who defamed the deity of Christ. Still, Paul persevered in his declaration that Jesus alone is Supreme and Sufficient.”

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” —Ephesians 6:18, NIV

The spiritually uplifting and beautiful prayer reminds us to redirect our focus from ourselves to praying for other [suffering] believers globally. By praying for our brothers and sisters, we grow in love and compassion and receive much-needed blessings from God. In the turbulence of these perilous times, every believer desperately needs the Divine blessings of an increase in faith, along with peace, joy, wisdom, and Jesus’ strength.

We may never meet the people, we are praying for in our present lives, but still lifting others in prayer before the Throne of Grace is a plea for God to intercede and a catalyst for our spiritual growth. Not only does Intercessory prayer change our perception [we begin to see life through spiritual eyes], but it also invites the Holy Spirit to transform our naturally selfish hearts into a Christ-like heart filled with the Fruit of the Spirit.

“You pray for me, I pray for you, and watch God change things.”

Lord God, we pray for every believer throughout this world to receive the blessing of Your gift of inner peace as they face external opposition from wars, as well as civil, political, and social unrest. We ask for an increase of faith and spiritual strength in the Christian Global Community, especially for those who are suffering from persecution because they accepted you as their personal Savior. Help us to look outside of ourselves and faithfully trust You when facing personal hardships, the dilemmas of unforeseen change, fears, and grief. Jesus, we desperately need Your Divine Strength to keep persevering until You come again. We thank You and ask this prayer of Intercession in the Merciful Name of Jesus, Amen.