Tag: christianity

The Call to Live Holy

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – October 16, 2024

The era of compromise and middle-ground Christianity has escalated to an all-time high in the Christian community. Although the lines between God’s Truth and false doctrines appear to be blurred, God says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).

From studying the Scriptures, we learn the attributes of God’s Righteous Character and His expectations of all believers. Although I could write words of wisdom explaining the daily surrender and faithful obedience required to serve God, God speaks for Himself in the Scriptures.

“Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. 17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. 18 ‘Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.’ For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” —Isaiah 1:16-18, NIV

The Freewill Choice is Ours to Make: “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” —Joshua 24:15

The Nation of Israel worshiped pagan idols and made sacrificial offerings to God as commanded, but God exposed them by instructing Joshua to openly present their unfaithfulness to God. You and I must also make a choice, either we will strive for holiness with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, or live according to our desires and inclinations.

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” —James 1:12

Lord God, we choose You and ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, empower us with strength from the Holy Spirit, and teach us how to live holy. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Guard Your Faith in God

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – October 7, 2024

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” —2 Timothy 3:16-17

“The Greek word translated as ‘breathed out’ in this verse is theopneustos. This means that Scripture is the very speech of God, and that God is the source of what is recorded in the Bible. The Holy Spirit used human authors to write what God revealed.”

The Holy Bible was breathed from the Voice of God and the Holy Words were given to righteous men for Christian believers. The Scriptures define God’s Loving Character, the Creation Story, gives us the history of Divine Intervention, and Jesus’ harsh earthly life, and we also receive guidance on how to live righteously.

In the book of Revelation, Jesus reveals the end of the Great Controversy between Good and Evil. Every believer will receive eternal life if they choose to serve [surrender and faithfully obey God’s will] in their earthly lives.

“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

Although Satan, formerly known as Lucifer, the highest angel who resided in the presence of God is more powerful than humanity, we cannot be forced to sin against God! How do we guard our faith? Through much prayer! The awakening to the mercies of a new day is our opportunity to give gratitude to God by inviting Jesus to work on our hearts. From our daily prayer of surrender and obedience, we receive strength from Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

God’s Promise: “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. 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.” —1 Corinthians 10:13

Christ’s Invitation: “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).

Jesus Christ is our Heavenly Intercessor. To guard our faith, we must admit our continuous dependency on God. Yes, we have received spiritual gifts to overcome sin: “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), still, only God can give us the strength to overcome temptations.

We were created with limitations: We cannot foretell the future, nor can we determine the outcome in any given situation, therefore, we desperately need Divine guidance to live as overcomers. Our role is to willfully choose to abstain from all sinful pleasures. When tempted, we use our love for God, and faith in Jesus Christ to pray for Divine strength, say No, and walk away.

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

Avoid Compromise: Guard your faith in God by separating from people who do not place God as the Sovereign ruler over their lives. Let go of secular music and programs that do not honor God. Use your time and spiritual gifts to glorify God and practice a healthy lifestyle. Volunteer your services to churches and nonprofit organizations that focus on helping the disadvantaged.

Choose Christ! When we admit our helplessness and pray for Divine guidance and strength the Holy Spirit will strengthen us when we face temptation. God’s ultimate goal is to save our souls. When we practice righteous principles, we align ourselves with God who will bless us with our best lives now and in the future New Heaven and New Earth. Guard your faith in God!

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” —John 14:1-4

Lord God, we desperately need You in our lives. We pray for strength, guidance, and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for Your great sacrifice and promise of eternal life if we strive for righteousness. In Jesus’ Holy and Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

We Need God

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional- October 4, 2024

Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples.—John 15:5, 7-8

How do we abide in Christ? How is God glorified? Much prayer and studying of the Scriptures gives us knowledge of God’s righteous character and His plans for every believing Christian. The Plan of Redemption was in place before the world was created. God’s goal has always been to save our souls, therefore Jesus died for us, was victorious over death’s dark grip, and is in heaven serving as our Intercessor.

We pray and the Holy Spirit takes our prayers to Christ who covers us with His righteousness and presents us to God, the Father as the redeemed. We abide in Christ by seeking His will every day. There are 66 books in the Bible that guide and teach us God’s expectations of Jesus’ followers. God, the Father is glorified when we align ourselves to His will through faithful obedience.

Reflection: Do my life choices reveal that I am a dedicated follower of God? Every thought, spoken word, and action should reflect that we are on the Path of Righteousness. Every day, we encounter challenges, the testing of our faith, love, and loyalty to God through temptations, but prayer keeps us connected to God, the Source of All Power! With God, we live as overcomers! To “Pray without ceasing” means to talk to God throughout our waking hours.

“…and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” —Matthew 28:20

We need God! Yes, our earthly journey is tough, but God never meant for us to navigate alone. Even if you can resolve the issue, Pray for God’s help. With God involved, we never have to suffer consequences for misjudging our circumstances. God always wins! Dependency on God always ends in victory!

In John 14, verses 1-3, Jesus promises to return as the Triumphant King one day to gather the righteous and take us to heaven. Amen. Until then, be faithful and courageous, and continue to pray, pray, pray!

Lord God, we desperately need Your help. And we thank You in advance for Your Divine Intervention in our lives. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

He Gives Power to the Weak!

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – October 2, 2024

Today, I had an appointment with my Pulmonologist Nurse Practitioner who was delighted that I no longer have to use a maintenance inhaler. After listening to my lungs, she said, ” Your lungs are clear with strong breaths.” My response was, Yes after three years of steroid inhalers, I am very excited to no longer require them. But then she attempted to throw a curve ball, “Your next visit you will need to complete tests A, B, and C” to which I responded, “I am declining tests B and C because test A, a Chest CAT Scan will reveal any abnormalities. Respectfully, I indicated I was a Registered Nurse [retired]….” We reached a modified and satisfactory treatment plan because I knew that I was healed by God and excessive diagnostic tests were unnecessary.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” —Hebrews 11:6

For three years, I prayed for healing and in April of this year, God granted me healing. When God blesses us with miracles, we have an archenemy who uses countless ways [including people] to weaken our faith and make us doubt God’s love, His promises, and His Sovereign power. Pray daily for God’s Divine strength! Although God does not promise everyone physical healing, He does promise us the strength to travel the arduous journey through our trials and hardships of life.

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'” —2 Corinthians 12:9

Adversity produces steadfast faith in God. Whatever you are facing, never forget God’s promise in Isaiah 40, verse 29: “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (NIV). Our responsibility is to pray and faithfully believe that we will receive God’s Power—Jesus’ Strength.

Never stop praying! God hears and answers every prayer. The prayer of despair and desperation is responded to immediately. Jesus, the Commander of Angel Armies sends peace and comfort through the Holy Spirit and His heavenly angelic messengers.

Lord God, we face many challenges in life that either build our faith or make us doubt Your love and Sovereign power. We pray for an outpouring of Your Divine strength and the courage to witness to others that You not only give power to the weak but also heal us of brokenness and mental, emotional, and physical sicknesses according to Your will. We believe in Your Divine Power and pray for peace and comfort. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

You Are Chosen and Called By Christ

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – September 30, 2024

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” —Luke 12:48

To be Chosen and Called is a privilege and responsibility that requires a close walk with Christ. Because Christ died for all, we are commanded to love as He loves, and we must also strive to “Be holy, for I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16). We need Divine Help and Power to love and forgive others [no exceptions] and to live righteously.

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

To be a dedicated follower of Jesus requires living a life of sacrifice for which we will receive Jesus’ strength through empowerment from the Holy Spirit. Through prayer and Bible study, we stay close to Jesus, He gives us the Divine strength to live as overcomers. In humility, the chosen surrender every day by seeking the will of God and faithfully obeying His plans for their lives.

For our life of obedience, God honors us by giving the righteous spiritual blessings of His Divine Guidance and Protection. We also receive daily provisions for our spiritual and physical needs. If our desires align with His goal to save our souls, God rains down His abundant blessings (Malachi 3). With heartfelt gratitude, we  whisper prayers worshiping our Heavenly Father for His never-ending abundant love, grace, mercies, and provisions.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” —John 15:4

To understand the life of Christ and His obedience to God, the Father, one must diligently study the Holy Scriptures under the guidance of the Teacher, God, the Holy Spirit, also known as the Spirit of Truth. To enjoy a thriving relationship with Christ, our Heavenly intercessor, we must love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds. Our journey with Jesus is one of joy, ” I will never leave you or forsake you.”

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6). We must also have an abundant prayer life to stay connected to Christ. Prayer, the Scriptures, and our thoughts are the spiritual gateways the Holy Spirit uses to communicate with us.

To be chosen and called will require us to step away from mainstream society. Although it’s a tough decision, we allow God to choose our inner circle of friends because we are influenced by the close company we keep. God knows the heart and will give us friends who demonstrate love and loyalty to Him and will support us spiritually through the good and adverse times. Yes, friends of God communicate with God through prayer, but we also pray for each other.

Our desire to live eternally is demonstrated in our lifestyle, thoughts, habits, spoken words, and how we love and treat others. The Holy Spirit reveals various ways of using our spiritual gifts to glorify God and witness to others. Acts of kindness, a smile, and saying “Jesus loves you,” can alter the course of someone’s life. Love is powerful always giving hope and peace where despair reigns.

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” —John 15:16

Yes, Christ has chosen and called us to shine brightly in a world filled with darkness. Every day, reflect His Light and Love to everyone.

Lord God, thank You for choosing us to be your messengers of love and peace. We pray for the love, faith, and courage to represent Your unconditional love to others. In Jesus’ Holy and Loving Name, Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Through Christ, We Are More Than Conquerors!

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – September 24, 2024

Sometimes in our lives, even though we struggle to remain steadfast, faithful, and obedient to God, we let our guard down or follow our own thoughts, and end up disobeying God. Yes, we feel defeated, but those are the times we need to fall on our knees, ask God for forgiveness, and be reassured of His forgiveness as evidenced by His loving promises of grace and mercy.

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” —Psalm 34:17-18

Moving Forward Despite Our Circumstances: “To be ‘more than a conqueror’ means we not only achieve victory, but we are overwhelmingly victorious.”

We must acknowledge the two conflicting spiritual powers in this world to move forward—Good and Evil. Satan is our adversary. “He sends all kinds of life-defeating, joy-stealing attacks to threaten the well-being and faith of God’s children.” In John 16:33, Jesus forewarns us that our lives will be filled with adversity, hardships, trials, and tribulations. Yet, He says to be courageous because He has overcome evil. Christ is our Divine Conqueror!

“The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.” —Psalm 145:8

For today’s believers, challenges can arise in many ways: The constant internal battle of following our desires versus surrender and faithful obedience to God’s will and plans. Financial loss, natural disasters, dissolution of marriages, the break up of relationships, strained family ties, and even the death of loved ones touch our lives.

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). God’s Promise: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). In the Bible, we read real-life stories of human sorrows and God’s intervention. We cannot defeat Satan’s attacks without God.

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” —Jeremiah 32:27

Are we willing to seek God’s help when in despair? The Christian believers who fail to study the Scriptures do not have knowledge of God’s Righteous Character nor do they trust in Him which results in a life infiltrated with anxiety, worry, and spiritual instability.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” —Romans 8:28

“Yet, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” —Romans 8:37-39

“The Apostle Paul is encouraging us to stand firm in our faith when those attacks come, reminding us that not only will we win in the end, but Jesus enables us to win now.”

“To be more than conquerors means we face the trials of life with the certainty that we are not alone. We have a mighty Father who fights for us. We approach the darkest valleys with confidence, knowing that nothing can happen to us that is not permitted by our loving Father for our good….” Christ, our triumphant King places limits on Satan’s attacks on the righteous. Read Job Chapter 1. Nothing we face is a surprise to God.

“…Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” —Jeremiah 31:3

“No sin of ours and no attempt of the enemy can steal the loving care of God from our lives, and that makes us more than conquerors through Christ who loves us.” Through faith in Christ, we commit to trust in God and are rewarded with His promise of love, protection, and deliverance from our distress and persecution.

Reference: All quotations from, “What does it mean that we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37)?” Gotquestions.org

God, we are facing adversities that only You can resolve. We confess that we have not approached You for help because our faith and trust in You are weakened by self-reliance. And we ask for forgiveness for our doubt and unbelief. Today, we pray in faith, asking for Your Divine Intervention and to “Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within us.” In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Jesus, Our Divine Helper

Our Daily Walk with Christ – Sabbath Devotional – September 20, 2024

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” —Hebrews 13:5

Love, joy, peace, and happiness are God’s Divine gifts to every Christian believer. Sadly, these gifts are often not enjoyed by the followers of Christ. Two prevalent reasons prevent us from enjoying God’s abundant love and blessings: We do not know God, the Father’s Loving and Righteous Character [failure to study the Bible] and We have placed our confidence in human perception and reasoning, which is quite limited. “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).

For three years, I missed out on the monetary rewards my insurance company offered their subscribers. One day, I received an email that stated, “You are missing out on Free benefits.” When I set aside the time to research the reward section of the website, I was shocked at my loss, yet, I was determined to move forward. This year, I am participating and have completed 90% of the requirements [I receive $120 a year for 30 minutes of activity 10 days a month, quarterly rewards to purchase OTC products, and $15 to complete a wellness visit with my physician, etc.] Once I possessed knowledge of the perks, I decided to opt in and so far, have received $300.

How well do you know God’s Divine Character? Without diligent study of the Bible, we cannot have a healthy and joyful relationship with Christ who has promised to take care of us. Lack of knowledge results in missed blessings. No, not all of our blessings are monetary. We can live a mistake-free life by praying and relying on Divine Guidance. Our willingness to seek and obey God eliminates all consequences that result from “thinking our own thoughts” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

The Plight of Humanity: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33

Jesus’ Promise to Always Help Us: “It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

The level of Divine help available to the faithful believer is unlimited. When we reflect on Jesus giving His life for us then our gratitude is expressed in surrender, obedience, and steadfast faith. If we humble ourselves and pray, we receive Christ’s Intervention every day. Cooperation with Divinity is required to stay on the Path of Righteousness. Never forget God’s priority is to save our souls—Revelation 22:12.

“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

God, we thank You for Your faithfulness and unfailing love. As we travel in our journey of life, we pray to align our will and desires with Your perfect will. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Humility to God

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – September 16, 2024

“…God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time…” —1 Peter 5:5-6

Humility is not an innate character trait. As an infant matures into the toddler stage, they portray defiance against most things. The toddler stage is one of the most trying and critical stages of psychological development. If parents do not set boundaries then they will nurture the defiance, and defiant children mature into defiant adults.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” Luke 6:46

“God sets up resistance to proud people. Pride, a grave sin in Scripture, is the foundation of other sinful actions. Lucifer exemplified pride when he raged against God (Isaiah 14:12–15), and the first humans displayed pride by disregarding God’s explicit command (Genesis 3:1–7).” Got questions.org

“The Israelites’ persistent struggles with God were often rooted in their pride and unbelief (see Exodus 32:1–6; Hosea 13:6; Amos 4:1–5). Whenever humans sin, their actions can be traced back to a rejection of God and His commands, which is a manifestation of pride.” Got questions.org.

We became followers of Christ to be transformed into His likeness (His Righteous Character), to surrender in faithful obedience, and one day receive our reward of eternal life. Personally, I desire more than living an earthly life infiltrated by corruption, social injustice, and the promotion of the Capitalism credo to be successful and rich.

‘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

Have you reached a point in your Christian journey where you desire what Christ promises? Humility requires loving Christ, obeying God, and serving Him with steadfast faith and heartfelt obedience. Daily we reverence God by praying for His will to be done in our lives. The Holy Spirit communicates God’s will through our thoughts and the Holy Scriptures. God never coerces us to obey Him, we must make the decision to follow through in obedience.

Lord God, we desire to serve You. With humility, we pray and ask for Your will to be done in our lives. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

© 2024 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions