christianity – Page 16 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Jesus Gives Us True Rest

Our Daily Walk with Christ – Devotional – March 14, 2024

“And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.’ ” —Luke 4:17-19

“So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way” (Luke 4:28-30).

In Jesus’ earthly life, He suffered many atrocities including constant rejection and hatred. One of the most significant incidents occurred when He was rejected in Nazareth [the city where He was raised] involving worshipers in the synagogue who turned into an angry mob because Jesus proclaimed He was the Messiah.

Although Satan desired to kill Christ and the Pharisees devised many plots to rid themselves of the Teacher who proclaimed He was the Son of God, God, the Father provided continuous angelic protection throughout the earthly life of His only Son. No harm would ever come to Christ until the Plan of Redemption was completed on Calvary’s cross and Jesus arose from the dead. Refer to Matthew 26:52-54.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33

As followers of Christ, we must also endure many of life’s ups and downs in our earthly journey. Although most hardships make us feel as if we were the only survivors on a deserted island, nothing could be further from the truth. Because of Jesus’ love and devotion for humanity, He condescended from His Heavenly throne to live a life of sorrow. Jesus the Divine became human and possesses experiential knowledge of our challenges and temptations.

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” —Psalm 46:1

To experience a heart-to-heart bond with Christ, believers are required to possess core characteristics of Righteousness—love, faith, obedience, humility, compassion, and immense gratitude. We must commit the Biblical history of Christ’s life to memory. It is impossible to have a spiritual connection with our Savior and Intercessor when we lack a knowledge base of His life.

Have you noticed there are Four Gospels written by four authors—the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, documenting Jesus’ life on earth? Studying the life of Christ changes our perception of who He is. Jesus is no longer a stranger when we ask the Holy Spirit to give us a deeper spiritual understanding of Christ in our quest for Scriptural knowledge of His life of 33 years.

Not only does Jesus become our First Love, but our faith and trust in Him strengthens. Instead of relying on ourselves, we develop an automatic response of calling on the name of Jesus when facing all hardships. Most importantly, bonding with Christ in our earthly lives prepares us to live with our King eternally.

The worldview of moving forward based on one’s strategic thinking to resolve challenges is the mindset of the transgressing unbelievers who do not mind suffering consequences. Many Christians also practice this concept of self-reliance because they trust themselves above God.

Acknowledging that Christ is the Son of God, but never fully trusting Him leaves us spiritually empty. We can verbalize Jesus’ name, but we will never relinquish our will to God unless we have given Him our hearts. Sadly, traveling on the broad and crooked path of self-reliance separates us from God.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” —Proverbs 3:5-6

Human reasoning can never compete with or replace God’s Sovereign Omniscience and Omnipotence which always renders Divine outcomes of perfection and completion. We were not created to stand alone in our journey. A dependent relationship with Christ frees us from the need to brainstorm for possible solutions that are destined to fail.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” —Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus has extended the invitation to give Him all of our burdens, yet to receive His intervention requires daily surrender. The righteous have privileges and promises that have never come to fruition in the lives of many believers because they have not embraced Christ as their First Love. The rest for our souls is only a humble prayer away, “Jesus, I love You and I need Your help.”

As a testimony, those who have committed their hearts to Christ, receive an all-inclusive daily gift package of love, redeeming grace, peace, rest, contentment, mercies, and 24/7 angelic protection. And in return, all Jesus asks of His greatly beloved is to follow Him in wilful obedience. Taking the leap of faith by placing 100% trust in our gentle and lowly King is our only option if we desire rest [peace of mind, body, and soul] and victorious outcomes.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.” —Isaiah 26:3-4

Set a goal for 2024 to study the Four Gospels. Although it may seem strange to take one year to study four books of the Bible, knowing the life of Christ provides the foundation for a dependent love relationship with Him on earth and gives us the desire to live with our King eternally.

Lord, we come to You, bringing every challenge and worry because we have failed to trust You and now we are weary. Thank You for being our Savior, Burden-bearer, and our Protector. Forgive us for taking Your love, grace, mercies, and protection for granted. We ask this prayer in Your Holy Name, Amen.

Christ, the Sun of Righteousness

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 11, 2024

Yesterday, I took a midday walk, and the sun’s warmth felt like a loving embrace. Feeling uplifted, I prayed and began to smile. Yes, I felt extreme happiness as I reflected on the goodness of God. To be honest, I felt joyful and energized all day long. Still, something was different.

I understand the blessings of being in God’s presence through daily worship, but I begin to think deeply about the warmth of the sunlight. What is the effect of sunlight on the human body? But most importantly, while worshiping out in nature, I experienced a greater spiritual blessing along with mental clarity and physical energy that was different from my indoor worship.

So, I put my research hat on because I had to know, first, how the sun affects one’s mood and energy level. To clarify, my interest was not in the pagan practice of sun worship. Perhaps God was revealing to me the benefits of worshiping Him outside in the beauty of nature.

“Exposure to sunlight is thought to increase the brain’s release of a hormone called serotonin. Serotonin is associated with boosting the mood and helping a person feel calm and focused. Serotonin is a chemical messenger that is involved in controlling your mood. (healthdirect.gov.au)

“The Sun is our solar system’s only star. It is a dynamic star, constantly changing and sending energy out into space. Life on Earth is only possible because of the Sun’s light and energy.” (science.nasa.gov)

When we pray for knowledge and understanding, the Holy Spirit always gives us the spiritual wisdom to discern God’s perfect plan for the believer’s life. During my evening Bible Study, the author identified Christ as the Sun of Righteousness [the reason one feels spiritually energized]. Although I accomplished several things on my to-do list, late into the evening, I still felt like I could run a marathon.

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” —3 John 1:2

Yesterday, God reminded me of my duty to follow His physical health laws and principles. Christ created the human body with the anatomy and physiology for movement [not to live a sedentary lifestyle]. Our physical health plays an important role in our spiritual and holistic health. Worshiping while walking allowed me to receive a double blessing that energized my spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health.

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.” —Psalm 84:11

Christ is “the Sun of Righteousness.” He is like the sun…the great light of the world that dispels darkness. Christ is the “Sun” that enlightens the righteous with the light of His grace, warms them with the beams of his love, and provides cheer and refreshes their souls with the light of his countenance. (Bible Commentary)

The phrase “the sun of righteousness” also appears in Malachi 4:2: “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.” This blessing is promised to those who fear the Lord and are preparing every day for Christ’s return. (Bible Commentary)

Both the sons of Korah [Musicians and singers whom King David selected and appointed) and Malachi proclaims Christ as the Sun of Righteousness. Yet, Jesus Himself established His identity as the Light of the World: “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life’ ” (John 8:12).

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” —Revelation 3:20

We receive Christ’s Light from our willingness to have a heart-to-heart relationship with Him. Whether the Sun [Christ] fully reveals Himself or hides behind the billowy clouds depends on our choice. Will we embrace the glory of Christ’s light by opening the windows of our hearts with a prayer to invite Him in? Or have we decided to avoid the Sun of Righteousness’ life-changing Light by keeping the door of our hearts closed?

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

The individual who refuses to open their blinds, and curtains, or to go outside and enjoy even a few moments of sunlight will eventually have low levels of serotonin, resulting in a depressed mood. Without opening the windows of our hearts [through prayer and faithful obedience] we deny ourselves the redeeming light of Christ’s countenance, consequently, our hearts become gloomy resulting in a life of spiritual darkness.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” —1 John 5:3

The Sun of Righteousness defines loving God as the foundation of our relationship with Him. When we love God, our heart is filled with the attribute of meekness, and our first response to a new day is to surrender. Christ rewards our obedience by shining His light on us and we immediately feel the warmth of the bright beams of Jesus’ love deep within our souls.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” —Matthew 5:16

Only those who are willing to travel with the Sun of Righteousness on the narrow Path will receive the ever-shining heavenly light of Grace and be drenched by the refreshing showers of God’s love and mercies. The Holy Spirit imparts the daily gifts of spiritual peace, joy, happiness, contentment, wisdom, and strength which are freely given to sustain and energize the Light within our souls.

If NASA agrees that life on Earth is only possible because of the Sun’s light and energy then as believers, we must wholeheartedly agree that Christ, the Sun of Righteousness is our only option for sustaining us spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically in our Spiritual Journey on this Earth!

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” —Ephesians 5:8

Jesus, we thank You for shining Your bright beams of love, grace, and mercies in our souls. We ask for the Light of the Holy Spirit to permeate our hearts so that we may walk as children of light. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.

Rejoicing for Today’s New Mercies

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 8, 2023

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 5:34)

The gift of life is often taken for granted, we make plans for tomorrow, next week, next year, and our retirement years. Yes, we must fulfill our duty to maintain a healthy lifestyle which includes future appointments and taking nature breaks for the maintenance of our spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health, still, we should not plan or worry about an unknown future.

Jesus tells us to live for today. Those who enjoy financial stability often worry more than those who have meager means. Will the company I work for remain solvent? Will my children attend college? Will we have enough money to retire? These are thoughts that keep us distracted and prevent us from having a heart overflowing with gratitude for the mercies and goodness of God

A grateful heart allows us to view life through spiritual eyes. We have confidence and live courageously because we know that God is good. Every morning, whisper words of gratitude, Thank You, Lord, for this wonderful, new day of life. In Jesus Holy Name, Amen. Most certainly, our Heavenly Father deserves our love.

Letting Go of Our Lifestyles

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 7, 2024

When a company recruits new employees they utilize predetermined standards for productivity and core character traits to select the best candidates. Integrity, loyalty, dependability, and flexibility comprise the list of must-haves for possible hire consideration. To be successful, every business requires an employee mixture of various skill levels and personalities.

The worker bees are the foundation of every business. They are loyal and steadfast because they usually desire to remain with the company until they retire if things remain as they are. Their happiness and satisfaction arise from established routines. However, this trait usually prevents them from welcoming new ideas of progress. Unfortunately, many people lose their jobs due to their resistance to change.

To remain competitive, every company needs high achievers who possess innate qualities above minimal standards and have definitive goals for their future. Not only do they accept and believe in the company’s vision and mission, but they are innovative and driven to soar like Eagles in their careers by seeking professional and personal growth and development.

Although the achievers move the company forward, their drive for personal success can create a spirit of disloyalty. The movers and shakers will stay with the company as long as they are climbing the career ladder. If their goals are not met within a certain timeframe then they secure another job and will resign without remorse.

Still, many develop their vision and mission by paving the road to entrepreneurship—self-employment. With much courage, they learn how to operate a business, research, follow their instincts, and develop successful business plans to propel their dream of providing essential services to customers.

Entrepreneurs are driven and usually succeed because they seek the savvy advice of those who possess expertise in their given area of business. Many entrepreneurs are also employed because they desire to learn the business culture and operations. To maintain a competitive edge, all three distinctive personalities are required for a company’s economic stability and growth.

“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

Our lifestyles reflect our core beliefs and practices. For the Christian believer, the independent mindset, values, and goals we develop in our personal lives to satisfy our desires and remain competitive in this world will always present conflict with God’s Commandments, Righteous Standards, Holy Principles, and plans for our lives. Surrendering to God means that we let go of all the unrighteousness in our characters and present lifestyles.

A Living Sacrifice: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, given God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1, NIV). To faithfully serve God, we must surrender to this lifelong commitment, “My life is not my own.” You may think, “If only it was that easy.” To overcome this roadblock, we must identify the traits that intensify our struggle and prevent surrendering to God.

The Dissatisfied Believer is always striving for more: “He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’ The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,’ but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ‘You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman” (Genesis 3:1-4).

Deep within her heart, Eve desired more than the perfect life God gave to her and Adam. When our hearts desire more than God has blessed us with, our focus becomes distorted. Our rational thought processes cannot compete with our heart’s carnal desires. If we begin to think deeply about our desires then [like Eve who added a command that God never gave, “and you must not touch it…”] our minds become confused, “Did God really say that?” and we fall hard.

The Believer Who Relies on Themselves: Let’s fast forward to 2024. You are a business owner who is thriving as is, but a family member or friend informs you of a current trend in which other businesses are making a lot of money. Instead of saying no, you begin to think about the small amount it would take to invest but the mark-up of 125% return would be great. In your mind, this is a win-win situation. Yes, your profit margin would increase.

Instead of praying, waiting, and seeking sound advice, you develop a no-fail plan to expand the business by investing two to three thousand dollars. Sadly without knowing the market was already saturated with these non-essential trendy products, three months later you still have cases of products without any sales.

The Believer Who Loves to Receive Blessings: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

Jesus clarified that the love of money always separates us from God. We tell ourselves that we do not love money because our definition of loving money never aligns with God’s definition. But we love things. Reflect on the past four weeks, how many people have you helped? “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ ” (Acts 20:35).

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

The Secular Christian: Last week, I learned about the humanmade concept of Secular Christianity. The premise is “You don’t have to live in fear as a nonsecular Christian. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus, not works.” Sadly, the person who believes in God and loves worldliness is in a worse predicament than the unbeliever because they truly believe they will have eternal life.

“They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.” —Titus 1:16

Although Secular Christianity appears to be a new heretical theory, many believers have practiced secularism by disobeying God for the majority of their Christian experience. Not only do they attempt to redefine God’s Grace to cover their sins, but they also attend church as an act of contrition to absolve their unrighteousness. They have fallen prey to Satan’s deception that all is well between themselves and God.

“So, shall we then continue in sin that grace may abound?” Paul replies with a resounding “God forbid” (Romans 6:2). “To desire to continue in sin shows a misunderstanding of this abundant grace and a contempt for Jesus’ sacrifice. Either we believe what God says is true or we don’t.” (Grand Canyon University, Spiritual Life Blog)

Gifting God with our Hearts: “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). To be who God has called us to be, we cannot give Him a piece offering [only a piece of our hearts]. It’s all or nothing. As one songwriter expressed, “It takes our everything to serve the Lord.”

“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ So he arose and followed Him” (Matthew 9:9). Matthew’s response to Jesus’ invitation is more powerful than human words can express. He left the tax table and immediately followed Jesus. Not only did He acquiesce to Christ’s Sovereignty, Matthew gave up His lifestyle and never looked back.

Humility, Surrender, Faith, and Obedience are Core Christ-like Characteristics

Like the worker bees, we must be faithful, loyal, and obedient disciples who desire to complete our spiritual tasks. As followers of Christ [working disciples], we remain steadfast and persevere in our spiritual assignments until we retire [breathe our last breath]. Unlike the employer’s worker bees, we embrace every change required for our spiritual transformation.

“I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” —John 17:4

Although we cannot pray Jesus’ exact prayer, we can pray, “God, I am doing my best to honor and glorify You with my love, surrender, and faithful obedience.” As spiritual high achievers, we accept God’s vision and plans for our lives. We pray for the Holy Spirit to empower us with the strength and wisdom to complete our God-given goals. Unlike the corporate high achievers, we remain loyal to Christ by discarding our pursuit of personal goals and remaining on our Chosen Path.

“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.” —Psalm 25:9

To follow Christ requires the courage of an entrepreneur. We must be prepared to get out of the boat and walk on the water of adversity. The reason we can move forward despite our hardships is because we trust Christ. Our relationship with Him is steadfast because worship is our core practice. The Bible is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.

“Sola Scriptura means that all truth necessary for our salvation and spiritual life is taught either explicitly or implicitly in Scripture…” We have the Holy Bible to guide us on the Righteous Path. As followers of Christ, we believe that all Scripture was given by God and is still relevant today [the exception is the Ceremonial Law—no more animal sacrifice—Jesus paid it all].

Although we are tempted by many deceptive schemes, unlike the entrepreneur who may take a risk, we rely on God’s Divine wisdom for guidance. Not only do we invite the presence of God into our lives every day, we faithfully pray for God’s will to be revealed, and wait to hear His Voice instructing us. “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21).

“Be holy, for I am Holy” is God’s command that will never change. If we are willing to let go of all unrighteousness in our present lifestyles [thoughts, spoken words, habits, and people] then Christ intervenes by covering us with His righteousness. We pray daily and receive the supernatural strength to overcome through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Never begin your day without praying for the anointing, presence, and power of the Holy Spirit. We desperately need the spiritual wisdom, strength, and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit of Truth, we cannot live holy. Our characters must endure a spiritual makeover to reflect the Fruit of the Spirit and the Righteous attributes of the Character of Christ.

Life on earth is our only opportunity to receive spiritual transformation. All Divine and holy beings in heaven are involved in our earthly journey to prepare us to live in the New Heaven and New Earth. Like Matthew, we must let go of every sinful aspect of our lifestyles that threatens us from receiving our greatest reward, eternal life with King Jesus!

God, we ask You to search our hearts and reveal all unrighteousness that prevents us from giving our all to You. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

The Power of Our Thoughts

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 5, 2024

“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, NIV

Have you ever been deep into thought and then thought about what you were thinking about, and had to pray for forgiveness? The greatest battle we face is from within. Every day, we fight the internal battle of carnal desires versus faithful obedience to God. Unless we pray for God’s Divine help throughout our waking hours, we will think unrighteous thoughts and pursue unrighteous desires.

Not all of our contrary thoughts are for carnal desires. Doubt, disbelief, and discouragement also reflect negative [unrighteous] thinking. Many of us know individuals who always speak negative words causing us to take measures to intentionally avoid them. But what if we are the negative person? How we think determines the direction of our lives. A mindset of negativity catapults us into a world of darkness filled with trepidation and the inability to progress in life.

“But know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come…” —2 Timothy 3:1

Today’s believers share a unique status from the believers of the past, we are living in the last days and biblical prophecy is being fulfilled. Jesus describes our era as living in the time of the “beginning of sorrows” [Matthew 24:4-8]. Through prayer, we receive the spiritual discernment to recognize and avoid manipulative worldviews and habits that compromise our right standing with God.

Whether or not we embrace the concept that our environment overflowing with negativity impacts our lives, it is almost true. When our relationship with Christ is built on steadfast faith, surrender, obedience, a consistent prayer life, and studying the Bible, the Holy Spirit gives us Divine wisdom, strength, and protection from the negative influences of this world. Without spiritual wisdom, we are as vulnerable as unbelievers.

“Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” —Isaiah 43:19, BSB

Many times our character traits include the learned behaviors of negativity and pessimism from enduring unhealthy backgrounds. God’s intervention also extends to the children and adults whom He will heal and give them the strength to rise above their past dire circumstances. Our Heavenly Father knows our beginning, past, and future suffering. Still, He is our hope for healing and giving us a positive and blessed future.

Even when facing life-changing events or past trauma, God promises, I am doing a new thing. Do you not perceive it? God is a God of completion and victory.

“For I will restore health to you And heal you of your wounds,’ says the LORD…” —Jeremiah 30:17

Although we are never promised physical healing, God always heals mental illness and emotional trauma because these conditions prevent us from believing in and trusting Christ. We cannot embrace and practice negative, pessimistic thinking and have a relationship with Christ. Pray for healing! The flicker of faith allows us to receive complete healing, look beyond our past, and enjoy a brighter future.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33

There is something that we must love about Jesus, throughout the Scriptures, He has given us prior warnings of the trials we will face and the perilous times we will live in. Yet, our Loving Savior also gives us hope, “…be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” The key to thinking beyond the world’s conditions and life’s challenges is to have a thriving relationship with Christ and to believe that we are His total responsibility.

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.” —John 14:27

Our thoughts are positive and uplifting because Christ our Creator promises us peace and joy during our hardships. Persevering Prayer Produces Peace! To possess internal peace and joy doesn’t mean we will never cry or experience sadness. But emotions are difficult to control. Prayer puts our emotions into a checkpoint. We maintain unwavering confidence and speak words of faith and courage because we believe in God’s Sovereign Power and Promises. If He said it then He will do it!

“Strength of character consists of two things—power of will and power of self-control.” (The Faith I Live By)

Are we going to allow our past or present circumstances to dictate our thoughts and miss out on our healing and blessings? Emphatically, No! Redirecting our focus on God is within our human power. Stand down all negative thinking with prayer, God, I believe that You already have the solution, and I will wait in faithful obedience because You have promised to give me a Victorious Outcome. Amen. Pray often. Prayer is spoken on earth but heard and answered in heaven!

“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

Yes, life on earth is ever-changing, but we have a Triune God who proclaims, “I change not!” Despite the wars, political, and social uprisings, and the negativity of hatred, remind yourself that God created us in His image and gifted this beautiful earth to us. God will never allow human beings or demonic wickedness to cause mass destruction of His created world.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Nature testifies to Jesus’ love for humanity and every insect, bird, fish, and living animal He created. Let go of a dominant screen life. Go outside. Look at the starry nighttime sky, explore nature, and become a virtual traveler, you will perceive life differently. God desires that we live peaceful lives that are full of joy and laughter.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” —Proverbs 17:22

As believers we have everlasting hope, Christ victoriously overcame the harsh vicissitudes of life. This fragmented earth is not our final destination. Yes, we accept the reality of the worsening conditions of this world, yet deep within our hearts, we have pure love, joy, and peace. Like David, we should sing with vigor and speak praises of gratitude to our First Love and Best Friend who reminds us, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” —1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

From studying Revelation chapters 21-22, we replace all negative thoughts with a mind filled with happiness, joy, laughter, and contentment. We have the hope within our hearts that our Triumphant King is coming for us! Let words of praise and rejoicing flow from ever-grateful hearts. One day, we will shout, See what the Lord has done! Hallelujah! Amen!

“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 14:1-3

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your love and our gift of the power to choose life by thinking positive thoughts of faith and victory. Lord, we love You, worship You, and praise Your Holy Name. In Jesus’ Triumphant Name, we pray. Amen

Jesus, The Triumphant King!

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 3, 2024

“And He said to me, ‘It is done!’ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life free to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” —Revelation 21:6-7

If you were to send a letter to Jesus, how would you salute Him? Jesus, My Lord, Savior, and King would certainly give Him the utmost honor and reverence He deserves. For some, they would make their salutation more personal, “Jesus, My First Love, My Shepherd, and My Best Friend” which would express the love they feel in their hearts for Christ. Yet, for us to prepare for a lifetime with Christ, in our earthly lives, we must perceive Jesus as the Triumphant King.

Our daily prayers are the love letters we send to Jesus, our Triumphant King, High Priest, and Heavenly Intercessor. As we reflect on the content of our prayers, what is their primary focus? Do we express our love by thanking Jesus for His grace and the mercies of a new day? Do we renew our covenant vow to faithfully surrender ourselves, and speak words of adoration, gratitude, praise, and honor, or do we skip the consecration and directly ask for [material] blessings?

“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Jesus provides the qualifier [true love for Him produces obedience] that proves whether or not we love Him. We can gain intellectual knowledge of Christ’s character and earthly life by studying the Four Gospels but still not have an intimate heart-to-heart relationship with Him. The believers who accept Christ and do the works, but disobey God’s Righteous Principles and Commandments, Christ says they do not love Him.

To the Ephesus Church: “…and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” —Revelation 2:4

Jesus instructed the apostle John to write letters to the seven churches regarding their spiritual status. The church of Ephesus was identified as the one that lost its First Love—Christ. Although the members performed the required works [attending church, giving tithes and offerings, feeding the hungry, giving aid to the poor, and witnessing], Jesus was not the King of their hearts.

“We love him, because he first loved us.” —1 John 4:19

Our love relationship with Christ is initiated by Christ. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…” The door of our hearts will open or remain closed when the Holy Spirit [yes, it is a mystery] knocks and invites us to accept Christ with the innate love we received [2 Timothy 1:7].

Before the Second Coming of Christ, every human being will receive an invitation to accept Christ as their personal Savior. Some will reject Christ immediately, yet rejection is also revealed by saying yes, and then living according to our desires.

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life” —Matthew 19:29

How far are we willing to go for Christ? Jesus identifies our love for tangible assets and people as the roadblocks that prevent us from giving Him 100% of our love and loyalty. The rich, young ruler walked away in sorrow when Jesus instructed him to sell all and follow Him. Jesus knew the ruler loved Him and truly desired to be a disciple, but He exposed that wealth was the young ruler’s first love.

The thriving bank account that we cherish, or the money spent on frivolous trinkets instead of helping those in need reveal that Christ is not our First Love. Many Christians do not struggle with loving money but their first love is people. The spouse we please above obeying God, the unequal relationships with unbelievers, or the person who we have dated for years, but is not God’s chosen one will never receive His blessing of approval.

The believer’s challenges also extend to spoiling our children and having relationships with unbelieving and [middle-of-the-road Christian] family members and friends whom God has not designated to be a part of our spiritual journey, but we hold on to them as if they are the giver of eternal life. Let them go!

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” —Psalm 139:23-24

Many times we fall by repeating old behaviors. The next step is to pray and ask God to search our hearts and reveal all unrighteousness. We whisper a prayer of confession and repentance, God forgives us, and we start over.

When the Holy Spirit convicts us of our unrighteous character traits, disobedient desires, and worldly habits, along with the people who are standing in our way of eternal life, we cooperate with the Holy Spirit by praying for strength and using the spiritual process of elimination.

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” —Matthew 11:29-30

The Bible is a love letter to all believers. From studying Christ’s life, our heart should react with an abundant love and loyalty to Christ that supersedes all earthly love for others. Our relationship with Christ begins from our innate gift of love and if our love is genuine, we become one with Him.

When Jesus is our First Love, we willingly surrender to God’s will and plans by seeking Him in every aspect of our lives. Only those who consecrate themselves as Followers of Christ will possess the desire to persevere with faithful obedience to God.

“Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23). “Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?’ ” (John 21:20). Bible scholars define the disciple that Jesus loved as not identified.

“But the one who loves God is known by God.” —1 Corinthians 8:3

As time passed, John observed Jesus’ loving and gentle manner with everyone He came in contact with which resulted in a transformation of his heart. He let go of his selfish desire to be the greatest and to sit on the right hand of Christ. With faithful obedience, the Son of Thunder was transformed into a humble and loving disciple. John became one of the first disciples who desired to have the loving heart and righteous character of Christ.

John truly believed that Jesus was the Son of God. From studying the book of John, the tone of the Scriptures indicates that Jesus became John’s First Love. For his love and loyalty, the apostle John was rewarded by having a vision in which Jesus, the Triumphant King spoke the Holy prophetic words of the book of Revelation directly to His apostle.

“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

Every steadfast believer understands that Jesus is their Lord, Savior, and Best Friend. As we continue in our faith journey of Sanctification, the Holy Spirit gives us a deeper level of spiritual discernment which strengthens our relationship with Christ. Continue to pray daily for spiritual wisdom.

The day will come when your life will forever change. The Holy Spirit will empower you by opening your spiritual eyes to perceive Christ as the One and Only Triumphant King with whom you will spend eternity. And on that day, you will be in awe of the power of the Holy Spirit because you will fully understand what it truly means to worship Jesus, the King Triumphant in Spirit and in Truth.

“Lamb of God, You Are Seated at the Right Hand of the Father, You Are Holy, Holy, You Are God!” One day soon, we will see our Triumphant King face to face and behold His Beauty and Majesty as we fall to our knees in worship and adoration. Amen.

“But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ ” —1 Corinthians 2:9

Keep Moving Forward Step By Step

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 1, 2024

The world was created to be dynamic as evidenced by the changing seasons. Even during the coldest winter season, not all plants are dormant. According to HouseBeautiful, 17 flowers thrive during the coldest months of the year, including the beautiful snowdrops. Twenty species of evergreen trees including the Douglas Fir, Pine, and Spruce trees also maintain their hues of green throughout the harsh winter. The plant kingdom provides visual proof of God’s plan for continuous new growth.

There is another phenomenon of nature that produces new beginnings—fire. Although we view forest fires as destructive they are the catalyst for new growth. “Forest fires remove low-growing underbrush, clean the forest floor of debris, open it up to sunlight, and nourish the soil.” Wildfire ash provides essential nutrients to dormant seeds, enabling them to thrive and emerge from the soil with remarkable strength following the eradication of the existing vegetation.

“Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” —Genesis 1:26

From the cries of newborn babies to the continuous growth of the plant and animal kingdoms and the planet Earth revolving on its axis containing the exact mixture of elements required to fill our lungs with life-sustaining air, God reveals His love for all created beings. Our very existence along with the anatomy and physiology of our minds and bodies should raise our awareness that God has definitive plans for those created in His image.

“To everything, there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die…” —Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Death was not part of God’s original plan! After the Fall of Adam and Eve, sin resulted in both death and new life occurring simultaneously. We are living in the wintry season of the last days [Matthew 24, 2 Timothy 3]. Take the time to be alone and reflect deeply on your life. Are you living your best life because you have aligned yourself with God’s plans? We must be careful in our decision-making, unwise choices not only waste our precious time but also jeopardize our reward of eternal life.

“So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” —Psalm 90:12

Time is not our friend! We progress quickly through the life cycle. The cuddly newborn develops into a toddler and is school-age before parents can catch their breath. As we reflect on our lives, our journey of growth and development occurred like a whirlwind. From children to teenagers who quickly matured into young adults with varied responsibilities, we became parents, raised our children, advanced to the plight of empty-nesters, and then joyfully embraced the stage of grandparenting.

“Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is.” —Psalm 39:4

David prayed for wisdom when his heart was hot with anger. He had reached his limit of dealing with wicked people. Yet, he was aware of the frailty of human life, “like a vapor.” Like David, we cannot waste our precious days harboring anger, bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness in our hearts against those who have caused us mental, emotional, or physical harm.

Jesus forewarned us of the tribulations that every faithful believer would suffer. From studying the Bible, we learn that our trials and hardships are not setbacks, they are the Righteous fire that burns away our unrighteous character traits and behaviors. We are being transformed for a most wonderful eternal life with our Lord and Savior, King Jesus.

First Step: Are we putting forth the human effort to obey God’s plan that is designed to save our souls? We will also endure the wintry seasons of adversity that produce the newness of spiritual change in our minds, characters, and personalities. If we desire eternal life then we will not despise our hardships and things gone wrong. With steadfast faith and obedience embrace the journey on your Chosen Path. Yes, it gets rough at times, but keep moving forward, we are never alone.

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.” —Isaiah 43:18-19

Each new day is our gift of mercies for new beginnings. Step 2: The mistakes we made in the past that we repented for, even if they brought consequences, we forgive ourselves and live for today. God promises us restoration and from this promise, He expects us to move forward. We pray for His guidance and reverence Him through obediently fulfilling His plans for the given day. God created every human being, animal, and plant to experience continuous growth and development. Keep moving forward!

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

We were given the new beginnings of a spiritual rebirth [we are a new creation in Christ] when we accepted Jesus as our personal Savior. Sanctification is a lifelong step-by-step spiritual journey of transformation that requires human effort and Divine Intervention. The goal is to have the Character of Christ. To ensure that we receive our reward of immortality when Jesus comes, all of heaven is involved in our earthly journey of spiritual transformation.

Step 3: To experience the highest level of spiritual, intellectual, and emotional growth, we must fully cooperate with the Holy Spirit who gives us Christ’s strength to move forward. The theory of once saved always saved is human-made. Nor can we achieve a level of spiritual self-actualization by using human works alone. Spiritual transformation of our minds, characters, and personalities will never feel good. Keep praying, remain faithful, and strive to live a holy and acceptable life pleasing to God.

Step 4: Consistently remind yourself to rely on Christ’s strength! We are God’s responsibility. Jesus promised to never leave us or forsake us. Although we are impacted every day by spiritual warfare, plans that do not come to fruition, and unexpected life events, every hardship was approved by Christ for our spiritual growth. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ is guiding us to possess a new and righteous character.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

Step 5: Study Revelation chapters 21-22. Our journey is not in vain! One day this corrupt earth with all its evil will cease to exist. Jesus’ promise of giving us a new immortal life filled with love, peace, happiness, and joy in a sinless and perfect world will come to fruition. If we do our part, in Philippians 1:6, Jesus promises us that He will finish the work within us. Having the Character of Christ prepares us for the greatest transition—from this earth to our perfect home in the New Heaven and New Earth.

God, we thank You for New Beginnings, our trials and tribulations, the gift of Jesus, and the opportunity for Eternal Life. We pray for strength and direction as we travel in our journey. In Jesus Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

To Have the Mind of Christ

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – February 27, 2024

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” —Romans 12:2

As believers, we have a blessed advantage, Jesus Christ is our Friend, Savior, and King who tells us to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. When we renew our minds through prayer and study of the Scriptures, we invite the Holy Spirit to transform our minds, characters, and personalities. We pray for God’s will to be revealed with the commitment to obey. To have the mind of Christ requires steadfast faith, surrender, and obedience.

To have the mind of Christ requires the study of the Scriptures and much prayer. The Bible provides us with knowledge of the characters of God and Jesus. When we invite the Holy Spirit to our study, we receive spiritual wisdom and the Holy Spirit teaches us how to apply God’s Commandments and Righteous Principles to our everyday lives.

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). From prayer, we receive spiritual strength, guidance, comfort, answers to the perplexities of life, and most importantly forgiveness of our sins. Day by day, our thoughts change to reflect the mind of Christ.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” —John 3:16

To have the mind of Christ is to believe that God, the Father loves us. In Jeremiah 29:11, we are assured that God has “thoughts of peace, not evil, to give us a future and hope.” Many believers are worried about the unknown future, yet, they fail to realize that events of the given day are also unknown.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Jesus forewarned us of the hardships we would face every day, still, we do not have to worry when we place both the unknown and the known into God’s hands.

To have the mind of Christ requires astute knowledge of His character. The Four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John provide us with the attributes of Christ’s character, He was loving, obedient, humble, compassionate, considerate of others, and possessed the Fruit of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Christ is our Role Model who taught us how to love and demonstrate kindness to everyone regardless of their lifestyle or belief system. Study John 8:1-11 [The woman caught in adultery]. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31, NIV).

In difficult temptations, use silence, self-control, and prayer, not only will God intervene to resolve your battles, but the Holy Spirit will empower you with the strength to change and use His Divine power to produce daily spiritual growth. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

It is our character that must be changed into the Character of Christ. Although we cannot change ourselves without the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit, we must put forth the human effort of learning to love God and everyone who Christ died for.

“I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.” —Psalm 86:12

Christ loved, honored, obeyed, and reverenced His Father. We know this because of the countless hours He spent communing with God in prayer. Every aspect of Jesus’ earthly life was guided by God’s Divine will. Before Christ chose the 12 apostles, He spent all night in prayer alone with His Heavenly Father. One significant habit that we must embrace is to emulate Christ’s prayer life of constant communication with God.

To have the mind of Christ requires total surrender. Our daily prayer is, God, I surrender myself to You. We receive God’s will and plans for our lives by praying continuously. We do not fulfill this command by speaking repetitious words all day long. We discipline our minds to make prayer our first response to all challenges.

Do not pick and choose the matters that you pray about, whether routine or out of the ordinary, like Christ did, present everything to God in prayer, and thank Him in the same prayer for His Divine Intervention.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” —John 14:6

To have the mind of Christ is to become one with Him as He became one with God in His earthly life. The love we were gifted with (2 Timothy 1:7) connects our hearts to Christ’s heart. Intimacy with Christ is to have a heart-to-heart relationship with Him. We proclaim our love for Jesus, accept Him as our Savior, confess and repent our sins, and we are covered with His Righteousness.

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

To have the mind of Christ is to have extraordinary faith and trust in God’s Omnipotence. Even when the people in the synagogue became angry, [“Their city was built on a hill with a cliff. So they got up, forced Jesus out of the city, and led him to the cliff. They intended to throw him off of it” (Luke 4:29).] Jesus did not fear the angry mob nor did He use His Divine power to save Himself, Jesus knew that His Father would send angels to protect Him from all harm.

“…God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” —Hebrews 13:5

We prepare ourselves for the unpredictable day through morning worship, praying prayers of faith, “God, my life is in Your hands. Thank You for taking care of me and my family.” Prayer is our lifeline to God, the Source of life. Pray often! Ask for Divine Intervention, guidance, wisdom, strength, and discernment of deceptive temptations and the power to overcome for today. Live for today!

To have the mind of Christ is to rise above our natural inclinations by surrendering ourselves to God. When facing opposition, if we pray, the Holy Spirit intervenes by giving us the strength to think and function above and beyond our human abilities.

Do not become offended by how you are treated. Christ is our example of living a peaceful and victorious life. Despite the harsh treatment, rejection, and hatred He faced every day, Jesus’ joy came from knowing, “I have a Father who loves me with everlasting love.”

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” —Romans 8:37

From our faith and total reliance on God’s Divine Love and Sovereignty, we can enjoy our God-given gifts of happiness, peace, and contentment. With steadfast determination to have the mind of Christ, we will receive the same victory He received in His earthly life!

God, we thank You for Your amazing love and faithfulness. Jesus, we thank You for being our living example of surrender, obedience, and faithfulness to Your Heavenly Father. We ask for Your Divine intervention in every aspect of our lives. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

“Follow Me”

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – February 23, 2024

“So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.” —Luke 4:16

According to Jewish historians, there is little known about the city of Nazareth in Biblical times where Jesus grew up and lived with Mary, Joseph, and his siblings. Joseph is identified as having a trade as a carpenter, so we have evidence that the working class resided in Nazareth. Yet there was an overall disdain for the city as evidenced by Nathanael’s question to Philip. “And Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see’ ” (John 1:46).

“Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects Him who sent me.” —Luke 10:16

Historically, Jesus was rejected by the Pharisees, Sadducees, and those who were afraid of being excommunicated from the synagogue. Although the Jewish leaders possessed knowledge of Isaiah’s prophecies they expected the Messiah to arrive as a king with much pomp and circumstance—a ceremony of grandeur and overthrow the Roman government ending their oppression. When Jesus proclaimed that He was sent from God, the leaders knew His family’s social history of residing in Nazareth and they scoffed.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” —Matthew 11:29-30

“And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him” (Matthew 5:1). From studying Matthew 5, we find that Jesus had a strong following because of His loving, meek, and gentle demeanor. His teachings focused on God’s love and the spiritual characteristics of love and obedience to God instead of the harsh and endless rules developed by the Jewish leaders who did not abide by their human-made laws.

“In those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God. When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles…” —Luke 6:12-13

Reflecting on Jesus’ choice of disciples, we may wonder why He chose men like John and James who were called Sons of Thunder, Matthew was a thief who used his job to oppress the poor, Judas was a disloyal thief, Peter was arrogant and could not control his tongue, and Thomas was a doubter, but all had selfish hearts. They frequently argued about who would be the greatest in the kingdom on earth that they believed Jesus would reign over.

Jesus always relied on Divine wisdom from God, His Father. Using devout patience and perseverance eleven of Jesus’ twelve apostles were spiritually transformed into His Character. “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word…Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition [Judas Iscariot], that the Scripture might be fulfilled. …” (John 17:6, 12).

“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.” —Matthew 9:9

Matthew’s response to Jesus’ invitation to follow him and enter into a life of discipleship [serving God and serving others] provides the spiritual blueprint for all believers who decide to follow Christ. The sequence of events for becoming a Christian is demonstrated in this one Scripture. Love, faith, surrender, and obedience are required for us to follow Christ.

Jesus initially pursues us. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). The Holy Spirit touches our hearts to accept Jesus as our personal Savior. Do you recall the events that led to you accepting Christ? Whether in a church service, someone witnessing, or in the comfort of your home, the innate faith in your heart propelled you to make the decision, Yes, I am giving my heart to Jesus.
Every person who comes to Jesus begins and stays on an equal status—as a sinner saved by grace. Although our backgrounds differ, God is no respecter of person. To prevent us from thinking that our many years as a Christian, educational degrees, or Biblical knowledge elevate us above other believers, we are reminded, “What then? Are we any better? Not at all. As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one…” (Romans 3:9-10).
From Christ’s invitation to follow Him, love is the catalyst that produces the only acceptable response—to faithfully surrender in obedience. Some may ask, How can I love Jesus, if I never knew about Him? The Apostle Paul answers their question, “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 born with the spiritual attribute to love Christ as described by the Apostle Paul. God has also given humanity faith, “…God has given each of us a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3).
We also notice there was no dialogue between Jesus and Matthew after Jesus spoke the words, “Follow me.” Matthew along with the other disciples eagerly followed Jesus into an unknown path. But from the moment they were chosen, the twelve held onto a personal agenda deep within their hearts that lasted until Jesus’ Ascension to heaven. “So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ ” (Acts 1:6).
What is our true agenda? Our worship and lifestyles reveal if we are committed to live an obedient, surrendered life to God. To follow Jesus requires much faith in His love and saving grace. Like Matthew, our actions, “Matthew got up and followed Him” demonstrate our desire to follow Jesus without questioning where we are going. We also agree to pray the prayer of surrender daily and give up our will and plans for God’s will and plans for our lives.

Reflection: Are we willing to say yes to traveling on God’s Chosen Path for our earthly journey?

“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

Although I have been a Christian most of my life when I reflected on this Scripture of Christ’s obedience, the Holy Spirit opened my understanding of the sacrificial life required to follow Christ. The prophet Isaiah tells us, “The Lord GOD has opened My ears, and I have not been rebellious, nor have I turned back” (Isaiah 50:5).

“I have decided to follow Jesus, No turning back, No turning back!” When we rededicate ourselves to follow and obey Christ, our Savior, and King, the Holy Spirit empowers us to let go of our inherited tendencies, learned behaviors, and the worldviews that block us from turning our eyes upon Jesus.

With a made-up mind, zeal, and the determination to live righteously, we are fueled by Christ’s Divine strength. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us the spiritual empowerment to live righteously. Like Matthew, from our desire for eternal life, we will respond to following Christ with a new level of commitment, love, faith, surrender, obedience, and loyalty that we never imagined possible.

Lord God, we consecrate our minds, bodies, and souls to You. We desire to follow You in our earthly journey and ask for the anointing, presence, and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.

The Righteous Cry Out!

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – February 20, 2024

“LORD, I cry out to You; make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” —Psalm 141:1-2

Psalm 141 is David’s prayer asking God to keep him safe from the wickedness that existed in his environment. “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds.”

David was aware that our greatest battle is to overcome the influence of the unbelievers whom Satan uses to entice us into worldly conversations and activities that later we will need to repent for. We live in a time when spiritual wickedness permeates our societies. We cannot overcome the constant stream of temptations without God’s Divine intervention.

David’s life began as a humble and obedient shepherd boy in the pastures playing his harp and singing songs to God. Young David demonstrated wisdom and courage beyond his years because God had chosen him to be king of Israel. From his obedience and a slingshot, an angel of the Lord guided the stone to kill Goliath, the terrorizing Philistine giant. David’s 15 years living as a fugitive in caves [King Saul desired to kill David] prepared him to become a mighty warrior King that God would use to defeat pagan kings and their armies.

The Fall of King David: Compromise always changes our perception of right and wrong. We lose our ability to discern between God’s Truth and erroneous beliefs. Instead of measuring our behaviors by God’s righteous principles, we measure ourselves using human standards. David’s practice of polygamy fed his carnal desires and corrupted his moral code. Even when David was told that Bathsheba was married, he continued in his quest.

The Domino Effect of Sin: How did David, a man of God easily commit these heinous sins? It is impossible to engage in sin and think about God. Sin makes us [temporarily] forget that God exists. Sin desensitizes our sound minds and leaves us powerless. Sin causes spiritual blindness and numbs our perception of the magnitude of our wilful rebellion against God.

In Jeremiah, God says that the human heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. It is easier for us to choose wrong over right. Without humility, a believer relies on self-confidence and human strength to overcome the personalized and pleasing temptations that Satan develops from our observable behaviors.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” —1 Corinthians 10:13

Jesus tells us that we are not powerless! No one including Satan can force us to sin. When facing temptation the Holy Spirit speaks to our conscience and we feel uncomfortable in the situation. As believers, we can never say that we did not know that we were being tempted. When tempted, begin praying out loud for God’s help and remove yourself from the person or place.

If we do not stand down our carnal desires by falling on our knees and praying for as long as necessary for spiritual strength, our senses will draw us into the web of temptation. We see, hear, taste, smell, touch, and if we do not pray and turn away, we pursue, and then we fall.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” — Psalm 139:23-24

Since we cannot judge ourselves, we must go to God in prayer, and ask for the big reveal of our sinful habits and behaviors. The Holy Spirit will always reveal our sins. Pray for spiritual discernment to understand sin for what it really is, transgression against God. To overcome temptation requires the human effort of practicing self-control and praying for spiritual strength without ceasing.

Acknowledging that we are in a spiritual battle for our soul should produce a come to the Throne of Grace reaction. Like David, falling on our knees and petitioning for help, “LORD, I cry out to You; make haste to me!” is our only option. We need God! Living in these last days is a struggle, wickedness has increased, and we are Satan’s targets.

Now more than ever, we desperately need a steadfast relationship with Christ. Increasing our prayer life, studying the Scriptures at least one hour a day, and incorporating spiritual fasting into our lifestyle allows the Holy Spirit to give us reinforcement against the enemy.

The Discipline of Fasting: Every believer should fast at least once a week. Unless your health is severely compromised, Biblical fasting is abstaining from food. Fasting is self-denial and places our flesh into subjection. Fasting is worship. We also pray, study the Scriptures, and set aside all electronic distractions for a specified time.

Begin with 2 to 4 hours of fasting and pray a prayer of consecration and re-dedication to God. Fasting connects us to Christ, strengthens our minds, and gives us spiritual discipline. With determination and the strength of the Holy Spirit, we let go of sinful thoughts, behaviors, and habits.

“For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.” —Psalm 51:3-4

David repented for his sins. Although God’s judgment demanded death, through His loving mercies He spared David’s life, but David suffered greatly for his sins. God placed a lifelong curse of strife in his household. Although sin brings life-changing consequences, God never crushes us and leaves us hopeless, nor will our Heavenly Father allow the enemy to harm us.

From the book of Psalms, we learn of David’s intimate relationship with God. Each chapter is a song of prayer. From his rebellion against God, David learned the believer’s greatest need, to stay close to God. King David recognized and continuously proclaimed his desperate need for the Lord.

David’s prayers were cries for God’s forgiveness, intervention, comfort, guidance, protection, deliverance, and the wisdom to live righteously. God’s favor was on the life of David because he truly loved God. And God described David as a man after God’s own heart.

Reflection: Are we women and men after God’s own heart? In our daily struggles of life, do we continuously cry out for God’s Divine Intervention? Would our prayers comprise a book of 150 chapters?

Not only do we have the Book of Psalms dedicated to honoring God with prayers and praises of love and gratitude, but David’s prayers exemplify humanity’s desperate need for God’s continuous Divine Intervention in every aspect of our lives.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” —Psalm 119:105

Although he was a born warrior, David was never ashamed or too proud to reveal his desperation for God. From the diligent study of the Old Testament Scriptures, David knew God’s Character was Loving, Righteous, and Merciful. King David humbled himself before God and cried out like a child who was totally dependent on his parents. David’s reverence of God’s Sovereignty is a living example for every child of God.

“Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.” —Jeremiah 33:3, Amplified Bible

The book of Psalms reveals the key to living a victorious life—possessing a heart filled with love for God as evidenced by our absolute reverence and devout obedience. We should be forever grateful for the Plan of Redemption. With contrite hearts, every day, we repent, receive forgiveness, renew our covenant vow to follow and obey Christ, and we are covered by the righteousness of Christ. Hallelujah! Amen!

“Create in me, a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” —Psalm 51:10