christianity – Page 18 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

“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

What Does God Require of Us?

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – February 16, 2024

“To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” —Ephesians 4:22-24

The Apostle Paul had the awesome task of witnessing to the Gentiles who did not begin their lives serving the true God. The Gentiles had varying lifestyles with a foundation deriving from polytheism, cultural, and social practices which included pagan worship and sexual immorality.

“I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety [proper or suitable], adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God” (1 Timothy 2:9-10).

The Gentiles had two distinct pagan customs, they were easily recognized by their immodest clothing, elaborate hairstyles, women with razor (bald) haircuts, and men with extremely long hair. In 1 Corinthians chapter 11, Paul also addresses the pagan custom of women shaving their heads and men growing long hair.

From the Scriptures, we learn that our outward appearance matters to God. Our desire to live righteously is displayed by choosing the excellence of simplicity and modesty. We honor God by our decision to avoid the worldliness of fashion trends. Although we will not fit in with the status quo, our love and loyalty are to God, and we live to please Him.

The Source of Our Internal Battle: “The heart is deceitful above all things And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.” —Jeremiah 17:9-10

Although our backgrounds are diverse, humanity has a commonality, we are born with carnal hearts. The behavior of children reveals our true nature. From the sibling who is jealous of the new baby to the child who refuses to share their toys and has a temper tantrum, we recognize the condition of our inherited hearts. The display of negative emotions in babies and young children is not a learned behavior.

The traits of jealousy, selfishness, and anger are present in all of our hearts which we must overcome with God’s Divine help. Our characters, minds, and personalities reflect the influence of hearts that desire sinful pleasures, hereditary traits, and the learned behaviors of our diverse environments. During the maturation process from childhood to adulthood, we are also influenced by our culture and the prevailing social customs, norms, and behaviors.

Our character matters to God. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.” —1 Corinthians 6:19

How far are we willing to go for God? Christ has extended the invitation, “Follow Me.” “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’ ” (John 14:6). Our heart-to-heart relationship is with Christ. If we love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind then we eagerly dedicate ourselves to follow and obey Christ.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” —Romans 12:1-2

Accepting Christ as our Savior requires the human effort of giving up every habit, behavior, and relationship that does not honor God. Following Christ places us on a spiritual journey that requires cooperation with Divinity. No amount of human effort can achieve spiritual transformation. From our obedience, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit with strength beyond our human abilities to change.

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

Sanctification is the lifelong spiritual transformation of our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ that requires the human effort of obedience and self-control, but is accomplished by the Holy Spirit. The prayer of daily surrender invites the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins and teach us how to live holy. To follow Christ is to live a sacrificial life. Pray often for Divine help.

Use Your Spiritual Gifts: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear [cowardice], but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind [self-control].” —2 Timothy 1:7, BLB

If we can obey an employer’s policies without external help, then we can live surrendered, obedient lives empowered by the Holy Spirit. Our daily prayer, “God, what do You want me to do?” is answered by an outpouring of spiritual strength, wisdom, and discernment. From our desire to faithfully obey God, we receive blessings from our Heavenly Father.

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” —Psalm 121:1-2

What does God require of us? To love Him with all of our hearts, souls, and minds, to love His Son, Jesus, to have a relationship with Him, to love our neighbors [everyone] as ourselves, and to have a righteous character.

“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

The Fruit of Self-Control

Our Daily Walk with Christ -Devotional – February 12, 2024

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.” —Galatians 5:22-23

The highest evidence of nobility in a Christian is self-control…To rule the spirit is to keep self under discipline; to resist evil; to regulate every word and deed by God’s great standard of righteousness. He who has learned to rule his spirit will rise above the slights, the rebuffs, the annoyances, to which we are daily exposed, and these will cease to cast a gloom over his spirit. (Reflecting Christ).

“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” —Matthew 26:41

We love God! Yes, we are grateful for the mercies of a new day. Not one Christian awakens with the intent to sin against God. With faithful obedience, we offer ourselves to God through a prayer of surrender, asking Him to reveal His will for the given day.

Still, Jesus forewarned us of the intense struggle required to follow Him. Every day, we experience tribulations [spiritual warfare, temptations, and trials]. Yet, our greatest battle is the internal war of the flesh against the spirit that rages within our hearts [minds].

“For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled and bewildered by them]. I do not practice what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate [and yielding to my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity].” —Romans 7:15, Amplified Bible

Although our intentions to surrender and obey are good and honest, by the end of our day, we must pray a prayer of confession and repentance because we succumbed to temptation, allowed our emotions to rise up, spoke harsh words, purchased unnecessary things, failed to pray for guidance, followed our thoughts, and the decision brought consequences.

Predetermination, Commitment, and Praying for Divine Help in Our Time of Need

“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” (John 15:5).
“…Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).
“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:25).

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind [self-control, discipline]” (2 Timothy 1:7).

We received power, love, and a sound mind which allows us to say no. Self-control requires much discipline. No one can force us to disobey God. What is sinful? All decisions, behaviors, spoken words, and actions that do not honor and glorify God.

The answers are found in the Bible. God says, “I change not.” The only law that was abolished was the Ceremonial Law of animal sacrifice. The behaviors and practices that God identified in the Old and New Testaments as sinful are still valid today.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” —Proverbs 14:12

Without diligent study of the Scriptures, a dilemma arises, our perception of sin does not align with God’s definition of sin—transgression of His law and righteous standards. Many of today’s believers do not understand the faith, obedience, and self-control required to live a sanctified life. Because we inherit carnal hearts, without a heart-to-heart relationship with Christ, we are swayed by the world we live in.

The skill of deception is used in covert ways. The secular music, relationships with unbelievers, immodest apparel, chasing success, wealth accumulation, the pursuit of goals [without God’s approval], sexual immorality, cohabitation, yoga, meditation to an idol, marijuana, fermented, and alcoholic drinks, and following our inclinations are worldviews that have crept into our lives.

“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” —1 John 2:6

Jesus’ earthly mission was rigorous, but Jesus was a Prayer Warrior. He is our living example of the spiritual power that God gives to those who seek His will through consistent prayer. Under Jesus’ steadfast guidance and the power of the Holy Spirit, eleven of the twelve apostles were transformed into His likeness. If we surrender ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit and vow to be faithful and obedient, we will receive the Fruit of self-control, and the power to live by it.

“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

Truthfully, we cannot discern our sinful behaviors and habits without asking the Holy Spirit to reveal our unrighteousness. From our love for God, we send up prayers asking Him to search our hearts and reveal every displeasing character trait, habit, and behavior that prevents us from living holy and moving forward in our journey of spiritual growth and transformation.

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

Self-control is a spiritual discipline. To deny oneself of sinful pleasures requires sacrifice. Our deep and abiding love for Christ allows us to let go of worldly habits, behaviors, and friends. To overcome our carnal desires will always require human effort and Divine Intervention. There is no limit when praying for spiritual strength. We pray for strength when we feel strong [lest we fall] and in our weakest moments.

Through Christ, even the weakest are made strong. When we call on the name of Jesus for help, the Holy Spirit empowers us with the strength to accomplish above and beyond our human limits. In the power of Christ, we proclaim, flesh, you will not rule over me! “Be holy, for I am Holy.” Strive for holiness by keeping your focus on Jesus.

“Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right [steadfast] spirit within me.” In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen

The Safety of Abiding in Christ—Angelic Protection

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – February 11, 2024

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’ ” —Psalm 91:1-2

Around noon, the Pastor made an urgent phone call to his elders, deacons, and prayer warriors. He gave a simple explanation, “Come to the church prepared to pray for Robert, our missionary working overseas, God says, he is in danger.” The men arrived and went into a season of prayer for Robert’s safety. Although the timeline is unknown for this story, due to the prevailing circumstances, communication was very limited between the two countries.

The first time Robert attended church after completing his mission trip, he noticed that a time for sharing testimonies was part of the service. The pastor asked for two people to give a testimony of God intervening in an impossible situation. Robert stood, but due to the two-year lapse, the pastor did not recognize him until he began speaking.

During my missionary assignment, I was responsible for disseminating the monthly supplies, we received from those who supported our goal to serve the community. I was traveling on a narrow road known for its danger from dusk until dawn. Anyone who mistakenly traveled during this time would be confronted by a group of indigenous men who formed a human roadblock to rob and often take the lives of those in the vehicle. Although, I allowed enough travel time to pass through the area while it was still light, the conditions of the road extended my travel time. As I entered the danger zone, I heard a sound indicating that one of my tires was flat. Alone and covered by the thick darkness, I knew that my circumstances were bleak, still, I prayed in faith for God to keep me safe. As I laid the flashlight on the ground, I could not see beyond its limited area of light. I realized that I was in harm’s way, but focused on quickly changing the tire and continued my journey. The next morning when I shared the story with my guide, translator, and fellow missionary, he expressed amazement that I was not attacked by the waiting men. Later that evening, during dinner, he shared the following story, Today, I went to visit the men [who attack others] and gave them some of the supplies that you brought. While we were talking, I asked if they saw you on the road changing your tire, to which they responded yes. I then asked, Why didn’t you attack him? They told me not only were they going to steal the supplies, but had also decided to kill this missionary man who taught of a strange God, but he had 26 large bodyguards with swords of light standing around him, they were afraid and ran away.

At this point, the Pastor asked the men who prayed for Robert to stand up and count off, there were exactly 26 men who prayed with the pastor on that day. Yet, there is one more powerful element to add to Christ’s Divine intervention of sending 26 warrior angels to protect Robert, although there was a great time difference between the two countries, the season of prayer occurred at the same time that Robert was changing the tire.

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.” —Psalm 91:14-16

All of heaven is actively involved in the believer’s life. Not only do we have angelic protection to save us from situations meant for death, but our guardian angels fight spiritual warfare, and are involved in our daily activities of life. God has given us precious promises that declare His love and dedication to humanity. In verses 14-16, from our love for God, we are promised deliverance, exaltation, answered prayers, protection from trouble, honor, long life, and the promise of salvation.

Christ, our Lord and Savior is the Commander of angel armies whose primary assignment is the protection of the righteous. Like the breath in our bodies, we rarely think of or thank God for the mercies of angelic protection we receive 24/7 against the unseen dangers of spiritual warfare and the physical calamities that could easily end our lives.

The warfare of distractions is a cunning strategy that steals our time and prevents us from praying, studying the Scriptures, and meditating on the goodness of God. Today, reflect on the busyness of your life and ask the Holy Spirit to identify the obstacles that prevent you from focusing on our Heavenly Father’s abundant love and never-ending mercies of protection.

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” —Proverbs 18:10

Angelic protection is only one of the privileges we receive from abiding in Christ. When we are willing to dedicate our time to worship by giving praises of gratitude to God, we reveal our appreciation for receiving the mercies we do not deserve. The practice of worshiping God with a grateful heart in our earthly lives prepares us for heavenly worship where we will give reverence, honor, and glory to our Sovereign God throughout eternity. Yes, our lives are not only protected but we are blessed beyond measure.

“For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.” —Psalm 91:11

God, we thank You for Your love, grace, mercies, and Divine intervention. We thank You for the angelic armies who faithfully obey Your commands to keep us from harm’s way and strengthen us to fight against the schemes and temptations developed to separate us from You. We pray for the wisdom to identify and remove all obstacles that prevent us from loving You with all of our hearts, souls, and minds. We ask this prayer in the Matchless Name of Jesus, Amen.

The Lord is Merciful

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional -February 6, 2024

“Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes, I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight.’” —2 Samuel 12:9-11

“Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ Nathan replied, ‘The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.’” —2 Samuel 12:13-14

Psalm 119 reflects David’s heartfelt plea to God, “Do not leave me to my oppressors.” Although God forgave the king for his wilful sins of adultery and murder, David’s sins brought severe consequences to his life. The Lord extended abundant mercies by sparing David’s life, but His judgment would remain. The curse of oppression and strife was fulfilled and enacted by those in his household just as the prophet foretold.

God is always merciful. David was surrounded by enemies during his entire reign including two of his sons, the princes Absalom and Adonijah who were his greatest enemies. But God did not allow the son’s plans to come to fruition and harm their father. God appointed David’s and Bathsheba’s second son, Solomon to be the heir to David’s throne. Not only was Solomon the wisest man that ever lived, he was allowed to build the temple.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” —Jeremiah 17:9

We must reflect deeply on the terrible condition of the human heart. David’s sins were heinous, but he felt no remorse. The sin of entitlement resulted in King David abusing his position to pursue his desires. Only when God sent the prophet Nathan to expose David’s sins did he confess and repent. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

“You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.” —Deuteronomy 5:33

We cannot condemn David because we are also following our hearts. Our focus has turned from God to ourselves. As one pastor stated, “We have become the idol that we worship.” When we fail to include God in our daily routines by asking for His guidance, we move forward in our decisions to purchase houses or vehicles, pursue success, and enter into relationships and marriages that are contrary to His will.

Yet there are consequences for the Christians who fulfill their heart’s desires without God’s Divine Blessing. When our perception of what it means to live a faithful and obedient life pleasing to God does not align with His Righteous principles, we lose our right standing with God. Our failure to surrender and seek His will every day is disobedience. From our decision to please ourselves, we exchange the freedom of righteousness for the enslavement of sinful oppression.

God’s desire is for us to worship Him with faithful obedience. “…that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence…” (1 Timothy 2:2). God does not excuse any acts of disobedience. Do we understand that our independent thoughts and actions reflect a decision to live according to our dictates? God knows the motives of our hearts and our level of spiritual understanding.

“The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger, and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.” —Psalm 145:8-9

Following our hearts [unless it is pursuing Christ] is disobedience and disobedience separates us from God. Yet, even in our sinfulness, our Heavenly Father extends abundant mercies. Using conviction, the Holy Spirit tugs on the heart of the believer who has veered from the Narrow Path of Righteousness. Because of Christ, we have the life-saving option of not staying on the detour road paved by disobedience.

Although the Holy Spirit uses various ways, [feeling the discontent of wrongdoing in our conscience, using our thoughts, Scriptures, sermons, spiritually mature people, and even a post on social media] to expose our sins of disobedience, we never have to use guesswork regarding our specific sins. Every sin secret or open is exposed by God.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” —Jeremiah 29:11

Yes, it is a struggle to live holy! We have traveled too far in our spiritual journey to throw away our reward of Eternal life for the temporary pleasures of this world. The power of the Holy Spirit gives us the strength to bring our flesh into subjection to the will of God. With faith and courage, determine that you will stay in the right standing with God.

Prayer: “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way.” Psalm 119:37

Let Jesus Guide Your Steps

Our Daily Walk with Christ – Devotional February 5, 2024

“And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” —Matthew 22:37

God is Love! Every good and perfect gift including salvation, grace, forgiveness, mercy, and provisions is from His overwhelming love for humanity. Our salvation is dependent on our belief that God is Love and He loves us. Still, we must respond by loving God. Our love for God is the foundation of our heart-to-heart relationship with Christ.

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” (Ephesians 1:4).

Our identity was predestined by God. From Adam and Eve to modern believers, we have been called and chosen by God to represent His love for humanity and to spread the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because our hearts are naturally carnal, and cannot understand the spiritual things of God, every living being has received a measure of faith—the innate ability to believe.

The Divine intervention of the Holy Spirit is required to elevate our understanding to grasp the magnitude of Christ’s unselfish gift of salvation and God’s love for humanity. We hear or read about Christ and our heart responds. Agape love is the catalyst that activates our faith. It is at that moment of acceptance and belief in Christ when the Holy Spirit moves and touches the person’s heart to say, Yes, I accept Christ as my personal Savior.

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.” —2 Timothy 1:9

Our response to accepting Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives reflects that we agree with the responsibility to think, act, and live holy. We are chosen and called by God to live a pure life. Because of Christ, we are redeemed from our sins, saved by grace, and clothed in His Righteousness. In reverence and gratitude to the Almighty God, we pray for the spiritual strength to overcome innate sinful tendencies and do our part by striving to live acceptable lives pleasing to God.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” —1 Peter 2:9

We are who God says we are—chosen royalty. Imagine being informed that your family lineage suggests they belonged to royalty. Certainly, you would think very differently of yourself, not with conceit and pride, but you would strive to honor your family’s status.

With excitement, you research to find out more information and seek to reflect on their royal status by establishing higher moral standards. Your lifestyle would not only reflect integrity and honor you would avoid everything that would cause disgrace or reproach to your family.

“And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” —Revelation 19:16

Applying those same principles from a spiritual perspective, we excitedly accept the gift and privilege of being royal children of Christ, our King. Through personal worship, we reinforce our covenant vow of love and loyalty to live a life honoring God. Faithful obedience as evidenced by the daily surrender of our will demonstrates that we bow to Jesus, our Sovereign King.

How do we make the transition to live holy? We acknowledge and accept our identity in Christ. We offer prayers of confession, repentance, and praises of gratitude. And we agree to be led by Christ!

David’s Prayer: “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).

The Royal Guidebook: The Holy Bible is God’s Voice of Instruction. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, our Teacher, we diligently study the Scriptures to learn God’s commandments and principles of Righteousness. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

Holiness requires our hearts to be filled with humility and surrender. We give up thinking our thoughts and plans by praying daily for God’s will to be revealed. To live holy requires a shift in one’s thinking and a marked change in our character. To follow Christ instead of our inclinations can never be accomplished through methods of self-achievement.

A life of holiness requires much prayer. From our prayers for help, the Holy Spirit empowers us with the Divine strength to overcome our desires and fulfill God’s plans. Still, we must practice the discipline and self-control required to obey God. Spiritual growth does not happen in leaps and bounds, it is a slow and continuous process.

Immediately, following our commitment to Christ, we begin the Journey of Sanctification—the lifelong spiritual process of our minds, characters, and personalities being changed by the Holy Spirit into the likeness of Christ. To enter the Narrow gate and stay on the Path of Righteousness, we put forth the human effort to fully cooperate with Divinity by fulfilling our commitment to always be led by the Spirit of God.

God, we pray for the wisdom to hear Your Voice and the strength to faithfully obey Your will. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.

Worshiping God in Spirit and Truth

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – February 2, 2024

“Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.” —Exodus 5:29

From the Glory of the Lord, Moses’ face revealed the Shekinah radiance that comes from worshiping in the presence of God. Thankfully, we have the privilege of entering God’s presence and enjoy a mountaintop experience during times of collective and personal worship.

“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).

Reflection: From God’s open invitation, we can approach God in reverent worship any time of the day or night. Are we readily seeking God to receive the only transforming power available to humanity?

Often there is a vast difference between our understanding of worshiping God in Spirit and Truth and God’s definition of worshiping Him. Worship requires a heart filled with love and total surrender to the will of God. Every day, we pray in faith, asking for God’s will to be revealed for the given day. Obedience to God is our sacrificial worship. Once we know His plans, we follow through by doing His will.

Worship is a lifestyle. Worship engages our mental and moral powers as we emotionally prepare ourselves to physically be in the presence of God. Worship extends beyond attending church. We incorporate deep, meaningful personal worship [at least twice a day] into our service to God.

“Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.” —Isaiah 6:2

In today’s Christian community, reverence for God has substantially declined. A few days ago, I was watching a South African music video and when I observed the level of reverence [most of the congregation were on their knees with uplifted hands] during the song of worship, I immediately repented for not reverencing God as He deserves. God is Sovereign and He is Holy!

“The fear [reverence] of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Proverbs 9:10). God is Holy! Through our intentional posture of surrender [on bended knees, if physically possible], we remind ourselves and acknowledge that God is not only Sovereign, but He is the reason we have life.

Personal worship requires meaningful preparation. We set aside uninterrupted time, eliminate all distractions, and leave our silenced cellular devices in another area. With the Bible in hand, we take a deep breath, proclaim praises of gratitude for our life, health, and strength, and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and discernment during our Bible study.

“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms [songs].” —Psalm 95:2

Worship is a time of rejoicing to thank God for all that He has done and all that He will do in our lives. We cannot let our feelings determine our perception of the goodness of God. It is a privilege to enter the presence of God. Whether we are in times of peace or hardships and sorrows, we give Him praise because He is always faithful.

“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

We begin by emptying our hearts of selfish desires and self-seeking attention with a prayer of repentance. We express our love for God by asking for His will to be revealed on the given day. The remainder of our prayer is dependent on our free expression between ourselves and God.

Pray honest prayers. God is not offended when we offer spoken words of truth. We do not have to be ashamed of confessing that our faith is weak, or we feel sad, disappointed, or due to a major life change, we do not know how to move forward. With God there is no pretense, He knows the true condition of our hearts.

What can we expect to receive during worship? “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).

Through worship, the Holy Spirit imparts the spiritual and physical sustenance that is required for the given day, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). The Holy Spirit convicts and identifies our sins and unrighteous character traits. We receive the strength to change our habits and behaviors.

Sanctification—being transformed into the likeness of Christ [His love and character] and possessing the Fruit of the Spirit takes a lifetime.

God’s ultimate goal is to prepare us for eternal life. From our desire to be in the presence of God, we receive the benefits of His Shekinah glory. When we continue to persevere by offering our sacrifice of obedience to God in worship, our minds, characters, and personalities are transformed. From the depths of our spiritually energized souls, like Moses, our faces reflect the radiance of the Glory of God! Amen.

Prayer: God, we come to You offering ourselves as a living sacrifice. We make a covenant vow to surrender in faithful obedience to Your will. Lord, we praise You for the gift of Your life and the privilege of worshiping You. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Jesus is With You in the Storm

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional Reading – January 31, 2024

“But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ and they cried out in fear.” —Matthew 14:26

When the disciples were in the storm that raged in the darkness of the early hours before dawn, Jesus appeared to them by walking on the water. Their reaction was one of immense fear which had its roots in the prevailing pagan ideologies of ghosts which supposedly represented the visible spirit of a deceased person.

Once Jesus spoke the comforting words, “It is I,” only Peter used his little measure of faith to verbalize the challenge, “…’ Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water “(Matthew 14:28). Proud Peter stepped out of the boat onto the tumultuous waves walking with confidence toward Jesus.

Quickly, pride became fear when Peter allowed himself to become distracted by turning his head away from Jesus. Yes, he had many unrighteous characteristics but Peter believed that Jesus was the Son of God which provoked his cry of desperation, “Lord, save me!”

Deep within Peter’s heart, he was confident in Christ’s power to save him from sinking into the watery grave. We can learn from Peter’s experience. Never lose sight of the Sovereign power of Jesus, the Son of God. Memorize His promise never to leave us or forsake us. Jesus is with us in every dark storm.

Yes, He knows that our faith is weak and we will easily become distracted by our circumstances. Still, with a love we cannot understand, He tells us to “Come.” Our faith may compare to a grain of sand, but keep praying and believing! We are not hopeless! In the rugged storms that produce disruption and sorrow, Jesus is with us from the beginning to the end.

Persevere by holding onto your faith in Christ. We were created with the resilience to make it through every storm when we depend on the strength of Christ to empower us. We have the assurance that when the desired spiritual growth and transformation has occurred, Jesus will say to our storm, “Peace be still.”

Thank You, Lord, for never leaving us in our hardships and sorrow. We praise You for being our Shelter in the storms of life. Jesus, we love You. Amen.

Jesus’ Invitation: Follow Me

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – January 28, 2024

To walk with Jesus requires the same surrender and obedience to God that He demonstrated in His earthly life. Jesus’ constant prayer of “Not my will, but Your will be done was His primary focus.” Like Christ, God has a Chosen Path for every believer.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” —Proverbs 14:12

Although our paths differ, all believers have the same responsibilities to God. To give up our personal agendas and plans is a requisite that will cause many Christians to fail in their relationship with Christ. We cannot navigate through life thinking our own thoughts and using our standards and be in right standing with God.

“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

When Jesus said to Matthew, the corrupt tax collector, “Follow me” there was no hesitancy. Matthew understood that He was surrendering to Christ and letting go of his former ways of thinking and living. From Matthew’s obedience, Jesus transformed His disciple from the habits of oppressing the poor and stealing for the self-gain of wealth to a man of God.

If we are committed to following Christ we pursue Him daily by praying the faith prayer of “I surrender myself to You, my Lord and Savior.” The Holy Spirit intervenes by revealing God’s daily agenda and giving us the wisdom, discernment, and strength to live as Victorious Overcomers. Our thoughts, spoken words, and decisions reflect that we are walking side by side with Jesus on our Chosen Path leading to eternal life.

Lord, we choose to follow you through total surrender and obedience. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.