Yeshua, the Eternal Word: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:1-3).
As magnificent as this eagle is, we must never forget that God, Jesus, the Son, knelt on the ground, picked up clay, created us in His image, and breathed His Divine breath into Adam.
King David proclaimed, “we are fearfully and wonderfully made.” Live every moment with gratitude for Yahweh’s Divine Ruach (רוּחַ) life-giving breath flowing through your lungs.
Yes, the eagle is magnificent, but nothing created supersedes humanity who is created in the Divine similitude of God. Embrace your gift of life by dedicating your love, loyalty, and faithful obedience to worship our Triumphant King, and Creator God, Jesus Christ. Yes and Amen!
Jesus, we bless, honor, and revere Your Holy Name. Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – August 6, 2024
“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them…” —Genesis 1:26-28
From studying the Creation Story, we find that Jesus [who created us in His image] desired humanity to exist on an aesthetically pleasing planet. Although the progression of human-made implementations has resulted in much damage and destruction to Planet Earth, God has reserved many areas that human hands cannot touch.
Yes, the universe still displays the breathtaking majesty of Jesus’ Holy Name. Have you ever gazed into the night sky? The moon and the constellations of stars are simply amazing. During the day, the sun’s rays impart energy to all human, animal, and plant life. Yes, we have a beautiful world and would understand God’s loving character if we would explore His handiwork in nature.
The Four Gospels reveal that Jesus used scenic areas to teach the multitudes about the love of God and the plan of salvation. Yet, Jesus often isolated Himself by retreating to mountainous areas to pray for hours and to spend intimate time with God, His Father. We need alone time to hear the Holy Spirit speaking to us through our thoughts to comfort and guide us through life’s journey.
“Mark 6:31-32: After an intense period of ministry, Jesus and his apostles are so busy with people coming and going that they don’t have time to eat. Jesus says, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” They leave by boat for a secluded spot. This is an example of Jesus teaching his disciples the importance of solitude.” Time spent with God alleviates all frustrations and faithlessness.
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life…Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? —Matthew 6:25-26
One can only imagine that it was a wonderful experience for Jesus in His earthly life to enjoy His own creation of the rolling grass, fields of flowers, and the sun in the sky shining its rays of energy on the Son of Righteousness who created the elements. The beauty of nature reveals God’s overwhelming love for humanity and reinforces our faith in Him as a loving Heavenly Father who cares for us.
“The faith which you have [that gives you freedom of choice], have as your own conviction before God [just keep it between yourself and God, seeking His will]. Happy is he who has no reason to condemn himself for what he approves.” —Romans 14:22
Faith in God provides mental, emotional, and spiritual stability. When we use our faith to embrace God’s love, He rewards us with the spiritual gifts of strength, joy, peace, and happiness. Do you have faith? Yes, every human being has received the God-gifted measure of faith. We use our faith to accept Jesus and to believe in the Plan of Redemption and Salvation, yet, many miss out on God’s benevolence by ignoring the benefits of enhancing our health by enjoying the natural environment.
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him…?” —Psalm 8:3-4
The Christian Has Many Sources of Happiness: “THOSE WHO FIND true happiness must have the blessing of Heaven upon all that they possess and all that they do.” EGW
As a former Behavioral Health Nurse, 99% of our patients admitted to the unit were diagnosed with Depression. When we conducted their Intakes, all were “homebound,” not due to physical limitations, they shared the common practice of spending their free time staying in the walls of their homes. Confining oneself indoors impacts all facets of our psyche and damages the structure and function of our physical body.
Going outside to take a walk and looking at the majestic trees and the sky will alleviate many burdens. As we visually take in nature, we can talk to Christ, our Heavenly Intercessor and Best Friend. Nature redirects our focus from problems to God, the Problem Solver. Trade in screen time for 30 minutes of outdoor activity. Even if you live in a bustling city, find a park and listen for the bird’s chirping melodies who praise their Creator throughout the day.
God’s Goal for Our Earthly Lives: “Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.” —3 John 1:2
Making a change by enjoying the beauty of nature allows our moods to stabilize and our overall health to improve because we behold God’s love for us. Joyful believers embrace the health and happiness that God gives us. Living happily now is possible! Yes, we need innovative technological advancements, but you and I are too distracted by technology! Go outside instead of devoting your life to screen time.
The Change of Our Lives in Heaven: Jesus tells us, “But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection” (Luke 20:35-36). Although we do not know what our lives will be like in the New Heaven and New Earth, one thing is for certain eternal life will not consist of living inside our homes watching screens.
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” —John 10:10
The abundant life that Christ refers to is not the worldview of buying temporary earthly trinkets and tangible goods. Our efforts to create a happy and joyful little heaven on earth begin with the knowledge and possession of Christ’s Character: “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).
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” —Philippians 4:13
God’s Spirit cannot dwell in us if we are downcast, depressed, anxious, and worried. Exploring and worshiping God in nature will change your behaviors and your perception. God’s magnificent love will permeate your minds, bodies, and souls. Yes, we can enhance our happiness, joy, and contentment by frequently visiting and worshiping God in natural surroundings. Following Christ’s example will allow Him to give us optimal health and happiness.
Daily Affirmation: I am a son or daughter of Jesus, my Triumphant King who loves and died for me, so, I proclaim my love for Him through nature which reveals God’s Agape Love. He is the King of Glory! Give Jesus the praise! Hallelujah and Amen!
Lord God, we thank You for the wonderful gifts of salvation, a beautiful world, and the promise of eternal life. We love You and praise Your Holy Name. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
Every recipe has the main ingredient. It is the dominant item, and the rest of the things contribute to its flavor, appearance, and combined, they form the recipe’s unique characteristics.
Yesterday, I conducted some research on the central themes of the Bible. I follow one criterion from my academic background; make sure that the source is credible. I could not believe that not one theologian mentioned “love.” The most crucial foundation for having faith, trust, obedience, and hope is believing that God, our Creator and Heavenly Father is love.
So, I will proclaim: God is love! He is the originator of Unconditional Love, and from His love flows abundant rivers of grace and mercy.
I have a friend who has two adult sons that refuse to fly away and leave the home nest. Although she is ready for them to go, they cannot detach themselves emotionally from Momma’s love. In fact, they are hanging on as if their wings are broken. The only way for these mature birds to leave the nest is for Momma to call the locksmith and to place their suitcases on the porch, and that’s something that Momma is not going to do.
Let us take a journey through the Bible where God openly reveals that He is love and His unconditional love for humanity.
Morning Prayer: God, we thank you for another day of life, complete with your grace and mercy. We pray for forgiveness of our sins. Thank you for your love. Please help us recognize that we were created from your love and that you gave us the innate ability to love you, love others, and love ourselves.
Innate: existing in, belonging to, or determined by factors present in an individual from birth: NATIVE, INBORN. Innate behavior. originating in or derived from the mind or the constitution of the intellect rather than from experience. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/innate
Although we will focus on the biblical proof of God’s love directed toward humanity, we must acknowledge that God first created the world, and our world will always belong to Him because of His love. The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. Psalm 24:1
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:26-28 NKJV
Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Genesis 1:31 NKJV. Yes, God made us on a Friday.
God’s Love: The Creation of Human Beings
And on that beautiful Friday, humanity was lovingly created from the hands of God: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7. Never forget that we were not spoken into existence, we are God-designed; it was from the hands and breath of God that we were given life. Now that is LOVE!
According to Genesis 1, God said:
“Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;”
“let them have dominion over…”
“Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.”
God’s Love for Humanity: The Gifts of Food and Shelter
And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.” Genesis 1:29
The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground, the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:8-9
God’s Love for Humanity: Not created to be Alone!
18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. Genesis 2:18, 20-22
God’s Love for Humanity: The Ability to Love a Soul-Mate, Marry, and Reproduce
And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:23-24
Even the Apostle Paul says that marriage is a mystery:
As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. Ephesians 5:31-32
God is love! And from God flows unconditional love, and from his love flows never-ending grace and mercy.
While reading Genesis chapters 1-2, I performed a spiritual self-evaluation and asked myself, what is wrong with me? God has given me the innate ability to love Him, love others, and love myself. I am created in God’s image, and He has faithfully supplied all of my necessities, so why do I succumb to the “Diseases of the D’s?”: Times when Doubt, Disbelief, Discouragement, Depressing thoughts, Despondency, or feeling Downtrodden enter my mind, and I act as if I can’t move forward. Certainly, the D’s demonstrate my lack of faith in God.
King David also reflected and asked himself: Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God! Psalm 43:5 NLT
We belong to God!
We are not a label, a race, nationality, or ethnicity, nor are we lower, middle, or upper class. We are not defined by the clothing we wear, the car we drive, or the neighborhood that we live in. Financial wealth is insignificant in the sight of God. We must disregard all of the categories that the world attempts to place us in. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9
Never lose sight of who you belong to, and that is God, our Heavenly Father. The only status that we need to be concerned about is being part of the righteous who are faithfully awaiting the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Every time you begin to feel yourself slipping downward, memorize and repeat King David’s validation of who you are:
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14
Again, the Apostle Paul validates who we are according to God:
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:27-29
Redirect your focus: Yes, we better know that we are somebody! We are children of the Most-High God, created in the image of our One and Only Creator, our Heavenly Father, the Alpha, and the Omega who is the beginning and the end.
Many individuals are raising their arms with a clenched fist to signify or indicate power. But, I am here to say that when the Children of God, we raise our arms, it is with open hands to acknowledge the Deity and the Power of God and we are asking God to reign down His love and blessings upon us. Glory to God!Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:4
God, we praise you and worship your Holy Name. We ask you to forgive us for failing to recognize who you really are. God, please help our minds. We keep losing focus and forget that you have given us the innate ability to love. Our implanted seed of faith has not grown like it should because the cares of our earthly journey crush us. God, we pray that every stronghold of defeat is removed from our minds and that we never fail to give you the praise, the honor, and the glory. We humbly ask this prayer in the Wonderful Name of Jesus. Amen.
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