Daily Devotional – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

“Dear Friend…I pray that all may go well with you”

In 2017, I was in West Virginia and attended prayer meeting with my cousin. Her pastor told us the story of a young man, who received a substantial prison sentence, and after serving many years, he was given a reprieve, which gave him his freedom. Yet, with fear, he stated, “I don’t want freedom, I want to serve the rest of my sentence.”

Although this story sounds unbelievable, sadly this scenario of the prisoner who refused freedom is also our mindset when we choose to stay in marriages, family relationships, and associate with people who do not have the love of God in their hearts, as evidenced by their continuous disrespect and abusive mistreatment of others.

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment And the second is like it:bYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Matthew 22:37-39).

“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19).

God is Love! Jesus created us from love and gifted us with the ability to love and honor God, and to love and respect others. We were also created to receive Jesus’ spiritual gifts of joy, peace, and happiness.

1 John 3 is the letter the Apostle Paul sent to Gaius, his friend; “‘…as your soul prospers’ indicates that spiritual health (right thinking, choices, and relationship with God) is the foundation for [our] overall well-being.”

To love God is to love ourselves!

For us to enjoy God’s love, and optimal mental, emotional, physical, and most importantly spiritual health and prosperity, we cannot reject God’s Agape Love, replacing it with the abusive behaviors from those who reject God’s love and His commandment to love others.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3). Jesus died to give us freedom, not only from sin, but also to deliver and heal us from mental despair and emotional wounds.

Remaining in abusive situations, prevents us from loving Christ as He deserves, and blocks our spiritual growth and the transformation of our character required to receive Eternal Life.

“When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?'” (John 5:6).

Jesus also asks us, “Do you want to be made well?”

If our answer is yes, then we use our faith, and through His love, the Holy Spirit empowers us with the courage to leave every demonic situation that is a roadblock to embracing Jesus’ Abiding Love and His gift of Spiritual Peace. Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we thank You for Your Amazing Love and creating us with the ability to love. We live in a world permeated with sin and compromised values that allow us to tolerate the abusive mistreatment of others, who You created in Your image. Lord, we pray, and ask You to strengthen and empower Your sons and daughters to take a leap of faith and to embrace the freedom of healing that only You can offer us. In faith, we ask this prayer of deliverance and healing in the Powerful Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

We Have This Hope: Jesus Is Coming Soon!

Jesus’ Faithful Promise of Encouragement: John 14:1-3

“Behold, I (Jesus) am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to the merit of his deeds (faithfulness).” (Revelation 22:12, Amplified Bible).

A God First commitment is revealed by a Christ-centered, Purpose-driven Lifestyle. Our daily pursuits, habits, and lifestyles reflect our priorities. Distractions, including goals, are a catalyst for minutes quickly evolving into hours of non-productive time. We must take back control of our precious gift of time to include personal worship with Christ.

For those who believe in Jesus’ promise of coming soon, every day, we are: “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13). We do not belong to ourselves—Christ purchased us with the sacrificial offering of His life.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, ESV).

Every believer must grow spiritually and be transformed by the Holy Spirit into the likeness of Christ. Sanctification requires the human effort of faithful obedience and the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit. Our only opportunity to be transformed spiritually is in our earthly lives.

“Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8).

While we can stop sinful habits through behavior modification, we cannot change our hearts. This transformation can only happen through the power of Jesus Christ, who cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

In Jeremiah 17:9, God tells us the condition of the hearts that we inherited [deceitful and desperately wicked]. Every day, we pray and ask Christ, our Heavenly Intercessor and Mediator, for the forgiveness of our sins, and the wisdom and strength to live righteously.

Faithfulness to God is the intentional decision to follow Christ by worshiping God in spirit and truth, to renounce sin, and our internal desires. Through daily surrender and consecration, the Holy Spirit changes our hearts, and we begin to perceive life through spiritual eyes, so that everything we do and say will honor God.

“Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5).

Jesus tells us that to be covered with His Righteousness, we must rely on His Spiritual Power, given to us by the Holy Spirit. Love, Faith, Humility, Surrender, and Obedience are the character traits that Christ possessed in His life on earth.

“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).

“Jesus humbled himself by voluntarily taking human form, acting as a servant, and submitting to God’s will even unto a shameful, agonizing death by crucifixion. This act of obedience represents the ultimate sacrifice to redeem humanity, leading to His exaltation.”

Reflection: Jesus promises the faithful “an immortal inheritance…you cannot afford to devote your life to the things of this world, but that your concern is to prepare for the [ forever] home that awaits you in the kingdom of God.” God’s Amazing Grace

“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.” (Romans 12:1, NIV).

Staying connected to Jesus is accomplished through a sacrificial life of self-denial, continuous prayer, and study of the Holy Scriptures.

The Holy Spirit transforms us from the inside out; a clean heart reveals the Love and Righteousness of Christ. As followers of Christ, we have the responsibility of representing Christ’s Love to others through a gentle demeanor and kind words. It is up to us to reveal that choosing Jesus Christ makes a difference in one’s life.

Never feel intimidated when witnessing to others; the most powerful words are: “God [Jesus] loves you!” Today, I told one of my neighbors, “God loves you,” and her response was, “I believe that God loves me because I can feel God’s love from you,” which brought tears to my eyes.

When Jesus comes again,” the work of Redemption will be complete. The Earth…that Satan claims as his, will be exalted by Christ.” This Earth where Jesus came as a human, where the king of glory lived and suffered and died, He will make all things new.” Hallelujah!

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful…'”

“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 freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” (Revelation 21:4-7).

King David’s Prayer: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10). Amen.

Preparing for Heaven – Eternity With Jesus Christ

The Final Victory: 1 Corinthians 15:50-54

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.”

51 “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep [die], but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

53 “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

54 “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.'” (1 Corinthians 15:50-54).

When we believe Jesus’ promise in John 14:1-3, our worship, thoughts, and lifestyles reflect that we are “Temporary Travelers on a Temporary Earth,” preparing every day for the Coming of Jesus Christ.

The Sacrificial Life: (Romans 12:1-2).

“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.”

(2) “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.”

A God First life is purpose-driven and requires daily surrender and faithful obedience. Our personal agenda includes our thoughts, decisions, pursuits, goals, and lifestyles that are never placed above God’s Will and Plans.

“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).

Because it is impossible for us to change ourselves, achieve spiritual growth, or stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness without Divine Intervention, through personal worship, we include God by prayerfully seeking His guidance before making decisions, even when we feel they are insignificant.

Spiritual Time Management: “See then that you walk circumspectly [carefully], not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

“Redeeming the time” is God’s directive for believers to make the most of our precious gift of time to grow closer to Christ.

We ask and rely on the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom: “…so we act with spiritual diligence, using our gift of time for God’s purpose rather than wasting life on seeking the trivial things of earthly treasures and pleasures.”

“What could this world possibly offer that’s worth forfeiting what Christ offers us?”

Every Believer’s Spiritual Status: “Temporary Travelers on a Temporary Earth,” preparing every day for the Soon Coming of Jesus Christ.

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12).

“Why is the promise of Eternal Life so crucial to all that we believe?”

It is not enough to know Jesus promised us eternity with Him. Spiritual preparation is a dally endeavor that requires the Human Effort of seeking God, and relying on the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome our heart’s desires and Satan’s temptations; gives us wisdom and discernment, teaches us the One and Only meaning of God’s Truth; corrects us when we disobey by following our thoughts; and guides us in using our faith to trust and obey God.

No, we will not understand His Highest thoughts and ways [Isaiah 55:8-9], but because He is The Sovereign God of the universe, Who sustains our lives, we honor and revere Him.

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

The Christian journey is the toughest experience that we will ever endure. To stay on the Path of Righteousness requires daily surrender, self-denial, and faithful obedience. But when we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, we receive Jesus’ Divine Strength, which is guaranteed to empower us to live as victorious overcomers. Hallelujah! Yes and Amen!

Bible Study: John 14:1-3

Lord God, we desire to receive Jesus’ promise of a Forever Home in the New Heaven and New Earth. Lord, we need your help! In faith, we obey Your command to come before Your Throne of Grace, because we need Your Divine Wisdom, Guidance, and Strength to continue our journey. We renew our commitment to follow our Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

Active Listening Prevents Conflict

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4).

Although we credit psychology as the basis for the practice of Active Listening, the Apostle Paul taught the Gentile believers that listening with the intent to understand reveals a spirit of humility and is a spiritual practice that promotes compassion and unity.

“Often in conversation there is the tendency to concentrate on our reply to whatever is being said, rather than focused on listening in order to understand what the other person is saying and trying to see the issue from their point of view.”

“Often strife arises from simple misunderstandings that could be avoided simply by active listening. We may not agree, but listening and seeking to understand the other person’s viewpoint is the first step for fostering healthy communication and trust.”

Bible Study: Philippians 2

Lord God, we pray for a change in our behaviors toward one another. We confess that we have adopted many of the rough behaviors of the world that do not represent Your love and compassion. And for our impatience, and unloving behaviors, we ask for forgiveness. Lord, we ask You to teach us how to love others as You love us. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Created To Fulfill God’s Divine Purpose

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, ESV).

God has a Divine Purpose for your life. Consecrate yourself daily through personal worship, asking Him to reveal His plans for the new day.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV).

Although each person is at a different time in their life; before our conception, God had individualized plans for you and me.

We are the Christians living in the Last Days of Earth’s history. Now is the perfect time for intentional spiritual growth and discovering your creative talents.

Every day, set aside time to Separate in Solitude and Silence to honor and worship God.

When we focus on our relationship with Christ, our faith and focus is redirected from ourselves back to God.

Before humanity was created, God’s goal has always been to redeem, reconcile, and restore our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Every day, we prepare for Jesus’ promise in John 14:1-3. By aligning ourselves with God’s plans, we demonstrate our faith, love, and loyalty to God.

Our Heavenly Father, desires that we ask Him to reveal His priorities and purpose for the blessing of a new day.

During personal worship, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through the Holy Scriptures and our thoughts.

We do not have to limit our worship with God to once or twice a day; whisper prayers throughout your day to receive Divine wisdom, strength, and guidance.

By fulfilling God’s plan for our lives, the Holy Spirit empowers us to prepare for our eternal reward in Revelation 22:12.

Bible Study: Romans 12; 2 Timothy 3

Lord God, we thank You for this new day of life. And we ask You to speak to our hearts, guiding us throughout our day to fulfill Your plans. In faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

Representing Christ With Loving, Compassionate Christian Characters

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5, NIV).

From studying the Life of Christ, the one characteristic that was always present in His character was one of compassion.

“Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As He approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry…'”

“Then He went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, get up!’ The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.” (Luke 7: 11-15, NIV).

[bier: a simple wooden frame used to carry the dead to the grave, essentially a portable bed for the corpse, rather than a modern enclosed coffin].

How can we demonstrate the love and compassion of Christ to others? We must possess the Righteous Character traits of Christ.

“…and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:3, NIV).
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5: 22-23).
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:23, NIV).

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” (1 Corinthians 13:37-38).

Unconditional Love is the spiritual foundation necessary for the Holy Spirit to change our stony hearts [Ezekiel 36:26] into a loving heart filled with the Fruit of the Spirit.

In Jeremiah 17:9, God tells us the condition of every human heart. Although we would like to think that our hearts are naturally good, God tells us the hearts we inherited are not good.

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” (Ezekiel 36:26, NLT).

Through our willingness to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, our hearts can be changed into the heart of Christ.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:7-8, NIV).

Bible Study: Matthew 5

Lord God, we ask you to cleanse our hearts from all unloving behaviors and unrighteous traits. We desire to have hearts filled with Your unconditional love. We ask for new hearts that love You and love others. We need Your Divine Help and Strength because we cannot change ourselves. Lord, we love You and thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in faith and in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Cultivating a Gentle, Quiet, Christ-Like Spirit

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32).

“Becoming more like Christ [should be] the desire of every believer, and it is encouraging to know that God has the same desire for us.”

How important is it for us to be conformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ? Our character, personality, and how we relate to others matter to God and will determine our destiny.

“In fact, the Bible says that God ‘predestined [believers] to be conformed to the likeness of his Son'” (Romans 8:29, NIV).

God’s Righteous Standards and Goals For Our Character Transformation

1. Hearts filled with Unconditional Love and Forgiveness.

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

2. The Fruit of the Spirit is Jesus’ Righteous Character Attributes:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

3. A spirit of humility, committed to standing for truth, along with treating others with kindness.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, ESV).

4. From Accepting Christ, We Become New People: Our characters should not imitate the characters of unbelievers or reflect their worldviews.

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:24-26).

Divine Intervention and Human Effort Are Required for Spiritual Transformation: We cannot change ourselves; it is the Holy Spirit who changes us. Still, we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit to experience spiritual transformation.

God does not override our Free Will of Choice; The Holy Spirit can only change us if we have the desire to be like Christ. With a spirit of humility, we pray and ask God to change our character. And then our battles begin!

The transformation of our character does not happen in the way that we think it would. We will face various types of challenges, and how we react demonstrates whether or not we are cooperating with the Holy Spirit to bring about change.

Reflection: Identify the situations that consistently annoy you, as these will be the trials and temptations that challenge your faith and ability to practice self-control, leading to spiritual transformation.

God has gifted us with self-control. As soon as you feel an emotional response stirring inside of you, remain silent, separate yourself, and pray an honest prayer: “Lord, I am angry, [annoyed, frustrated, anxious], and I need Your help. Please give me the strength to remain silent and calm my spirit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].” (2 Timothy 1:7, Amplified Bible).

We cannot use inherited tendencies or cultural influences to justify the wrongful mistreatment of others with anger and harsh words. We have the God-given ability to control ourselves, or we would not exercise self-control at church and on our jobs.

Although we come from various backgrounds, the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit teach us acceptable Christian Behaviors. Those who possess fiery tempers and abuse others have a demonic stronghold over their minds and will need to add fasting to their daily lives. [Study Matthew 17:14-21].

God knows that we cannot change ourselves without receiving His Divine Strength. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us with Christ’s strength to overcome unrighteous character traits. Much prayer and fasting are required to gain the victory over inherited traits and learned behaviors.

“I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13). With God, change is possible. Yes, we can have Christ’s gentle, quiet, and humble spirit.

Lord God, we recognize that we desperately need Your help to change. We ask for forgiveness for not controlling our behaviors and for hurting others. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness and fill us with a spirit of gentleness that represents Your love and character. In faith, we ask this prayer, in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

The Year of New Beginnings: Ask God For Wisdom and Discernment

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.” (Psalm 34:14, 17).

Faith in God is always rewarded. Not only do we receive the blessings of God’s guidance and protection, if we ask, the Holy Spirit will also give us the gifts of spiritual wisdom and discernment.

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17, ESV).

Spiritual wisdom differs greatly from human thoughts because it is given by God, Who is Omniscient, All-Knowing.

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding…” (Proverbs 2:6).

Yes, we can enjoy the blessings of peace and happiness that comes from trusting and relying on God’s Higher Thoughts.

It is a wonderful experience to pray in faith knowing that God’s answers never include the need to re-evaluate because the resolution failed. Yes and Amen!

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding…” (Proverbs 3:13).

Divine Wisdom gives us the spiritual insight to understand the deeper meaning of the Holy Scriptures, and to see life through spiritual eyes.

Divine wisdom changes the way that we think and live. Perceiving life through spiritual eyes results in us letting go of the people, places, and habits that we used to enjoy.

The Benefits of Faith-building Prayers: From including God in every decision, we learn to rely totally on Jesus Christ. There is no guesswork or mistakes! We know that God’s Solutions always produce perfect endings.

Still, there are other benefits from placing our faith and trust in God; we develop the spirit of humility necessary for the Holy Spirit to guide us daily on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.

And from our dependency on God, while others live with fear, we live courageously, knowing that the Holy Spirit will empower us with Jesus’ Divine Strength to keep moving forward in our earthly journey.

Our 2026 Declaration: I will trust in God, not in my limited thoughts and understanding!

Through the surrender of daily personal worship, the Holy Spirit transforms our minds by giving us the spiritual wisdom and discernment to recognize Satan’s covert temptations.

We pray throughout our day for Jesus’ Strength because we know that we need His Power to overcome external temptations and our internal desires.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17, NIV).

Our spiritual battles also include fighting against the character trait of self-reliance. Praying continuously, keeps us dependent on God, aligning us with His Divine Will and Plans.

Every day, it is our responsibility to bring our minds into harmony with God through Prayer and Bible Study. Surrendering ourselves to God is a daily act of faith.

“Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you.” (Isaiah 55:3).

When we pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten us to think as God thinks; not only are we protected from suffering consequences, but our obedience is rewarded with stronger faith, wisdom, courage, and victorious outcomes. Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we thank You for Your Amazing Love and the many benefits that You give to us. We consecrate ourselves to follow Christ through surrender and faithful obedience. Lord, we ask for our hearts to be changed. You have blessed us to enter a New Year that requires spiritual wisdom and understanding to be aligned with Your perfect Will and Plans for our lives. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

December 31, 2025 – Forgive Others, Forgive Yourself, and Move Forward!

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32, ESV)

Can you love and forgive those who have hurt, betrayed, and abandoned you? Your answer reveals whether or not you love God.

Can you imagine that the person or people that hurt you asked God to forgive them, which He always does, but you refused and never forgave them. Who will be in heaven?

“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up His clothes by casting lots.” (Luke 23:34, NIV).

We Cannot Love God and Hate Others

Although we like to demand that other people ask us to forgive them, Jesus revealed while He was on Calvary’s Cross, what God expects every believer to do, and that is to obey His Command to forgive others.

“But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:15, NIV).

Jesus tells us unless we forgive our enemies, God does not forgive us of our sins.

We must also ask God to forgive us for disobeying His command to forgive others by holding grudges [hatred] in our hearts.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).

On the other side of hurt and harm: We have hurt or harmed other people that we cannot contact due to legal reasons, or they may be deceased; we ask God to forgive us, we believe that God has forgiven us, and we let go of all guilt.

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12).

Lord God, we thank You for Your Love, Grace, Mercies, and Faithfulness. Thank You for sustaining our lives through 2025. And we also are grateful for the gift of Jesus, who died on the cross that we may be forgiven of every sin, we have committed. Lord, we pray for those who are holding the sins of unforgiveness and hatred in their hearts that they will not carry those transgressions into the New Year of 2026. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Brothers and Sisters, End 2025 and begin 2026 in Victory through Christ Jesus!

The Celebration for Yeshua, Our Mighty Warrior and Conqueror!

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.'” (Matthew 28:18).

Believers, we are in a Spiritual War: The Great Controversy of Good and Evil has existed for over 6,000 years between Christ and Satan. And, we are Satan’s targets!

Yeshua, the Mighty Warrior and Conqueror

“…I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hell and of Death.” (Revelation 1:17-18).

To Fight the Good Fight of Faith and to Live As Overcomers, The Christian Mind Must Be Renewed Every Day through Prayer and Bible Study!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9).

Brothers and Sisters, in 2025, we followed our thoughts, made mistakes, and worried about things that only God can control.

The Path to Victory: “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, NIV).

Without hesitation, the tax collector used his faith, got up and followed Jesus. Matthew had no idea what the journey with Jesus would require, but he gave up everything to become Jesus’ disciple.

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

Yes, we made the commitment to give our hearts to Jesus, but many of us are not following Him. We cannot live as we please and think that we are obeying God.

In Proverbs chapter 3, through King Solomon, Jesus tells us, “Do not be wise in your own eyes.” From following our Shepherd with faithful obedience, He keeps us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.

We are the Last Day’s disciples [2 Timothy 3] who must live by faith; not knowing the future, but we don’t have to know about tomorrow, because we know our lives are in Yeshua’s Everlasting Hands.

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (John 4:23, NIV).

This Christmas, give Jesus, your Shepherd, the gift He deserves: Love and Loyalty, as demonstrated through a vow of daily surrender and faithful obedience.

With Faith, Surrender, Obedience, and Courage, each new day, through personal worship, renew your Covenant of Faith to follow Christ, our Most Wonderful and Loving Savior and Shepherd.

“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” (John 8:29).

If Jesus was required to live a life of faithful obedience to God, the Father, then certainly, the Father expects us to obey Christ without hesitation and doubt.

The Journey is Tough! Committing to follow Jesus’ plans for the remainder of our lives requires a Spirit of Humility, [blind] Faith, Obedience, and Courage.

We win the war by walking through life on bended knees. Every morning, pray, “LORD, what do you want me to do?”

Despite our challenges, from our prayers of faith and surrender, the Holy Spirit empowers us with Yeshua’s Peace, eliminating all worries and doubts from our minds.

Joshua 1:5-6,9: “I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage.”Verse 7: “Only be strong and very courageous.”

Because we cannot be strong and courageous using human effort alone, the Holy Spirit empowers us with Jesus’ wisdom and strength, and leads us in our journey to live as Victorious Overcomers. Yes and Amen!

The Christian Mind Is Filled With Love Loyalty, and Allegiance to Yeshua!

We are Yeshua’s Disciples! Yes, we are His Courageous Soldiers who decided to let go of worldly desires, people, and habits because we love and appreciate our Redeemer’s great sacrifice.

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you.” (Jeremiah 31:3).

Love is reciprocal. Without hesitation, we obey God, because we love and revere Jesus, who willingly gave His life to save us from the wages of sin, the second and final death [Revelation 19].

To remain in Heaven’s Army, requires that we follow our Commander with faithful obedience. God knows that we need His help to overcome Satan, our enemy, and to live righteously.

Do not attempt to rely on your thoughts and strength. Maintain a spirit of humility by always praying for God’s guidance and strength!

When we include God in the routine decisions of life, prayer becomes our first response even when facing impossible challenges.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV).

We owed a debt that only Yeshua could pay. Yes, our Savior and Mighty Warrior paid that debt by conquering sin and death when He completed the Plan of Redemption on Calvary’s Cross! Hallelujah! Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we confess and repent for our sins of continuous unfaithfulness and disobedience to Your perfect and life-saving plan of giving us eternity with You. Today, we renew our covenant to follow and obey. Lord we cannot do this using our strength. In faith, we ask for the strength to remain faithful, obedient, and courageous, as we fight against our desires and temptations. We believe in Your promises, and ask these things, in the Powerful Name of Yeshua, Amen.