“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.
“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.
“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.
“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 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.
“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!
“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!
“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).
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.
Can you imagine a life without the chains of uncertainty, anxiety, worry, and fear of the future?
Every believer has the opportunity to live a life overflowing with Jesus’ gifts of peace, joy, and happiness. Brothers and sisters, I am finally living that life!
The Commitment to Live a Sacrificial Life Dedicated to Follow Christ Is Required to Receive Spiritual Freedom
“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.” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV).
“Yes we are stained by sin, but the Supreme King of the universe says to come before His throne to receive help in our time of need. We are always in need of Jesus’ Divine Help.”
Through daily personal worship, we learn God’s plan for the new day. We pray the Prayer of Surrender: “God, what do you want me to do today?” Pray, Wait, and Obey.
When we commit to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through our thoughts and the Holy Scriptures, leading and keeping us on the Path of Righteousness.
The willingness to surrender our self-reliance and totally depend on our Shepherd with faithful obedience is rewarded with Jesus’ Righteous Blessings.
Despite the uncertainties of life, the faithful have no worries. But most importantly, we do not have to wonder if we are going to receive our reward of Eternal Life.
The Fruit of the Spirit describes the attributes of Christ’s Righteous Character: His followers must also have the Fruit of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:22-24).
Faithful obedience keeps us connected to Christ. In Philippians 1:6, Jesus promises to complete the work of spiritual growth and the transformation of our character, if we follow Him.
“Pray continuously!” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Jesus Christ, our Savior, Shepherd, and Triumphant King invites us to come boldly before God’s Throne of Grace with our failures, weaknesses, sorrows, and cares.
Pray more! Perfect peace comes from letting go of our thoughts and inclinations to resolve life’s challenges. We were created us to have a dependent relationship with Christ.
“I will never leave you or forsake you.” Jesus desires us to know that we are never alone. Created in the image of God, all of Heaven is dedicated to helping us in this journey of life.
Yeshua, the Commander of Angel Armies Promise: “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways…” (Psalm 91:11, NIV).
Christ always protects the righteous! We have guardian angels who fight the unseen spiritual warfare of Satan’s evil angels. Whisper prayers throughout your day to express gratitude for Jesus’ Abundant Love, Faithfulness, and Protection.
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding…” (Proverbs 2:6). God desires for us to have the spiritual wisdom necessary to perceive life through spiritual eyes.
Every day, ask for the free gift of wisdom. The Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom to discern truth from error, to understand the deepest meaning of the Holy Scriptures, and to understand the complexities of life.
Divine wisdom prevents us from becoming victims of scams, and being manipulated by Satan in matters of everyday life.
Divine wisdom and strength are required to recognize and overcome the internal conflict of following our hearts desires, and the external opposition of temptations.
Thank you Jesus for your Love! Yes, we have access to our Shepherd’s Divine Help 24/7. Yes and Amen!
Lord God, we come before Your Throne of Grace, yes, we are stained with sin, and have weaknesses, sorrows, cares, and failures. Still we accept Your invitation to help us, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We ask for the forgiveness of our sins. Guide us and empower us with the strength to live as victorious overcomers. Lord, we acknowledge that You are the Supreme King of the universe, and the Sustainer of our lives. With faith and joyful expectancy, we believe that You have answered this prayer that we ask in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“If you seek her [wisdom] as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:4-6).
Because we were created with limited understanding, 99.9% of the time, we usually perceive a situation incorrectly, which always leads to undesired chaos and consequences.
God Commands Us Not Replace Spiritual Wisdom and Discernment With Human Thoughts
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Often a situation involving family or friends, directly impacts us. Do not presume that you know what is going on.
Whisper a prayer, asking God for spiritual discernment, and in a gentle tone lovingly ask, “Can you help me to understand what is happening?”
“Do not be wise in your own eyes…” (Proverbs 3:7).
When facing conflict, always pray for God’s guidance. An Emotional Response always escalates the situation because emotional responses trigger emotional words of retaliation, and sometimes, acts of violence.
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:11-12, NIV).
Everyday, every believer is facing unseen spiritual warfare on a personal level, in our homes, on our jobs, and in our neighborhoods.
One of Satan’s most effective strategies is to entice believers to participate in various discussions that always end in arguments.
Last week, I can recall sitting in the waiting area of the optician’s office, and the woman sitting next to me casually started a general conversation about hobbies, and we laughed at being yarn artists because we knit and crochet.
But then the conversation took a left turn, she said, “I love discussing politics, and usually can provoke others to get upset while I remain calm.” I never responded, and that was the end of our chat.
“But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.” (2 Timothy 2:23).
There are topics that we must avoid because they always produce conflict: Religion, Politics, Economic Disparity, and Social Injustice.
Even among believers, God can never receive the glory and honor when we give into temptation, and discuss topics that are guaranteed to produce controversy.
“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” (James 1:14).
Many Believers watch debates and programs that include controversy, immorality, profanity, and violence. Whatever we listen to is eventually reflected in our character, attitude, spoken words, and lifestyles.
“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 12:2, NIV).
If we are not witnessing then we must reflect on why we are involving ourselves in lengthy discussions with unbelievers. Our gift of time can be spent studying the Bible, praying, helping those in need, witnessing, and giving Bible studies.
Even when giving a Bible Study, if the individual is asking for clarification of a Scripture, our first response is to offer a spoken prayer asking for God’s guidance before we answer.
“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” (James 1:26, NIV).
Only God has the ability to always give perfect knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. Pray for spiritual wisdom and discernment in every aspect of life.
Lord God, we pray for the spiritual strength to overcome our desires to listen to and speak words designed to provoke controversy. We ask you to forgive us for the times that we have used our thoughts to discern a situation incorrectly, and initiated conflict with our words. Lord, bless us with the wisdom to know when to remain silent. We ask this prayer in faith and in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-20).
From studying the Scriptures, we find that although we have wasted many years, and most likely suffered devastating consequences, God commands us to repent and move forward in His Divine Strength.
God’s forgiveness also includes the gift of Restoration. Not only are we commanded to stop looking behind us, but we must also let go of regret, remorse, and guilt.
God’s Promise: “To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:3)
Because God is Omniscient and perceives time as Eternal, He knows the number of days in our earthly lives, and is prepared to move us forward in our spiritual journey.
The Power of Redemption
Saul was not only responsible for Stephen’s death, but he also initiated the persecution and death of many of the early Christians.
“Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'” (Acts 9:4).
On the road to Damascus, Saul accepted Christ as His Savior, changed his name to Paul, and through the power of the Holy Spirit started the early churches.
Through Paul’s life, God reveals that His power is unlimited. From Saul, the Christian killer to Paul, a messenger of Truth, giving hope to the Gentiles, Jesus Christ saves!
Paul matured to become one of Jesus’ greatest disciples of Jesus Christ, writing the majority of the New Testament.
For his dedication to God, Paul was given the deepest spiritual meaning of Righteousness By Faith,Sanctification, and Christ’s Role as our Intercessor in the Heavenly Sanctuary.
Paul’s Epistles are spiritually challenging. We must pray for the Holy Spirit to give us the Divine wisdom and discernment before we can understand the depth of his writings.
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me…”
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead…” (Philippians 2:12-13).
The Apostle Paul speaks from personal experience; we are forgiven, and expected to fulfill our new spiritual assignment, which requires that we forget our past because God has great plans for us.
Reflection: What is your Spiritual Assignment that God has chosen for you to do?
Lord God, thank You for redeeming us and being a God who restores. We ask You to reveal the spiritual work that we are called to fulfill. Empower us with the Holy Spirit, and give us the wisdom to understand Your plans for our lives. We pray for the guidance and strength to keep moving forward, and ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of Jesus, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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