“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV).
“Do not be wise in your own eyes…” (Proverbs 3:7, NIV).
Without God’s guidance, “our decisions and actual behaviors bring consequences. And the painful truth, which we all have experienced, is that we alone don’t suffer from the consequences of our wrong actions. Others, sometimes many others, even innocent others, suffer, as well. Such is the nature of sin.”
Reflection: “In what ways have you suffered from others’ sins? Or, what are ways others have suffered from your sins?
“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14)
“What is our only hope?” Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who washes away our sins, and changes us into His likeness and Divine character is our only hope.
Lord God, we have made too many mistakes that have produced consequences. We pray for Your guidance in this tumultuous journey of life. God, we need Your Divine wisdom and direction before making this decision. Teach us how to distinguish Your voice from our thoughts. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who searched for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. Lamentations 3:22-26 NLT
Good Morning!
It is a cold and rainy Sunday, even so, we have been blessed with another day of life.
In 2001, I was searching for a new job and had sent out several resumes. I can recall interviewing for the position as a Home Health Nurse. I excitedly thought about the autonomy of developing my daily schedule, and the freedom of traveling as opposed to working in the confinement of an office setting for 8 hours a day.
While I was waiting for the completion of the Agency background check, I received a call from Eve, a Camp Administrator in New York City who relayed that she had received my resume and was interested in hiring me for the summer.
As she explained the responsibilities of the position, I mentally laughed at the thought of a “New Jersey City Girl” working in the Catskill mountains of Upstate NY. I half-heartedly listened to the duties of the position, realizing that I had never been camping, and really was not interested at the age of 43 in new beginnings.
My thoughts took a 360 spin when Eve spoke about the compensation-the salary was based on the NYC wage scale for nurses. With the salary I would receive for the summer, it would be possible to be selective in choosing a permanent job with the right fit when I returned home.
I had a decision to make; based on the completion of a successful background check, the position was mine, if interested. Honestly, my affirmative decision was influenced solely by the money.
The next day, I received a Fed-Ex package with New Hire documents, pictures of the camp, and a very lengthy list of the required clothing, shoes, and supplies.
There were three modules with a one-week away from camp break, which equated to 12 weeks of rendering care to girls ages 7-17, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including the On-Call duties.
Although my motives for accepting the position were not the best, my life experience expanded in a way that I never thought possible. The unadulterated beauty and peaceful environment of the land with it’s serene lake and majestic trees were simply breath-taking. I became Nurse-mother to 325 girls during that summer who often visited the infirmary (in tears) for various reasons.
It was hard work! The temperatures plummeted to 30 degrees at night, and my cabin had the only indoor shower in the camp with a reservoir of 5 gallons of hot water that was only to be utilized for the nursing staff. I received many offers of money and gifts from staff to take a hot shower; nonetheless, I adhered to the rules.
Preparation for Nightly Bear Visits: Bears! The most daunting thoughts were fueled by a history of watching too many horror movies (a habit that has ceased). During orientation week, we were taught to make Honey pots that were set out every night at the entrance of the campsite to deter the bears from entering.
Thankfully, the camp counselors were responsible for the honey pots. Still, I must admit that my prayer life increased during that summer. God is awesome! Nightly, we could hear the bear eating from the pot; however, never once did the bears enter the campsite.
“For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear Him” (Psalm 34:7 NLT).
With God all things are possible, I have come to appreciate the beauty of nature, and know that only a loving God could provide an earth filled with such magnificent splendor for our enjoyment.
“Exposure tonaturenot only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production ofstresshormones. It may even reduce mortality, according to scientists such as public health researchers Stamatakis and Mitchell.”
Challenge for today: Reach beyond your comfort zone…enjoy a stress-free day in a natural habitat, and thank Jesus, the Creator for His Amazing Love and Gift of Nature.
“The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the LORD…” (Psalm 24:1 NLT).
LORD God, Thank you for blessing us with the beauty of nature. Thank you for the elements that enhance our lives and total well-being. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen!
Reposted this Devotional from 2019. As I read about my first real experience in nature, I must admit that it was God’s love that granted me a summer that was life-changing spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Peace and Blessings.
“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4).
“Human nature is always struggling to fulfill the internal desires for happiness, pleasure, status, success, and wealth. “…but those who learn of Christ are emptied of self, of pride, of the love of supremacy, and there is silence in the soul. Self is yielded to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”
“We look to Jesus, waiting for His hand to lead, listening for His voice to guide.” In John 14:1-3, Jesus promises to return for us, and we wholeheartedly believe Him!
To love Christ is to know and obey Him. Consistent Prayer and Bible study are the foundation of a lifestyle of worship. The Word of God breathes transforming power into our minds and characters, and changes our perception of life.
Christ as our First Love is evidenced by a spirit of humility, surrender, daily consecration, steadfast faith, and obedience to His Commandments and Righteous Principles.
“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14).
The believers who persevered to live obedient and sacrificial lives will soon receive their Crown of Eternal Life from Jesus Christ the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS,” the Alpha and Omega, the Lion of Judah, and our Savior, and First Love. Yes and Amen!
Lord God, we pray for strength, guidance, correction, and protection from the evil one whose strategy is to distract us with temporary earthly pleasures. God, we desire to serve You with faithful obedience. Reveal Your Holy will and plans for our lives. Give us the wisdom and discernment to hear Your voice over the many voices that threaten to disrupt our relationship with Jesus Christ. We ask this prayer in faith and in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Because we have embraced the worldview of self-reliance, believers are suffering from the same mental and emotional unrest as unbelievers who do not have true peace, joy, and happiness.
Faith is a gift from God. Sometimes we have to have a conversation with ourselves, asking, “What am I doing?” We were not created to function in a survival mode.
In John 16:33, Jesus warns us that staying on the Path of Righteousness is tough, yet, He tells us to be courageous because He will help us. Divine Strength is ours, when we ask for it.
Jesus is only a prayer away. Our prayers for God’s help are answered immediately! Stop carrying your burdens and give them to Jesus who promises, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Yes and Amen.
God is Sovereign, Omnipotent, Faithful, and a Loving Father. Trust Him with your life. Pray, Wait, Obey, and Persevere. Peace and Blessings.
Bible Study: Exodus 14 and 2 Chronicles 20.
Lord God, we desperately need Your help. We thank You in advance for Your Divine intervention and the victory we will receive. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray, Amen.
“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan” (Luke 17:15-16).
“The biblical story of the ten lepers, found in Luke 17:11-19, tells of Jesus healing ten men afflicted with leprosy. While all ten were cleansed, only one, a Samaritan, returned to thank Jesus, prompting Jesus to question the absence of the other nine and to commend the thankful Samaritan’s faith.”
The spoken words, “Thank you” have almost been phased out of our minds. Unfortunately, most of us live with a sense of entitlement, feeling that we deserve God’s life-sustaining blessings that He graciously gives every day.
The Proof: Even our prayers have transitioned to asking God for more things than thanking Him for what He has already provided for us.
As I reflected on my prayer history, I can never recall praying this unselfish prayer of faith and gratitude, “God, I don’t need anything else, but Your Love, Grace, Mercies, Guidance, and Protection. Amen.”
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1).
The gifts of a new day, our mental, emotional, and physical strength along with spiritual guidance, and angelic protection are gifts freely given that we often take for granted.
Every day, we can express heartfelt praises of prayers and songs of gratitude to God for the precious gifts of His unwavering love, Jesus, our Redeemer, Salvation, daily provisions, and so much more.
“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).
Gratitude changes our heart from one of discontentment which drives us to pursue and acquire more money and tangible possessions to one of contentment filled with love, peace, and joy.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17, ESV).
Daily expressions of gratitude for God’s Love, Grace, and Mercies produces steadfast faith in the power of God to resolve life’s issues. When challenges arise, the grateful heart [fueled by faith] responds with an immediate prayer for Divine help.
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7, NLT).
When the storms of life rage, grateful hearts are filled with confidence and courage because they remember that God is faithful, and His promises are Yes to which we say Amen!
Yes, a heart overflowing with gratitude for God’s faithfulness reveals appreciation for our Heavenly Father who deserves to hear our love expressed through the spoken words, “Thank You, God,” every day.
Lamentations 3:22-26
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him…'”
“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
Lord God, we ask you to forgive us for nurturing a spirit of ingratitude. We thank you for the precious gift of your Son, Jesus Christ who redeemed us from sin. Thank you, for giving us the choice of eternal life when death was the only consequence for being born into sin. We thank You for Your love, compassion, provisions, and the gift of time. God, we love You because You first loved us. Help us to have a heart filled with love, gratitude, and a deeper understanding of Your Agape Love. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we ask this prayer in faith, Amen.
Many years ago, I recall having a conversation with a retired army Sergeant, mid-40s, who shared something profound, “Unless you have chosen the military, or a travel position, relocating from state to state, and changing jobs several times reveals mental and emotional instability, and unfortunately, the person’s well-being and finances are also negatively impacted.
Yes, our lives change, and many times those unexpected and unwanted changes produce great uncertainty. The Believer’s only viable option is to pray for God’s help, but instead of dropping to our knees, we often use our feelings and preferences to make quick decisions that produce unforeseen consequences.
“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7). We are deceived by the worldviews of self-governance, instant gratification, and convenience. Every day, like the unbelievers, we use our prior experience and strategies to make decisions, excluding God from our lives.
In Proverbs chapter 3, God warns us, “Do not listen to your thoughts.” Because we have formed the habit of resolving our challenges, not only do we listen to our thoughts, but we also seek the advice of family and friends who give us well-meaning suggestions; still, it is not what God desires.
Sadly, when we end up suffering devastating consequences, which produce regret and sorrow, only then are we ready to turn to God. Thankfully, our Father loves us, always responding to prayers of repentance and asking for Divine help.
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). God knows our lives from beginning to end, so nothing comes as a surprise to Him. With humility, Pray and Wait for God’s instructions.
Facing consequences produces mental distress and emotional unrest. How do we redirect our focus to differentiate God’s voice from our thoughts? Genesis 12 is the story of God speaking to Abram, later known as Abraham.
“The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you…”
“So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.’ ” (Genesis 12:1-2,4-5).
On the way to Canaan, Abram and his family had to travel through Egypt. Because of fear Abram told a lie that Sarai was his sister instead of his wife, placing her in a predicament with Pharaoh. God intervened and rescued Sarai from the situation. Study Genesis 12:10-20.
Yes, Abram immediately obeyed God and left all that was familiar to him, but he let fear override his knowledge of God’s power. Our Father God is loving and merciful, the Old Testament has countless stories of God rescuing humanity from their willful disobedience.
Unlike Our Plans, God’s Plans Always Have Divine Purpose and Glorify His Holy Name
We know that Abram’s move to Canaan was God’s Divine will; not only does God fulfill His wonderful promise to Abram, but with his New Beginnings, God changes his name to Abraham [Genesis 17:5].
God is Love, Giving Us New Beginnings [with Conditions] Even When We Sin Against Him
“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, You, God, will not despise” (Psalm 51:17, NIV).
Redirecting our faith from ourselves to God is demonstrated by letting go of our spirit of self-reliance, embracing a spirit of humility, and surrendering to God’s Sovereignty through praying, fasting, and waiting on God.
God’s Promise: “Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24, BSB).
To hear His voice, we must repent for living a life of self-reliance and approach God with a different mindset and a posture of surrender. God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, who uses the Scriptures [Study the Bible] and prayer to reveal His instructions.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’ ” (Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV).
God’s thoughts and ways are higher than our thoughts, and easily recognized by His Perfect Plans of Miraculous and Powerful Interventions. The phenomenal plan of rescue and restoration that you’re thinking of came from God. We know it is Him because the Holy Spirit also gives us spiritual peace.
Even if our knowledge of the Bible is scant, God meets us with loving kindness where we are and uses different methods to reveal His plans for resolution. Yet, we must not commit the sin of presumption.
God’s warning, “My people are destroyed because of lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6, NIV). God expects us to worship Him daily through prayer, obedience, and studying the Scriptures.
Although we mess up, when we repent, God always intervenes to stabilize our lives. Without God’s mercies, we would be hopeless. God will never deny us help, but He may not allow us to keep our desires.
There is always a price to pay for willful disobedience. We may lose the job, the house, the car, the relationship, or the marriage that God never intended for us to have.
Every believer will face circumstances that place us at the Spiritual Crossroads, which always requires that we make a decision of either following God or pleasing ourselves.
Following Christ is to live a selfless, sacrificial life. Yes, we will experience hardships, but God never crushes us, which serves no spiritual purpose. Even in the storms, we can rely on a stable foundation, Christ, the Solid Rock, our Shepherd, and King.
A life consecrated to serve God with faithful obedience gives us the peaceful assurance of Jesus’ promise, “I am with you always even until the end of this world.”
Lord God, we are facing adversity, and need Your help. We come to You asking for rescue and restoration. Lord, we repent of the sin of self-reliance that has brought consequences, we cannot resolve. We pray for direction, protection, and correction in our journey of New Beginnings. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.
“This Scripture emphasizes the stability and strength that comes from relying on God. The psalmist is confident in the face of adversity because he knows God is with him. In essence, Psalm 16:8 is a declaration of faith, trust, and dependence on God, leading to a life of steadfastness and assurance.”
“For you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good and ready to forgive, and abundant in Mercy to all those who call upon You (Psalm 86:4- 5).
The book of Psalms reflects David’s love, faith, and trust in God. Throughout history, no musician, or songwriter can equal the heartfelt Psalms [Songs of Praise, Worship, and Petitions], which are prayers from the depths of David’s heart.
“In the day of my trouble I will call upon you, for you will answer me” (Psalm 86:7).
Many do not understand David’s prayers and feel that he was depressed. No, he understood God’s Love and Sovereign Authority, and the limitations of human effort to resolve life’s challenges.
David, the shepherd boy who played his harp in the fields was given the supernatural strength to kill bears and lions with his hands. Yes, young David tenderly cared for his sheep, matured into a mighty warrior, and was honored by God to become King over Judah and Israel, yet David was hated.
“O God, the proud have risen against me, and a mob of violent men have sought my life. Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to your servant. Show me a sign for good that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, because You Lord have helped me and comforted me” (Psalm 86:14, 16-17).
David’s petitions reveal an unwavering faith in God, reliance on the power of prayer, and the belief that humanity was created to depend on God, Jesus Christ, the Creator, therefore, he honored God by continuously crying out to Him for Divine help.
“For great Is Your mercy toward me” (Psalm 86:13).
We have received the mercies of a new day, will we pray and obey, or move ahead to fulfill our desires and plans? Sadly, many Christians have embraced the worldview of self-sufficiency resulting in the exclusion of God from their lives.
If our first response to challenges and adversity is to ask ourselves, “How am I going to resolve this?” then we have separated ourselves from God. Christ always prayed with the intent to seek and obey God, the Father’s will. [Read John 8:29].
The Bible teaches us that unless we love God more than ourselves, and like Christ, surrender daily by seeking His Divine will and plans, we will not receive the eternal reward that God desires to give us.
We accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior because we love and honor Him for His great sacrificial offering on Calvary’s Cross. Every day, we must remind ourselves that we desperately desire Jesus’ promise in John 14:1-3.
Yes, faith, reverence, and loyalty are fruits of a loving heart that readily acquiesces to God’s Sovereignty in total surrender and obedience.
“Teach me your way, O Lord” (Psalm 86:11).
God is Sovereign, Holy, Righteous, and Majestic, the angels cover their faces when worshiping Him. Daily surrender develops a spirit of humility, “God, not my will, but Your will be done” preparing us for a forever life of worship.
Our earthly lives are the only opportunity to invite the Holy Spirit to change our character into the Righteousness of Christ. Sanctification is performed by the Holy Spirit and is the spiritual process of mind, character, and personality transformation that requires a lifetime.
When our hearts are overflowing with love for God, our perception changes, and like David, we begin to cry out continuously with praise, worship, and petitions asking for Divine Help. Yes and Amen!
“Bow down your ear, O LORD, hear me; for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life…You are my God; Save your servant who trusts in You! (Psalm 86 1-2).
Lord God, we ask for forgiveness for not honoring you with the worship of surrender and obedience. Lord, we ask you to show us your mercy, and grant us Your salvation. We pray for Your guidance, which is the only way that we can stay on the Path of Righteousness. We ask this prayer in faith, and in the Sovereign Name of Jesus, our Triumphant King, Amen.
“Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:23-24).
The psalmist exclaims, “Love the Lord all you His saints.” Loving Christ is to live a life of daily consecration.
What is consecration? Consecration is the surrender of ourselves [our desires and plans] to God whose desire is for us to totally depend on Him by obeying His will and plans.
Consecration is not a one time decision, we must dedicate ourselves every day to God by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s plans to us. Obedience reveals our love and gratitude to God for each new day of abundant mercies.
Time with God in His presence through personal worship is the intentional decision to put God first, which requires a spirit of humility. Daily, we face the internal conflict of fulfilling our desires or following Christ.
Pride always separates us from God. It is the proud heart that demonstrates a lifestyle of self-seeking pleasures. Ritualistic worship of attending church, and even praying, and studying the Bible does not eliminate the sin of pride.
Surrender, humility, and faithful obedience reveals that we are ready to follow Christ who leads us on the Path of Righteousness when we cease pursuing our our thoughts and desires.
Following Christ as His disciple frees us from the bondage of sin. The Holy Spirit gives us comfort, spiritual wisdom, and discernment. From living a life of total reliance on God, our first response is a prayer of faith asking for Divine help when facing challenges.
“But I trust in the Lord, I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities…” (Psalm 31:6-7).
The righteous can rejoice! Trusting in God is rewarded with the gift of peace that permeates our mind, body, and soul. To be in right standing with God allows us to live with courage.
Yes, we have the assurance that Jesus, our Mighty Warrior will defend us when facing spiritual warfare, and resolve all adversity with His Miraculous Power. Yes, the faithful place their faith, trust, and hope in Jesus Christ.
“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39).
When facing storms, the righteous cry out, Jesus, help me! From placing our faith and trust in our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, He leads us to peaceful pastures, and restores our joy.
“I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” (Isaiah 65:24, NLT).
Living a Most Wonderful Life without fear, anxieties, or worries is God’s Divine plan for every believer.
Placing our confidence in God’s steadfast love goes beyond our earthly challenges, Jesus promises the faithful, To those who overcome will receive the Crown of Life when He comes again. Hallelujah! Yes and Amen.
Lord God, Great is your faithfulness! We give you the honor, glory, and praise that You rightfully deserve. Lord, we thank You for loving and caring for us. Thank you for giving us victory over our challenges. All that we need, You have provided. Thank you, Heavenly Father. With gratitude, we ask this prayer, in the Loving Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord…and said: ‘O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? ‘” (2 Chronicles 20:5-6).
God’s Answer: “And he said, ‘Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s'” (2 Chronicles 20:15).
“You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you” (2 Chronicles 20:17).
Yesterday, God revealed that He is Faithful, Sovereign, Powerful, and His promise to resolve, and bring completion to impossible situations is exactly what He does for the righteous who put their faith in Him.
God resolved a complex situation yesterday that brought me to my knees in awe and reverence of His Love and Power! When we place our faith and trust in our Heavenly Father and Warrior God, He gives us victory!
God brought me to a Spiritual Crossroads in which I had to decide whether or not, I would place my life, faith, and trust in His hands. I chose God by renewing my covenant of consecration to faithfully obey and trust Him.
Only trust Him! His Banner Over Us Is Love!
Yahweh Nissi “This name…signifies God’s presence and guidance as a banner, ensuring protection and victory in times of conflict.”
Lord God, Great is your Faithfulness. Thank you for being the Warrior God of today, tomorrow, and forever, who promises to protect and fight for us when we place our faith in You. Thank you for revealing your love and protection for those who run to You for help. With love and surrender, we bow our knees to your Sovereign Authority. In Jesus’ Righteous and Powerful Name, we pray, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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