Tag: Daily Devotional

God Desires to Give Us Eternal Blessings

Devotional – January 2, 2024

Our lives would reach levels that we could never anticipate if we kept our focus on God. God’s thoughts, ways, and plans include Eternal blessings. Pray for the spiritual insight and the wisdom to reach for the hand of God who will lead you from this earthly existence to Revelation chapters 21-22.

STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Jesus, the Shepherd is Still Seeking the Lost Sheep

When we study the Bible and learn about Jesus’ love, character, and the miracles of healing He gave to those in His earthly life, it is impossible for us to think that the Majestic Shepherd who sacrificed Himself would not take care of us.

It was Jesus who bent down on the ground scooped up mud in His hands and created Adam in His image. Jesus is desperately seeking His lost sheep. Answer His call today.

Jesus, we thank You and love You for the breath in our lungs that we take for granted. In Your Holy Name, we pray, Amen

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

Stop Worrying, Let God Help You

For 15 years, I worried and had Insomnia because I had racing thoughts about the next day. I thought of ways to produce a perfect and predictable outcome. Many times I though problems that never surfaced. Finally, one day, I listened to a sermon on the Sovereignty of an All-Knowing God in heaven who knows the end to the beginning of every human being’s life. Nothing comes as a surprise to Him.

I prayed for His help and for peace. Immediately the stronghold of worry left and now, I sleep peacefully. I trust God with every aspect of my life. And I pray about everything even the little things. I have learned how to hear God’s voice speaking to me through the Holy Scriptures and my thoughts.

When you pray, ask for help with your challenges, and ask God to teach you how to recognize His Voice. It is the Holy Spirit that speaks to our mind. Pray and include quiet meditation. Many people pray and get up right away without giving God time to speak to them.

We can pray throughout our waking hours. Let your prayers be honest and to the point. We do not have to pray long prayers. Prayer is the greatest privilege we have. Prayer connects humanity to Divinity. Go Ahead, pray and believe. Wait on God. Use your faith to trust Him.

If you stop trying to figure out what will happen next, God will help you to live a faith-based life and you will enjoy peace because you trust in Him.

Prayer: God, I pray this Intercessory prayer for those who are struggling because they have never trusted You with their lives. Please give them your Divine peace as they begin this journey with Jesus. Give them peace, comfort, and strength. In Jesus’ Worthy name, Amen.

Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

The Cry: Lord Save Me!

Devotional Reading: The Cry: Lord Save Me!

Most of us have reached a crossroads in our lives when we faced a health or financial crisis impacting ourselves or a family member. At that point, we realize that the situation is critical and that only Christ can resolve the dilemma. We cry out in prayer, “Lord, help me! Yet, a major barrier still exists–our faithlessness in God. Most likely, we are asking for the crisis to be resolved not for God to save our souls.

Three men in the Scriptures demonstrated that they faithfully believed in Jesus Christ.

  1. King David: “In Your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; Incline Your ear to me and save me” (Psalm 71:2).
  2. The blind beggar: “So he called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Those who led the way admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (Luke 18:38-39)
  3. The thief on the cross: “Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom’” (Luke 23:42).

Faith is active. Faith is intentional. Faith is a lifestyle of acknowledging the power of God every day. Faith places us in a posture of worship. Faith proclaims that my heart and life are committed to Jesus Christ. Faith causes us to surrender in humility to the power of God as demonstrated by our desire to obey God in all circumstances. Faith causes us to cry out, “Lord save me!” even when our lives are peaceful and all is well.

In these last days, where do many believers stand in their relationship with Christ?

Jesus answers the question: “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked…’” (Revelation 3:17)

Sadly, in these perilous times, many Christians are empty lamps—they do not have the oil of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. Their light no longer shines because they are content with their lifestyles. Gone are the days when they had the zeal to witness to others or to use their spiritual gifts and financial blessings to help others.

Faith requires human effort to grow!

The reward of eternal life will only be given to the righteous who strived through the good times and hardships to remain faithful to God through daily surrender, humility, and obedience. Commit to meaningful worship through fervent prayer and study of the Scriptures in your secret closet every day.

Bible Study: Luke chapter 18

Prayer: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us! Search our hearts and reveal the stumbling blocks that keep us from surrendering to You. We pray for forgiveness for the sin of being lukewarm in our relationship with You. We love You and surrender our hearts in total obedience. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of Jesus, Amen.

Receiving Abundant Blessings

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the LORD. Blessed are those who keep His testimonies [laws] and seek Him with all their heart. –Psalm 119:1-2

The truth: We are products of our environment. Learned behaviors have a stronghold on the minds of many people.

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear someone say, God, blessed me? Material wealth and possessions which are valued above all else have permeated our very existence. Money–the loss of or the effort to increase it drives many to feel desperate, depressed, and hopeless. How many have taken their own lives with millions in their bank accounts? Then we have others who have led a life of performing illegal activities in their pursuit of wealth.

When does the pursuit of happiness attached to wealth end? Our definition of abundance is to have excess. But, if we love material things above God, eventually, we will end up in a lose-lose situation. The loss of peace and hope leads to a life of misery.

The Best Blessings are Peace, Joy, Grace, and Mercies

God created us to have a spiritual connection with Him that remains until we breathe our last breath. Not one of us is exempt from a life-changing event that causes immense grief and despair. Yet, in the midst of trials and sorrows, neither people nor money can console us or give us inner joy and peace. Only God can bless humanity with daily peace, joy, and His grace, and mercies.

The abundant blessings that flow from God’s loving heart are freely given to the heart that is open to receive them. Live the life that God created you to enjoy. Jesus promises to give us all that we need.

Bible Study: Matthew 6, verses 19-24.

Prayer: Thank You, God. Amen.

The Deception of Self-Help

Yesterday, I witnessed to an individual whose life is restarting due to the dissolution of her marriage of 17 years. As we spoke about the Journey of Healing, she began by giving me the names of several authors of self-help books that she read. Due to her own admission of falling away from God when her marriage ended, she no longer prayed or studied the Bible.

“Although, I have followed the advice of the well-known authors, I still do not have peace. Tell me what you did.” I told her the story of Elijah who ran from Queen Jezebel and God’s loving and divine intervention of sending an angel to feed the run-away prophet. Yes, God, Himself spoke to Elijah while he was in the cave of a mountain. Because that’s what our Great, Father God does for those that He has created in His image. He consoles us and gives us peace when our lives are in chaos.

Worldviews tell us to self-validate, read self-help books, listen to transcendental meditation apps, wear jewelry that promotes peace of mind and stability, practice secular meditation, and the list is endless. Every methodology that promises to bring peace and serenity to our inner being–our souls is part of Satan’s deception.

Even so, while witnessing, I never addressed the confidence that many people have in self-help authors. She was aware that after reading many of the do-it-yourself books and practicing their recommended interventions she still did not have peace.

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7)

Whether we believe in creation or evolution, the fact remains that we were not created to function outside of our spiritual connection to God. The One and Only God who breathed the breath of life into Adam is with whom we have a soul connection that only ends at the cessation of an individual’s life. We are forever connected to God with a spiritual umbilical cord.

God Is the Source of Life and Joy—God is the source of life and light and joy to the universe. Like rays of light from the sun, like the streams of water bursting from a living spring, blessings flow out from Him to all His creatures. And wherever the life of God is in the hearts of men, it will flow out to others in love and blessing.—Steps to Christ, 77 (1892). Ellen White

Sharing the story of Jesus on the cross, and Him telling the disciple John, “Behold your Mother” emphasizes that Jesus has a special place in His heart for the widows, the abandoned wives, the single mothers, and women who are alone and struggling to live productive lives. Does Jesus care? Yes, He does! And I am a living testimony of our Savior’s Divine Intervention of lovingly guiding me through a 2-year journey of healing.

Witness in a manner that the person feels a personal connection to Christ.

And yes, God loves and cares for all of us–men, women, boys, and girls. Yet, when witnessing we must present God on a personal level that reaches the hurting heart of the individual. Whisper a silent prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to anoint you. We always require Divine guidance before we speak and represent the love of Christ to others.

I will never know the outcome of witnessing that God is the source of our lives and only through Him can we have peace, joy, healing, and restoration. Yet, her laughter and expression of “Thank you, for taking the time to help me” proves that hurting people need to know that God is not a distant Father who does not care about us. Taking the time to share my personal experience proves that only Christ can give us a life of hope and restoration.

The importance of studying the Scriptures, praying without ceasing, and sharing our victories does make a difference in someone else’s life. As disciples of Christ, it is our duty to represent Him to those who are unaware that we have a Father who loves us. Someone needs to hear “…I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3), and “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).

Prayer: God, we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We ask for a heightened awareness of the opportunities to share Your love with others. You are the only One who can give us peace and inner joy. thank You for Your love, grace, and mercies. We pray this prayer in Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Hands of Jesus

Devotional—The Struggle of Sanctification—The Hands of Jesus

There are two thought processes when one hears or reads about the hands of Jesus. Either we think of our Savior’s nail-scarred hands on the cross or His righteous hands that hold us up, imparting strength to the believer.

Both concepts accurately describe our Savior’s hands. The scars represent Jesus’ love for humanity. Because of His sacrificial offering, we are recipients of the Plan of Redemption. In giving His life, everyone has the opportunity to be transformed into the righteousness of Christ. And there is more to the story, we will receive the reward of eternal life if we choose to faithfully and obediently serve Him. Read John 14:1-3.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Although we should have courage because the righteous are held in Jesus’ hands, many feel insecure and alone. The young man posted, “I have accepted Jesus as my Savior, but I feel lost.”

Hardships reveal our level of commitment to Christ. We are often surprised by our responses of weakness and disbelief to life’s harsh challenges. And many accuse God of forsaking them. Yet, we failed to do our part in strengthening our relationship with Christ. Accepting accountability for our failure to hold onto Jesus’ hands requires a heartfelt prayer of repentance. Giving 100% of our hearts through faithful obedience and daily worship is the only way to stay connected to the Source–Jesus Christ.

“The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9, first part)

Many have accepted Christ and desire to serve Him, but do not know the Scriptures. Daily Bible study, prayer, and asking for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are the requisites for building and sustaining our relationship with Jesus. It is a personal decision to build your foundation on the Rock, of Jesus Christ.

Delete time-consuming activities and replace them with diligent searching for the treasures contained in the Scriptures. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). When needed, the Holy Spirit will reveal the promises that are hidden in our hearts to give us comfort.

Memorizing God’s promises increases our faith. Faith is thinking beyond the impossible and admitting that only God can resolve our challenges. Trust is faith in action—never losing hope although the answer remains unseen. Our hope does not waver. Every day we rely on Jesus to give us the supernatural power to keep moving forward.

When our focus is on Jesus, and we are determined to have relentless faith and trust in Him, we can walk through life with courage. Peace replaces anxiety and worry, and we experience the joy of the Lord, even in times of sorrow.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Holding on to the hands of Jesus takes a concerted spiritual effort. Imagine that you are walking on the troubled sea, feeling as if you will drown, and you cry out, “Lord, save me!” and Jesus extends His hands. Fervent petitions of prayer keep us connected to Jesus. With tearful prayers of faith, we still proclaim Jesus is Lord, and we thank Him for His divine intervention.

We can remain steadfast! Why? Because, in the depths of our souls, we know without a doubt that Jesus’ hands will never let us go. Yes, it is those nail-scarred hands that we hold onto when going through turbulent times.

Whether we are delivered from our tribulations or Jesus gives us the strength to endure the ongoing trials of life, our courage must remain steadfast. Remember the Apostle Paul prayed three times for Jesus to remove the thorn in his flesh–his poor eyesight. Yet, Jesus’ answer of “My strength is made perfect in your weakness” indicated that even if His answer is no, He always provides spiritual strength in our hardships.

Yes, we can remain faithful even when we lack understanding. Our unwavering confidence is built on the solid Rock–Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus’ nail-scarred hands will always hold us and provide the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical strength to keep moving forward. We have the reassurance that Jesus will never let go of us!

Prayer: God, we thank You for giving Your Son, Jesus for our redemption. Jesus, we thank You for your loving heart and hands that hold us up whether in the storms or in peaceful times. We give You the honor, glory, and praise for Your loving-kindness. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. 

Eliminating Ungodly Relationships and Conversations

Devotional—The Struggle of Sanctification—Eliminating Ungodly Relationships and Conversations

Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. –2 Timothy 2:16 NIV

A few days ago, I said good afternoon to my neighbor with the intention of not having a lengthy conversation. Yet, the question, “Do you have sugar ants in your apartment?” resulted in listening to mindless chatter [not gossip] which included him saying a few careless words of profanity. When I reached the point of no more, I ended it pleasantly with “Enjoy the rest of your day.”

The comparison of a child’s brain to a sponge within the first six years of life substantiates the reason a young child who hears profanity will repeat it again and again. Unless adults have a cognitive impairment, our brains also process and retain the ungodly conversations we listen to.

Yes, later, my mind kept playing back the conversation. As I reflected on my lifestyle, I asked myself when is the last time I listened to a conversation with profanity. I prayed for forgiveness and began to listen to praise and worship music. Yet, it took a couple of days for my brain to forget the conversation.

The Deception of the Familiar

Satan uses the noise of social media, current news, and familiar people to flood our minds with sinful distractions. Watching the worldly behaviors of high-profile individuals whether in fashion, sports, or entertainment appears to be exciting but is detrimental. Always keeping current with the negativity of daily news will push one into thinking that God is not in control of this earth. Our selection of streaming and Cablevision programs indicates our preferences for the information we feed our souls. 

Feeding our senses with pleasure fulfills our carnal desires. Our thoughts and habits change as we lose the desire to pray, study the Bible, and live righteously.

“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

Many Christians feel they are in a dilemma when they accept Jesus as their Savior. How do we interact with unbelievers, especially when they are friends or family members? Are we supposed to completely cut them off? Do they respect and honor God? Our spiritual conversion requires us to witness [with courage] that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. The truth must be combined with love. Our declaration begins with a simple explanation to our friends and family, “I made the decision to serve God and I can no longer talk about or do the things that I used to do.”

Warning: Serving God can lead to a lonely walk in life. As time passes, you may notice a decline in their phone calls and invitations for you to attend get-togethers. It isn’t easy to take up our cross and follow Christ. Still, we must remain steadfast in declining conversations and invites that compromise our relationship with Jesus.

They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. (Jude 1:18-19)

In 2017, I received a call from my uncle who was celebrating his birthday. “Hi niece, some friends are giving me a birthday party Friday night at a place downtown. I know that you are Christian, but there are some tables that are not near the liquor.” I did not get offended. I laughed and responded, Yes, uncle, I am a Christian, thank you for the invite, but I cannot come, have a great time. The irony of the call, a few days before his bar party, my uncle along with most of my cousins, and I met at a restaurant to celebrate his birthday.

Satan will use whoever he has to to make us fall. Our temptations come from those who we are close to and from strangers.  Do not become upset with the person, this is spiritual warfare that the Apostle Paul tells us to be girded up for in Ephesians chapter 6. The struggle is real, but victory is sure when our relationship with Christ is number one in our lives.

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].’” (Matthew 16:24, Amplified)

There is no middle ground or gray area in serving God. To fulfill our divine purpose, we will have to give up familiar people, places, and things that do not bring honor and glory to God. Stay prayerful and be led by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: God, we ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the ungodly habits that are keeping us from living righteously. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ name, Amen.