Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – September 5, 2024
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” —Psalm 16:11
THOSE WHO ABIDE IN JESUS will be happy, cheerful, and joyful in God. A subdued gentleness will mark the voice, reverence for spiritual and eternal things will be expressed in the actions, and music, joyful music, will echo from the lips; for it is wafted (conveyed) from the throne of God. This is the mystery of godliness, not easily explained, but nonetheless felt and enjoyed. EGW
“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
A stubborn and rebellious heart can close its doors to all the sweet influences of the grace of God and all the joy in the Holy Spirit, but the ways of wisdom are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. EGW
Lord God, we thank You for Your amazing grace. May we continue to embrace Your loving-kindness and reflect Your love in our interaction with others. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – September 2, 2024
“Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.” —Hebrews 13:15, NLT
“GOD IS GLORIFIED by songs of praise from a pure heart filled with love and devotion to Him…Those who adhere strictly to the admonitions and instructions of God’s word, prayerfully seeking to know and do His righteous will not feel the daily petty grievances…” EGW
The life of the Christian includes continuous tests designed to strengthen our faith in God. We are privileged to have heavenly angels protecting us from the dangers of spiritual warfare. In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus promises He will supply all of our provisions of life. We have continuous help from our Heavenly Father who is only a prayer away. There are no reasons we can use to justify feeling depressed, anxious, or worried.
Our hearts should be filled with love, loyalty, gratitude, peace, and praise for the unconditional Agape love given to us by God, the Father, Jesus, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit. We are the benefactors of God’s amazing blessings and protection. We owe Jesus our lives because He gave his life to redeem us from the fatality of sin.
It’s time to focus on Christ instead of our desires and thoughts. Glorifying God in our earthly lives prepares us for an eternal life of joyfully worshiping our Triumphant King Jesus forever and ever. Amen.
Psalm 100: “A Song of Praise for the Lord’s Faithfulness to His People”
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. 3 Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.
Prayer: Lord God, we are thankful for Your amazing love and compassion toward us. With thanksgiving, we sing praises to Your Holy Name. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
” ‘Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?’ Jesus declared, ‘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…’ ” —Matthew 22:36-39
“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” —1 John 4:20-21
Lord God, we pray for a converted heart that loves God and all people, even our enemies. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ – Sabbath Devotional – August 24, 2024
If your life is difficult, study the lives of Joseph, Abraham, Naomi, Ruth, and Job. The Bible gives us true knowledge of people who struggle with the same issues we face. King Solomon said, “There is nothing new under the sun.” Until we accept our God-given purpose, our lives will never reflect spiritual growth and transformation nor will our earthly accomplishments produce the faith and works that indicate we are preparing for eternal life.
“I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” —Psalm 32:8
Resistance to letting God lead us results in practicing Compromised Christianity—attending church but never changing and growing spiritually. Deciding to commit and consecrate oneself to follow Jesus Christ gives us true peace and victory despite our trials and hardships. Throughout the Scriptures, we find righteous men and women who dedicated themselves to surrender and faithfully obey God. Yes, they had the assurance of receiving the Crown of Life.
“I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end, he will stand on the earth… And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” —Job 19:25-27
Job suffered greatly but still proclaimed victory because he truly believed in Jesus’ promise that He would come again to take the righteous to heaven. Where do we stand? Live for Christ. True victory can only be obtained through the Righteousness of Christ. Heaven is real. We cannot afford to choose the temporary things of this earth and forfeit the reward that Jesus died on Calvary’s cross to give us.
Declaration of True Surrender: “I have decided to follow Jesus and whether I lose family, friends, or wealth, I am going to heaven to receive my reward, Revelation 22:12.” Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Sabbath Devotional – August 23, 2024
“In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” —Proverbs 3:6
The struggle to put God first impacts every Christian Believer. Still, in this modern world, we can put God first through consecration, prayer, Bible study, and monitoring our time closely. We make plans that either include or exclude God. “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. Do not be wise in your own eyes…” (Proverbs 3:5-7).
Excerpt from Livingontheedge.org: “First, God has a plan for every nation on this earth. In addition, He has a plan for every man, woman, and child on this planet, too. His plan can be contained in one word: LIFE. By comparison, Satan has an agenda as well. His agenda can be summed up in an opposing word: DEATH. He has an intricate plan for every nation and every person, and it’s to steal, kill, and destroy.
“It is incredibly easy to think the world consists of what we see in our worlds every day, and completely miss the larger picture. There’s an invisible battle happening all around us: life and death are fiercely competing for our devotion.” Livingontheedge.org
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” — 1 Peter 5:8
The apostle Peter describes every believer’s struggle with spiritual warfare in their earthly lives. Jesus told Peter, “Satan is trying to sift you like wheat, but I am praying for you.” Following Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter’s internal struggle of fear included denying Christ three times. Yet, he was reconciled with Christ and became an integral leader in the “Day of Pentecost” [Acts 2].
Reflection: Are we denying Christ by our desires, decisions, and lifestyles?
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.” —2 Timothy 1:7
To give God our best requires steadfast spiritual strength, the human effort of perseverance, resistance, and the ability to say no when everyone else is engaging in worldly pleasures. We pray often to receive Jesus’ Divine Strength and Wisdom through the Holy Spirit, yet, we must exercise the gift of self-control in our daily activities of life.
“Be holy, for I Am Holy.” —1 Peter 1:16
Living holy requires our cooperation with God. We cannot achieve holiness without the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Giving God our best is to have planned times of worship twice daily. Prayer keeps us connected to God, the Source of Power. Studying the Bible is necessary because God communicates His Righteous Character and His expectations of our daily walk with Christ. The Holy Scriptures define living holy.
“My people perish for lack of knowledge.” —Hosea 4:6
The Bible is our Spiritual Guide and Roadmap, preparing us for our reward of eternal life. The Old Testament tells us of the real-life struggles of individuals like Joseph [sold into slavery by his brothers, Elijah [Queen Jezebel seeking to kill him], Queen Esther [boldly entering the King’s presence without an invitation], and Daniel [in the lion’s den]. From the New Testament, we learn Christ’s earthly life and His love, devotion, and obedience to God, His Father.
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.” —Isaiah 41:10. BSB
Our confidence in God’s Love and Sovereignty gives us strength and the courage to fight the good fight of faith when we face temptation and daunting situations. Giving God our best is placing all of our faith and trust in Him. Knowledge of God’s Divine Character produces obedience in the heart of a true believer who allows the Holy Spirit to convert their hearts.
Give God your best by praying throughout your waking hours, studying the Scriptures, and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you on the Path of Righteousness. Having confidence in God, who will never fail you, requires astute knowledge of His loving character. God has promised to always give us victory when we strive to give Him our best. Sabbath Peace and Blessings!
Lord God, we thank You for Your Divine Love. It is our desire to give You our best. We ask for the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. We pray for a blessing as we celebrate the Sabbath. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – August 22, 2024
“Be holy, for I Am Holy.” —1 Peter 1:16
For those striving to live holy, the Holy Spirit reveals the Truth, gives us wisdom, and leads us in our earthly journey of Sanctification. Without daily consecrating oneself to God, diligently praying, and studying the Bible, we cannot distinguish between Holy and common [sinful] practices. The Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom and discernment to recognize compromised Christianity.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven..” —Matthew 7:21
“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals’ ” (1 Corinthians 15:33). The next time you are with family or friends, stay quiet, and listen to their conversation. Are they leading you to have a stronger relationship with Christ or pulling you away from the Path of Righteousness?
There are no worldly Christians. Too many Christians are thinking, speaking, dressing, and participating in earthly pleasures and chasing prosperity. Set yourself apart from unbelievers. Surrounding ourselves with believers who can pray with and for us, study the bible, and prepare for Jesus’ Second Coming constitutes the Family of God.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” —John 14: 1-3
In love, Jesus gave His life, suffering a cruel death so we can be redeemed from sin. We owe Him our lives. Revelation 22:12 is sooner than we think. Get ready and stay ready! Only those with a pure and obedient heart will receive the reward of Eternal life. Jesus is waiting for you and me to dedicate ourselves to fulfilling our calling as His disciples.
Prayer: Thank You Jesus for Your unfailing love. We ask You to teach us how to be Holy. In Your Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.
Trust in the LORD, and do good, dwell in the land, and feed on his faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noon day. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him…” Psalm 37:3-7
God is a Loving Heavenly Father. God is a Promise-keeper. God is All-knowing, which includes our lives from beginning to end. What God is Not, He is not a God of instant gratification, He knows what we need when we need it. God’s ultimate goal is to save our souls by sanctifying us through the Holy Spirit. Therefore He will not bless us with anything that interferes with His promise to give us eternal life.
“Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find Grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16
Pray in faith and wait on the Lord. Jesus has invited us to the Throne of Grace to receive His Divine help. God will never fail us. While waiting for our blessings, we should excitedly wait as children anticipating wonderful blessings from the Father above.
Lord, we thank You for Your loving care and faithfulness toward us. We ask for strength as we walk daily in this journey of life. We ask this prayer in your Holy Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – August 19, 2024
“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’ ” —Mark 8:34
There is a stark difference between Jesus’ requirements to follow Him and the Compromised Christianity practiced by many of today’s believers. Jesus says that we must deny ourselves, and take up our cross to be His disciple. The life of a true converted believer is not easy. We must relinquish our desires by surrendering ourselves to God daily: “God, not my will, but Your will be done.”
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” —Mark 8:36-37
Pursuing success, financial wealth, relationships, and pleasure has never been included in the spiritual journey of the followers of Christ. Chasing the world’s prosperity and marrying unbelievers is history repeating itself [the days of Noah]. Jesus forewarns us of the consequences of choosing the world, the loss of one’s soul is the loss of the reward of Eternal life.
“…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” —Joshua 24:15
“In the simplicity of humble faith ask the Lord to open your understanding, that you may discern and appreciate the precious things of His Word. Thus you may grow in grace, grow in simple, trusting faith.” God’s Amazing Grace, EGW
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me.” —John 15:4
“Our Saviour compares Himself to a vine, of which His followers are the branches. He plainly declares that all who would be His disciples must bring forth fruit; and then He shows how they may become fruitful branches.” Reflecting Christ, EGW
“…Be holy, for I Am Holy.” —1 Peter 1:16
Faith, humility, surrender, obedience, much prayer, fasting, and study of the Holy Scriptures along with abandoning all worldly habits, desires, and lifestyles including liaisons with unbelievers are required to follow Christ. Our earthly lives are the only opportunity for our characters, minds, and personalities to be changed into the likeness of Christ.
The human effort of cooperation with God joins us with God’s plan to save our souls. We choose Christ and the Holy Spirit transforms us daily into the likeness of Christ’s Character. Sanctification is evidenced when our desires change and we pursue righteousness. We stop watching, listening, and chasing sinful pleasures, nor do we seek success because Jesus is our First Love.
The believers whose hearts are converted love God and cherish Jesus’ selfless sacrifice on Calvary. We do not have ambivalent feelings over giving up everything for Christ. When we are dedicated followers of Christ, we prepare daily for Kingdom life with our Triumphant King. Reflection: Where do you stand in your relationship with Jesus?
Study Mark chapters 8-10: “…the follower of Jesus—whether the disciples 2,000 years ago or disciples in the twenty-first century— [must prepare daily] for the challenges that come with discipleship.” SSNET
Lord God, we pray for the strength to persevere on this tumultuous journey. Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to lead us on the Path of Righteousness. We love You for Your great sacrifice that we have the opportunity to inherit eternal life. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Sabbath Devotional – August 17, 2024
“It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.” —Isaiah 65:24
We serve a God who is the Sovereign Ruler of this universe. He is Omniscient [All-Knowing] and Omnipotent [Majestic Power]. “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). We have a Father who is interested in our well-being and commands angels to protect and comfort us.
Pray and Wait and be patient! God’s timing will never coincide with our expectations. Still, we can remain courageous because God always intervenes when the righteous pray in faith. Through Christ, our Heavenly Intercessor, we receive victorious outcomes. Every good gift is from the Father above. Amen.
Lord God, we pray for a Divine blessing on our lives and the willingness to patiently wait because You always know what is best in every aspect of our lives. Thank You for the Sabbath rest that draws us closer to You and refreshes us spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” —Psalm 27:14
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – August 13, 2024
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…” —Ephesians 3:20
We place too many limitations on God. He not only loves us but also has plans that exceed our thoughts. Using our faith to believe that God desires the best for us, we faithfully believe His promise to “will do exceedingly and abundantly above all we ask or think.”
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat? or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles [unbelievers] seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” —Matthew 6:31-34
Using our faith to trust God’s Sovereign Power invites Him to open the windows of heaven and shower us with blessings. Believe in God’s love by praying and waiting for His miraculous wonders.
Lord God, we thank You for loving, caring, and providing for us. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
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