Relying On the Strength of His Righteous Right Hand Devotional Reading
“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” —Isaiah 41:10
In our relationship with Christ, the greatest challenge comes from within our minds. Yes, we love Jesus, but we do not trust in Him. We have been influenced and molded by the worldview of “Self-reliance.” Readily embracing DIY [Do-It-Yourself] has caused us to exclude God from every aspect of our decision-making.
DIY results in disobedience. without Divine guidance, we practice self-governance which opposes God’s righteous standards. Yet the reality is that we were not created to live using prior experience, strategies, or guesswork in choosing the best option. Belief in our limited abilities over God’s power leaves us faithless and feeling alone, producing anxiety, worry, and stress.
“The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.” —Proverbs 4:18-19
Pray and Wait! Pray for guidance in every aspect of your life—even the little things. Fight the urge to live with a DIY mentality. We don’t have to stumble and fall as unbelievers who live in darkness. The righteous have access to Divine Guidance and Strength 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Achieving a victorious life requires faith, trust, and obedience to God’s will and plans. Throughout your journey, visualize Jesus holding You in His Righteous hand and guiding you toward perfection. Although restoring furniture is a great DIY skill, it’s not worth taking chances using DIY guesswork with our precious lives and suffering unnecessary consequences.
“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” —Psalm 27:14
Choose Christ and His gifts of peace, joy, and contentment by renouncing all self-reliance. Turning your life over to Jesus every day reveals steadfast faith and trust in the Lion of Judah. You will never regret staying in His Righteous Right Hand!
Prayer: God, we have suffered from the anxiety and worry that the DIY mentality produces. We desperately need Your Help! Please lead, guide, and direct us in our journey. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.
The Disconnect Between Us, God, and Others Devotional Reading and Podcast
Believe it or not, there was an era in which people called and visited each other to provide emotional and spiritual support. I can recall when my Aunt passed, I received numerous bereavement text messages, but not one person actually called to speak to me.
I love the advancements in technology, but unfortunately, the Christian community has adapted to the ways of the world—sending text messages, only calling if there are no other options. With this mindset, we are not only disconnected emotionally from family and friends but we are also disconnected spiritually from God.
“The voice is the main communication tool. It gives features to language that go beyond cognitive communication. It translates feelings, emotions…” Viva Voice: The Power of the Human Voice
“Research by Chicago Booth’s Nicholas Epley suggests that no matter what the next innovation in communication might be, there is no substitute for the human voice when it comes to conveying one’s humanity, intelligence, and state of mind.” https://www.chicagobooth.edu/
Pew Research Center performed a survey among American Christians on the Frequency of daily prayer. From ages 18-29, only 15% prayed once a day and only 30% between the ages of 50-64 prayed daily.
The habits we form easily become a permanent part of our characters. The marked decrease in verbal communication with others has also impacted our communication with God. Yet, we cannot approach the lack of prayer from a behavioral aspect. Considering that prayer is our only method of communication with the Divine-Triune God, statistics indicate that we are in a spiritual crisis.
“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” —Matthew 6:6
Prayer connects humanity to Divinity. Jesus created us to rely on His Strength and Divine Intervention. Every day, we face the battles of Spiritual Warfare that we cannot win from our efforts. Without praying daily for strength and help, we will never receive victory over the rigorous vicissitudes of life.
Trust God and Go Deep [With Your Faith]
Don’t hesitate to pray. In your private moments, lift your hands in complete surrender to God. Pray whether aloud or silently, consistently throughout your day. Our prayers reach heaven anytime, day or night. Praying during times of peace strengthens your faith and trust in God, helping you to rely on His promises when faced with adversity that lingers.
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” —Psalm 150:6
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” —Colossians 3:16
Reflecting on our earthly habits and comparing them to the Scriptures provides us with our right standing with God. Thanking God with Prayer and Praise is our sacrificial offering of gratitude for the love and sacrifice of God, the Father, God, Jesus, His Son, and God, the Holy Spirit for the love, grace, and mercy we receive every day.
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” —Romans 12:2, NLT
We are disciples, followers of Christ, and missionaries. Take the time to use your voice by calling someone to speak words of encouragement. We live in a world of chaos, despair, and sorrow. The very person who we think would not accept prayer [and we use this as a reason not to ask if we can pray for them] will probably say, yes. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
Pitfall: Do not allow your prayers to become all about yourself. Our prayers are usually asking God for blessings. When we pray for others, God honors our love and compassion and also blesses us. Praying for others also allows our characters to be molded into the likeness of Christ.
Develop a habit of consistent prayer and praise, allowing it to permeate your daily life. The frequency of our communication with God is a direct reflection of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Through prayer, the Holy Spirit is able to bestow upon us anointing, power, wisdom, and discernment. Without prayer, we cannot receive healing or attain eternal life.
Our worship on earth is preparing us for a forever life in the New Heaven and New Earth. Changing our lives to include prayer and praises of thanksgiving prepares us to receive our Heavenly Crown and Robe of Righteousness.
Remember only the prayer of humility can soften our stony, selfish hearts. Faith flourishes when we have a close relationship with Christ. Prayer and Praise change our outlook. We gain courage from Prayer and Praise. Prayer is the key to Victory through Jesus. Our strength comes from the Lord!
“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
Prayer: God, we come to You desperately seeking forgiveness for our lack of consistent prayer and praise. We ask You for Divine guidance for our journey of life. We desire to have a closer relationship with You. And we pray for those who are in despair, sorrow, and in need of daily provisions. We ask You to bless them by providing for their needs. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray, Amen.
Fear of the Final Judgment Devotional Reading and Podcast
If you love Me, keep My commandments.” —John 14:15
In this Scripture, Jesus tells us that love and obedience to all of His commands and precepts are required to have a steadfast relationship with Him. Because we were created with free will, God gives us His commandments which require total obedience, yet He does not coerce us to obey. We are free moral agents who can choose eternal life or death.
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” —John 5:39-40
The Jewish rulers, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees searched the Scriptures [the Old Testament] and highly revered Moses who spoke of the Messiah, yet they did not believe that Jesus of Nazareth could be the Messiah. Their preconceived ideas of the coming Messiah included a powerful and wealthy King who would free them from Roman oppression, which led to their rejection of Jesus as the Son of God.
Sadly we possess the same characteristics. We have preconceived ideas of living righteously. Because we desire to live according to our thoughts and desires, many Christian believers avoid studying the entire Bible [especially the Scriptures on obedience]. Disobedience reveals the true condition of the person’s heart who has not surrendered to accept and obey God’s commandments.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” —James 1:22
Half-hearted commitments to God produce spiritual unrest. The Holy Spirit warns us that we are making the wrong choices. Our response is one of fear [punishment from God]. Because we are not ready to fully obey, we lose the battle of wavering between obedience and disobedience.
Eventually, deception takes over our hearts. By continuously ignoring the Spirit’s warnings, we lose our spiritual discernment and are unable to differentiate between God’s truth and our version of the Truth. We hear God’s Word but cannot apply His principles to our lives because our true desire is to live according to our dictates.
Life Requires Us to Choose
In simple terms, choice refers to the act of making a decision or selecting an option from various possibilities. As we start each day, we encounter several situations that require us to make choices. One of the foremost choices we face is whether we will surrender ourselves to God through prayer. This decision sets the tone for our thoughts and actions, indicating whether we are committed to following Christ or merely focused on our desires.
Positive Choices or Poor Choices either Lead us to God or Away from God
There is no middle ground or neutrality in serving God. Life demands that we choose right or wrong, truth versus error, and reveals our commitment to God. Our choices are based on things and situations, including all the uncertainties that life offers. Whether good or bad, our decisions determine our eternal destiny.
Self-Reflection: Are my choices and decision-making guided by a Spirit-directed conscience? Are my decisions guided by the Righteous principles of God’s Word?
Before Our Commitment to Christ: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience…” (Ephesians 2:1-2).
Acceptance of Christ: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)…For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:verses 4,5, and 10).
Love produces Obedience. When we love Jesus, we do His will without hesitation. Obedience is a choice that demonstrates our love and commitment to God. We have confidence and peace when we follow Christ and stay on the Path of Righteousness.
For many years, I possessed fear when I heard a sermon or read Scriptures concerning the Second Coming of Christ and the Judgment. Always feeling uncertain whether or not I would be saved, I did not have the peace that comes from serving God.
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46).
Fearing Judgment is a result of vacillating between obedience and disobedience and demonstrates that we are half-hearted Christians. Through self-reliance, we place ourselves in a state of spiritual unrest when we do not choose to fully serve God. Disobedience places us in a worse situation than the unrighteous who do not fear God or Judgment. Our wavering status with God causes us to fear the Final Judgment.
“For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.” —John 5:26-27
Jesus is our Judge and our Defense Attorney. He is our Advocate. The Judgment reveals God’s justice and mercy. Although we have lived a prior life of pursuing and satisfying the sinful desires of our hearts, our daily surrender proclaims the love and gratitude we have for Jesus’ great sacrifice to save our souls. We no longer fear Judgment because we have chosen to obey. From our faithful obedience, we are saved under the Righteous Merits of Christ.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” —John 5:24
We are saved by grace. Grace causes us to live obedient lives. In faith, we experience a spiritual transformation of our minds. Our overwhelming love for God produces faith and trust in His will and plans for our lives. Obedience is faith in action which proclaims that we only have one choice: to obey God. Because we love Christ, we desire to do His will.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” —Ephesians 2:8
Good works are a product of obedience that is strengthened by the Holy Spirit. While our works do not save us, they serve as evidence of our sincere faith. Throughout the Old Testament, numerous individuals demonstrated their unwavering faith and trust in God through their obedient actions. Joseph, Joshua, Moses, Rahab, Esther, and Ruth are among those who followed God’s guidance with steadfast obedience.
When we choose Jesus, our commitment includes total obedience to the will of God. Remember, even Jesus in His earthly life had to learn obedience. Our choice to be obedient to God results in a spiritual transformation into the likeness of Christ who is waiting to give us our reward of eternal life based on His merits.
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” —1 John 4:18
Prayer: Lord God, we thank You for your never-changing love for us. We desire to wholeheartedly serve You. We pray for forgiveness for our wilful disobedience. Lead, guide, and direct us so that we can make the right choices. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.
When we make prayer an intentional habit, we invite the presence and power of the Holy Spirit into our lives. We have challenges that require Divine Help! Praying once or twice a day is never enough. It is not necessary to pray long, tedious prayers. Use honest words from your heart. Tell Jesus. He loves to hear from us. Begin praying every hour, not always asking but also expressing gratitude 🙏
Prayer: Lord, we come to You, not asking for anything, but to say Thank You for being our Best Friend, our Provider, and our King. We ask this prayer in Your Holy Name. Amen.
Sabbath Devotional Reading and Podcast—Crowns and Robes for the Righteous
“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…’ ” —Matthew 25:34
We are not only in a continuous struggle against spiritual warfare but must also fight against the inner desires of our hearts. Satan promotes the pleasures of this world because he knows his destiny. His goal is to prevent us from receiving our crown, robe, and eternal life.
Our situation may appear hopeless because we failed to overcome spiritual warfare and the battle within from inheriting deceitful and desperately wicked hearts. Yet, we are not in a losing predicament because we have a Savior, Jesus Christ.
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” —Deuteronomy 31:8
As our Heavenly Father, Jesus protects us from the many satanic attacks that we know nothing about. Christ has assigned His army of angels to fight our spiritual battles [seen and unseen]. To receive Divine help in our activities of daily living, we place our thoughts and strategies aside by praying every day for God’s Divine Intervention for guidance and protection.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me, you can do nothing.” —John 15:5
The word, “Abide” may be a mystery to us. What does it mean to abide in Christ? Self-reliance is not included in the Plan of Salvation. Throughout the Scriptures, we read that Jesus stayed connected to God by praying without ceasing. He always sought to do His Father’s will even unto death. To abide in Christ is to surrender ourselves and rely on Him through prayer and consecration.
Total Obedience is required to receive our crown and robe. We were created to be spiritually dependent on God. Without the human effort of staying connected to Jesus by surrendering ourselves in faith, trust, and obedience, we do not have a fighting chance of overcoming the temptations which are designed to make us sin. Pray to stay connected to Christ!
“If you love Me, keep my commandments.” —John 14:15
A relationship with Christ is based on love. And from our love for Him, we make a covenant to become a disciple. We are followers of a Savior who created us from love. Jesus was aware that Adam and Eve would fall. Yet because of His love for all of humanity, He gave His life—for us to overcome sin and live eternally with Him in the New Heaven and New Earth.
The Apostle Paul tells us, I die daily. And we must also commit to die daily to the sinful desires and temporary pleasures of this earthly life. To remain steadfast requires the strength of Jesus Christ. Our commitment is renewed every day through our prayer of surrender.
Starting the day off with God requires our first prayer to be one of surrendering to God’s will. In humility, we admit our weaknesses and ask for the anointing, power, presence, and guidance of the Holy Spirit. “Lord, I belong to You, please reveal Your will for me today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
The Holy Spirit gives us Divine strength to overcome covert temptations. Yet, we must put forth the effort to live holy and acceptable lives that are pleasing to the Lord by rejecting sin. Staying on the Path of Righteousness is not easy! Never limit the times you pray throughout the day and evening! We may have to pray several times a day to gain victory over sin. In prayer, present even the little things to Christ for His Divine guidance.
For today’s Christians, Satan is using another obstacle to prevent us from receiving our crown and robe. Worrying and feeling anxious about the declining status of our global economies distracts us and diminishes our faith in God. Violence, famine, social injustice, and climate change are not in our power to change.
This is our Father’s world! Biblical prophecies forewarn us of the changes which indicate we are moving forward toward Jesus’ Second Coming. Study Matthew chapter 24 and 2nd Timothy chapter 3.
Facing opposition is harder when our minds are overwhelmed with life’s challenges. Nor can we focus on Christ when constantly thinking about the pending status of the future. We do not have to watch or listen to every newscast. Yes, the global economy is failing. Without warning, we may lose our jobs and earthly possessions. Worrying about our lives and the future prevents preparation for eternal life. Jesus says, “Take no thought for tomorrow.”
“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).
Many lose out on their blessings of daily strength and the gift of peace because they are overthinking tomorrow, the next month, and the next year. Never allow the vicissitudes of life to make you lose sight of receiving your crown and robe. Verbalize your faith, “Today, I will have Victory through Christ!”
The Apostle James gives us wisdom on the downside of making plans for the future without God’s Divine blessings.
Do Not Boast About Tomorrow [The Sin of Presumption]
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow;’ we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil (James 4:13-16).
Two important aspects of living as a follower of Christ are our love for Him as demonstrated by our daily Prayer of Surrender and living day-by-day. The future belongs to God. Faithfully trust and obey the guidance of the Holy Spirit for this day.
Tomorrow is not promised to us. One future event requires intentional focus, preparation, and joyful anticipation—the Second Coming of King Jesus. Surrender and Faithful Obedience to Christ will be rewarded with a forever Crown and the Robe of Righteousness.
Scriptures: “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” —1 Corinthians 15:51-52
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” —1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” — James 1:12
Prayer: God, we are inundated with the worries of tomorrow. Lord, our faith is weak. We desperately need Your Divine Intervention to change our focus. Today, we surrender ourselves to You. We pray for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit. Please give us peace and spiritual direction. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
The Little Things [Our Tests of Obedience] Devotional Reading and Podcast
Scripture: “So the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.’ ” —Genesis 4:6-7
It is hard to imagine that Cain had a heart full of hate against his brother and Christ. The murder of Abel was easily committed because every day his rebellious heart produced hatred that grew like an uncontrollable weed that overtakes that which is planted in the ground [unless it is removed]. Cain could not worship God with obedience because of the desire to please himself.
Disobedience begins with self-will and manifests itself through little compromises that do not include God’s guidance and blessings.
We begin our day with a rushed prayer and the promise to study the Bible after work or worshiping God becomes ritualistic. Our free time is used 100% for pleasurable activities. We make purchases without praying for guidance, or we invite bad company into our lives. By excluding the daily Prayer of the Surrender of our Will and Obedience, we half-heartedly serve God as evidenced by our decisions and lifestyles to please ourselves.
According to many pastors, most of today’s Christian believer’s disobedience is demonstrated by the wilful use of our time and money. Truthfully are we praying for God’s Divine guidance regarding our daily schedules or do we plan our to-do list without ever thinking of including God? “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done” (Luke 22:42).
“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother or sister in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” —1 John 3:17
Are we watching our bank accounts and investments grow without a thought of people we know whose life circumstances have changed, yet we never offered to help? Christ was our Ultimate example of helping others. “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen” (John 21:25).
Helping those in need extends beyond the tax-deductible church contributions of our tithes and offerings. The Great Commission includes sharing our earthly blessings. Just as Cain’s disobedience began with the compromise of the little things which represent our daily love and loyalty to God, we also place ourselves in the same dilemma of receiving God’s rejection by not obeying His commandments and precepts.
“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” —Jeremiah 10:23
From Cain’s act of rebellion and disobedience, we can safely say that he did not possess a heart full of love for God. The first step of obedience is to surrender your will to God. Loyalty to God is evidenced by every act of obedience. When we obey God, the Holy Spirit molds and shapes our character to become closer to the likeness of Christ’s character—Sanctification is a lifelong spiritual journey.
“He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much.” — Luke 16:10
Too many of us stumble at the simplicity of the small things God tells us to do. God has called us to be faithful in the little things. If Jesus had to learn obedience then so do we. Obedience is Sanctification. Obedience is a continuum of faithfulness. Faith must be accompanied by Obedience. Every time you choose to obey God’s will, the Potter shapes and molds you into a closer likeness of the character of God. Pastor Wintley Phipps
A change of heart begins with an overwhelming love for Christ and a spirit of humility. Every day, go into your secret closet. Begin to pray differently by committing to obey God. Ask God to teach you how to hear His voice. Sanctification—the daily spiritual transformation into the likeness of Christ requires us to live a holy and righteous life demonstrated by continuous obedience.
Prayer: God, I choose today to walk in obedience. Like Cain, I have given You the sacrificial offering of my choice. I ask forgiveness for a heart filled with rebellion by living to please myself. Please reveal the ways that You desire for me to use my time and money to glorify You. I desire to change by living a life of total obedience.
Woman, You Are Loved by God! Ministries—”Daughter, Your Faith Has Made You Well” Devotional Reading and Podcast
With desperation and determination, the woman with the issue of blood knew that Jesus was her only hope. Although Luke the Physician was one of Jesus’ followers, he was not one of the Twelve Disciples. Yet, he tells her story from a physician’s perspective, admitting that medical doctors could do nothing for her condition.
“Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.” —
And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately” (Luke chapter 8, Verses 43-47).
As women, we cannot picture a life that would be more miserable. Can you imagine living every day for twelve years with this terrible disease and being excluded from everyone in your community because you were considered unclean? Surely, there were whispers to avoid speaking to the unclean woman. Yes, it would be an extremely lonely and depressing life. And to make matters worse, who could withstand the giant waves of despair from spending all of your money to find a cure for your incurable disease?
If you have ever thought, “Why would Jesus reveal such an intimate issue to a multitude of people?” The Levitical laws not only declared a woman ritually unclean during her monthly cycle but also for those who experienced a discharge of blood for many days. Even the bed and the chair she sat on were unclean [Read Leviticus 15:25-27].
Through her testimony, Jesus exposed the miracle to bring honor and glory to God, the Father, to reiterate His position as the Son of God, and to teach others that faith is the key that unlocks the Heavenly Door to give humanity victory. She also received restoration in her community, especially among those who whispered unclean, unclean for twelve years.
“And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.’ ” —Mark 5:34. Jesus’ response was filled with love and compassion.
The joy of this story is that a woman who suffered greatly for twelve years still had powerful faith and hope. She believed that Jesus was the Son of God and was so powerful that His power extended to the clothing on His body. Her only desire was to touch the hem of His garment.
Although Jesus is in heaven, He remains the same Loving, Compassionate, and Omnipotent Savior and Healer that walked this earth. Do we believe? Do we have the unrealistic faith to touch the hem of His Heavenly Garment through our prayers? Jesus is waiting to heal every aspect of our lives, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Even if we do not receive physical healing on this earth, the Apostle Paul tells us that we will receive a glorious body when Jesus comes again.
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. —1 Corinthians 15:51-53
Hold on to Jesus’ hand and never let go! “Daughter, your faith has made you well.”
Bible Reading: Luke chapter 8
Prayer: Jesus, we just want to say, Thank You for Your love and compassion. Lord, we ask for strength in times of our weaknesses. We pray that we will never give up in times of adversity, but like the woman with the issue for twelve years, we will maintain strong faith and continuous hope. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Your Holy Name, Amen.
The Company We Keep Devotional Reading and Podcast
“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character…’ ” —1 Corinthians 15:33
The title, “Solo Female Traveler” was an introduction to keeping van lifer’s physical safety as a priority. The most important advice was to beware of strangers, whether they are male or female when living on the road. As I listened to the various strategies for keeping oneself safe, I thought about keeping ourselves safe from the warfare of having relationships with unbelievers.
Is it possible to avoid the danger of bad company by using our mental and intellectual faculties to develop spiritually safe strategies? Does our overconfidence empower us to think we can have social interactions with worldlings and not compromise our relationship with Christ? No, we cannot overcome our natural inclination to sin without Divine Intervention.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” —Romans 12:2
The New Living Translation explains Romans 12:2 in plain English: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
Most often Satan uses the familiar people in our lives to draw us into temptation. Because we have love in our hearts for spouses, significant others, family, and friends, our guard is down. The invitation to attend a social function, dinner date, or a shopping trip as a get-together causes us to assume that our status as Christians will be respected. But Satan has no boundaries in using undercover strategies to pull us into sinful situations.
Can we keep ourselves safe from spiritual warfare when interacting with unbelievers? No. We receive wisdom and discernment only through diligent prayer, studying the Scriptures, and asking for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit. Total obedience to every Scriptural command and warning demonstrates our love for God and proves that He is first in our lives.
Compromise begins by rationalizing and making excuses to hang out with those living in darkness. Beyond casual interactions or witnessing, we will fall! Although we accept others for who they are, Christians have nothing in common with the unrighteous [even if they are family members]. Using prior life experience, having overconfidence, or relying on self-derived boundaries to maintain an unequal relationship places us in opposition to God’s commands to remain separate.
Prideful strategies are not enough to keep us from falling into temptations that compromise our relationship with Christ. The apostle James tells us “Humility is the Cure for Worldliness.” “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:7-8).
Guard your heart by standing your ground! We must not place ourselves in predicaments where we are being pulled away from our earthly journey on the Path of Righteousness. Our strength is in Christ Jesus, guard your hearts [and your salvation] by staying away from bad company.
Prayer: Lord God, we pray for the strength to overcome the temptation of socializing with unbelievers. Help us to draw close to You as we prepare for Your soon coming. In the Matchless Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen
Living the Victorious Life Devotional Reading and Podcast
There is only one way for us to have victory: through Christ Jesus. Winning the battle between self-reliance and dependency on God requires human effort and Divine Intervention. The human effort of surrendering oneself to God is simply declaring your total dependence on your Heavenly Father. But how do we rely totally on 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 3:5-6
The practical application of King Solomon’s words of wisdom is for us to pray over every aspect of our lives and as King David admonishes us, “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! (Psalm 27:14).
Living a victorious life is guaranteed when we choose Jesus Christ as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords over our lives.
Prayer: God, we surrender our minds and souls to You. We ask You to lead, guide, and direct us in the daily activities of our lives. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray, Amen.
God Is Always Faithful Devotional Reading and Podcast
Lamentations Chapter 3, Verses: 22 to 26, and 55 to 57
Verses 22-24: “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’ “
Verses 25-26: “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord.”
Verses 55-57: “I called on Your name, O Lord, From the lowest pit. You have heard my voice: ‘Do not hide Your ear From my sighing, from my cry for help.’ You drew near on the day I called on You, And said, ‘Do not fear!’ “
Without intentional effort, the human mind easily forgets the greatest blessings our loving and merciful Heavenly Father gives us. Every day, we receive breath in our bodies, our minds function without concerted effort, and we choose the foods that we will eat and enjoy.
Developing a heart filled with gratitude doesn’t come naturally. We tend to focus on our heart’s never-ending desires. Decide to begin your day with prayer and praise to the Most High God for His gifts of mercies.
“What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me?” —Psalm 116:12. Praise the Lord!
Prayer: God, we thank You for the mercies of a new day in our lives. And we thank You for all of the blessings that You lovingly give although we do not deserve them. God, we love You. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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