“It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.” —Isaiah 65:24
“God help me! These three words reveal our surrender and the desire to place our faith in the presence and power of God. Although this prayer is mainly prayed in desperation, facing the challenges we cannot resolve, the daily spoken prayer of “God help me”, acknowledges the Sovereignty of a Supreme and Loving God and establishes unwavering faith and trust in peaceful or turbulent times.
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” —1 Peter 4:7, NLT
Reflection: Do we believe God is a loving Heavenly Father who cares about us?
Our lives are filled with challenges that impact our daily routines. These are the unexpected and frustrating things that are certain to arise and disrupt our day. Including God relieves the burden of trying to figure out resolutions and we receive peace knowing that He can never fail.
Need a problem solved on your job, with your neighbors, children, husband, or wife, or facing the uncertainty of a life-changing circumstance? Go to God!
Make your first response an immediate prayer asking for God’s help. When facing obstacles, adopt the standard of “the need to know.” Not every family member or friend should be included in our dilemmas. Too many voices prevent us from hearing God’s Voice. We take our burdens to God because He gives us a fail-proof resolution that brings victory!
“Pray without ceasing.” —1 Thessalonians 5:17
Regularly seeking God in daily activities builds our faith and trust in God. When stormy trials and tribulations arise that we could never resolve, we will not fixate on the obstacles, our initial reaction will be to pray the faith-filled prayer of “God, help me!” The habit of including God in every aspect of our lives reassures us that our Father cares and gives us confidence in His love and power.
Our God is awesome! He created us to depend on His power. Praying the powerful prayer of, “God help me” invites our loving, Heavenly Father into our lives. Not only will He fulfill His promises and exercise His Sovereign power, but you will receive the peace and joy that comes from trusting in God. And always remember to thank Him for loving and helping you in times of peace and struggle.
Continuous Communication with God Produces a Courageous Christian!
From our intentional faith in God, the Holy Spirit gives us the strength to keep moving forward and helps us overcome challenges with ease and grace. Our faith will be like a mountain that cannot be removed. Today, begin a new spiritual habit by praying for God’s Divine Intervention throughout your waking hours.
To pray without ceasing is much more than having morning and evening worship. If you are ready for a life full of peace, joy, and happiness that can only come from a Majestic God who gives victorious outcomes then Pray, Pray, Pray!
O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen— Even the beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth! —Psalm 8, NKJV
Prayer: “God, Help Us! We thank You in advance for Your Love and Divine Intervention. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.
The Battle From the Winner’s Perspective Devotional, September 21, 2023
The Battle From Jesus, Our Commander’s Perspective: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” —Revelation 22:13
When the Apostle John was given the heavenly vision, he described Jesus’ appearance [study Revelation chapter 1]. “…and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid, I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hell and Death.” —Revelation 1:16-18
The War Has Already Been Won
On Calvary’s cross, Jesus won the battle between good and evil and life and death. “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely, I am coming quickly” (Revelation 22:20).
We Are in the Battle for Our Lives!
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles [schemes] of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” —Ephesians 6:10-13
The strife and temptations that believers face every day are not a coincidence. We are in a spiritual battle with the fallen angel Lucifer who was cast out of heaven onto the earth. Lucifer now known as Satan convinced one-third of the angels to follow his evil surmising’s against God. And he has convinced humanity, beginning with Adam and Eve that God is an unfair Judge and withholds the best from the righteous.
Sadly, many believers have accepted Satan’s false claims about God as true. Although we cannot imagine a believer speaking those words, the behaviors of self-reliance, the refusal to surrender and obey God, and taking action to bring our plans to fruition without praying and waiting for God’s guidance are evidence that we do not believe God will give us the best.
In Ephesians chapter 6, the Apostle Paul reveals the spiritual preparation necessary to fight against satanic spiritual warfare. Soldier mentality reveals the desire to serve and obey, to give one’s best, and to win the battle.
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…”—Ephesians 6:14-18
As soldiers in God’s Army, we must “put on” to be prepared for the battle against Satan. Paul uses military terminology in his analogy of the method by which Roman soldiers suited up for face-to-face combat. “Putting on the Whole Armor of God” begins with the courageous mindset that we are enlisted as spiritual soldiers in God’s Army when we accept Christ as our personal Savior. we make a covenant vow to have faith, trust, obey, and surrender ourselves to Jesus Christ, our Commander.
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” —Matthew 24:14
Through the Holy Spirit, every person will receive the invitation to join God’s Army before Jesus comes. Many believers who were excited when they accepted the gift of salvation have fallen away because they didn’t realize that serving God requires a lifetime in the battle zone. Failure to study the Bible produces fear and hopelessness. We cannot receive spiritual strength and courage unless we have faith and knowledge of God’s promises and His divine role in our lives.
Signing Up as a Soldier—Gideon and the 300 Soldiers—The Godly Process of Elimination
“And the Lord said to Gideon, ‘The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me,’ saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’ And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.” —Judges 7:2-3
When God instructed Gideon to reduce the number of men, the first round of elimination was to identify the fearful and instruct them to return home.
Our Commander identifies Himself
“The LORD is a man of war; The LORD is His name.” —Exodus 15:3; “Who is this King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle” —Psalm 24:8; “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and makes war.” —Revelation 19:11
The Godly Process of Elimination
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” —Revelation 21:8 KJV
Many translations use the adjective cowardly instead of fearful. Still, we must note that Jesus mentions the characteristic of fearfulness first—there will be no cowards in heaven. We may rationalize that some people are born timid. When we give our hearts to Christ, the Holy Spirit empowers us, and we receive the holy boldness to witness and the spiritual strength to actively resist temptation—no one can convince or persuade us to do wrong! It is a conscious decision to choose sin.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” —Ephesians 6:10
Can you imagine that your country engages in war and the soldiers chosen to fight the enemy are timid? We readily admit that God is powerful, but most Christians do not acknowledge that Satan is an evil angel with power and he uses it against the righteous believers. His only goal is for us to lose our reward of eternal life.
Fact: The war of good and evil involves your soul. There are only two destinies, eternal life or the second death by fire. Study Revelation chapter 20 with a focus on verses 7-9. Satan knows that he will be destroyed. The Apostle John describes the number of people who will be destroyed as innumerable, he compares them to sand…their “…number is as the sand of the sea” (Revelation 21:8, last part).
Paul tells us to “Stand!” Fearful believers render themselves ineligible to be soldiers in God’s Army. Cowardly behaviors include hiding your Christianity from others, being afraid to witness, possessing a wavering mindset of God’s truth because you fear exclusion from your friends, coworkers, and family, maintaining a neutral position on social injustices and sinful lifestyles, and embracing worldviews and practicing compromising behaviors to maintain relationships with friends and family.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” —1 Corinthians 10:13
Satan has limitations. He is not Omniscient [All-Knowing], Omnipotent [All-Powerful], nor can he compel [force] us to sin!
Jesus tells us the requirement for following Him: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” —Luke 14:26
The hate that Jesus refers to is not the evil emotion of hatred we feel toward others. Jesus used hate as a metaphor to describe the sacrifice we must make to love God first above everyone else on this earth. Recently a pastor described the condition of most people, including believers living in these last days, “Pleasing oneself is prevalent. People worship themselves as idols and strive to please themselves by fulfilling all of their carnal desires.”
“Jesus said to him, You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” —Matthew 22:37
Who have you put above God? Yourself, family, or friends? Even in marriage, will the believer compromise to make their spouse happy? Jesus told the church in Ephesus, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4).
Our relationship with Christ is one-to-one! Although we can ask others to pray for us, the warfare, trials, and tribulations we face are custom-made for each believer. No other person can fight our daily spiritual battles. Many believers have fallen away because of the perseverance, endurance, and continuous courage and strength required to be a soldier [follower] of Christ.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. —2 Timothy 1:7
When humanity was created, Jesus equipped us with power, love, a sound mind, and a measure of faith. It is our faith in God that cancels all fear!
Our spiritual journey begins as babes in Christ and our spiritual nourishment begins as milk. Studying Genesis chapters 1-4 and the life of Christ in the Four Gospels is an excellent starting point. A new believer requires spiritual support and mentoring from the church that baptized them into membership. They should attend Bible Study classes in addition to personal studying to receive a foundation of God’s Truth.
As we grow and mature in Christ, the Holy Spirit gives us a deeper spiritual understanding and wisdom of the Scriptures, resulting in eating the meat of the Bible, which allows us to receive the transformation of our minds and characters. Whether we are new or mature believers, we must do our part by studying the Scriptures and praying for wisdom, discernment, and help from the Holy Spirit, our Teacher.
Accepting Christ as our personal Savior is not complex—every day little children accept Jesus. If we tell our testimony of Jesus’ love and how He transforms us and gives us a new life, then the Holy Spirit will take over if the person has a receptive heart. Witnessing strengthens our relationship with Christ.
Prepare for the Battle!
The human effort of daily preparation requires a desire to be faithful, to surrender, and to obey God. From the moment we awaken, through penitent prayer, we express gratitude for receiving God’s new mercies for another day of life and we pray for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Our prayer of surrender acknowledges that God’s Divine Intervention is needed to receive the blessings of wisdom, discernment, and the spiritual, mental, and emotional strength necessary from the Holy Spirit to stand against Satan’s deceptive temptations and strategies to defeat us for that day.
“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
Yes, our Heavenly Father knows that we need His help to overcome. And He promises to be with us when we fulfill our commitment to honor and reverence Him. Being in the spiritual position of right standing with God requires courage. We renounce sin by choosing to avoid the people, activities, and situations that would result in disobedience to God.
The book of Revelation is vivid in its description of the battle Satan is waging on the inhabitants of this earth. The Spiritual Warfare of good versus evil is one that believers face every day. The majority of our battles are with people who are being used as instruments of Satan. The conflict usually involves foolish arguments designed to rob us of our God-given peace.
If Satan can manipulate and use a situation to upset us then he has accomplished his goal for that day. Without praying when we face challenges, our first response will be fueled by our emotions.
“Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. — 1 Peter 5:6-7
Soldier Behavior: Love God. Love Others. Love yourself. Be humble, gentle, and kind. Pray and use silence. Avoid foolish arguments. Speak fewer words. Use discretion and wisdom. Be decisive and stand firm. Renounce sin and worldviews. Pray continuously. Study the Scriptures. Get ready and stay ready! Read Revelation chapters 21 and 22 once a week to remind yourself of the great reward Jesus has for you.
We are living in the last days of perilous times. The Holy Spirit is working to transform our character into the likeness of Christ. The life we live on this earth demonstrates that we understand the spiritual battle has been won and we have decided to follow Jesus all the way or not. “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity” (Ephesians 6:24).
Prayer: Jesus, we thank You for Your great love and the sacrifice of Your life to win the war against sin and Satan. We commit our minds, bodies, and souls to follow you all the way. We desire to have eternal life and pray for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We give You the honor and glory You rightfully deserve as our King. And we ask this prayer in Your Holy Name, Amen.
Trusting in God Always Ends in Victory! Devotional Reading September 19, 2023
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” —Proverbs 3:5-6
Many Christians are in a battle of the wills, Our will versus God’s Will. Yes, we love God, but feel more confident relying on our knowledge and life experience. But the decisions we make that intentionally exclude God reveal some facts about the condition of our hearts.
With all of our heart, soul, and mind we love ourselves [before God] by trusting in our ability to produce absolute outcomes.
We practice irreverence by failing to acknowledge and trust in the Omniscient—All-Knowing God.
We embrace the worldview of self-reliance which produces the fruit of disobedience to God
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.” — Proverbs 3:7-8
Yes, we were created as free moral agents and have the right to choose, but when we fail to honor God through surrender and faithful obedience, we use our free will to deny God’s Divine Intervention in our lives. Not only do we set ourselves up for failure, but we also take a detour from the Path of Righteousness and lose out on receiving God’s perfect blessings including eternal life.
Throughout the Scriptures, we have evidence of Jesus’ humility and obedience in His earthly life [as the Son of Man] fervently praying to stay in His Father’s will. The desire to trust God is a choice that springs from a heart with overwhelming love for Christ. Our dedication and commitment are to self or God.
“The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.” —Proverbs 4:19
There is no middle ground—either we trust God or we do not trust Him. Trusting in God strengthens our relationship with Christ. Trusting in self separates us spiritually from God. The perception of the power of human wisdom is exaggerated. We cannot foresee the outcome of our choices. Why should we choose to live as unbelievers who fall because they are in spiritual darkness?
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” —Romans 8:5
With spoken words, we can verbalize our belief in God, but without trusting in God, we are certain to suffer the consequences of defeat. You may think that your decision-making skills have given you a good life. Yet, there is no time limit for suffering the consequences that are certain to happen from a believer’s disobedience to God!
As a transformed believer who suffered the hard knocks of relying on my wisdom, there is a better way to live! To believe in God requires total surrender, faith, trust, and obedience. Our obedience demonstrates a heart filled with reverence and honor for God as the Supreme Provider. When I dedicated myself fully to Christ, I began to enjoy the blessings of peace and contentment that come from being aligned with His perfect Will. Yes, trusting in God erases our worries because we have confidence in His promises that can never fail.
Taking everything to God in prayer changes the course of our lives. We learn to rely on the One who gave His only Son, Jesus Christ for us. Our self-reliance and pride are washed away. We eagerly involve God, not only in life-changing decisions but also pray for the Holy Spirit to give us the wisdom to efficiently perform our routine activities of daily living.
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:19
Trusting in God gives us courage and strengthens our faith. From personal experience, I proclaim that our Father always gives Victorious Outcomes to the righteous who trust in Him!
Scripture: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the Heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17 NIV).
Prayer: God we pray for the desire, faith, and courage to trust You with our lives. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” —Revelation 22:12
Receiving our reward of eternal life requires that we are actively working as disciples of Christ. Work refers to using our spiritual gifts and the assignment of witnessing to others [Matthew 28:18-20]. We use our talents such as singing, playing an instrument, encouraging others, praying for others, and helping those in need by using our blessings of an overabundance of money.
But most importantly with spoken words of encouragement and a Christ-like Character of love and compassion, we witness the Good News that Jesus is our Savior and there is a better way to live our earthly lives.
Prayer: Lord, we pray for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit that we may have the courage to witness about You. We pray for a character overflowing with love, compassion, and kindness. And may we represent You through our smiles, and spoken words of encouragement. In Jesus’ Loving Name, we pray. Amen.
If we do not fill our minds with the Scriptures then Satan will fill our minds with worldviews. Without Scriptural knowledge of God’s righteous precepts and commandments, we develop standards to live by that are not in alignment with righteousness. Our knowledge deficit does not remain, we fill the void by embracing worldly concepts that lead to the decline of our relationship with Christ.
The Bible is our Spiritual Guidebook in which God defines the standards for our moral code and value system.
Morals: a person’s standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do.
Values: a person’s principles or standards of behavior; one’s judgment of what is important in life.
“All of a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.” —Proverbs 16:12
Reflect on your decisions, habits, and lifestyle. Our morals and values are demonstrated by the way we think, act, and live. We need spiritual strength from the Holy Spirit to practice the righteous standards of God. Believe it or not, most of us are impacted by the spiritual warfare of worldviews. But know this, every worldview is a contradiction of God’s Biblical view.
We were created with a measure of faith to establish and maintain our belief in God’s love, power, and presence in our lives. When our faith is not in God because He is a stranger [the Scriptures reveal every aspect of God’s Character], from our disinterest in studying the Bible, we misappropriate our faith.
Some believers study the Scriptures and pray, but choose not to obey all of God’s requirements because they have already embraced the pleasures of worldliness. They live a life of self-deception. Their importance is on their works which they use as a substitution for faith in God.
We were created to believe in God. Human beings cannot function without a belief system. We need someone or something to believe in. Some people think they are elevating their status by believing in their human reasoning. Our minds cannot remain void, so we make a substitution for our faith in God by placing our faith in worldviews—worldly beliefs and practices.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” —Jeremiah 17:9
As our morals and values transition, our thoughts and emotions also change. We begin to incorporate different habits into our lifestyles and practice unrighteous behaviors every day without remorse. We lose all guilty feelings over our new and comfortable lifestyle. Did you know that it is easier to do wrong than to do right? There is nothing more pleasing to Satan than a believer who compromises and thinks they are still in right standing with God. With the decline of our spiritual health, our mental, emotional, and physical health also decline. Sinful choices never lead to a healthy, happy, and harmonious life.
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” —1 Corinthians 10:23-24, 31, ESV
Worldviews that Destroy Our Spiritual Health, Harmony [with Christ], and Happiness
Pursue your dreams, just do it!
Look out for yourself first.
Trust in your judgment.
Follow your heart.
Trust no one but yourself.
Opportunity only comes around once, take immediate action.
Always speak up for yourself even if it involves conflict.
Do whatever is necessary to achieve your goals.
Make yourself happy—Enjoy life to the fullest!
Relax with a bottle of wine or use marijuana, it’s legal.
Self-centered concepts reveal the effectiveness of Satan’s opposition to God’s promises. Embracing worldviews disrupts our spiritual journey with God and has a parasitic effect on our mental and emotional health. Trending Worldviews: “The truth is what you believe it to be”, and “No one is coming to help you.”
God’s Views: In Psalm 119, verse 105, David said, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth (John 17:17). “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
We cannot stop the decline of morals, values, and sinful practices, yet, it is a choice to compromise, embrace, and validate worldviews by incorporating them into our lives. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12). Satan is very deceptive! It is not easy to recognize changes in our spiritual condition when we are distracted by our life of ease.
Satan ceases to fight a compromising believer. He has a remarkable talent for using pleasure as lullabies that create a sense of spiritual tranquility and relaxation. We cannot engage in any aspect of worldliness—secular music, movies with sexual content and profanity, consuming alcoholic drinks, using drugs to relax, having relationships with unbelievers, and living a hedonistic [focusing on pleasure and having a good time] lifestyle when serving God.
Ask yourself, “Right now, where do I stand with God?” The apostle Paul tells us to awaken from our spiritual sleep.
Too busy and too tired to perform quiet introspection—soul-searching of our behaviors and habits, we continue our counterproductive lifestyle. No, things are not going the way we planned, but we do not recognize the need for self-examination. Still, we cannot rationalize our decision-making that excludes God or the need to embrace the shortcuts of worldly behaviors.
Because we are making a little effort to keep in touch with our religious beliefs by attending church or praying when we remember, we feel that our status with God is okay. Sadly, it usually takes a major life event for us to wake up out of our spiritual sleep. Then we have no choice but to come to Jesus.
“But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” —1 Peter 1:15-16
The Holy Spirit gives us warnings through sermons, and our consciences—our thoughts. He allows us to see social media posts on committing our lives to Christ, reminding us to study the Bible, and giving up all secular habits to follow Christ. We can never say that God did not tell us that we have strayed from the Path of Righteousness. Every Christian believer who once had a close relationship with Christ and is now practicing any worldview knows they are not faithfully obeying God’s precepts nor are they in right standing with God.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” —Psalm 139:23-24
David knew the condition of the human heart. Every day, in humility, we can speak this prayer for God to search our hearts. God lovingly and patiently waits for our prayers asking for His help. Yes, our Heavenly Father knows our inner struggles and the warfare we face daily in our earthly journey. We have Divine help that is just a prayer away. Redirect your faith and focus on God by studying the Scriptures—begin with Genesis.
Seeking to live a godly lifestyle is the toughest decision we will ever make. Our lifestyle on earth is meant to prepare us for eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth. God says, “Be holy, for I am Holy.” He knows that we cannot achieve righteous living without the Holy Spirit. Do your part in the plan of Redemption! To achieve optimal spiritual health includes giving up habits, lifestyles, friends, and family members. Yet, all the sacrifices we make for God will be rewarded!
The condition of these perilous times requires that we renew our covenant vow of discipleship to Christ every day. We need Divine reinforcement from the Holy Spirit to maintain our spiritual strength! Our responsibility is to faithfully obey God and renounce sin. Jesus created us and we belong to Him! Never forget, that only the Three Persons of the Triune Godhead can empower us with optimal spiritual health, and harmony of the mind, body, and soul. Our happiness is consistent because it springs up from Christ’s Spiritual Well of Joy flowing within our souls.
Prayer: Thank You, Heavenly Father for Your love, grace, and mercies. We ask for forgiveness of our sins and to create in us a clean heart. We need Your help to remain in optimal spiritual health. Thank You for blessing us with a sound mind and our measure of faith. We commit to love and serve You for the rest of our lives. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” —Ephesians 6:10-11
Where does humanity fit into the great controversy between the literal supernatural powers of good and evil?
For the righteous, we are the seed of Abraham who has made a covenant with Christ, the Source of the believer’s strength. Yet, we are the target of Satan’s spiritual warfare in which we are powerless without Divine Help. We derive our power from the Source of Life, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
“We love Him because he first loved us.” —1 John 4:19
Our relationship with Christ is based on love. Through the gift of His life, Jesus has already proven His overwhelming love for us. Still, Jesus serves as our Heavenly Intercessor. Through Him, we receive Agape love, salvation, God’s grace, mercy, and the forgiveness of our sins. It is our choice to embrace His love through surrender and faithful obedience to His commandments and God’s will.
The Believers Requirement: The relationship with Christ requires a heart filled with love, surrender, faith, and obedience—Jesus must be our First Love.
As we progress into the unknown future, from studying Revelation prophecies, we know the battle of spiritual warfare will intensify. As the prophetic events unfold, those who fail to make a steadfast commitment of consecration and surrender to Christ will lose their courage to fight the good fight of faith. The connection to God is one that we establish and maintain through our daily worship practices of reverencing and honoring God. Christ is our anchor!
For this reason, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. —Ephesians 3:14-19
In our personal worship, we separate ourselves from spouses, children, and electronic devices to have alone time with God. It takes a concerted effort to maintain our one-to-one relationship with Christ. From our willingness to put God first, we receive strength, discernment, and wisdom from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. “…but now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed'” (1 Samuel 2:30, last part).
The Spiritual Conflict we face every day requires the sacrificial practice of putting God first. Facing the tasks of daily living along with the unexpected life events combined with ongoing spiritual warfare would leave us defeated without spiritual nourishment and reinforcement.
We cannot live off of yesterday’s worship. Every day we receive new mercies that require our commitment to much praying, studying the Bible, and taking the time to include the quietness of spiritual meditation. Our desire to listen to the Voice of God allows the Holy Spirit to reveal a deeper insight into our relationship with Christ. With a heart filled with gratitude, we can reflect on the goodness of God despite the circumstances.
“Strength for every current and future conflict is to be found in the believer’s solidarity [oneness] with the resurrected and exalted Christ.” John K. McVay, PhD
God’s Promise: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me, says the LORD.” — Isaiah 54:16-17
Although the battle is continuous, God has ensured that we can be Victorious Overcomers! All three members of the Triune Godhead are involved in every believer’s life. We have guardian angels who fight Satan and his evil angels 24/7. Thankfully we are unaware of these battles because our eyes are shielded from the activities in the spiritual realm.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” —Psalm 46:1 “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” —Isaiah 40:29
God’s promises to give us power through the Holy Spirit to fight against the battles of evil. Our role is to consecrate ourselves as soldiers in God’s Army. Striving to live holy is possible when we totally surrender ourselves to God. The human effort of putting God first by seeking Him in prayer throughout our waking hours unleashes God’s power and promises.
“Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God:” —Deuteronomy 28:1-2
God honors our dedication and obedience! We receive many blessings including the blessings of peace and joy from having the assurance that we are living in the perfect will of God. From our faithfulness, we have unwavering confidence and courage in the power and might of the Lord. It pays to serve the LORD!
Scripture: “Our soul waits for the LORD, He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.” — Psalm 33:20-21
Prayer: Lord, draw us close to you, closer than before, closer than we have ever been with You. We promise to dedicate ourselves to You by giving You the honor, the glory, and the praise for the rest of our lives, In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
Today, I agonized in prayer all day into the evening regarding a powerful stronghold—I was fixated on thoughts for two days that I knew would cause me to lose eternal life. Yet, I could not stop the anger from thinking about the situation. Although I have read many Scriptures on continuous praying, I have never prayed like this before. But, I desperately needed God’s help!
“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” —Psalm 34:15, 17-18
If I did not continue to persevere in prayer, I would have failed to gain spiritual victory. I kept praying! Finally, around 7 p.m., I received deliverance and the command to let go and move forward in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Now, I am able to understand from a spiritual perspective why God allowed the incident to happen.
The peace that I feel is from the Holy Spirit breathing into my soul. Yes, it feels as if a mighty, rushing wind of Divine peace and strength went through my mind, body, and soul. We should never limit the times that we pray! Prayer invites the presence of God into our minds, hearts, and souls. One thing is for sure, we will always experience change, and gain spiritual insight, and the victory from staying in God’s presence.
Reflection: What is the lifestyle, habit, or relationship that is preventing you from fully devoting yourself to God?
“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
We are rapidly moving forward in the last days of Earth’s history. Jesus is coming soon!
To make it through this journey of life and stay on the Path of Righteousness, we need to stay connected to the Source, Jesus Christ. We are told to boldly come to the throne of grace in prayer. We need Help! There are no surprises regarding the spiritual warfare the Christian believer will face in these perilous times. We cannot stay on the narrow Path without the Holy Spirit’s constant intervention which is only available through our prayers of surrender.
Jesus’ Warning: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33
The Reason for Our Spiritual Warfare: “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.” —John 14:27
We Are Fighting Against Satan, a Fallen Angel: “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
Like a lion in the African Savannah stalking his prey and using stealth moves hidden behind the tall grass or bushes, Satan has increased his warfare against the Saints of the Most-High God.
“Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” —Revelation 12:12
Yes, Satan knows that his time is running out. Through observation of our habits, spoken words, and the people we hang out with, he uses our heart’s desires to easily deceive us. Many believers who were once strong in the Lord, are separated from God because they followed the whims of their hearts.
“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” —Matthew 24:7
With the increase in natural disasters, the events of Matthew chapter 24 are rapidly being fulfilled. Live with a spiritual sense of urgency and the determination to possess faithful obedience to God. Pray diligently before making [all] decisions! The outcome is only guaranteed when God is involved.
“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
Pray before you invite anyone into your social circle. Not everyone who believes in God serves God. And there are many individuals who are comfortable living on this earth who never think about eternal life.
Put on the Whole Armor of God—Ephesians 6:10-18
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which, you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…Ephesians 6:10-18
The Apostle Paul invites believers once they are fully armed to do what ancient Israel did before they engaged in battle against their enemies—and that is, to Pray! The time is now for us to pray specific prayers to overcome our weaknesses, habits, and unrighteous character traits. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us and give us wisdom, spiritual discernment of the truth, and the spiritual strength to live as victorious overcomers. Yet, we must pray and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to Christ.
Jesus’ Promise: “To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” —Revelation 3:21-22
Prayer: God, we pray for those who need Your help in overcoming the habits, relationships, thoughts, and desires that keep them from fully surrendering to You in faithful obedience. Many times, our victory is only a prayer away, yet, we fail to call on You for the strength to overcome. Lord, help us to realize that our lives are not our own and You are coming soon. We pray for the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit and the humility to do Your will. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray, Amen.
Recognizing the Signs of Change Devotional Reading September 7, 2023
Since 2020, an unstable economy has forced many retail companies to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Despite their best efforts and the help of the most influential financial strategists, the desires of consumers change like the weather. “Record profits mean a business is strong and its jobs secure. Meager profits indicate a weak business and insecure jobs. No profits ultimately mean bankruptcy and no jobs.” informationstation.org
Future projections are based on anticipated performance. Although companies project with confidence, there are no guarantees. Expert or not, the human mind cannot anticipate the unforeseen drastic change from having a successful business with a large customer base and rising profits to one of failure in a very short time. Customer loyalty is an unpredictable behavior that most companies have to rely on. To remain competitive, companies must remain innovative and competitive by including consumer whims and current trends.
Once a company recognizes declining profits, it must use a quick-fix method. Remaining solvent involves cutting your losses. The strategy of identifying low-performing stores always results in permanent closures. Financial decline in a company’s operating budget always leads to extensive job loss. Massive layoffs are something that we have a strong distaste for, but downsizing employees is always the first option in saving a business. The options used to keep a business solvent are few and drastic measures must be taken to prevent further financial loss.
The question that most consumers ask is, Didn’t they recognize the problem of a decline in sales before hundreds of employees had to lose their jobs?
Yes, but they have no control over the lifestyles of Minimalists and Homesteaders who value need over greed. These populations have the mindset of buying only the things they need for practical use and utilizing repurposing for zero waste. The Baby Boomer generation who comprises 21% of the total population already have everything they need and usually have excessive tangible goods stored in a spare bedroom, closets, and the garage.
Bed, Bath, Beyond, The Christmas Store, Tuesday Morning, and many other retail stores have filed for bankruptcy. Macy’s and CVS Pharmacy are two businesses that were restructured by massive store closures and decreased hours of operation. Yet, some companies made strategic moves that were highly successful. Last year, the new CEO of Amazon improved poor shipping practices and laid off excessive staff which resulted in record profits.
As I thought about the expert financial strategies necessary for a business to maintain its profit margin in 2023 and meet future projections, I reflected on the downward spiral of Christianity. Spiritual bankruptcy is at an all-time high. The average Christian believer is too preoccupied with the busyness of daily life and personal pursuits to consider the status of their relationship with God or to notice that Bible prophecies are being fulfilled.
Reflection: What spiritual strategies are you practicing every day to ensure your preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus?
Perilous Times: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” —2 Timothy 3:1-5, NIV
Without spiritual discernment, we will not recognize the spiritual significance of climate change. An unstable economy, a virus that will never be eradicated, the increase in global natural disasters, open corruption, and the pursuit of greed are signs of the perilous times of the last days. We should not surmise that these events are coincidental. “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places” (Matthew 24:7).
What is preventing us from not living as if Jesus is coming soon?
We have become desensitized to receiving the reward of eternal life because our desires, plans, and agendas are based on self-worship. Satan is deceiving believers with two distractions; pursue your personal goals and we have plenty of time to live our best lives–just do it!
Studying the Bible and dedicating oneself to God has been replaced by the pursuit of personal dreams and goals, and purchasing homes and vehicles. Seeking a lifestyle of pleasure through world travel has enticed believers to invest their money into themselves. Trip Advisor now offers memberships to assist consumers in fulfilling their desire to make travel a permanent part of their lifestyle.
The era when Christians put God first by fasting and praying for spiritual strength, wisdom, and guidance from the Holy Spirit has passed. Weekly Prayer services have decreased because members are too busy or too tired to attend. Our lifestyles reveal ritualistic worship practices–attending weekly church services and hearing the Word of God but not praying, meditating, and studying the Scriptures. Nor do we acknowledge that the spiritual transformation of our hearts requires the power of the Holy Spirit.
Reflection: When was the last time you listened to a sermon on preparing for Jesus’ Coming?
Sermons are no longer Bible-based and Christ-centered. Yes, our character must change, but there is a serious issue when an entire sermon focuses on the emotional needs of the members. Still, the most popular, well-accepted sermons are those that teach the false prosperity theory. The Christ-centered teachings that emphasize the faith and obedience required to have a steadfast relationship with Christ are rarely preached.
Recognizing Changes in Your Relationship with Christ
For many Christians, their relationship with Christ is in Spiritual Bankruptcy and sadly, they never even recognized the change. Recently I listened to a pastor who lives by this creed, “Not my will, O God, but your will be done.” This faithful prayer of daily surrender along with praying for strength and guidance several times a day, studying the Bible, and asking for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to reveal the unrighteousness in your character is the lifestyle we must embrace to prepare for eternal life.
Our Spiritual Assignment: God has called us to witness to those who are lost in sin. For us to witness, we must have an active relationship with Christ based on the power of the Holy Spirit, a life of much prayer, and knowledge of the Scriptures. Our testimony of Jesus Saves encourages others to accept Jesus as their personal Savior.
Preparing for eternity requires morning and evening worship which invites the presence of God into our hearts, minds, and souls.
Listening to sermons cannot replace the need for daily Bible Study. The lack of Scriptural knowledge makes us an easy target for Satan’s deceptions. “My people perish for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). The Bible is the greatest Book of all times! In Matthew chapter 24 and the book of Revelation, Jesus forewarns us of the prophetic signs of living in the last days and the end times right before His Second Coming.
2 Peter 3 Scoffers [Mockers]
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” —2 Peter 3:9
Sadly, many believers have Scoffer’s Mentality—not with spoken words, but our pursuits reveal that we lack the spiritual insight to recognize the signs of the last days. Spiritual bankruptcy is not easily recognized by the person—because we cannot judge our shortcomings. We are unaware of the decline in our relationship with Christ because we measure ourselves against self-made standards. In fact, we think that all is well with our soul and are prepared to receive our reward of Eternal life.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” —Jeremiah 17:9
“For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.” —Romans 7:15
Focusing on ourselves is a powerful distraction and is driven by our natural, carnal hearts. Not only do we have external battles from Satan’s fiery darts of spiritual warfare, but our minds are an internal battlefield. We do not have the power to overcome our sinful inclinations without praying for the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit.
How can we determine if we are in spiritual bankruptcy?
Reflect on your lifestyle. Where does God fit into your daily agenda? Is He first?
Our prayers reveal the status of our hearts. The daily prayer of surrender is one in which we commit to do God’s will.
Studying the Bible requires time and effort. Through prayer, we invite the Holy Spirit who gives us discernment of the Scriptures in our times of worship with God.
Love and faith in God are the catalysts for obedience. To obey God is a steadfast decision to actively follow the commandments and precepts of God.
Every believer has received a spiritual calling from God. We fulfill our calling by using our gifts and innate talents to glorify God by serving others.
Change is inevitable! Yet, not all change is negative. Spiritual change is necessary in our earthly journey with Christ.
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” —Revelation 22:12
From our willingness to have spiritual growth and transformation, the Holy Spirit uses our love for God, our faith, obedience, and His power to change us into the likeness of Christ. Our perception of God begins to change—we perceive Him as Righteous and Holy—and we pursue righteousness.
Yes, our desires change and we make choices that align with the will of God. Spiritual growth is demonstrated by a lifestyle of modesty and self-control which shows reverence and honor to the Holy God we esteem above all others. We glorify God through our kind demeanor, gentle spoken words, and godly actions.
The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom and discernment of God’s Truth as we seek knowledge from the Scriptures. One of the most exciting changes is when we can recognize the Holy Spirit speaking to us through our thoughts. To be close to God by abiding in Christ has its benefits and blessings.
To prevent spiritual bankruptcy, we desperately need help from the Holy Spirit to establish and maintain our relationship with Christ. Through our commitment and surrender, we will experience spiritual growth which exceeds all possible human projections. “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” —Jeremiah 32:27
Bible Study: 2 Peter 3
Prayer: God, we pray for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge that we cannot recognize the signs of spiritual decline. We pray for the strength to restructure our lives so that we can live righteously every day as we prepare for Jesus’ Coming. We love You. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Worshipping God Is a Lifestyle Devotional Reading September 5, 2023
Jesus Christ’s Omnipotence: O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” — Psalm 95:6
Our Identity in Christ: “Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.” —Psalm 100:3
We should love the Holy Scriptures because there is no guesswork or room for misinterpretation of Jesus’ status as our Lord and Maker and our status as His people who were created to worship God. Worshipping God is one of the most misunderstood concepts of Christianity. Our worship extends well beyond attending church services once or twice a week. Worshipping God is having a spiritual mindset and lifestyle of reverence, faith, and obedience to God, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Our duty to God: Every day, from the moment we awaken to the moment our eyes close in sleep, our thoughts, attitude, spoken words, and actions reveal our love for Christ. We can live Christ-centered lives because our hearts and minds are filled with an overwhelming love for God. And our most important goal is to remain obedient by staying in alignment with the will of God.
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth…” —John 14:15-17
Human effort is always required to stay connected to Christ. Yet, we cannot achieve righteousness without the intervention of the Holy Spirit who empowers us to live holy and acceptable lives. Still, God gives us the choice of asking for Divine Help. Our prayers express the desire for the Holy Spirit to be an active part of our lives.
Many years ago, I asked my best friend to go on a girl’s day out. Her response was, “Most likely, I will go with you, but I need to pray about it first.” Due to spiritual immaturity, I had no idea why she would need to pray about a social activity. And the expression on my face indicated my feelings. With a smile, she looked at me and said, “One day, you will understand.” My friend is resting in the grave until Jesus comes again, but she was right. As the years have passed, I finally understand my obligation as a believer—to stay in the will of God.
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” —1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Yes, the apostle Paul was speaking to the believers in the Church of Corinth, yet his message applies to every believer. Our surrender of accepting Christ as our personal Savior includes the spiritual transformation of our bodies and minds to being one with Christ. Still, the Holy Spirit can only dwell within us when we are faithful and obedient to God.
Evidence of God’s Unchanging Love: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” —Jeremiah 29:11
Our lives are not our own. The desire to stay in the perfect will of God reflects the status of our love for God. Pleasing God is our priority. As we reflect on the love, greatness, faithfulness, and goodness of God, we must believe the promise that God gave to the prophet Jeremiah when the Israelites were in captivity for 70 years.
God promised deliverance when Israel was in physical captivity and He promises us deliverance from the captivity of spiritual warfare that will continue throughout our earthly existence. Sadly, we also place ourselves in captivity. Without the willingness to surrender and dedicate our hearts, minds, and souls to love and obey God, we are enslaved by the desires of our carnal hearts.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it…” —Matthew 7:13-14
As we reflect on our works, we measure ourselves by our own standards. Praying, studying the Bible, and attending church are outward signs that we love God, yet praying for the Holy Spirit to reveal our character flaws is an act of surrender. Following Jesus requires absolute obedience to the will of God!
Although staying on the Chosen Path is not easy, each of us can pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s will and the Holy Spirit will empower us to do the will of God. The human effort of daily surrender and obedience is a pleasing sacrifice to God. When Jesus said that we must “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, and mind,” He identified the requisite to living a committed and holy life.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” —John 15:5
Who can save themselves? We need Divine Intervention every second of our lives! Our acknowledgment of the need for constant help and direction is revealed in the believer whose life is filled with prayer and gratitude. From our humility, we receive spiritual strength from the Holy Spirit who empowers us to stay on the Path of Righteousness.
“We love Him because He first loved us.” —1 John 4:19
Worship is a Lifestyle that easily flows from the heart that loves and reverences God. We do not need anyone to tell us to put God first, our love for God is reflected in our heart’s response to His love and faithfulness. A loving relationship with Christ is one of high maintenance which requires time and effort every day of our earthly lives.
Love and appreciation for God’s love, grace, mercies, and the gift of His only Son, Jesus is the driving force that gives us the willingness to reverence and worship God through faithful obedience. We make Christ the Center of our lives because He is the never-changing Spiritual Foundation we need to live victoriously!
As Christ’s followers, we strive to live by the example that He left for us. Giving honor and reverence to God’s Omnipotence is demonstrated through a mindset to always give Him glory through our worship. Our worship begins internally from a heart that is dedicated to loving God first and foremost. We know whether or not we are living obedient to the will of God or by the desires of our hearts. Every day our priorities and activities reflect the destiny we have chosen.
Our life on earth either prepares us for eternal life with Christ or we deny Christ by fulfilling our desires and living our best life now. Studying the Bible is not enough. Our highest worship of God is demonstrated by the daily sacrifice of obedience in which we deny our will and desires and make the commitment to live by the Will of God.
Loving Christ allows us to maintain a Spirit of worship within our minds. Yes, it is possible to stay in God’s Presence when we ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s will and commit to obey God. To receive Divine power and guidance, we must whisper prayers throughout our waking hours. Worship keeps us steadfast and gives us the ability to live as overcomers.
Scripture: “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’ “ —Revelation 14:6-7
Prayer: God, we ask for forgiveness for our disobedience and not seeking Your will. We also ask You to sanctify our minds, hearts, and characters. Lord, we give You the reverence, honor, and praise that You rightfully deserve. Give us the strength to be obedient, patient, gentle, and kind. We desire to represent You to others and to worship You eternally. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
Jesus Christ, The True Vine Devotional Reading September 4, 2023
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” —John 15:1-2
To understand Jesus’ parable, one must possess knowledge of the growth of grape vines and the process of vineyard management. “The trunk of a mature vine will have arms, short branches…usually trained horizontally along a trellis wire. It should be noted that most basal buds…are generally not fruitful and do not grow out. These are often referred to as non-count buds during the pruning process…only the fruiting spurs that produce grapes are kept on the vine.” https://grapes.extension.org/parts-of-the-grape-vine-shoots/
The pruning severity relies on several factors as determined by the vinedresser whose goal is to produce only the highest quality fruit. The branches [buds] that do not produce fruit are cut away because they serve no purpose.
Jesus is the true vine, God, the Father is the vinedresser, and converted believers are the branches. In this parable, Jesus defines the role of Himself, God, the Father, and Christian believers. Jesus also clarifies that all believers are dependent on Him to receive the spiritual nourishment necessary for spiritual growth and transformation.
God, the Father [The Vinedresser] prunes us to transform our mind, character, and personality into one of righteousness and also to produce the Fruit of the Spirit. “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you” (1 Peter 4:12).
Christian believers are the branches that receive pruning to produce the fruit of righteousness. Every day, we receive God’s grace and mercies, spiritual guidance from the Scriptures, continued hope from answered prayers, and revelation of our character deficits. The Holy Spirit empowers us to resist temptation and gives us discernment of the truth.
We will always require Divine Intervention to stay in our relationship with Christ. Without the Holy Spirit, we could never achieve God’s command to “Be holy, for I Am Holy.”
Sanctification is the lifelong spiritual process of our transformation into the likeness of Christ accomplished by the Holy Spirit. Yet, our part requires total surrender and faithful obedience. We are living in the last days of Earth’s history and must take a decisive stand of total commitment to receive the Seal of God before Jesus’ Second Coming.
“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.” — John 15:3
What did Jesus mean by “You are already clean?” “You have confessed your sins, and in your heart put them away. You have resolved to give yourself to God. Now go to Him, and ask that He will wash away your sins and give you a new heart.” Steps to Christ, Ellen G. White
Faith, Acceptance, Surrender, Confession, and Repentance is the human effort required to have salvation. Jesus, the Living Water washes away our sins and we live as steadfast followers of Christ who possess the determination to go all the way with Christ who is ready to give us our reward of eternal life [Revelation 22:12].
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” —John 15:4.
Many believers do not understand that we do not belong to ourselves once we accept Christ as our Savior. A Christian is a disciple, a follower of Christ who commits to doing the will of God. Our desires change, we do not follow our whims and inclinations, and our spoken words and actions reflect holiness.
To abide in Christ, we must have the mindset of faithful obedience and practice self-denial. Our willingness to surrender and obey is evidenced by much prayer and diligent study of the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit empowers us and gives us strength and guidance to stay in alignment with the will of God.
Jesus’ earthly life demonstrated His desire to always do His Father’s will. Jesus spent hours in prayer each day to faithfully abide in God, His Father. Christ’s Attitude was always, “Nevertheless, not My will, but Your will be done.” And our obedient Savior committed Himself to a heinous death on Calvary’s cross for our redemption— to save us from death, the wages of sin.
“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross” Philippians 2:7-8, KJV, BSB).
Our relationship with Christ is based on surrender, faith, and obedience. The sacrifice of total surrender and obedience that God requires of us is defined by God. Cain serves as an example that disobeying God and following your own thoughts can lead to rejection and removal from the Vine.
“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. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” —John 15:5-6
“The vine and the branches explain how believers are intimately connected to Christ, receiving moral and spiritual power through the Holy Spirit who makes Christ present within.” Katrina B. Blue, Andrews University
Every branch that bears fruit is a living representative of the vine, for it bears the same fruit as the vine…Every branch will show whether or not it has life; for where there is life, there is growth. There is a continual communication of the life-giving properties of the vine, and this is demonstrated by the fruit which the branches bear. Ellen G. White
Scripture: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” —John 15:7-8
Prayer: God, we are praying and asking You to save us from ourselves. We confess that we are half-heartedly serving You and for our disobedience, we ask for forgiveness. Lord, we desire to be thriving branches which bear much fruit. We ask for the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit to give us strength and direct us in our daily lives to do Your will and fulfill Your plans for our lives. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.
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