Devotional – Page 32 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Three Divine Powers Take Care of the Righteous

Today’s Devotional October 10, 2023

“What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?” —Psalm 8:4

Created in the image of God who considers us friends and has called us to be a royal priesthood should have us singing praises and praying prayers of gratitude every day. God’s Divine love transcends our expectations by involving all of heaven in our lives.

We have three Divine Powers whose attributes are Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnipresence. All-powerful, All-knowing, and spiritually present everywhere are the characteristics of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. In Psalm 91, David tells us that Jesus, the Commander of angel armies has appointed and commanded guardian angels to keep us safe—physically and from spiritual warfare.

The Omnipresence of the Divine Godhead: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” —Psalm 139:7-10

To clarify, all of heaven is involved in the lives of the righteous. Although God blesses the unjust, His conditional promises throughout the Bible are for the righteous believer. Who are the righteous?

Christ is the Spiritual Foundation of the righteous. We love Him and have dedicated our hearts, minds, and souls to our Lord and Savior. We seek Him through prayer and study the Scriptures because we desire an intimate relationship with Jesus, our First Love. Not only do we trust Him with our lives, we believe in every promise found in the Scriptures. Studying the Scriptures and becoming prayer warriors are engraved into our spiritual DNA.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” —Psalm 1:1-2

David tells us the righteous delight or they are joyful from obeying God’s laws and precepts. The righteous keep God’s commandments. The righteous have characteristics that the unrighteous do not possess—they are faithful, trusting, and obey God by surrendering and seeking the will of God every day.

Another notable difference between the righteous and the unrighteous is the righteous establish and maintain a total dependency on God. Yes, in prayer, we take all of our cares of daily living, the uncertainties of unexpected life events, and the fiery darts of spiritual warfare to God in prayer.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” —Psalm 51:10.

The righteous are constantly aware that we are sinners saved by grace and our righteousness is as filthy rags. Yet, we know that Christ covers us with His Righteousness. The righteous repent daily of their sins whether intentional, unintentional, known, or unknown. They pray, seek guidance from the Holy Spirit, and patiently wait on the Lord.

The righteous strive to live holy lives by avoiding all forms of sin and calling on God for help in times of temptation. Still, the righteous will fall, but we have the confidence that we can ask for forgiveness and depend on Christ, our High Priest to mediate and intercede for us.

“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

Christ is our True Mediator. He is our Spiritual Connection from earth to heaven. He covers us with His righteousness and presents us as faultless before the throne of God. Christ makes Intercession for us. Our penitent prayers are taken to Christ by the Holy Spirit. And for this, He deserves our love, loyalty, and commitment to shun all sin. Through Christ, our unrighteousness is washed away with His precious blood. Thank You, Jesus!

The righteous diligently seek God by praying and studying the Scriptures every day. The righteous always put God first. Still, the righteous understand they cannot live righteously without being covered by grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The righteous are Christ’s disciples who witness His love to others. They pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal opportunities to share their testimony of how Jesus reached out to them and saved their souls from sin.

“If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” —John 12:26

To dedicate one’s life to Christ can only happen when Christ is our First Love. It is a daily commitment that allows us to receive spiritual insight and strength from the Holy Spirit to stay on the Path of Righteousness. Through prayer and Bible study, we develop an intimate, ever-growing relationship with Jesus. We desire to be like Christ and fully cooperate with Divinity for our character to change [Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 4:32].

Not only does God honor us, but the Holy Spirit gives us discernment and protects us from false teachings, comforts us mentally and emotionally, and imparts the spiritual wisdom to stay out of harm’s way. We have angelic forces with the God-given power to protect us physically and to fight spiritual warfare which our human eyes cannot see. Although the righteous suffer devastating life events, we do not lose our minds or our hope in Christ. With tears, in humility and faith, we pray “God, help me.”

“He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” —1 Corinthians 1:8

Finally, we are preparing every day for that Great Day when Jesus comes. In Revelation 22:12, Jesus promises the righteous a reward of eternal life in a perfect, sinless New Heaven and New Earth where love is overflowing. Amen.

“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” —Proverbs 3:24

This scripture has a deeper spiritual meaning that goes beyond a peaceful night’s sleep. When we strive to live righteously, eventually, we may fall asleep in death, but we have no worries. From our faithful obedience to Christ in our earthly lives, on that glorious day when the first trumpet sounds, all of heaven will be involved when the dead in Christ rise first. Whether we are risen or alive, we will see King Jesus who is coming for the righteous!

Keep striving brothers and sisters, our struggle in this earthly life isn’t for nothing. Never forget, that the Divine Godhead, the Three Powers, God the Father, Jesus, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit along with heavenly angels are taking care of us. Amen! Hallelujah!

Prayer: God, we thank You for Your gift of Divine Intervention in our lives. We pray for strength, guidance, and protection from all evil. We love You. And we ask this prayer, in the Matchless Name of Jesus, Amen and Amen.

God Knows Who Loves Him

Today’s Devotional, October 9, 2023

“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

Loving God requires a loving heart overflowing with genuine faith and the desire to obey His will. In serving God, the believer prays the prayer of sacrificial surrender every day. We dedicate and consecrate ourselves to seek God and live according to His will.

“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” —1 Thessalonians 5:18

We love God by possessing a heart of gratitude for His love and mercies which we express throughout our waking hours by singing, praying, and studying the Scriptures. Our times of worship reflect our love. “O LORD, You are my God. I will exalt You. I will praise Your name, For You have done wonderful things. Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth” (Isaiah 25:1).

“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12

Our thoughts, behaviors, and actions reveal the motives of our hearts. Our lifestyle is concrete proof of who we love and worship. We can go through the motions of attending church and reading the Bible, but our attempts to use works as the way to be in the right standing with God are just feeble attempts to make us feel content.

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” —Hebrews 4:12

Born with carnal hearts, we naturally have sinful thoughts and desires that cause us to pursue self-gratification. Our Father knew that we could not govern ourselves nor control our desires without His help. Therefore, God gave us His Holy Scriptures—God-breathed commandments, precepts, and promises as the roadmap for our lives.

“I will send you the Helper from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me.” —John 15:26

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” —Romans 8:26

Not only do we have the Bible, but we were given the Holy Spirit to provide direction for our daily lives. Yes, the Holy Spirit reveals God’s purpose and plans for every believer. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the righteous hear the Voice of God through their thoughts and the Scriptures. Many ask, How do you know God is speaking to you through your thoughts? God’s Voice is always consistent with the Scriptures.

Read 1 Corinthians 13, Galatians 5:22-23, and Ephesians 4:32

The Holy Spirit also performs daily spiritual transformation [spiritual growth] and changes our hearts [our minds] and our character traits. Yet, as free will agents, we must give our permission and cooperate with Divinity to receive Sanctification which is a life-long spiritual journey.

In Philippians 1:6, we receive the promise that Jesus will complete the work in us which requires our full cooperation by striving to live holy and pursuing righteousness every day. Still, the promise states up until the day Jesus comes. Jesus will not transform our character or sinful habits on the day of His Coming. Every person has already made their decision to be faithful or not and will receive their just reward. Our destiny is in our hands!

Jesus, Our Loving Lord, Savior, and Intercessor

Romans 8:34 says that Jesus ‘is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” In 1 John 2:1 we read that Jesus is our “advocate with the Father,” and from Hebrews 7:25 we learn that Jesus “always lives to intercede” for us.

Jesus is our Heavenly Intercessor who receives our prayers and covers us with His righteousness, presenting us faultlessly before God. Our responsibility is to shun evil and pray without ceasing for the strength to live holy. As our Intercessor, Jesus also prays for us. When our hearts are receptive to the Holy Spirit, our response is one of faithful obedience. It is then that Divine intervention occurs and we receive Christ’s strength.

The Believer’s Life is One of Constant Battles

At the Last Supper, Jesus warned Simon Peter that a test of faith was coming: “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31, NKJV). The outspoken disciple seemed to be in the same predicament as Job when Satan sought to put him to the test (Job 1—2). Satan wanted to “sift Peter as wheat,” which means that he wished to shake Peter’s faith so forcefully that he would fall, proving that God’s faithful servant was lacking. gotquestions.org

Like Peter, our faith is weak. And Satan, our deadly enemy uses our desires and carnal weakness to develop deceitful temptations that we cannot resist without the Holy Spirit’s Divine Help. His evil angels observe our lifestyle and present strategic deceptions [personalized temptations] designed to make us fall.

Satan’s most effective method is to use people to make a believer fall. The lonely person meets someone who says, Lord, Lord, one who appears to serve God, but their behaviors and lifestyle reveal they have not surrendered to God. Ignoring the warning signs, the believer continues in the relationship and falls. By acting on their emotions, they begin walking on the path of compromise because their love for God is no longer a priority.

Just as we do not drive in the middle of the road, there is no middle ground of compromise in our relationship with Christ. Either we will surrender ourselves in humility and obedience to God and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us spiritually in preparation for Eternal life or we will lose our reward because we chose to live our best life on this earth.

To love God is to obey God. To love God is to pray every day and ask Him to reveal His will. To love God is to surrender and strive to stay in His will.

Scripture: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7

Prayer: God, we pray for the desire and the strength to give up every sinful habit and the individuals who will prevent us from receiving eternal life. We confess and repent that we have not surrendered and committed ourselves to faithfully obey You. Lord, we know the signs You gave to us in Matthew 24 are being fulfilled. And it is our fervent desire to receive our reward and live with Your forever and ever. In Jesus Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

The Gift of His Peace

Sabbath Devotional, October 7, 2023

Our spiritual relationship with Jesus remains strong through our unwavering faith. To receive peace requires trusting God with our lives. Either we have faith and trust in God or we place our belief in ourselves and others which results in separation from God.

How well do you know Jesus’ character and His promises? The Bible was written for believers. It is our Spiritual Guide. Without Scriptural knowledge, we cannot receive the peace that transcends all of the burdens and effects from life’s adversities and spiritual warfare. Nor can we enjoy the relationship with Jesus that He desires for us to have with Him.

(25) “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. (26) But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

(27) Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (28) You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I. John 14 :25-28

Prayer: Lord, we pray for an anointing and outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Like a mighty rushing wind, impart Your mercies and healing powers in our minds, bodies, and souls. Give us Your peace and make us whole. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Does Jesus Care?

Today’s Devotional — October 4, 2023

“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” —Ephesians 5:2

When I was in nursing school, our written exams consisted of multiple-choice questions with four answers. The purpose was to prove our knowledge of theory and develop critical thinking skills and astute judgment. Nurses are responsible for making decisions that not only impact the patient’s health but we must also use interventions to facilitate a favorable outcome.

Not only did we have to think right, we had to read the clinical question, eliminate the incorrect answers, and choose the right answer within two minutes per question. We learned the skill of remaining focused during many distractions.

Focusing on Distractions Produce the Failure to Perceive the Truth

Two of the answers were considered distractors and easily eliminated. But the remaining two were very similar with one exception, the right answer always represented the standard of care determined by the State Board of Nursing. Many of the students attempted to justify their wrong answers, but the correct answer always includes the rationale and is absolute—without exception.

When we think of the ability of the human mind to develop stringent standards for patient care, how much more should we reverence the love of our Great God and His infinite knowledge expressed through Jesus Christ?

” ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord.” (9) “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” —Isaiah 55:8-9

Question: Does Jesus care? Provide an answer based on personal experience that does not include money or tangible items.

The challenge for today’s Christians is they cannot give a spiritual rationale [testimony] for the question, “Does Jesus care?” How do we so easily forget the blessings that we receive daily?

Distracted by Our Desires

We cannot witness that Jesus cares for humanity based off of testimonies of financial gain. Sadly, many Christians have embraced the unbeliever’s mindset—we are placing our focus on the distractors in this world. Financial blessings are what we pray for. According to many Bible-believing pastors, the number one desire of most believers involves some form of financial prosperity.

Although God blesses us financially by giving us the provisions of daily living, we cannot provide the correct spiritual rationale to prove that Jesus cares for humanity based on the acquisition of money, houses, and vehicles.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” —John 3:16

The love story filled with care and compassion began before the world was created. It was God, the Father, and Jesus who had the Father and Son talk about His death that was required to save our souls. Redemption and the Plan of Salvation were not afterthoughts or a quick-fix plan after Adam and Eve sinned.

God’s love provided us with the gift of His Precious Son, Jesus. And Jesus said, “Yes, Father, I will die for them.” Does Jesus Care?

The Absolute Truth and Spiritual Rationale for Jesus’ care and compassion are proclaimed by His sacrifice and current role as our Heavenly Intercessor. Every word in the Holy Scriptures proclaims that Jesus cares! Yet, it is our relationship with Christ that provides the foundation for us to possess experiential knowledge of His love, care, and compassion.

Our personal testimonies of victory [which every believer should be able to share] are proof that we have a Loving Savior who cares.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” —Psalm 147:3

Testimony: This year I prayed for healing. Jesus healed me of an incurable and progressive heart condition that occurred secondary to having two years of uncontrolled asthma despite therapeutic intervention. When I gave the most recent cardiology report to my pulmonologist [lung specialist], in August, he read the report and did not make one comment. Does Jesus care? Yes!

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon him, for he cares for you.” –1 Peter 5:6-7

The humility that the Apostle Peter speaks of is revealed in our desire and prayer to surrender every day to the will of God. Yes, it is a tough commitment to surrender, but obedience results in blessings of benefits for the righteous.

Testimony: Jesus has not only given me the blessings of physical healing, but He also gave me new beginnings and healed my emotional hurt from a very painful divorce. Although I am unworthy, Christ continues to give me an overabundance of God’s grace and mercies. My focus has changed greatly since surrendering to God. I talk to Jesus throughout my waking hours because He cares!

The Apostle Paul frequently shared his story of the encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Our testimonies not only reveal our appreciation for a Loving Savior, but the Holy Spirit gives us strength and a deeper spiritual insight into the Character of Christ and our purpose.

Every believer’s purpose is to share testimonies that glorify God. We have a higher spiritual purpose—to share the love of Christ. From receiving the gifts of physical and emotional healing, I know that Jesus expects me to proclaim His love, care, and compassion to a world filled with hopelessness. Does Jesus care? Yes, I know that my Jesus cares!

Scripture: “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. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.” —Psalm 34:17-19

Prayer: Lord, we glorify and honor You. Thank You for Your abundant love, grace, and mercies. Thank You for caring about humanity and giving Your life for us. Jesus, we love You and ask this prayer in Your Holy Name, Amen.

Christ’s Divine Purpose for You

Today’s Devotional—October 2, 2023

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (19) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. —Matthew 28:18-20

Throughout my life, I have heard countless sermons on God’s divine purpose for the Christian believer—to witness Christ’s love, the plan of salvation, and our duty to help those in need. As decades have passed, the content of sermons has changed from Christ-focused to being people-focused.

Fewer churches have community outreach programs and only the members who have dedicated themselves to Christ are actively using their free time to help others. No longer do most pastors preach of our duty found in Matthew 28, verses 18-20 to go and make disciples [followers of Christ]. And when have you heard a sermon on the story of the paralytic and his four friends who dug through the roof to lower their friend so Jesus could heal him?

Christ’s Divine Gifts to Every Believer

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. —Ephesians 4:11-12, NIV

Christ created us with spiritual gifts to be used for works of service. Every believer is considered a disciple—a follower of Christ. Witnessing is our primary spiritual task. It is our love for Christ and steadfast faith that propels us to “Go” and tell others there is a Savior who loves them and died to redeem their sins.

Today’s disciples should not only witness Christ, but also care for others by alleviating their suffering, whether it be spiritual, mental, emotional, or physical pain. We always offer to pray and verbalize one of God’s Scriptural promises that provide hope, healing, and encouragement. Then we ask, “Is there anything that I can do for you?”

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” —James 1:27

Although we cannot meet every individual’s financial needs, we assist them by finding out which local churches and social service agencies can provide help. Giving of ourselves to others is our primary service to God. How important is our God-given mission of helping others? “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:12).

In Mark, chapter 2, the beautiful heartfelt story of the paralytic and his four friends represents our duty to God and humanity. “An unforgettable story about five men is recorded in the second chapter of Mark’s Gospel. One of them was hopelessly ill. The other four were his friends. These men had heard of Jesus, and they attempted to bring their friend to Him.” Walking Through the Bible Devotional

“And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.” —Mark 2:4

Homes at that time did not have roofs like your house or mine. The roofs were made with branches that were laid across the ceiling beams. The branches were packed with mud that dried in the sun. They were sturdy enough to walk on but could be dug through. Often, there were outside staircases leading up to the rooftops. Bible.org

The background of the story includes a large crowd of people who prevented his friends from passing through the crowd carrying the man on his pallet bed. Yet, they persevered by taking their friend to the roof [in Palestinian houses, the roofs were flat] and they removed the dried clay and lowered their friend to see Jesus.

Jesus’ Response

“When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you.'” (10) “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, (11) ‘I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’ (12) Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We never saw anything like this!'” —Mark 2:5, 10-12

Jesus’ priority was always spiritual. Throughout His earthly ministry, He reiterated the necessity to have faith in God. We cannot separate the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical components of our mind-body connection, therefore, without faith in God, we cannot connect to God.

With a loving heart, faith, and the commitment to put God first, we use our gifts to serve others. Helping the poor and spiritually oppressed removes the sinful character traits of selfishness and hardheartedness from our naturally carnal hearts, and exemplifies and honors Jesus as our Compassionate and Loving Savior.

Every Christian’s destiny relies on their willingness to obey God [not from a legalistic perspective of “I have to witness and help others”], no, we feel that it is a privilege and blessing to represent the love and compassion of Christ in our service to God and humanity.

Scripture: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace…” —1 Peter 4:10

Prayer: God, we pray for the body of believers who do not see the need to give of themselves in their service to You and those in need. We pray for the hardness of their hearts to melt and be transformed into the loving and compassionate likeness of Christ. We ask for the Holy Spirit to give strength to those who are tirelessly serving others and witnessing the love of Christ. In Jesus’ Loving Name, we pray. Amen.

“Good Morning” Two Words that Reflect a Grateful Heart

Devotional September 28, 2023

This morning, I walked to Dollar General to purchase a couple of items. Since there was only one other customer, the cashier started putting up sale signs throughout the store. After happily finding out the plant food [that my plants have been crying for] was 50% off, I placed it in my cart and began searching the aisles for the cashier as I was ready to check out.

While waiting at the register, another customer entered the store, and instead of looking straight ahead, she turned her head in my direction, smiled, and said a happy, “Good Morning.” As I smiled and returned a jubilant good morning greeting, I silently thanked God again for another day of new mercies. Although saying, good morning with a smile is not popular anymore, there is a spiritual side to saying, good morning—it reflects the condition of one’s heart.

Expressing good morning [with a smile] reveals two character traits, gratitude and caring about others. Hearts bursting with love, care, and compassion have the desire to encourage and give hope to others. Social interaction with familiar people is expected, but when an individual extends the interaction to strangers, they recognize that life is good, and share that belief through spoken words.

Yes, the greeting of good morning comes from a grateful heart. When we awaken and reflect on our blessings of life, we know that God is Love! Yet, many believers have ungrateful hearts which prevent them from saying the spoken words of good morning.

“Through the Lord’s mercies, we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. (23) They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. (24) ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!'” —Lamentations 3:22-24

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” —1 Thessalonians 5:18

Saying, “Good Morning, God” [with a smile] expresses gratitude to God for another day of life which we certainly are not promised, but often take for granted. The expression of Good Morning to others reveals and acknowledges God’s love, care, and compassion for humanity. And last but not least, saying, good morning is an effective outreach tool to witness the love of God within us to others.

With direct eye contact and a smile, we express good morning to everyone. Do not discriminate based on the person’s external appearance! Although we expect others to verbally respond to our greeting, they can respond in other ways. Whether they look at us and remain silent, or pretend they did not hear us, we are believers who are committed to our relationship with Christ, so we do not take a spirit of offense.

We will never know the impact of those two words on the person suffering in silence. If we strive to represent Christ and pray for others then the Holy Spirit will continue to remind them that hope still exists.

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” —Ephesians 4:32

The suffering of humanity has intensified within the past four years. Many individuals are so overwhelmed that drug and alcohol addiction along with suicide are prevalent throughout this world. Unhealthy relationships and marriages have become the standard. We are the beacons of light who are called to alleviate the burdens of others.

The kindness that we demonstrate represents Christ and reveals that His love is overflowing within our hearts. A tender, compassionate heart proclaims our understanding of the Agape love that God has for us and Christ has for His Church [the righteous]. In His earthly life, Christ strived to uplift the burdened soul and to give hope and healing to all who believed and desired His help.

As disciples of Christ, saying “Good Morning” is our duty to God and humanity.

Scripture: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” —John 13:34-35

Prayer: Good Morning God, we thank You for Your love and the mercies of a new day. As we witness the love of Christ through our smiles and expressions of good morning, we ask You to provide peace and comfort to those who are despondent. Lord, help us to prioritize our spiritual calling to minister to others by seizing the opportunity to say Good Morning, God loves you. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Honor God by Waiting on His Timing

Honor God by Waiting on His Timing Devotional September 26, 2023

“Still I am certain to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!” —Psalm 27:13-14

Waiting is one of the most difficult things in life. Yet, to be obedient, we must wait on God. Every day we choose to honor God through surrender and obedience. To live a strong life in Christ, we pray for God to reveal His will and plans. God’s ultimate goal is to give us eternal life. And none of us are ready to receive the reward, so in His loving mercy, God is waiting on us—He is waiting for us to embrace the spiritual journey of Sanctification—the transformation of our character into the likeness of Christ.

God’s Timing: “The smallest family will become a thousand people, and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. At the right time, I, the LORD, will make it happen.” —Isaiah 60:22

The last part of Isaiah 60:22, “At the right time, I, the LORD, will make it happen.” is trending on social media as God’s promise to fulfill our dreams and goals in His timing. But as I listened to the reel, something did not feel right. God never promised to give us the things we desire unless they are perfectly aligned with His will and plans for us. So, I researched to find out the spiritual meaning of this verse.

David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical. The following is an excerpt from his article, The Lord Will Hasten the Day (Isaiah 60:22). The link to his article is included in this post.

Now, that verse is only rightly understood when you realize all that’s come before it, and 21 verses before that, because basically, what God, through Isaiah, gives his people is prophecy, a picture of their restoration. After exile, after experiencing the consequences of sin, he’s saying, “I’m going to bring you back to your land. You’re going to dwell in peace,” but it’s a picture not just of what was going to happen in Old Testament history. radical.net

It broadens to a picture of what God is going to do in ultimate history when he brings his people to himself for among all the nations to worship, and there’s peace and righteousness that reigns on the Earth. This is talking, ultimately, about a new Heaven and a new Earth, where God will dwell with his people in perfect harmony. radical.net

“I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” —Luke 18:8

Reflection: Are spiritual transformation and eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth our priorities?

“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 3:9-11

“But God isn’t subject to time. Because he created time, he operates outside of time…He uses time to test your faith and to build your character. While you’re working on your goal, God is working on you. And God’s much more interested in you than in what you’re trying to accomplish because you’re not taking your accomplishments to heaven. You’re only taking your character.” pastor rick

Truthfully, we rarely focus on our spiritual status. We assume that we are in the right standing with God. But John Bradshaw, President of It Is Written stated, “The biggest deception among today’s Christians is that we think we are ready to receive eternal life.”

“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

Human effort is always required to receive God’s Divine Intervention and His blessings. Faith, humility, surrender, and obedience are the bundle of character traits that God requires for us to receive eternal life. We cannot change ourselves or possess these righteous traits without the Holy Spirit. We have a tough decision to make—pray and ask God to search our hearts and reveal all unrighteousness or continue to live according to our earthly agendas.

Honoring God requires the sacrifice of giving God our all. We pray daily for His will to be done. And we change our desires to align with His plan to change us into the likeness of Christ. Honor God by praying, obeying, and waiting on His timing.

Scripture: “The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” —Zephaniah 3:17

Prayer: God, we confess that we are living to satisfy our desires. And for this sin against You, we ask for forgiveness. We ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and fill us with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Because we love You, we will honor You by living obediently, righteously, and according to Your timing. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Link: https://radical.net/podcasts/pray-the-word/the-lord-will-hasten-the-day-isaiah-6022

Who Will Pray for You?

Who Will Pray for You? Devotional September 24, 2023

Yes, Jesus witnessed to everyone, and He ate with the sinners, but His purpose was to reveal the love and glory of God and the plan of Salvation.

What is the status of your relationships? Hanging out with people who have not surrendered their hearts to Jesus changes you! We need friends who can give us spiritual support and pray for us and with us. Reflect on your relationships, Who can you ask to pray for you and with you?

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but He who does the will of my Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

The Most Effective and Powerful Prayer: “God, Help Me!”

Sabbath Devotional, September 23, 2023

“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

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.