Devotional – Page 35 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Confidence in Human Wisdom?

Confidence in Human Wisdom? Devotional Reading August 16, 2023

The best advice that I ever read on patient care was from a Christian nurse who recommended all nurses pray for Divine wisdom and guidance at the onset of our day. A patient’s condition can change in a blink of an eye. Yes, nurses are highly trained in the assessment process, and critical thinking, and possess shrewd judgment, but theoretical knowledge and human wisdom are finite. With humility, we can never totally rely on our thought processes because there is always room for error when only using human wisdom.

“For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding…”—Proverbs 2:6

Many of us are familiar with the story of Gideon and the 300 men who won the war against the Midianites, yet the seemingly small details in this story [which many sermons exclude] provide us with insight into God’s Divine wisdom.

The Midianites Oppress Israel

The Acts of Disobedience: “Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years…” —Judges 6:1

The Consequences of Disobedience: “For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, coming in as numerous as locusts; both they and their camels were without number, and they would enter the land to destroy it. So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.” —Judges 6:5-6

Evidence of God’s Love and Mercies: “…when the children of Israel cried out to the Lord because of the Midianites, that the Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you and drove them out before you and gave you their land.” —Judges 6:7-9

God’s Reminder of the Israelite’s Commitment to Him: “Also I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But you have not obeyed My voice.’ ” —Judges 6:10

Despite Israel’s wilful disobedience, God did not forsake the people He loved with everlasting love.

Gideon, a Man of Valor: “Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, ‘The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!’ ” —Judges 6:11-12

As the story unfolds, we will focus on a detail about God choosing the 300 men mentioned in Judges chapter 7.

God’s Divine Wisdom of Identifying Gideon’s Valiant Three Hundred

“But the Lord said to Gideon, ‘The people are still too many; bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there… and of whomever I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you, the same shall not go.’ “So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, ‘Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.’ ” Verses 4-5

“And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people got down on their knees to drink water.” “Then the Lord said to Gideon, ‘By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place.’ ” —Verses 6-7

The Situation that Human Wisdom Could Never Resolve

“Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.” —Judges 7:12

We know the end of the story, God brought victory to the Israelites.

Reflection: Where do we stand in our decision-making process of routine duties and unexpected life events? Do we pray every day for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and the gift of godly wisdom?

” ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. 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

At one point, all of us are guilty of not including God in our daily decisions and resolutions. Two aspects that we fail to realize, God pays attention to the smallest details that we overlook in our eagerness for self-reliance, and human wisdom can wishfully predict but can never guarantee the outcome of our decisions.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” —James 1:5, NIV

Our commitment to following Jesus changes our role from one of independence to one of Christ’s disciples who commit to surrender and follow God’s will, and obey His plans for our lives. Without praying for Divine guidance, we demonstrate a spirit of self-reliance and wilful disobedience to God.

Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. —Isaiah 55:6-7

Because of human wisdom [using our thought processes] we may not consider ourselves wicked or unrighteous. But when deeply reflecting on the definition of sin—transgression against God, not praying for godly wisdom places us in the same category of unbelievers who trust and rely on themselves.

God expects us to use the gift of our sound mind. Praying, studying the Bible, attending church, giving our tithes and offerings, striving for righteousness, loving God and others, extending kindness, and self-care activities such as eating a healthy diet, maintaining our physical safety, and being good stewards of our financial resources are behaviors and habits that every believer should possess.

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” —James 3:17, ESV

Yet most of the time we also need help in those areas of daily living. Every decision that could impact your life with possible consequences, changing careers or jobs, health challenges, major purchases resulting in debt accumulation, all relationships, and marriage, selecting a Bible-based church or school for your children, and identifying people, places, and habits that would impact and change your relationship with Christ, must be brought to God in prayer.

One area in which we must always seek godly wisdom and direction is the use of our spiritual gifts. We may identify our gifts and talents, but cannot guess how and where God desires us to use them.

With humility, we serve Christ and recognize that our human wisdom is not only influenced by external factors, we cannot value or place our thoughts above God’s Omniscience and Divine wisdom which always brings us hope and an expected end. Imagine your life always being aligned with the will of God, never dealing with the mistakes or consequences of self-reliance.

Scripture: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes…” —Proverbs 3:5-7

Prayer: Lord, we pray for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge that we need spiritual guidance and Your Divine wisdom in every aspect of our lives. We ask for forgiveness of a spirit of self-reliance. Hear our prayer, O Lord that we ask in Jesus’ Holy name, Amen.

Fiction and Fantasy—The Twins of Spiritual Warfare

Fiction and Fantasy—The Twins of Spiritual Warfare Devotional Reading, August 14, 2023

Do not fixate on your desires! When developing new plans, present them to God in prayer, wait for His blessing of approval, and then move forward. S. Johnson

Throughout my life, I have always loved being on the road. I became a Road Warrior in my early twenties. Reflecting on my years of traveling extensively throughout the United States, still brings joy and excitement to my heart. Driving was something that I had to do, and yes, my life was filled with happiness from the new experiences. But two unexpected life events [a mid-life divorce and a physical disability] changed the direction of my life. And my presenting circumstances forced me to become a virtual world traveler.

Yet, I refused to accept the fact that I had to see the world through someone else’s eyes. Every day I would spend a lot of time remembering my former life and verbalizing my desire to travel again. Every day the wheels of my mind kept spinning to develop a plan to resume life on the road. Being dissatisfied with my present life affected my mental and emotional health, I developed insomnia and a dark cloud of discouragement permeated my mind.

Still, I am not one to easily give up. So I asked myself, What changes could I make to resume my former lifestyle of traveling?

One day while I was looking through my YouTube feed, I saw the solution to restart my passion for traveling, Van Life. I did six months of extensive research and decided this option would work. All of my discouragement quickly dissipated as I developed a comprehensive plan for living a minimalist lifestyle in a van.

I was well-organized with my habit of searching for van life videos at night and saving them to Watch Later. The next morning, after quick worship, I watched a few videos on the downside of van life as a single woman. Unless you become part of a van-life community, the instability of searching for the best places to park and live from day to day is a stressor. Unpredictable weather, the unexpected expenses of vehicle maintenance, food planning, and most importantly, staying on high alert for remaining safe were among the top challenges of van life.

Still, I was not intimidated. From my travel experiences, I was confident and quite proud of my strategic plans to enjoy freedom from paying rent. Yes, I could live on the road and travel again in my well-designed, minimalist, stealth van.

“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” —Jeremiah 10:23, NIV

But our loving God intervened! The next two videos were made by single, professional, female van-life communities which brought my fantasy of van life to a halt! Many voiced their personal beliefs of worshiping nature, transcendental meditation, drinking wine, and smoking marijuana along with varied philosophies, morals, and values which brought me to the reality that I would be an isolated van-lifer because of my Christianity.

Reflection: What plans have you made for yourself that exclude the blessing of God’s approval?

Believers are no exception to planning their lives without God’s divine intervention. We pursue careers, financial stability, start businesses, relocate, purchase homes and vehicles, become involved in relationships and marriages with people who have not surrendered to God, and develop retirement plans without praying and waiting for God to reveal His plans for our lives.

“Fiction explores what is possible but not true, while fantasy explores what is impossible.” Adazing website

From our desires, we create a fictional life, which drives us to develop impossible plans [fantasy] for us to fulfill. Yes, we can strategize and develop plans down to the smallest detail, but the fixation on our desires causes us to forget one crucial element—the unknown and unstable future. Whether or not we have taken into consideration that life will always bring unexpected changes, we do not view those changes as beyond our control.

We are confident with our projected outcomes based on human wisdom. Sadly, our thoughts have taken us beyond our human capabilities. We imagine that our future is in our hands, but the unknown future belongs to God. Only the Omniscient God can provide a perfect and expected end for us.

When our desires exclude God, we invite spiritual warfare into our lives. Moving forward with our self-made plans provides the perfect opportunity for Satan to help us in bringing those plans to fruition. No, he cannot read our minds, but his evil angels observe our behaviors and present to us the things which appear to be a blessing. Because we are fixated on our fictional plans which we do not see as impossible [fantasy], we never consider that failure or suffering from unforeseen consequences of moving ahead without God is a possibility.

“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” —Romans 7:18-20, ESV

Yes, for as long as we live on this earth, as Christians, we will remain in the battle of good versus evil. Satan knows that we fight every day to overcome temptations and sin against God. For protection against the warfare of succumbing to our desires, we must pray a prayer of surrender every day.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” —Jeremiah 29:11

God promises to give us hope and a perfect end when our plans are in alignment with His plans for our lives. Surrender, trust, and obedience are the spiritual character traits we must possess to be in the right standing with God. Our loyalty and dedication to God are only possible if we love God more than our heart’s desires and are committed to doing His will by obeying and following His plans.

How can we keep our minds from developing fictional plans based on the illusions of fantasy? Ask yourself, do my plans honor and glorify God?

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” —Philippians 4:8

Pray in faith and learn to listen for the Holy Spirit speaking to you through your thoughts which are always in alignment with the Scriptures. God has given us the ability to dream, yet, our dreams must align with the reality of His plans. God is the only one that can order our steps and give us a victorious outcome based on His promises and His power!

Weekly Scripture Reading: The Life of Joseph, Genesis chapters 37-50

Prayer: God, we pray for protection from our wayward thoughts and plans. We ask You to block every aspect of the spiritual warfare of delusion from our lives. Lord, we surrender ourselves to You and commit to pray and wait for Your plans to be revealed in our lives. In Jesus’ Worthy name, we pray, Amen.

Develop a Spirit of Gratitude

Develop a Spirit of Gratitude Devotional Reading August 13, 2023

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” —Psalm 136:1

This morning, I watched a Christian program on “Counting Our Blessings.” The speaker mentioned the Fruit of the Spirit and said, “I have always wondered why gratitude was not a fruit mentioned by the Apostle Paul.”

I begin to reflect on the meaning of gratitude—to possess a spirit of thankfulness. Because Jesus created us as free moral agents, the Holy Spirit cannot place gratitude in our hearts. Gratitude is a response that is only found in a heart overflowing with love for Christ.

Praise and gratitude are more than saying, thank you. Gratitude is an expression of worship. A spirit of gratitude enables us to praise God with words of thanksgiving in turbulent times as well as peaceful times.

A believer who expresses gratitude to God for all their blessings reveals a heart filled with love and appreciation for Christ, whereas a believer who only prays and is thankful for material possessions reveals a greater love for themselves.

“For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.” —1 John 2:16, NLT

Sadly many of us have embraced the worldview of pursuing one’s desires which displaces our love from Christ to tangible things. Taking the time to reflect on your desires, pursuits, and possessions reveals the status of your heart and relationship with Christ. Self-love not only prevents us from having a spirit of gratitude, we cannot experience spiritual growth and transformation.

Reflection: What am I praying for? Change your prayers from asking God to thanking God.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” —Matthew 6:19-21

Many Christians are unaware of the spiritual status of their hearts because they attend church and give tithe and offerings. They believe that their love for Christ is shown through the actions they take. Yet, Christ says, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Obedience requires total surrender! Christ must be our First love. And we make God a priority in every aspect of our lives.

Jesus’ Spoken Words: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

“Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.” —Romans 13:14

We only have one opportunity to develop and cultivate a heart filled with love and gratitude and that is in our earthly lives. When Jesus returns, the character traits and behaviors we exhibited in our daily lives will remain as they are. Therefore, we must persevere to cultivate a loving heart filled with gratitude that is expressed through our spoken words in prayer.

We can change! Loving God is evidenced by putting Him first. We have enough stuff. The perilous times described by the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 3 are now. Still, it is a personal decision to redirect our focus on Christ by making Him our First Love.

Our Loving Savior deserves our surrender and commitment to bless His Holy Name throughout the day. And that level of praise can only come from a heart overflowing with love and gratitude for the One who gave His life for humanity.

Thought for Today: Cultivate a spirit of gratitude and you will begin to see life through spiritual eyes.

Prayer: Lord, we praise and bless Your Holy Name. We ask for forgiveness for loving ourselves before You. Our focus has shifted to things instead of gratitude for Your love, grace, and mercies. Jesus, thank You for every provision and the mercies of blessing us with many of our desires. Lord, we love and thank You for reminding us that our characters must change if we desire eternal life. We ask this prayer in Your Holy Name, Amen.

Guidance From the Spirit of Truth—The Holy Spirit

Guidance From the Spirit of Truth—The Holy Spirit Devotional Reading August 11, 2023

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” —Ephesians 2:8-9

The word of the hymns “I Surrender All” and “Have Thine Own Way” indicate the writers understood our part in the plan of Salvation and the conditions of our relationship with Christ. To serve Christ requires a spirit of humility and a prayer of daily commitment. The love in our hearts acts as a catalyst to faithfully follow Jesus through surrender and obedience.

Yet, we need Divine Help in our daily spiritual journey of Sanctification—living holy and righteously and experiencing spiritual growth and transformation of our character into the Character of Christ.

“I will send you the Helper from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth [the Holy Spirit] who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me. And you will tell people about me too, because you have been with me from the beginning.” —John 15:26-27

Like Jesus’ disciples who struggled greatly in their journey of spiritual transformation, our Savior knew that all future believers would need Divine Intervention to remain faithful disciples. His promise to send the Holy Spirit was evidenced after His ascension on the Day of Pentecost. Study Acts chapter 2.

Jesus identified the Holy Spirit using the pronoun “He.” The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Triune Godhead—God, the Father, Jesus, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit. Sadly, there is a disconnect in our belief that the Holy Spirit is necessary for our spiritual journey. If Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help His disciples who were physically with Him then we definitely need the Spirit of Truth to continue on the Path of Righteousness in our earthly experience.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. 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

Because we tend to minimize or discard truth that is beyond our understanding—the power of the Holy Spirit is a mystery—we find it easier to exclude the presence and power of the Holy Spirit from our lives. Still, we must have the Divine power of the Holy Spirit to maintain our relationship with Christ, to discern truth from error, and to gain an in-depth understanding of the Scriptures.

The Holy Spirit reminds us of the Divine precepts on how to live righteously and warns us of the deceptions and temptations of spiritual warfare. We are no match for the evil schemes of Satan our enemy. The Holy Spirit is also our Protector.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” —Proverbs 3:5-6

We must acknowledge our human disadvantage of being born into sin, shaped by iniquity, and possessing a carnal heart. Our thoughts are influenced by our childhood experiences, friends, family, worldviews, politics, social media, and denominational doctrines. Without the Holy Spirit, we will never comprehend God’s Agape Love or the plan of Salvation—it is through our faith we are saved by God’s grace.

We can read and memorize chapters of the Bible, but without using our faith to pray and invite the Holy Spirit into our life, we will never experience spiritual transformation. Some atheists read the Bible for knowledge or appreciate its documentation of ancient times, but they do not have faith in its teachings. Without faith, the Holy Spirit cannot give us spiritual wisdom, understanding of Salvation, God’s Sovereignty, the impact of sin, and how to live righteously.

When we fail to pray in faith for the power of the Holy Spirit, we are in the same predicament as atheists. We read the Bible, apply our human understanding, and become discouraged because we feel that God is distant. In the Bible, oil represents the Holy Spirit. It is the oil of the Holy Spirit that fills the emptiness of our spiritual vessel.

We would be hopelessly lost without the Spirit of Truth who takes our seed of faith and expands our knowledge and wisdom of the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit is our Teacher who imparts us with a deeper knowledge and understanding of the Bible. As we gain discernment and wisdom of Biblical truths, our relationship with Christ grows, and we begin to perceive life through spiritual eyes.

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” —Matthew 21:22

How does one receive the presence and power of the Holy Spirit? Daily, we pray in faith and ask for the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in our lives.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” —1 Corinthians 6:19

Jesus created us as vessels to have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Imagine a clean bottle that you fill with oil. To be filled with the Holy Spirit requires that our mind and body be a clean vessel. We demonstrate our love for God through faith and obedience.

What does total surrender look like? “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15, ESV. “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance…” —1 Peter 1:14, ESV

Our decision to shun evil by choosing not to willfully sin is strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Some temptations are so powerful, we need to cry out loud for Divine Help to overcome them. Yes, we need the power of the Holy Spirit!

David’s prayer, “Create in me, a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10) provides us the model prayer demonstrating faith, humility, repentance, and surrender.

To be empowered with righteous attributes, our hearts must possess love and loyalty to God.

First, we must love God more than we love ourselves or anyone else. And we must possess the desire to live holy. We strive for righteousness through our faith in Christ Jesus. Without the intentional desire to live holy, we do not see the need to surrender or obey God. The human attributes of surrender, faith, and obedience are a freewill choice and reveal our love and mindset toward Christ.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” —Jeremiah 29:11

Another role of the Holy Spirit: “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

With so many voices speaking their version of God’s truth, How do I know the Holy Spirit is speaking to me? Develop the habit of a consistent prayer life. Pray several times a day. It is not the length of our prayers that move God. Prayer is a two-way conversation. Include time for meditation and you will begin to recognize that your spiritual thoughts are from the Holy Spirit speaking to you.

A word of caution, do not manipulate the message. God never goes against His Holy Word found in the Bible. If you are praying for a material possession or a romantic relationship, wait on the Lord! The Holy Spirit does not always answer immediately. We know it is of God when supernatural miracles begin to happen and the request is brought to fruition.

In faith, we pray and ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We pray with confidence because we can rely on the promises of God. God’s promises are steadfast and demonstrate the declaration of His Character—I change not!

“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

On Wednesday night, I prayed for spiritual guidance regarding a complex situation. At 3:30 am, Thursday morning when I awakened, in my thoughts, the Holy Spirit gave me the steps that I needed to take for complete resolution.

The Holy Spirit speaks to us through our thoughts and the Scriptures [Study the Bible]. The answers we receive represent Divine completion and provide Divine resolution. Not only do we receive answers, but the Holy Spirit is also our Comforter who ministers to our minds and souls by giving us peace and contentment.

When we receive direction from the Holy Spirit, there is no guesswork or confusion. The Holy Spirit knows our level of spiritual understanding and meets us exactly where we are in our spiritual journey. We can always count on the Spirit of Truth to give us clear and concise answers that provide clarity. And because God is a God of Completion, He does everything to glorify His Holy Name.

We claim the blessing of the Holy Spirit through our faith. In prayer, we surrender ourselves every day to be guided and controlled by the Divine power of the Holy Spirit. In humility, we wait for spiritual guidance and intervention. From our obedience and long-suffering, we receive a double blessing. Not only do we receive resolution, but we also receive spiritual empowerment. When we are faithful, we can tell others by sharing our praise testimony of God’s faithfulness and our victorious outcome.

“And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear [reverence] the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul…” —Deuteronomy 10:12

Without a total heart and soul love for God, we will never reverence Him or accept His Righteous Precepts and Righteous Standards. Obedience is our highest form of worship. Active faith is demonstrated by surrender and obedience. God knows the true condition of our hearts, either we love Him or we do not. There is no middle ground!

Remember, we were not created to stand alone. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to overcome the temptations of spiritual warfare. Not only do we have carnal hearts, but the worldviews that conflict with the word of God have caused us to compromise and accept watered-down versions of God’s Truth. We cannot save ourselves! Nor can we resolve the conflicts and challenges that leave us without answers. Do we need the Holy Spirit? Every second of our lives!

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.” —Acts 2:1-2

Even though everyone in the place witnessed the anointing of the Holy Spirit, some doubters accused the apostles of being drunk with new wine. Study Acts chapter 2. Without faith, we reject the Holy Spirit and all evidence of His power.

The Holy Spirit enables us to view life through spiritual eyes. It is not climate change that is impacting our earth. We are living in the last days. The perilous times that the Apostle Paul wrote about in 2 Timothy 3 describe our present earthly conditions. Jesus is coming soon! The Holy Spirit empowers us to live righteously on this planet earth that is plagued with increasing sinfulness.

God is Holy! The Bible is our Spiritual Mirror. The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual discernment of the Scriptures and continuous guidance to overcome life’s challenges. Yet, we must choose to receive spiritual empowerment. We can never pray enough! When we pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes by taking our prayers and presenting them to Christ, our Intercessor.

“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” —Matthew 6:6

Worship is asking and inviting the presence of God into our life. Every prayer that we utter should reflect our willingness to surrender. Asking for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit is a prayer that is answered immediately. Separate yourself and meditate while worshiping God. Changing our mindset to accept that the Holy Spirit is not an option empowers us to prepare for eternal life.

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

Is it possible to live a godly life, stay on the narrow Path of Righteousness, and receive our reward of eternal life without the Divine power of the Holy Spirit? The answer is No.

Prayer: God, we desperately need the Holy Spirit in every aspect of our daily lives. We pray for the forgiveness of our sins, especially our wilful disobedience. Give us a clean heart and teach us how to hear Your Voice. Lord, we pray for wisdom, discernment, and guidance from the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Adversity Gets Our Attention

Adversity Gets Our Attention Devotional Reading August 10, 2023

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

The thought of not taking the time to build our relationship with Christ should provoke remorse and immediate corrective action, but sadly it doesn’t. We love our earthly lives. Most of our time is used to pursue our goals and dreams and then exhausted, we choose screen time to wind down and relax.

“Be still and know that I am God…” —Psalm 46:10

Our perception of the meaning of “Be still and know that I am God…” does not coincide with God’s definition of taking the time every day to pause, cease our tasks, reflect, and worship Him.

Psalm 46:10 is a popular verse for comforting ourselves and others—many people tend to think this verse means to rest or relax in who God is. This verse does encourage believers to reflect on who God is, but there is more to this psalm than one verse—and verse 10 is actually more of a wake-up call to be in awe than a gentle call to rest. Taking time out of our day to meditate on Scripture and be silent with listening ears toward God is mentioned in other sections of Scripture (Psalm 119:15, Joshua 1:8, Luke 5:16, and others). Crosswalk.com

We are living in Perilous Times. With the combination of the continuous and deliberate distractions of spiritual warfare and our earthly pursuits, we love God but do not have the time to pray and study the Scriptures. Because God loves us and desires that none perish, He uses adversity as a means of redirection. And most of the time, it takes adversity to bring our busyness to a halt.

Yes, adversity redirects our focus to God. Still, our response to adversity indicates whether or not we will draw closer to Christ. Discouragement and sorrow are normal reactions, but we should not allow ourselves to progress to feelings of anger, bitterness, and despair.

Turn to God in adversity. Pray for strength and guidance, study the Bible, and rededicate your life to Christ. It is not a time to try to bargain or negotiate with God. It is a time to grow closer to Christ.

“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

Always remember, Jesus’ goal is to save our souls!

Prayer: God, we thank You for redirecting our focus to You. We admit that we have not put You first in our lives. Thank You for loving us. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Trust in the Lord, He is Our Helper

Jesus is Our Only Hope!

Living with peace and joy is only possible when we surrender ourselves to Christ. If you decide to place your life in His hands when all is well then you will faithfully trust Him in the situations that are humanly impossible to resolve.

Prayer of Gratitude: Jesus, You Are the only answer. We thank You for Your overwhelming love, grace, and mercies. Amen.

Jesus—God, Our Creator

Jesus—God, Our Creator Devotional Reading August 8, 2023

This afternoon, as I walked to the mailbox, I looked intently at the various plant life. The trees with massive trunks supporting countless leafy branches and the lush St. Augustine grass covering the ground are evidence of the love that Jesus has for humanity. Despite the sharp decline of the quality of life on the planet Earth, through nature, we can observe the detail and care that Christ put into every blade of grass, flower, and leafy tree.

“Then God said, let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth, and it was so. And the Earth brought forth grass the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the third day.” —Genesis 1:11-13

Although we fail to proclaim praises of gratitude to Christ, our Creator, and Master Artist for the awesome blessing of nature, the birds never fail to sing their praises. We were created to spend time relaxing and resting in natural environments. Sadly, we have traded spending time outside for a sedentary lifestyle of devoting hours to screen time. Many mental and emotional diagnoses can be alleviated by spending an hour or two in nature every day.

“Jesus said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile’ ” (Mark 6:31). This is a wonderful example of Jesus’ care, compassion, and wisdom. Relaxing in nature is the perfect time to meditate, pray, and study the Bible. Even on a hot, summer day, while sitting under a massive shade tree, God will send a gentle cooling breeze to say, “My son or daughter, I love you.”

When your challenges are overwhelming, and your faith is weak, take a nature break. Open the door, and go outside! If you reside in a city, filled with concrete and glass structures, consider driving or using public transportation to visit a park. Turn your cell phone ringer off. It’s nice to own a comfortable, collapsible outdoor chair to take with you for your Daycation. And don’t forget to take a couple of bottles of water, a travel-size Bible, and a Devotional book.

Plan to spend at least two hours wherever you decide to go. Pay attention to the various plant life and remind yourself that Jesus created this for you to enjoy. Meditating on the goodness of God [in nature] is healing to the mind, body, and soul. Close your eyes for a few minutes and take a couple of deep breaths. Thank Jesus for His love and the beauty of nature. Let your time of worship include prayer and a real-talk, conversation with the Creator God.

“We’re meant to live a substantial portion of our lives outdoors—and it’s a unique place to experience our Creator and restore our spirits. The Bible says that nature speaks to us of God’s character and His attributes. Spending time in nature gives us a chance to slow down…” Fullfocus.com

Prayer: God, we thank You for creating the beauty of nature. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Lion, The Lamb, and the Sheep Devotional Reading

The Lion, The Lamb, and the Sheep Sabbath Devotional Reading, August 4, 2023

The lion has been dubbed the King of the Beasts. The roar of a mature male lion can travel up to five miles, showcasing its powerful presence and traits of pride, fearlessness, aggression, and self-reliance. The King walks as if he owns the entire savannah and he follows no one.

In watching animal documentaries on lions, I noticed lions only fear one animal [the elephant], and that is because of the grave danger that the elephant poses to their physical safety. The majority of lions are in a family [known as a pride] consisting of two to three generations. Yet, it’s not uncommon to spot solitary lions on the savannah, but their survival is a constant battle, and usually end up succumbing to starvation.

In the Bible, symbolically the lion represents Jesus, the Lion of Judah [Revelation 5]. The Apostle Peter says that the devil prowls like a roaring lion and the prophet Isaiah tells us the the lion and no ravenous beast which represent the wicked will be on the Highway of Holiness [Isaiah chapter 35].

“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, NIV

Many of us are familiar with the Apostle Peter’s metaphor and warning regarding Satan as a roaring lion seeking to destroy every believer’s faith and obedience to God. Yet, many are unaware of the spiritual meaning and how to apply this warning to their lives. The decision to follow Christ causes Satan to hate us. Yes, our arch-enemy’s goal is to separate every believer from God by any means necessary!

Satan—The Roaring Lion

“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.” —Ephesians 6:12

We cannot pretend that Satan does not exist. Every believer must acknowledge that Satan is on this earth, that he is a fallen angel, and that he possesses power. Although most Christians do not engage in pagan practices, we invite sin into our lives through our participation in worldly activities.

Our compromise of accepting worldviews has desensitized us to the danger of sin. Looking at ourselves is like seeing our reflection in a mirror. We only see the outside, we need the Bible, God’s spiritual mirror to reveal the condition of our hearts.

“To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. ” —Titus 1:15

One of Satan’s most effective strategies is to devour us through his schemes of temptation. All of our temptations are custom-made, the sins we succumb to reveal the desires of our hearts. Like the lion who is hidden in the grass, patiently waiting for the perfect moment to chase and attack its prey, Satan is very patient. He and his evil angels observe our behaviors and habits [our weaknesses] then with perfect timing we are presented with irresistible temptations.

The Gateway of Temptations

Satan uses common things to distract us, watching movies whose rating is strong language, listening to secular music that we sing and dance to, and spending money on frivolous desires. Like the lion who successfully hunts and kills his prey, Satan is cunning and infiltrates our lives using stealth moves. Under the umbrella of Love, we invite unbelievers with worldly mindsets into our social circles as friends and establish dating relationships that lead to living together or unequally yoked marriages.

Satan’s Easy Prey—The Christians Who Have No Time for Worship, Praying, or Bible Study

In 2023, Satan’s number one scheme is to use distractions that waste our valuable time. Instead of having time for meaningful worship—praying and studying, we are too tired. Our to-do list is unrealistic, or we use social media, the cell phone, and online activities to relax. Mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted, we say a quick prayer and promise to study the Bible tomorrow and fall asleep.

The other open door that allows Satan to enter our lives is through false teachings. In our busyness, we do not take the time to pray or study the Bible. Because of our daily schedules, we listen to sermons and social media posts which appear to be God’s Truth, yet are not Bible-based. The false teaching that we hear sounds good because it is a blend of a little truth and a lot of self-interpretation by the speaker.

Even lions who are on the brink of starvation never forget the elephant is always dangerous. Because we are not living according to God’s righteous precepts, our minds and conscience have changed. We do not sense any danger to our spiritual condition when pursuing life’s pleasures that appear to be harmless fun and enjoyment.

Remember, Satan does not present situations that would cause us to immediately recognize as threatening to our relationship with Christ. He uses familiar activities and people as bait to make us easily fall. If temptation was not appealing to our desires then we could easily turn and say no.

Reflection: Is there any part of my lifestyle that God considers to be unrighteous?

To remain spiritually alert and of a sound mind, we must be consistent in our worship. Staying spiritually nourished requires a daily commitment to God. Without prayer and meditation, Bible study, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we are like the lion who is alone in the savannah. In a state of spiritual starvation, we cannot recognize Satan’s schemes, nor do we have the power to resist his covert deceptions.

We cannot fight Satan without Divine Intervention! The Apostle Paul tells us to put on The Whole Armor of God—Study Ephesians chapter 6, verses 10-18.

The spiritual battle we face in these perilous times requires more than praying once or twice a day. We can never pray too much! Fighting the enemy cannot be accomplished without spiritual reinforcement. Still, we need Divine Help that is immediately available by praying, “God, help me!”

Jesus promised us the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to give us the discernment and strength that is required to do our part as a soldier in God’s Army.

The Faithful Ones—Christ’s Sheep

Despite the enemy’s schemes, Christ has many dedicated faithful followers—His sheep surrender daily by striving to faithfully obey and trust Jesus, their Divine Shepherd.

“Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” —Psalm 100:3

Why Does the Bible Compare Us to Sheep?

Sheep have no sense of direction. …
Sheep are defenseless. …
Sheep can’t get up without help. …
Sheep are emotional and recognize the Shepherd’s voice. …
Sheep are not meant to carry burdens. …
Sheep will settle for less. …
Sheep are valuable. …
Sheep can not care for themselves when wounded. Mom Remade Website

Jesus Christ, Our Shepherd: “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” —Matthew 9:36-37

Jesus Christ, Our Savior: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” —Isaiah 53:6

Despite our sins and shortcomings, we serve a loving and compassionate Savior and Shepherd who died for us and seeks to bring us back into His flock.

Scripture Reading: “Then Jesus told them this parable: Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” —Luke 15:3-7, NIV

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” —John 1:29

Jesus, the Matchless Lamb of God offered Himself as our sacrifice. We have a Savior and Shepherd who gave His life for us. When we stray, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through our conscience. We are never abandoned by Christ! Yet, we are never coerced to return to the flock. Love for Jesus is the foundation of our relationship with Him.

Our response to the Shepherd’s call requires more than saying yes, we must renounce sin and overcome the roaring lion’s temptations by praying and using self-control. Do not rely on your human wisdom! Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the people, places, and habits that are keeping you bound under the roaring lion’s power.

The blood of the Lamb of God cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Total reliance on Jesus, our Savior, and Shepherd along with the steadfast desire to live a faithful life of humility, surrender, and obedience is required to stay in our Shepherd’s safekeeping. Through prayer, consecration, and diligent study of the Bible, we commit daily to follow Jesus.

Our characters, habits, and lifestyles reflect whether or not we are following the Shepherd. The decision to follow Jesus is not an easy journey. As sheep, we acknowledge that we are dependent on our Shepherd to guide us safely through this earthly pasture.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” —John 10:27

The sheep listen and follow their Loving Shepherd because we trust Him with our lives. We know that the Shepherd has the power to make the roaring lion stand down and retreat. Every day, we need the love, guidance, and mercies of rescue from Jesus, our Shepherd.

Even in hardships, always remember, we are preparing for kingdom life one day at a time. And if we trust Jesus with our lives, He will safely guide us to the Heavenly pasture where we will live with Him forever and ever. Amen.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” —Matthew 5:8

Prayer: Lord, we pray for the humility to surrender ourselves to You. We thank You for being our Lion of Judah and our Shepherd. Jesus, we love You. We pray for strength and wisdom as we follow You in our spiritual journey. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

The LORD IS Your Keeper

The LORD is Your Keeper Devotional Reading August 3, 2023

God Helps Those Who Diligently Seek Him

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” —Psalm 121:1-2

Reflection: Is there someone in your life or a sinful habit that’s holding you back from fully surrendering to God and living your best life?

You may think, “Right now, my life is good” as you reflect on your actions that have resulted in a productive life. Yes, we congratulate ourselves for a job well done. But while we are basking in self-reliance, King David would like for us to know there is something that you have not considered, The Lord is Your Keeper!

“The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in. From this time forth, and even forevermore.” —Psalm 121:5-8

Self-reliance prevents us from having praise and gratitude for the Lord’s mercies that He abundantly gives to us every day. We would be consumed by Satan’s spiritual warfare if it were not for our Keeper. It is King Jesus who commands the legions of angel armies and assigns them to protect us every second of every day.

Not only does Jesus command the heavenly angels, but He also tells Satan when to stand down and places limitations on the adversity he can bring into our lives [Study Job chapter 1]. Our guardian angels are fighting the unseen battles of wickedness, physical harm, and situations that would cause mental and emotional anguish. We should give praises of gratitude to King Jesus because He will never allow Satan to crush us!

“If the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive when their anger flared against us; the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away.” — Psalm 124:2-5

Prayer: God, we ask for forgiveness for not acknowledging and praising You for keeping us from the spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional dangers. We have thought too highly of ourselves. King Jesus, we thank You for being our Keeper. We love You and praise Your Holy Name for Your love, grace, and mercies. And we humbly ask this prayer in Your Name, Amen.

Jesus Says, “The Scriptures Testify of Me”

Jesus Says, “The Scriptures Testify of Me” Devotional Reading August 2, 2023

Some Christian believers struggle with the teachings of the Bible. This is not because they are actively studying and unable to comprehend the Scriptures, but rather because it is easier to listen to the multitude of voices claiming to speak God’s truth than to study the Bible on their own.

One of the reasons given for the lack of studying the Bible, there are too many churches teaching too many different doctrines.

What has caused this overwhelming conflict in the Christian Community? One source identifies the origin of the chaos in the following statement: “American Protestantism is diverse, encompassing more than a dozen major denominational families – such as Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, and Pentecostals – all with unique beliefs, practices, and histories.” Pew Research Center

Something is not right! The estimate of more than a dozen is actually 9,000 denominations that exist in Protestantism. And the qualifier, “all with unique beliefs, practices, and histories” should cause grave concern in the minds of Christian believers. We cannot change the history of any denomination, but we should have basic knowledge of how the denominational movement began and if the doctrines are Bible-based.

The qualifier, “all with unique beliefs and practices” should raise mental and spiritual red flags. If 9,000 denominations exist and have developed numerous self-interpretations of the Bible, we must ask ourselves, Where do I stand in the battle of God’s Truth versus error?

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that has nothing to be ashamed of, rightly dividing the word of truth.” —2 Timothy 2:15

Every Christian is accountable for the decisions they make and the lifestyle they live. We cannot make excuses for not studying the Bible as part of our daily worship. The refusal or lack of desire to study reveals the condition of our hearts.

God gave us the Bible—The Old and New Testaments to provide us with the Gospel, Truth, and knowledge of the Presence, Power, and Divine and Loving Characteristics of the Triune Godhead: God, the Father, God, Jesus the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit.

In Genesis chapter one, we can study the origin of the world, the creation of human beings, and all plant and animal life refuting the humanmade, erroneous concept of evolution.

The Bible explains itself! The authenticity, origin, and purpose of the Holy Scriptures are revealed in the Bible. The Bible also contains the Ten Commandments. health laws, and righteous principles that promote love and unity among believers which are still valid today.

Jesus said, “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter [jot], not the least stroke of a pen [tittle], will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. —Matthew 6:13.

We always need Divine Help when studying the Bible! Pray for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and discernment as you study. “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 that I said to you.” —John 14:26

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” —Psalm 119:105

The Bible is filled with spiritual treasures that produce spiritual growth and transformation of the believer. As we study, our love, faith, and loyalty increase and we grow closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Fact! The Bible is the only Book that contains no errors. It does not need to be revised or updated. The Author tells us the reason that the Scriptures will stand forever, “For I am the Lord, I do not change…” —Malachi 3:1.

In the Holy Scriptures, we learn of Christ’s Divine Status as God, the Son, and His Divine Character. Jesus, our Heavenly Father is full of Sacrificial Love, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Meekness, Grace, Mercy, Power, Faithfulness, and Unequivocal Righteousness.

2. The entire Bible [Old and New Testament] is about Jesus. “You examine the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is those very Scriptures that testify about Me…” —John 5:39, NASB

God, the Father clears all confusion about Jesus’ status as God, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead. “But to the Son, He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions [the heavenly angels].’ ” —Hebrews 1:8-9

Jesus Christ created this universe and all living beings. “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him, all things consist.” —Colossians 1:16-17

“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” —1 Timothy 2:5

Salvation is only through Jesus Christ! No human being can mediate for our salvation and the forgiveness of our sins. We confess and repent of our sins to God in prayer and are forgiven of those sins through our Heavenly Intercessor, Jesus. Every other concept is part of Satan’s deceptions. We learn from the Scriptures that we must accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. Jesus is the only way humanity can have salvation and redemption from their sins.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ ” —John 14:6

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” — Romans 10:9

3. The Bible is our spiritual mirror and provides God’s blueprint [instructions] for every believer’s life. Through the Scriptures, we obtain spiritual knowledge of God’s moral code, and our responsibilities [surrender, faith, obedience, and love for God and others] when following Christ. The Bible outlines all of God’s laws, precepts, and righteous expectations for believers.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” —2 Timothy 3:16

“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

4. From the Bible, we have scriptural evidence of the Triune Godhead: God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Although the Holy Spirit is a mystery, we learn from the Scriptures who the Holy Spirit is, He is the third person of the Godhead who gives us spiritual discernment, wisdom, and the strength to overcome temptation.

“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ ” —Matthew 3:16-17

Jesus Promises the disciples to send the Holy Spirit after His Ascension: “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” —John 16:13-14

5. The Scriptures provide us with God’s definitive plan for the afterlife of the righteous and the demise of the wicked. Every religion except Christianity has erroneous concepts which teach by humanity’s works [doing good] one can gain a blissful afterlife.

Trust the word of God over any belief, doctrine, or concept that cannot be substantiated by the Scriptures. As we grow closer to Christ, the Holy Spirit alerts us that the false teaching we heard is not from God.

I can remember hearing a pastor say that when Jesus comes and we go to heaven that we will cry over our family and loved ones that did not make it. Believe me, he was surprised to receive my email reminder that Jesus says in Revelation 21, verse 4, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Remember, we cannot rely on our limited human wisdom [which God considers foolishness] to self-interpret His Righteous Precepts. Always pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal the Truth of the Scriptures. Another false teaching is that the wicked will burn forever. Would God be loving and a fair and just God if people were suffering in hell’s fire for eternity?

“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.’ He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” —Revelation 21:6-7

The afterlife for the righteous is eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth and the wicked do not have an afterlife, they will be destroyed by fire [Malachi 4].

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, 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

We choose our destiny! “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.” —James 1:22

The believers who have the opportunity to study the Bible and choose not to learn of the precious precepts will fall victim to sin, doubt, worry, and unbelief. They will not have the biblical foundation that prevents them from accepting false teachings as God’s Truth. Nor can they have faith and trust or obey God whom they know nothing about.

God has given us His Divine Guidebook to edify our minds and souls. Studying the Bible is food for the soul. Without Biblical knowledge of God’s Character, His Promises, the Life of Christ, Salvation, and Redemption, and the Holy Spirit’s Purpose, we are in Spiritual Bankruptcy! Fill your emptiness with the spiritual nourishment of the Scriptures and faithfully obey God’s Truth by hiding the word of God in your heart.

Inspirational Quote: “Truth is inspired and guarded by God and truth will triumph!” Acts of the Apostles

Reflection: Why should I diligently pray and study the Holy Scriptures?

Jesus warns us “The Way is Narrow.”

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” —Matthew 7:13-14

Prayer: God, we thank You for giving us Your precious words in the Holy Bible. We also thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. We desire to know more about Your saving grace and commit to studying the Bible every day. We ask for forgiveness for not studying Your Holy word. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Worthy name, Amen.