Devotional – Page 41 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

The Company We Keep

The Company We Keep Devotional Reading and Podcast

“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character…’ ” —1 Corinthians 15:33

The title, “Solo Female Traveler” was an introduction to keeping van lifer’s physical safety as a priority. The most important advice was to beware of strangers, whether they are male or female when living on the road. As I listened to the various strategies for keeping oneself safe, I thought about keeping ourselves safe from the warfare of having relationships with unbelievers.

Is it possible to avoid the danger of bad company by using our mental and intellectual faculties to develop spiritually safe strategies? Does our overconfidence empower us to think we can have social interactions with worldlings and not compromise our relationship with Christ? No, we cannot overcome our natural inclination to sin without Divine Intervention.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” —Romans 12:2

The New Living Translation explains Romans 12:2 in plain English: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

Most often Satan uses the familiar people in our lives to draw us into temptation. Because we have love in our hearts for spouses, significant others, family, and friends, our guard is down. The invitation to attend a social function, dinner date, or a shopping trip as a get-together causes us to assume that our status as Christians will be respected. But Satan has no boundaries in using undercover strategies to pull us into sinful situations.

Can we keep ourselves safe from spiritual warfare when interacting with unbelievers? No. We receive wisdom and discernment only through diligent prayer, studying the Scriptures, and asking for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit. Total obedience to every Scriptural command and warning demonstrates our love for God and proves that He is first in our lives.

Compromise begins by rationalizing and making excuses to hang out with those living in darkness. Beyond casual interactions or witnessing, we will fall! Although we accept others for who they are, Christians have nothing in common with the unrighteous [even if they are family members]. Using prior life experience, having overconfidence, or relying on self-derived boundaries to maintain an unequal relationship places us in opposition to God’s commands to remain separate.

Prideful strategies are not enough to keep us from falling into temptations that compromise our relationship with Christ. The apostle James tells us “Humility is the Cure for Worldliness.” “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:7-8).

Guard your heart by standing your ground! We must not place ourselves in predicaments where we are being pulled away from our earthly journey on the Path of Righteousness. Our strength is in Christ Jesus, guard your hearts [and your salvation] by staying away from bad company.

Prayer: Lord God, we pray for the strength to overcome the temptation of socializing with unbelievers. Help us to draw close to You as we prepare for Your soon coming. In the Matchless Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen

Living the Victorious Life

Living the Victorious Life Devotional Reading and Podcast

There is only one way for us to have victory: through Christ Jesus. Winning the battle between self-reliance and dependency on God requires human effort and Divine Intervention. The human effort of surrendering oneself to God is simply declaring your total dependence on your Heavenly Father. But how do we rely totally on God?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes…” —Proverbs 3:5-6

The practical application of King Solomon’s words of wisdom is for us to pray over every aspect of our lives and as King David admonishes us, “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! (Psalm 27:14).

Living a victorious life is guaranteed when we choose Jesus Christ as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords over our lives.

Prayer: God, we surrender our minds and souls to You. We ask You to lead, guide, and direct us in the daily activities of our lives. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray, Amen.

God Is Always Faithful

God Is Always Faithful Devotional Reading and Podcast

Lamentations Chapter 3, Verses: 22 to 26, and 55 to 57

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

Verses 25-26: “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.”

Verses 55-57: “I called on Your name, O Lord, From the lowest pit. You have heard my voice: ‘Do not hide Your ear From my sighing, from my cry for help.’ You drew near on the day I called on You, And said, ‘Do not fear!’ “

Without intentional effort, the human mind easily forgets the greatest blessings our loving and merciful Heavenly Father gives us. Every day, we receive breath in our bodies, our minds function without concerted effort, and we choose the foods that we will eat and enjoy.

Developing a heart filled with gratitude doesn’t come naturally. We tend to focus on our heart’s never-ending desires. Decide to begin your day with prayer and praise to the Most High God for His gifts of mercies.

“What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me?” —Psalm 116:12. Praise the Lord!

Prayer: God, we thank You for the mercies of a new day in our lives. And we thank You for all of the blessings that You lovingly give although we do not deserve them. God, we love You. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.

Receiving the Reward Not Based on Merit

Receiving the Reward Not Based on Merit Devotional Reading and Podcast

Cambridge Dictionary defines work-life balance as “the amount of time you spend doing your job compared with the amount of time you spend with your family and doing things you enjoy.”

If you created a time log for hours spent working, preparing yourself [personal hygiene and dressing], and roundtrip travel would it exceed 60 hours a week? Then you may need to consider other career options. God always requires us to put Him first. He never places us in a situation in which we do not have time to worship and fulfill our spiritual assignment.

What are the chances of your employer rewriting your job description after hiring? The chances are very slim. The job description is specific and outlines the expectations of each employee. Unless specified, no variables or negotiable terms exist in the contractual agreement between the employer and employee. Job descriptions legally protect the employer as well as the employee.

The salary and specific time of merit raises are also included in the job description. Merit raises are based on an employee’s performance. Every employee who has not received disciplinary action can expect to receive a merit raise annually for a job well done.

Certainly, God created us to work and have the provisions for the requirements of everyday life. Yet, we also need sufficient rest for spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical restoration. Spiritually, we require intentional time with God in personal worship that should be part of our morning and evening routines. Love for God, faith, trust, humility, and obedience along with praying, studying the Bible, and witnessing are Christ’s requirements of every Christian believer.

Many Christians feel that the Great Commission of witnessing is optional. Every follower of Christ has a work to do: “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, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20). Although we will not personally baptize, we are required to spread the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Like the employer who remains steadfast in their contractual agreement, God also expects that we will obey and complete our daily spiritual task of witnessing. We have limitless options to use our talents. Residents in nursing homes love sing-a-longs, teaching others how to paint or do crafts, joining a church’s outreach ministry, volunteering in a food pantry, or even in the store telling someone “Jesus loves you.” Our love and kindness displayed by a smile, and saying good morning are also nonverbal ways of witnessing.

Contrary to trendy beliefs, it is not enough for us to attend church, give tithe and offerings, and strive to live righteously. The reward of receiving eternal life also requires daily witnessing. Through the advancement of technology, we can witness of Christ’s love and saving power through various platforms. Share Scriptures, make reels, place an ad to do free lawn mowing, or make a meal for an elderly person. Helping others demonstrates our love for God.

There is no middle ground between obedience and disobedience. Either we love God with all of our hearts, souls, and minds or not!

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” —James 2:14-17

Although our spiritual gifts and talents vary, every believer has a spiritual assignment with one goal, “To tell others of the love of Christ who died for the redemption of our sins.” Faith allows us to believe in and obey the Triune God. Every Scripture in the Bible applies to us including Jesus’ command to witness and make disciples. Who will tell them, if we don’t?

Faith plus Works shows that our hearts are bursting with love for Jesus. The followers of Christ who pray and surrender themselves every day to the will of God reveal humility, faith, trust, and obedience. Works alone can never save us, yet, works validate our faith and indicate our spiritual status with God.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. —1 Corinthians 15:58

Our spiritual raise will be given when Jesus comes again, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:12). For our faithful obedience along with fulfilling our commission, we will receive immortality and life in a perfect, sinless, New Heaven and New Earth where the atmosphere is filled with Agape love. Let the redeemed of the Lord, say Amen!

Prayer: God, we ask You to reveal our spiritual gifts and talents so we can further the work of Jesus in these last days. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

Wisdom the Divine Gift

Wisdom the Divine Gift Devotional Reading and Podcast

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding;
For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. —Proverbs 3:13-15

“The book of Proverbs is all about helping us to make right choices, to choose the way of God and not that of the deceiver.”— SSQ, The Call of Wisdom

Wisdom is a divine gift from God. Yet we must ask for it. “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). Wisdom gives us the ability to discern between right and wrong whether the deception is obvious or not.

Deception is spiritual warfare by Satan—the Master of Deception who seeks to trick us by developing customized temptations and presenting them to us with such proficiency that in our process of rationalizing, we become confused. Of course, his goal is to make the righteous fall. “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire” (James 1:14).

Satan deceived Eve with words that appeared to be full of wisdom. Imagine a serpent who can communicate with you. The distraction of a talking serpent who spoke about the wonderful benefits of eating the forbidden tree’s fruit cost Adam and Eve everything, including their face-to-face relationship with Jesus, loss of their home, and immortality.

Sadly, many Christians are deceived every day. When faced with life’s dilemmas, we rely on our emotions, academic degrees, strategies, and prior life experiences instead of praying for God to give us the wisdom to discern. By eliminating prayer for wisdom and guidance, we use our limited knowledge to make decisions that result in costly consequences.

The dilemma is orchestrated by Satan and comes to completion because of our lack of knowledge or pride. We feel pressured to make an immediate decision. Then Satan adds fuel to the fire with additional deceptive tactics by making us believe that our circumstances are trials or tribulations caused by God.

In John 16, Jesus tells us that we will have tribulations. Most of us have been through at least one season of darkness, and thankfully God has given us deliverance that we can use as a testimony to encourage others. But what happens when our lives are in constant turmoil from which we never recover?

Trials versus Consequences

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. —1 Peter 5:10

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed…” —2 Corinthians 4:8

Whether our lives feel out of control or everything is at peace, if we are Christian believers, we will experience hard times. Contrary to trendy [false] teachings, God does not crush us. The apostle Peter tells us that suffering has a Divine purpose. Our characters “as is” are not acceptable for the Kingdom of Heaven. Trials, sorrows, tribulations, and hard times are allowed by God to accomplish a spiritual transformation.

Are you impatient, unloving, have an anger management issue, or possess a prideful and selfish heart? Even if we do not admit our character defects, God’s purpose is for us to live eternally with Him. God does not punish us for long periods because He can. We serve a God whose name is Love. We have the assurance that our trials are given for one purpose, spiritual growth!

“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace…” (1 Corinthians 14:33).

God does not crush or bring chaos and confusion into our lives. If we are living disruptive lives due to chaos and confusion then we are making decisions outside of the will of God. God’s purpose is to transform and provide restoration and peace to our lives. We benefit from trials because they place us on a firm foundation in Jesus Christ and prepare us to receive our reward of eternal life.

If you are suffering from the consequences of counterproductive decisions, pray a prayer of confession and repentance. Our Heavenly Father is loving and merciful. Every day surrender your heart and will to God by asking for wisdom and discernment. Develop the mindset of “Where God leads and directs me, I will obey.”

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” —Proverbs 3:5-6

Prayer: God, we ask for forgiveness for excluding you from our decision-making. We ask for wisdom and discernment and pray for Your Divine Guidance in our lives. We also ask You to resolve our current dilemma that is present due to a spirit of self-reliance. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

Three Prayers Guaranteed to Change Your Character

Three Prayers Guaranteed to Change Your Character Devotional Reading and Podcast

We struggle to become better people. Many are doing their best to get rid of their learned behaviors and hereditary characteristics, yet they never quite make it. Although spiritual transformation requires a lifetime, we make it more complicated. By attempting to change we leave out the most important factor—we cannot change ourselves without God’s help. And that is the issue, we need Divine Intervention to develop a Christ-like character.

Praying is our connection to the Power Source, Jesus Christ who sent the Holy Spirit to lead us through our earthly lives. The intervention of the Holy Spirit orchestrates the change of our hearts. Only those who surrender and obey God’s will can experience a transformation of mind and character.

The three prayers that act as spiritual catalysts for changing our hearts are the human effort required before we can receive the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit who changes us.

The Obstacle: “The heart is deceitful above all things And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9. “For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, those evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person” (Mark 7:21-23).

The Spiritual transformation of our Character requires Faith, Love, Humility, Obedience, Knowledge, Prayer, Bible Study, and the Holy Spirit.

Faith: “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” —Hebrews 11:6

Love: “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). The greatest commandment to love God with everything you have was given in the Old Testament. Leviticus 19:18 states, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD”.

The emancipated Israelites did not have loving hearts. Not only did they fail to love God, but they also hated their neighbors and mistreated their parents. Because we are born sinful, and our backgrounds and life experiences differ, God has not left us to define His Righteous Standards. Study 1 Corinthians, chapter 13 for a description of love and its’ characteristics.

Love, Humility, and Obedience: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” —Micah 6:8

To give us a foundation, in the book of Micah chapter 6, verse 8 describes three character traits, “to do justice—treat others with fairness, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” which describe acceptable and righteous interaction with others and God.

“But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ ” —Jeremiah 7:23

Obedience is surrendering our will to God every day—this is the spiritual meaning of taking up our cross which is mandatory to receive spiritual transformation and eternal life. “Lord, speak to me and reveal Your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Knowledge: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” —Matthew 11:28-30

From the pages of the Holy Bible, we learn the righteous traits that God requires and we see them demonstrated in our Role Model, Jesus Christ. Change requires knowledge. What are we striving for? What are God’s expectations of the righteous? The Bible is our first Resource when seeking change. It is God-breathed and written for our edification, to instruct and improve, especially in moral and religious knowledge.

Three Daily Prayers: 1. Prayer of Confession, Repentance, and Surrender, 2. Prayer to Receive Guidance and Power from the Holy Spirit, 3. Prayer for the Strength and Wisdom to fulfill God’s will and purpose for your life.

“Now it happened that at this time He went off to the mountain to pray, and He was spending the whole night in prayer to God.” —Luke 6:12. From this prayer, Jesus received an outpouring of Divine power and He healed every sick person in the multitude of people.

Praying: If we learn nothing else about Christ, we know that praying to God was always His priority. Jesus always kept close communication with His Father for strength and, most importantly, to align with God’s will. Something that many have never thought about, Jesus had to learn obedience. Yes, the Commander of the angel armies had to acquiesce to His earthly parents until He matured and was fully into His Divine purpose on earth.

Put God First! Jesus clarifies that God is first and holds the highest status, even above His [and our] earthly family. “Then one said to Him, ‘Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.’ But He answered and said to the one who told Him, ‘Who is My mother and who are My brothers?’ And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.’ ” —Matthew 12:47-50

Prayer keeps us on the Path of Righteousness. Prayer keeps us from falling into the spiritual warfare of earthly distractions. Prayer keeps us in alignment with God’s will and purpose.

Our deceitful hearts cannot stay focused on Jesus without surrender and intervention from the Holy Spirit. Nor can we have victory over hereditary tendencies and learned behaviors without consistent and fervent praying. Yes, change requires intentional prayers that verbalize our desire to mature into the likeness of Christ.

Prayer: God, we are in the struggle of our lives. We need Your help. Lord, we pray for the forgiveness of our sins. We acknowledge that we cannot change our deceitful and wicked hearts without surrendering and receiving the strength and power of the Holy Spirit. We desire to have the characteristics of Christ. We ask this prayer in the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.

God Always Wins the Battle

God Always Wins the Battle Devotional Reading and Podcast

“The Lord is a Man of War; the Lord is his name.” —Exodus 15:3

Surrendering our hearts to Jesus places us in the Army of the Lord. Every day, Christian soldiers face the battles of spiritual warfare, disappointments, and unexpected hardships. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

To prevent discouragement from life’s challenges Jesus forewarned us that we would have many tribulations. The word tribulation is defined as a state of great trouble or suffering. To be honest, most of us sink into the despair of disappointment or grief when we face hardships. Yet, our Fearless Lord is aware that our first response will be emotional.

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28

Jesus is compassionate and long-suffering. We are not expected to be stoic—a person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings. Yet as soldiers in the Army of the Lord, we have a Mighty Commander—Jesus Christ who we can rely on. Jesus describes Himself as Lord, a Man of War!

Even so, Jesus also gives us another description of Himself, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls…” (Matthew 11:29).

Let’s analyze why we cannot get beyond our emotional responses when surrounded by life’s challenges. The Number One [and only] Reason: We do not know who our Commander, Jesus Christ is and what He is capable of doing. Without studying the Bible, and learning who Jesus is, we can’t have faith and trust in Him nor do we understand His love and Divine power.

The Outcome of our Knowledge Deficit: We do not feel close to Christ because He is a stranger. Without a heart-to-heart relationship, sadly, we miss out on enjoying the peace and reassurance that Jesus is always with us throughout the duration of our tribulations. The good news is that we do not have to stay in the dilemma of not knowing Christ.

“…Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household. ” Acts 16:3, NIV

It’s you and me standing in the need of Jesus, our Savior and the Lord, a Man of War to fight our battles. Having a relationship with Christ requires faith—believing He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus says, “Learn of me.” Until we put God first in our lives by staying in His presence through daily worship [praying and studying the Scriptures], we will not become dependent on Christ.

What will it take for us to make prayer our first response when facing tribulations? Just like military recruits who pledge allegiance to their country, accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior is a covenant vow. Tell yourself, I can do nothing without Christ. With a humble heart, we acknowledge our dependency on Jesus by involving Him in every aspect of our lives.

Pray often! Much prayer brings much power into our lives. Have little talks with Jesus throughout your day. Prayer and learning God’s promises not only strengthen our faith and trust during hardships, but we also stop worrying. We begin to notice a change in our mindset. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Depending on Christ changes our outlook. When challenges come into our lives, we don’t give up, we remain steadfast and maintain our hope. Yes, we gain confidence as we do our part in building a meaningful relationship with Christ. Our goal is to become dependent on His supernatural strength as we live courageously despite tribulations.

Although spiritual growth is silent, our love for Christ flourishes and we grow closer to our Lord, the Man of War. Whether it is a short trial or a long journey of tribulation, we will immediately cry out “Lord, I desperately need Your help. Do not let these overwhelming waves of tribulations drown me!”

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Ephesians 6:10).

Prayer: Lord, we need You every day in this earthly journey of life. We surrender our hearts to You and pray for the strength to accept our position as a soldier in Your Army. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, we pray. Amen.

Sin Is a Bully!

Sin Is a Bully Devotional Reading

The young man told the story of his family being missionaries for 20 years in a rural village in Peru. He had three brothers who along with their parents were content with the routine of everyday life. But he confessed that he was the adventurous one who was always eager to accompany anyone who was taking a trip into the mountains to forage for berries or medicinal herbs.

One of the men started a business as a tour guide in the mountains. This particular hike was one into unfamiliar territory and with his father’s permission, he joined the large group for the day trip. All was well until he had to use the bathroom. Instead of notifying the guide that he needed to stop, he felt confident with his prior hiking knowledge and left the group.

Veering off the trail he paid attention to his surroundings, but the attempt to return the same way posed a major problem. He had walked deeper into the thick forest than he realized. All of the trees and foliage looked the same. His mind became filled with questions, Did I walk straight into the bush? Where are the broken twigs that I stepped on? As he walked straight ahead toward his perception of where the trail was, he knew that he was lost.

At the age of 15, he felt embarrassed and ashamed. He failed to follow the safety protocol by notifying the guide that he needed to stop. Since he grew up in this mountainous area, what would the other hikers think of him for becoming lost? Those thoughts prevented him from calling out for help. Yet, he had to make a decision, the group was going on without him.

Finally, he began to pray for forgiveness for his wilful disobedience and then he asked God to show him the way back to the trail. After what seemed like forever, the teenager begin to hear the voices of the other hikers. His prayer was answered! God in His mercy led him safely out. There were so many hikers that no one was aware that he had ever left the group.

As he ended the testimonial, the young man, now 22, advises every Christian believer to obey God and never make decisions without praying and waiting for an answer from God.

For us to surrender ourselves to God, we must have a spiritual understanding of the dilemma within ourselves–we were born with a heart filled with carnal [sinful] desires.

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin, my mother conceived me.” —Psalm 51:5
“The heart is deceitful above all things And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” —Jeremiah 17:9

Is David saying that we are born with sinful hearts? We can look at this spiritual fact from a practical perspective. Whether or not a child has siblings or is an only child who was taught to share, and eagerly shared, as they continue to develop they become self-centered in the toddler stage of their lives.

The psychological perspective: “Sharing is hard for toddlers because it involves thinking about someone else’s feelings, wants, and needs and they haven’t developed the ability to do that yet. Self-centeredness in toddlerhood is a normal part of development, and not a reflection of parenting or caregiving.” https://babysparks.com/2019/03/07/

Proof that we are born with sinful hearts is exhibited in the behaviors of innocent, young children. Sin is innate and impacts every human being who was ever born on the planet Earth! Even the Apostle Paul, a godly man whom God used to write 14 of the 27 books of the New Testament struggled with sin.

“I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” —Romans 7:15, NLT
“For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.” —Romans 7:19
“For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other so that you do not do what you want.” —Galatians 5:17
“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 fight the Sin Bully without Divine Intervention! Jesus gave His life for us to be saved from the consequences of losing the battle against sin. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.” —Luke 22:42, ESV

Jesus is our Role Model. Not only was He tempted by Satan after He fasted for 40 days, but Jesus was also continuously tested by the unbelieving Pharisees. It was the decision to totally surrender His will to God, the Father along with fervent praying that gave Jesus the strength to overcome sin’s every temptation and to die on the Cross to redeem us from death, sin’s consequences.

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

We will have an internal battle of the heart with sin that will never cease until Jesus comes again. Without our Spiritual Team, we are as helpless as newborn babies against the temptations of sin. Every day we must be intentional in our commitment to surrendering our will and upholding our vow of total obedience to God.

With a heart filled with gratitude, we can thank God for the gift of His Son, Jesus. Because of His love, grace, and mercy, we never have to fight the Sin Bully alone! Divine Help is just a prayer away!

Pray for help when tempted. Proclaim, “Get, behind me Satan!” The Holy Spirit gives us strength and angels intervene for us when we refuse to let sin knock us down! Divine Intervention, Obedience, Prayer, Bible Study, and deciding to remain steadfast [and immovable] is the only way we can overcome the Sin Bully.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. —1 Corinthians 15:50-53

Brothers and Sisters, Never give up your reward! We are soldiers in God’s Army, serving under a Fearless Leader—Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah, who is a Warrior and will always fight for us against the Sin Bully. Let the redeemed of the Lord, say so! Yes and Amen.

Spiritual Growth is Silent

Spiritual Growth Is Silent Devotional Reading and Podcast

Jesus created the world to have consistent and continuous growth and movement. All bodies of water, the sea, streams, and oceans give us evidence of that movement. And nothing is more exciting than planting seeds and anxiously watching and waiting for the little seedlings to burst through the dirt.

We were also created to achieve growth through spiritual and academic learning. Still, God’s plan is for us to utilize the Bible as our primary source of gaining knowledge. From the moment we pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit [before studying the Bible], we receive discernment of the Scriptures, wisdom, and spiritual guidance for applying the Truth to our lives.

“But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16, ESV)

To live holy means we put God first. Daily worship includes prayer expressing gratitude, Bible study, and asking for Divine guidance regarding life’s challenges. Hearing God’s Voice can happen in various ways. The Holy Spirit speaks to us through the Scriptures and our thoughts. Make worship an intimate time between you and God without distractions or disruptions.

Our commitment to obey and walk in God’s Purpose is the only way to achieve spiritual growth. Spiritual growth and transformation are dynamic and occur throughout our lifetime as long as we remain dedicated to God.

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience…” (Colossians 1:9-11).

Like the plant that grows silently, our spiritual growth is also silent. We visualize the development of plant life stages, but how do we know if we are growing spiritually? Our characters change as evidenced by the desire to intentionally guard our hearts. The programs, music, and conversations we previously watched, listened to and participated in become displeasing to our eyes and ears. We become intentional and committed to our relationship with Christ.

As we grow, we begin to take better care of our souls. The more we learn about God’s character and the life of Christ, our hearts are filled with love—we love God, others, and ourselves. When our hearts are bursting with love for God, we willingly change our lifestyles to include praying and studying the Scriptures. Another godly trait we gain is compassion–we will begin to care about the well-being of those in need.

Our goals change from pleasing ourselves to pleasing God. We begin to desire a character that has the [righteous] qualities of the Fruit of the Spirit. Do not try to monitor or speed up your spiritual growth. We can change undesirable habits or curtail unrighteous traits, such as impatience [which demonstrates we are doing our part], yet, spiritual transformation is a continuous and lifelong process orchestrated by the Holy Spirit.

Like the plant that requires light, water, and nutrients for proper growth and maturity, we also need the Light and Living Water that only Christ can provide. Realistically, we will fall when we fail to pray for guidance. Do not become discouraged! “For a righteous person falls seven times and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of disaster” (Proverbs 24:16). We must repent, get back up, not repeat the same mistake, and keep going.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28, NIV

We have Divine Help every second of our lives. God is only a prayer away. Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). We have a Father who loves us!

Our transformation relies on a close relationship with Christ. Surrender and obedience allow us to receive the spiritual nutrients that flow from the Source, Jesus Christ. Yes, Christ not only gives us strength, but He also nurtures us with His everlasting love!

Every Christian’s Goal: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Every day we fight against our sinful traits, but we can win those battles with the Holy Spirit who gives us the strength to overcome our carnal desires and resist temptation. Our willingness to cooperate and surrender to God’s will and plans allows the Holy Spirit to achieve the continuous transformation required for eternal life.

There is a marked difference between spiritual growth and natural growth. We reach mental and physical maturity by a certain age, but we never cease growing spiritually. God has designed that we are ever learning and growing in our walk on the Path of Righteousness.

Sanctification, to be molded into the likeness of Christ–His Character lasts throughout our cycle of life on this earth.

Scripture: “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him, all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him” (Colossians 1: 15-16).

Prayer: God, I ask You to show me the way and reveal what You want me to do. I want to do what you want me to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God’s Blueprint for Your Life

God’s Blueprint for Your Life Sabbath Devotional Reading and Podcast

Yesterday, I was involved in a deep discussion regarding the question, “How do you know it’s God directing you?” God’s directions always glorify Him, they are given with clarity, and there are no hiccups [obstacles]. Everything flows like a beautiful mountain stream of water. When God has orchestrated the plan, no human or even Satan can prevent His plan from coming to fruition. And you know the blessing is from God because you have a sense of overwhelming peace in your heart and soul!

One of the greatest stories in the Old Testament is The Destruction of Jericho, which is an example of God’s Divine plans accomplishing what appeared to be an impossible feat.

Joshua 6: verses 1-3: “Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua: ‘See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days.’ “

Joshua 6: verses 4-5: “And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of ram’s horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.”

The Victorious Plan Comes to Fruition: “So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city” (Joshua 6:20).

One of the biggest mistakes is to listen to someone on social media telling us, “I don’t know who I’m talking to but God wants me to tell you to go ahead with your plans.” There are many testimonials from people who listened to strangers and suffered unnecessary consequences.

Testimony: In 2021, my landlord called to tell me he was selling the house I had leased for six years. I was living in Texas and was given six weeks to clear out a 3-Bedroom house. God came through in miraculous ways. I was searching for an apartment within a 50-mile radius of my address. The online search resulted in many apartment complexes, yet there was something unusual, an apartment complex on the Florida Coast showed up first. To be honest, I started laughing.

Within one week, my application for the Florida apartment was approved. God sent an individual to help me clear out the donation items and a furniture store owner purchased all of the excess furniture I could not keep. In the middle of February, with two weeks left to vacate, there was a severe ice storm that shut down several cities. Texas has its electrical grid. They divided the city into quadrants and placed everyone on a rotating 4-hour on and 4-hours off schedule for electricity. My electricity stayed on for days without interruption.

Many other miracles occurred between January 15th to March 1st of 2021 that I never anticipated. I witnessed God’s Divine Intervention as I had never seen before. When God directs your life’s plans, He takes care of everything, including the most minor details. I have lived on the Coast for over two years.

“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).

Always Pray for God’s Guidance: “God, show me the way and what you want me to do. I want to do what you want me to do. I am in a state of confusion and need clarity. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. I prayed a similar prayer before relocating 1400 miles. The All-Knowing God who has wisdom beyond our comprehension has perfect plans for our earthly lives.

“Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old. Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert” (Isaiah 43:18-19, ESV).

Remember that God’s blueprints always result in us “Going Forward.” God never requires us to take steps backward to accomplish His plans. Waiting includes obedience to His will and learning His Voice. Pray in your secret closet to avoid distractions when seeking God’s guidance.

Spiritual growth and transformation require faith and patience. God takes His time in bringing the details of our blueprint into existence. We must be ready spiritually to receive our greatest blessings. Most often, God will require the present chapter in your life to end. Because God is the Great I AM, He will not disclose the details of His plans ahead of time. We must faithfully wait in joyful anticipation.

“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! (Psalm 27:14)

I am a living witness. When we wait on God’s timing, the Lord will reveal His wonderful-working power in our lives. Never give up! Your blueprint is promised in Jeremiah 29, verse 11. Amen!