In a tumultuous world, we are living in perilous times of discontent and confusion. Still, this is our Father’s world. Everything that we are and everything we will become depends on our relationship of love, faith, meekness, and obedience to God.
Remaining steadfast despite the circumstances is possible when we believe God’s promises. Jesus says be of good cheer [be courageous], I have overcome the world and the problems that you face. Remaining in God’s Righteous Right Hand gives us steadfast hope and allows us to live with joyful expectation. Wait quietly on the Lord.
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2
Today I researched holistic health strategies as related to achieving the wellness of optimal health. Did you know that home cooking your food is the number one preventative against poor health?
For many, cooking involves the use of air fryers and microwaves. Yet, cooking on a stove and using a conventional oven allows one to receive the highest level of nutrients for digestion and assimilation on a cellular level in the human body.
What are the guidelines for choosing healthy foods? Moderate in calories, low salt, low fat, and no processed sugars. 2,000 calories per day should provide necessary nutrients for the average adult.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are the building blocks for maintaining a Be Ready Stay Ready Immune System. The colors green, orange, red, yellow, and purple should be consumed daily. Complex carbohydrates along with adequate protein from legumes, fish, and poultry will leave you energetic and change your perception of life in general.
Be creative. Personally, I do not care for one pot meals. Who says our plate has to be limited to only three varieties of food?
Healthy eating is part of having a healthy lifestyle. It is not a diet. Your mind and tastebuds require retraining to achieve optimal health.
Change is intentional. A healthy lifestyle requires an alteration in our thought processes along with strategic planning. Because our choice of food is from learned behaviors, we require Divine Intervention to change from eating foods that supply little nutrients.
Our health is of the utmost concern to God. Throughout Jesus’ ministry on earth, He healed many who had mental, emotional, and physical illnesses. When we consume foods based on taste or habits our bodies will fail us by succumbing to chronic diseases. We were created in God’s image to live long, productive, joyous lives.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:19
Involve God in your desire to take care of your temple. Pray for help! Develop your goals. Purchase a journal. Eliminate time-consuming distractions. Learn your body’s rhythm. When are you hungry? Consider taking a mid-afternoon snack to work to prevent raging hunger that results in ordering fast food on the way home.
Be intentional with your food choices. Purchase your food weaknesses in smaller sizes–one pint of ice cream instead of a half gallon. Consider making your own ice cream with fruit. Shop for food on a full stomach–the junk stuff will be less appealing.
The most exciting part of pursuing optimal health is the body’s response–high energy, weight loss, mood stability, increase in mental acuity, and the overall feeling that comes from your accomplishment of loving you.
The only way for us to achieve optimal health is to lovingly care for the fearfully and wonderfully made minds and bodies gifted by our Heavenly Father.
I have achieved and maintained optimal health for two years. Go ahead! It’s a great way to live!
During every passenger plane landing, the instructions are given to prepare for landing. Because this directive may be perceived in many various ways the flight attendants give specific directions for preparation to land. They perform a final walk through to complete the pre-landing regulations before taking their seats.
Jesus has given us precepts and commands to guide us to our final destination in the New Heaven and New Earth.
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.'” –Revelation 22:20
With urgency, in Revelation chapter 22, Jesus gives us a promise that is also a warning. Three times He says, I am coming quickly. We are given a preview of heaven, we are told that the time is near, and we receive information on how to prepare by keeping His Commandments. The chapter ends with the repetitive and third promise/warning from Jesus that His coming is timely and definite.
Note: In studying the Scriptures, Jesus rarely repeated His words while ministering to others. We become aware that “I am coming quickly” is a life or death warning for us to do our part [daily preparation] if we expect to receive eternal life.
Most of us possess the skills of preparing ahead. We have our mental to-do lists and are accustomed to preparing the night before or early morning to identify and achieve daily repetitive tasks. Yet, when preparing for vacations or an intentional getaway, we use focused planning strategies. If you need some quiet time, you would not book an Airbnb in a city with never-ending noises.
How many Christians are excitedly preparing day-to-day to live eternally?
Preparation for eternal life is intentional. Every aspect of our earthly activities of daily living require heightened awareness and intentional planning. Without complete knowledge of how we use our time, distractions will prevent us from preparing for eternal life. We never fully comprehend the meaning of Jesus coming quickly because we are unaware of the shortage of time we have to get ready.
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:12).
Jesus also clarifies that we have spiritual assignments for which we will receive the reward of living with Him forever and ever. Our Heavenly reward is not given because we were dedicated employees working 40-hour work weeks that provided the necessary income to sustain our lifestyles.
The question, What did you do with your spiritual gifts that I gave you? Did you strive to live a righteous life? The conviction to remain faithful and obedient by overcoming temptations, the courage to say no to sin, [even if it means losing family and friends], and the commitment to love and put God first are righteous standards mandated by the law of God.
Use your spiritual gifts and the resources of time, effort, and money for discipleship–service to God and to others which is the work that Jesus Christ rewards. Read The Great Commission, Matthew 28:18-20.
Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the changes in your lifestyle that you need to make to be ready for Jesus’ Second Coming. Live everyday with the mindset that Jesus is coming quickly! We have wasted too much time watching, listening, and doing things that do not count toward preparation for eternal life.
The Journey of Sanctification
We can only take one thing to heaven and that is our character. The Holy Spirit breathed the words of God to the apostles, Paul, James, Peter, and John of the necessary characteristics that we must have in our lives now to be holy and acceptable for life in heaven.
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
Most are familiar with the righteous traits of the Fruit of the Spirit. Still, “1 Corinthians 13, Ephesians 6, Hebrews 11, James 1-2, and 1 Peter 1” also give us a foundation for possessing a Christ-like character. Sanctification, the lifelong spiritual journey of spiritual growth and development requires human effort plus Divine Intervention through Jesus Christ.
Secretly, some Christians think that striving for righteousness is overwhelming and that God has placed a burden on us to be holy.
Consider your employer who has greater demands than our Heavenly Father. You are expected to have almost 100% competency in performing your job duties, reach productivity standards, possess time management skills, complete ongoing educational trainings, and have an acceptable attendance record. Nor will you receive continuous help from management staff.
We have the Divine Intervention of the Spiritual Team of God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the angels to help us every day. Doing our part requires putting God first and praying for help. Pray and Study the Bible every day. We determine our destiny!
Why is it taking so long for Jesus to come? “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” — 2 Peter 3:9
Thankfully, we have a merciful Father who patiently loves us. Even so, our lifespan remains a mystery Tomorrow is not promised to us. Prepare everyday and stay ready.
Prayer: God, we pray for ourselves today because we realize that we are not preparing for Jesus to come. Holy Spirit please reveal the obstacles in our lives that are causing roadblocks in our spiritual journey. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Devotional Reading–Wait! That Decision Has Negative Consequences
Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! –Psalm 27:14
God is so good! In our moments of weakness, He provides and protects us from the negative consequences of decisions that we think are the best option. We can live without regrets by listening to God’s voice telling us, No or Not Now.
Surrender is not a trait we are born with, nor is surrender valued as a must-have character trait. If you are a parent or had younger siblings, you have first-hand knowledge of the developmental stage affectionately known as the terrible twos. And most remember going through the teenage stages of a raging rebellion against their parent’s morals, values, and rules. But suppose the child’s behavior was modified by initiating boundaries and disciplinary measures during these two defiant stages. In that case, they will develop into adults that not only accept and respect the answer of no, but also possess the character trait of self-control.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Despite our diverse backgrounds, a change of heart happens when we commit ourselves to God. This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone, and a new life has begun! As steadfast believers in Christ, we cease the natural inclinations to follow our selfish desires or maintain a spirit of disobedience. Nor do we develop little schemes to go outside God’s will to attempt to manipulate His answer of no.
When God created humanity, He gave us everything we needed to serve Him: Free will of choice, biblical instructions, prayer, a seed of faith, a sound mind, self-control, and the desire to stay connected to Him. But then we discovered that we could use our free will to chase after our desires. Yes, we still believe in God, but we have developed a spirit of independence–the same condition that Cain possessed. We place our disobedient desires over God’s requirement for our sacrificial offering–total obedience.
There are two types of Believers, those who almost always obey God and those who make it a habit to disobey and frequently misuse repentance and forgiveness.
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? –Luke 6:46
For the usually obedient group, God disciplines by shaking us. In His mercy, God may shield us from the extreme consequences of our disobedience. Recognizing that we went against the will of God, we readily repent and pray for forgiveness. We know repentance means never repeating the transgression against God for doing it our way. Because we love God with all of our hearts, after the shaking, we thank God for His mercy in not letting us suffer the full consequences of our disobedience.
“…but the way of transgressors is hard.” –Proverbs 13:15
The second group also loves God, but they suffer inner turmoil because they have developed a pattern of disobeying God. They live by the false prosperity message–name it and claim it. Their greatest pursuit in life is to be happy. Yes, all appears to be well–they are reaping a harvest of blessings. And they readily share with others, “God has abundantly blessed me.” Sadly, that is their critical mistake of bringing God’s name into their acts of disobedience.
God will protect His name and reputation!
Then the unthinkable happens, God allows the impact of their disobedience to come to fruition, and the life-changing consequences happen. All because they half-heartedly served God by continuous disobedience. “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” –James 4:17
“The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving wrongdoing, and rebellion. But He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He visits the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.” (Numbers 14:18)
Satan is using the same old tactic that he used with Eve, “Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die'” (Genesis 3:4). He uses false teachers to tell us that we do not understand the true meaning of what God said, and they give their reinterpretation of the Scriptures. Many believers have been deceived by accepting the false belief of Middle Ground Christianity. There is no middle ground! We cannot fulfill our desires and remain in the right standing with God. Either we completely obey God or we are living outside of His will by walking on the path of disobedience.
“If you love me, obey my commandments” (John 14:15).
In the evening, reflect on your day. How many blessings have you received? The big blessings are probably very obvious. Even so, remember to include the little things that worked out in your favor. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
We have a loving God who sustains our lives. The breath in our bodies is from God. Seeking God’s will is the foundation for serving Him. Obedience is such a small sacrifice compared to the incredible love and undeserved grace and mercies we receive. With all that we are given by our Heavenly Father, God is justified in His requirement for us to faithfully trust and obey Him. We must use our sound minds and self-control to stay within the will of God.
“For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,” says the Lord, “plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11, Amplified Bible)
Stop living the hard-knock life full of problems and consequences that belong to the lives of unbelievers!
We can never protect or provide for ourselves as God does. Do we thank God for His protection from the dangers of spiritual warfare [seen and unseen] that the angels, God’s messengers, defend us from every day? God’s protection also extends to shielding us from the terrible consequences of our wayward decisions.
When God says, “No, my child,” trust and believe that He knows the future consequences that would devastate our lives. Today, begin to let praises of thanksgiving and gratitude openly flow from your mouth. Surrender and commit your free will to always trust and obey God. We are truly blessed beyond measure!
Bible Reading: Psalm 34
Prayer: God, we want to say thank you for all that you have lovingly and freely blessed us with day after day. We love You and surrender our will to You. Let Your will be done in our lives. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.
Devotional Reading: To Everything, There Is a Season—Facing Grief During the Holidays
“To everything, there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven” –Ecclesiastes 3:1
To many, the holiday season is [or was] their favorite time of the year. In 2022, there have been a substantial number of deaths, from infants who ate food with pathogenic organisms to the many victims of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Loss of relationships from divorce and break ups with family and friends has escalated to an all-time high. Hundreds of video posts have flooded social media with heart-wrenching words of sorrow from the loss of marriages, relationships, and the death of children, husbands, wives, parents, and grandparents.
It would be remiss for us not to mention the increasing rate of suicide in 2022. “An estimated 703,000 people a year take their life around the world. “Creating hope through action” is the triennial theme for World Suicide Prevention Day from 2021 to 2023. This theme is a reminder that there is an alternative to suicide and aims to inspire confidence and light in all of us. https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-suicide-prevention-day/2022.
The loss of loved ones remains the most significant reason for loneliness leading to depression leading to suicidal ideations leading to suicide.
The Unexpected: We cannot plan for the things that happen in our lives spontaneously—illness, loss of jobs and homes, divorce, severing of friendships or family relationships, tragedies, and death. God created humanity to have lasting family ties and immortality. It was not part of God’s original plan for us to suffer loss. Yet, because of the fall of Adam and Eve, loss from family hostility and death are normal occurrences during our earthly lives.
“He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds [healing their pain and comforting their sorrow].” –Psalm 147:3, Amplified Bible
Whether expected or unexpected, loss always creates a crisis. What makes the difference is if we have a strong relationship with God and believe in His promises. Healing is a spiritual journey. We have the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, to provide hope and healing for the righteous believer. Yes, losing loved ones will always devastate our lives, and we will grieve, yet, we are not hopeless.
We can never pray enough! “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24)
God does not crush us. He will not allow us to be overwhelmed and drown in a sea of hopelessness, even when the crisis of death invades our lives. Remember that nothing we face is unexpected from a spiritual perspective—God is aware of every trial and sorrow we face.
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart [have courage], because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Although the vicissitudes of life will remain until the Second Coming of Christ, praying the simple prayer of “God, I need Your help” allows the Holy Spirit to bring peace and comfort to our wounded hearts. When we humbly acknowledge our dependency on God, we have a Spiritual Team—God, the Father, Jesus, His Son, the Holy Spirit, and messenger angels who bring spiritual comfort to the depths of our hearts and souls.
Cry, Cry, Cry and Pray, Pray, Pray
“You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?”–Psalm 56:8
“When David wrote eloquently that God collected all of his tears in a bottle, it means that God cares about each individual tear we cry, and He remembers the pain that causes our tears.” http://www.christianity.com
We were created with the ability to express grief and disappointment through tears. The tears we cry are words to God. He knows loss causes us to have fragile hearts.
Live day by day with the faith that you are given. Every day seeking Christ in private worship allows us to abide with Him in times of deep distress. Listen to the soothing promises of worship music. Developing the habit of studying the Scriptures and breathing several prayers throughout the day and evening fortifies us with spiritual strength that will sustain us in the harshest times. When we have an intentional relationship with Christ, we can expect Divine Intervention for every unexpected loss, even from the permanent earthly separation of loved ones.
God knows whom we need in our lives during our times of grieving. Jesus will perform miracles and send people to assist us during every crisis and afterward until we have the strength to move forward. We cannot rush through our healing journey. God knows our hearts and Jesus when on this earth experienced significant loss. Healing from loss occurs in micro steps. Remember that God has never expected us to forget the loss of loved ones.
Know that you are loved. Jesus experienced the death of Joseph, His earthly father. On the cross, in His humanness, Jesus felt as if God had abandoned Him. We know that God’s promise of “I will never leave you or forsake you” is binding even until we take our last breath.
We must Create Hope Through Action by actively witnessing the Love of Jesus to those who have no hope. Every day tell someone that Jesus loves you with everlasting love!
For those who have gained strength, hope, and a renewed purpose in their healing journey, this is the perfect time to use social media to post Scriptures of promises and make phone calls to provide a listening ear to those who have recently lost a loved one from death, divorce, or separation from family.
I recall a time when my faith and hope were at an all-time low. I was at Walmart and an older man passed by and said, “God loves you, everything will be alright.” Before I could say anything he disappeared. Perhaps when I get to heaven one of the angels will tell me that he gave me those words of comfort.
Our spiritual victories include the ability to heal by regaining hope, peace, and the strength to gradually move forward following a loss. Use an Audio Bible on YouTube to listen to The Lord’s Prayer [Matthew 6: 9-13] and Psalm 23 to comfort yourself or to read to someone who has experienced loss from death, divorce, or estrangement from family and friends. Spread the message, Yes, Jesus loves you and He died to give you a new life.
Scripture: “…strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.” (Acts 14:22)
Bible Study: Ecclesiastes chapter 3
Prayer: God, for many of us, we are grieving during this holiday season. We pray for Your power to comfort and strengthen us. We still praise and give you gratitude for our lives. Thank You for loving us. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of Jesus. Amen.
Devotional Reading: The Spiritual Journey of a Healthy Lifestyle. Also available as a podcast on Spotify.
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. –3 John 1:2
Two factors determine if our lifestyle is in sync with God’s Plan for our mind and body to achieve optimal health: Our perspective of God and the use of our time.
How would you describe God’s Character? Our perception of God is dependent upon our scriptural knowledge and personal experience. Throughout the Bible, God reveals Himself which gives us head knowledge. There are many scriptures and stories of His interaction with humanity that tell us that He is a dependable God, but it is our love relationship with Christ [through daily worship, our struggles, defeats, and victories] that give us a heart-to-heart connection with our Heavenly Father.
In 5 days, Jesus created everything that Adam and Eve needed for a healthy lifestyle. On the sixth day, our parents were created. Yes, they had a peaceful and aesthetically beautiful home with food to sustain their lives. They did not live a lazy—do-nothing life. Although we do not have detailed knowledge of their daily lives. We know that our parents were assigned a few things. Adam named the animals and lovingly took care of them, Eve gathered their food every day, and they enjoyed each other’s companionship in marriage.
Until their fall, Adam and Eve enjoyed face-to-face interaction with Jesus who visited with them frequently in their garden home. We know this from Adam’s response after their fall into sin, “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8). They were accustomed to hearing the sound of Jesus walking in the Garden of Eden. How wonderful that must have been to sit down and talk with Jesus.
The Creation gives us God’s design for a healthy lifestyle—essential use of time, structure, discipline, and the companionship of godly friends. Jesus created the world and humanity in perfect sequential order. We were created to worship God. He is Omniscient and all-knowing. Jesus was aware that we would need a 24-hour break from the daily labors of life to receive the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical restoration necessary for us to have productive lives. And then on the seventh day–Sabbath, He rested.
“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” –Genesis 2:2-3
With the decline in morals and values and the coercion to accept noise from every technological advancement, and ever-changing worldviews, how much of our lives do we control?
“Locus of control is how much individuals perceive that they themselves have control over their own actions [internal] as opposed to events in life [external].”
Many believers have fallen away from the godly principles of faith, obedience, rest, and restoration because they have embraced worldviews. Like the Israelites who loved the Egyptian pagan worship and eating unclean foods, we also disregard God’s health laws by eating the toxins of processed high-calorie, high-fat, and sugary foods. Alcoholism and illicit substance are promoted to take the edge off of an unpredictable life but mesmerize and cripple our intellects by promising to provide us with a false sense of peace and relaxation.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own… (1 Corinthians 6:19).
The prophet Jeremiah tells us, “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23)
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived proclaims, “A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9).
The incurable mental and physical illnesses of today’s society continue to escalate. A three-digit emergency number [988] for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has been established for those who are hopeless and overwhelmed–thinking they have no other option than to end their lives. Urban churches are teaching self-help for anxiety, depression, worries, and burnout instead of focusing on Jesus, His love, the plan of salvation, redemption, living holy, and receiving the reward of eternal life.
We need Jesus! And we need to disciples to witness that we have a Savior who loves them!
The battle between God’s truth and false teaching is raging. Yet, the number one controversy is God’s commandment [the fourth] of the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath.
My upbringing does not include being a Sabbath keeper. Yet, after extensive research, I find no evidence of God changing or abolishing the Creation Sabbath. Emperor Constantine was involved with changing and making Sunday a holy day. I decided to observe all of God’s commandments including Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, the seventh day Sabbath because I believe that when Jesus died and the veil was torn from top to bottom, exposing the Holy of Holies in the Sanctuary that the ceremonial law of sacrificing lambs was abolished not the Ten Commandments. “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot [smallest letter] or one tittle [stroke of a pen] will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18).
Each of us will have to give an account to God, the only true and righteous Judge. During Judgment, either we will be on the side of Christ, covered by His righteousness, be vindicated—and receive eternal life or we will be condemned to the second and final death. [Read Matthew 25:31-46].
Our destiny is reflected by our willingness to surrender to God’s precepts and righteous standards. God gave His only begotten Son, Jesus for the redemption of our sins. And Jesus paid with His life on Calvary’s cross that our sins would be covered by His blood.
It should not be too much for us to dismiss prevailing worldviews and pray for the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom, discernment, and the strength to persevere in our spiritual journey. Worshipping God requires humility, surrender, faith, obedience, prayer, and diligent study of the Scriptures. Whisper a prayer, hum or sing a worship song, and use your work breaks to have a little talk with Jesus. Study the Bible and memorize God’s promises including Jesus’ Second Coming.
Our mental, emotional, and physical conditions are reliant on our spiritual status. Unless we commune with God daily, eat nutritious healthy food, exercise, and get proper sleep, our minds and bodies will not function properly. We will lose the mental acuity that is required to have an in-depth study of the Bible. Our prayer life will consist of a few murmuring words. And we will not have the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to discern God’s truth from false teachings.
“Each person is morally responsible for his or her own destiny. Judgment is when God finalizes the choice that we made to accept or reject Him. Our earthly lives manifest that choice as evidenced by our works.” SDA SS 2022 Q4 Lesson 13—The Judging Process.
Heaven is real! Perilous times are here. Give Jesus your heart, soul, and mind. And you will be transformed day by day into His likeness. Pray without ceasing to our Lord and Savior who is in heaven as our Intercessor. Our reward awaits us when He comes again.
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” –Revelation 22:20-21
Prayer: God, in the chaos of our lives, we have not prayed and studied the Scriptures to learn Your truth. And for this, we ask forgiveness. We pray for the anointing, presence, and power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, we desperately need You. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer. In Jesus’ Worthy name, we pray. Amen.
Historically, the United States Marine Corps had a catchphrase, The Few, The Proud, Always Faithful. The Corps has always boasted that only those who achieve excellence [which requires going beyond human strength] become Marines.
As an outsider looking in, I am challenging their proclamation that becoming a Marine is the highest victory that one can achieve in life. Yes, they withstood the grueling environments, but once they have completed their enlistment or retirement from the Corps, they can live according to their dictates.
The Toughest Journey in Life: Christianity Requires Human Effort Plus Divine Intervention to Succeed Because Our Spiritual Journey lasts a Lifetime. Once we become soldiers in the Army of God, we are always soldiers [if we remain faithful].
Accepting Jesus as our personal Savior with earnest conviction is Conversion. And then the grueling journey begins! Endurance and perseverance through the hard times of suffering that may last for months or years is God’s spiritual process of Sanctification which takes a lifetime.
Jesus forewarned what would happen when we decided to become a soldier in God’s Army: “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world, you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] –John 16:33, Amplified Bible.
Military soldiers complete their enlistment unless they receive an early honorable [based on medical diagnoses] or a dishonorable discharge. AWOL–Not completing one’s enlistment time is a criminal act.
Becoming a Christian does not mean one will stay a Christian. The Apostle Paul tells us there will be a great apostasy–falling away from God before Jesus comes.
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled …Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition…(2 Thessalonians 2:1-3).
The continuous cycle of unexpected harsh trials or chasing carnal desires causes many to fall away. We do not understand that our characters are being changed for a perfect and holy life for eternity. Suffering is the way we can become righteous. Those who fail to endure trials and tribulations will not receive their heavenly reward of eternal life.
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
Yet the Apostle John says there is another group of Christians who made it first on the long list of sinners–the cowards—those who are fearful will also miss out on eternal life. Those who deny Christ, as evidenced by their cowardly actions–take the side of the opposers by verbal agreement or remain silent when controversial subjects such as pro-choice arise. Cowardly Christians do not stand for the truth around their friends because they fear rejection.
An example of falling away: Living a double life by attending church weekly but sinning on demand because you love pleasure. God will not interfere in our decision not to serve Him.
Some situations call for immediate spiritual intervention. Christians who become overwhelmed with their trials and those who are confused about the Biblical truth because they do not understand the role of the Holy Spirit are the first to fall away from God. Praying for yourself must be done first, but additional spiritual counseling from a pastor or a fellow believer who is a steadfast prayer warrior is also needed.
When fear overpowers our minds, it indicates a loss of faith in God. Christians who fear persecution from unbelievers, rejection from family members and friends, do not believe angels keep us safe by fighting spiritual warfare, are afraid of spontaneous demon possession, and fear the Second Coming of Jesus are just a few examples of cowardice.
Because fear is based on our mental perception, not even therapeutic counseling can eliminate our fear. Sadly, fearful Christians are at the highest risk for apostasy. Only faith can erase fear!
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” –2 Timothy 1:7.
The Apostle Paul mentored young Timothy as Pastor of the Early Church. When Paul was imprisoned, Timothy was afraid that he would also have to endure persecution. Paul’s spiritual reminder to Timothy was a loving but stern rebuke reminding him of our spiritual gifts and responsibilities to Christ.
God does not expect us to do the impossible. He never created us to bear our earthly burdens without Jesus’ Divine Intervention. When we are at our limits, trapped by out-of-control emotions, and ready to give up, pray, Jesus, I cannot stay on this journey without Your help.
Something happens when we call on the name of Jesus for help—the Holy Spirit arrives immediately, and extra angels are sent from heaven to fight the spiritual warfare we are going through. Study Daniel chapter 9.
When you are ready to throw your Christianity–relationship with Jesus away, go to a quiet place to be alone and take a bottle of water with you. Drink the water. And then pray and cry out to Jesus, our Lord and Savior. His promise, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:8). Close your eyes and believe that your prayer has been sent faster than the speed of light to Jesus, Our Heavenly Intercessor.
If you quietly wait, you will feel the rush of a Mighty Wind–the Holy Spirit imparting spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical strength to your mind and body. And then make certain that you pray a prayer of gratitude.
To my brothers and sisters, I am not writing a fictional story or referencing biblical history. This is my testimony of a meltdown experience today. I felt that the vicissitudes in my life were too overwhelming. And I reacted first instead of praying immediately. Still, through my tears, I began to ask Jesus for His help. The power of God brought spiritual strength to my mind and body. I started singing, grabbed my laptop, and started writing these words of encouragement.
We do not have to be ashamed of our weaknesses. Yet, we must present ourselves to Jesus through prayer.
Yes, the struggle is real, but Victory through Jesus is guaranteed! We have come too far to give up. Praying several times a day during peaceful times enables us to develop a lifestyle of prayer and reliance on God. Even when the overwhelming trials come, our first response will be to pray. Jesus never fails!
Bible Study: John chapter 17
Prayer: God, we thank You for your Love and Divine Intervention. We bring our burdens to You in faith. We know that You will take them and will deliver us. We pray for the patience to wait on Your timing. Anoint us with the power of the Holy Spirit so we can view life through spiritual eyes. For Yours is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory. In Jesus’ name, we have victory. Hallelujah! Amen!
Devotional Reading–No Bible Study Equals the Practice of False Teachings
There has always been a dividing line among Christians–those who believe in God and obey Him and those who believe in God, yet do not obey Him. But in the past five years, something extraordinary has developed and escalated to disproportionate numbers–we now have Christians who do not believe studying the Bible is necessary for Salvation and Sanctification.
Fact: “All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]…2 Timothy 3:16
The entire Bible–Old and New Testament was given to holy men by God.
False Teachings: We do not have to study the Old Testament. The Ten Commandments are no longer valid including the Creation seventh-day Sabbath. Immortality is given when humans die. All people except the extremely wicked will go to heaven. Attending church once a week indicates that we are doing our part in the plan of Salvation.
Fact: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” –Psalm 119:105
We require daily spiritual guidance from God. Without instruction, we slip into darkness because we no longer need to be led by the Voice of God.
Fact: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17).
Sanctification is daily spiritual growth–conversion and transformation into the likeness of Christ [His Character]. The human effort of worshipping God through prayer, diligent Bible study, and surrender and obedience to the will of God is a lifetime spiritual journey.
False Beliefs: Since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we do not have to do anything additional to be led by God. If I memorize the Scriptures, then I do not have to keep studying–Head knowledge is placed as a priority over a heart-to-heart relationship with Christ.
Fact: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.…” James 1:22-24, BSB
Fact: “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). We cannot rely on self-rule.
Fact: “And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you” (Mark 7:20-23).
False Beliefs: God understands that we cannot live holy. Since we are covered by God’s grace, just repent for your sins that you can’t stop doing.
Fact: “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…'” (Genesis 1:26).
Yes, we were created in the image of God. Still, we are not demigods. Our minds are finite with great limitations. We require daily guidance, wisdom, and discernment that only comes from the Holy Spirit–we ask for these things through prayer. The spiritual warfare that we face every day is fought by our guardian angels [Read Psalm chapter 91].
Fact: “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)
To know God’s thoughts and ways, we rely on our Teacher’s daily anointing and guidance–the Holy Spirit who discerns the Scriptures and instructs us in our daily lives to do our Heavenly Father’s will.
Fact: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
The issue of our spiritual standing with God is serious. Jesus says that we must depend on Him to bear fruit–righteous thoughts, actions, and living.
Obedience is humanity’s greatest obstacle. We cannot live according to our desires and expect to receive the reward that Jesus promised. Christ explains that our dependency on Him is like becoming a little child with faith and trust in their parents. Having a thriving relationship with Jesus is easy when it flows from the love in our hearts.
Fact: I Am Coming Quickly! “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!'” (Revelation 22:20).
The times we live in are perilous. Evaluate your priorities. God must be first! Our time of 24 hours is sufficient to perform our activities of daily living and to have time to worship God every day.
Daily Worship is not an option for Christian believers. We must have a steadfast relationship with Jesus Christ. Make a covenant promise to fully surrender and obey God. Pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit–Our Teacher to possess wisdom and discernment of the Holy Scriptures. Study to learn the character of God, His promises, and His expectations for us to live righteously.
Prayer: God, we confess that we have not studied the Scriptures. We ask for forgiveness of our stubborn hearts. Anoint us with Your Holy Spirit. We thank You and give You the honor and glory that You deserve. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Devotional Reading—The Worship Hierarchy—Bless the Lord
Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, Bless His holy name! –Psalm 103:1
When we look at God’s Hierarchy, God, the Father, Jesus Christ, His Son, the Holy Spirit, the angels, humanity, and animals, it is evident that God created His Kingdom based upon a “We” [collective] standard. We were created from love and to have healthy interdependent relationships with the Trinity Godhead and with each other.
The individualistic mindset of “I” was not a concept of God’s original plan and will never exist in the spiritual realm. Placing oneself as a priority produces a selfish heart and distorts our outlook on life. Striving to place himself as one of the Trinity Godhead, Lucifer’s prideful heart brought chaos into heaven.
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him (Revelation 12:7-9, ESV)
The repercussions of Lucifer’s sins of pride and disobedience have infiltrated humanity, resulting in an internal conflict between God’s hierarchy and Satan’s hierarchy for thousands of years. As a result of our acceptance of the worldview of individualism, we are plagued with mental and emotional issues of low self-value, anxiety, worries, discontentment, and discouragement.
Many people are wandering through life without a sense of spiritual purpose so they attempt to calm their inner fears and turmoil by chasing after material possessions and engaging in unhealthy relationships. Despite the negative consequences of placing oneself as a priority, many accept the worldview of individualism as evidence of strength and empowerment.
Collectivist: relating to the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it.
The Biblical Worldview: “Now the LORD God said, “It is not good (beneficial) for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper [one who balances him—a counterpart who is] suitable and complementary for him” (Genesis 2:18).
Throughout the Bible, we have evidence [God’s numerous promises] that God did not create us to be alone nor has He ever left us to fend for ourselves.
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
“I will never leave you or forsake you “I will send you the Helper from the Father” (John 15:26).
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.” “So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not fear, what can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
God’s original plan is for us to live in harmony with His precepts. In the book of Malachi, God says that He never changes.
Have the Attitude of Christ
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” –Philippians 2:3-5, NLT
Jesus’ life of blessing others revealed His love and the desire to bless God by always giving His Father glory and honor. Jesus created us to love God, love others, and love ourselves—which is the only hierarchy that God approves of. Our Savior’s life was one of self-sacrifice. Jesus lived to help others by teaching them the love of God and providing the necessity of food along with spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical healing. Remember that Jesus, the Son of Man always put God, His Father first, and then the needs of others. Never once, did Christ place Himself above others.
Perform a self-evaluation of your mindset and values. Are they in alignment with the Biblical Worldview of collectivism? Yes, God has given us free will of choice. We can live according to our worldviews and interpretation of God’s Truth, yet, our individual choice will impact our destiny of receiving the reward of eternal life. The world as we know it, with the conflicting worldview of individualism, “Looking out for number one” will not have a place in the Kingdom of God in the New Heaven and New Earth.
Changing our mindset from I to We requires humility and obedience. With God, all things are possible. Jesus has promised to finish the work in us [Philippians 1:6] if we do our part in striving after righteousness. Live to serve! Placing the needs of others as a priority is an outward sign of the internal condition of our hearts. Our love for God is evidenced by blessing others. God is truly blessed by our desire to bring honor and glory to Him. “Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits…” (Psalm 103:2).
Bible Study: Matthew chapter 5, verses 1-12
Prayer: God, we have lost our way by accepting worldviews that conflict with Your precepts to live righteously. And for this sin, we ask forgiveness. We pray for a change of heart that we will live to bless others as You did. Thank You for loving us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Most of us have reached a crossroads in our lives when we faced a health or financial crisis impacting ourselves or a family member. At that point, we realize that the situation is critical and that only Christ can resolve the dilemma. We cry out in prayer, “Lord, help me! Yet, a major barrier still exists–our faithlessness in God. Most likely, we are asking for the crisis to be resolved not for God to save our souls.
Three men in the Scriptures demonstrated that they faithfully believed in Jesus Christ.
King David: “In Your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; Incline Your ear to me and save me” (Psalm 71:2).
The blind beggar: “So he called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Those who led the way admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (Luke 18:38-39)
The thief on the cross: “Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom’” (Luke 23:42).
Faith is active. Faith is intentional. Faith is a lifestyle of acknowledging the power of God every day. Faith places us in a posture of worship. Faith proclaims that my heart and life are committed to Jesus Christ. Faith causes us to surrender in humility to the power of God as demonstrated by our desire to obey God in all circumstances. Faith causes us to cry out, “Lord save me!” even when our lives are peaceful and all is well.
In these last days, where do many believers stand in their relationship with Christ?
Jesus answers the question: “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked…’” (Revelation 3:17)
Sadly, in these perilous times, many Christians are empty lamps—they do not have the oil of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. Their light no longer shines because they are content with their lifestyles. Gone are the days when they had the zeal to witness to others or to use their spiritual gifts and financial blessings to help others.
Faith requires human effort to grow!
The reward of eternal life will only be given to the righteous who strived through the good times and hardships to remain faithful to God through daily surrender, humility, and obedience. Commit to meaningful worship through fervent prayer and study of the Scriptures in your secret closet every day.
Bible Study: Luke chapter 18
Prayer: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us! Search our hearts and reveal the stumbling blocks that keep us from surrendering to You. We pray for forgiveness for the sin of being lukewarm in our relationship with You. We love You and surrender our hearts in total obedience. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of Jesus, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
You must be logged in to post a comment.