Faith Love Loyalty – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Enjoy His Presence – Sabbath Peace and Blessings!

Faith Is Not Blind – Faith Is Intentional

“I spoke my message with spiritual power so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.” (2 Corinthians 2:4-5, GW)

The Apostle Paul’s message to the members of the Church in Corinth is a reminder that it is God’s Word and His Power that strengthens our faith.

God does not ask us to have blind faith, He has already given us so many reasons to believe:

God’s Love is evident through the Divine Gift of His Son, Jesus Christ; we pray and immediately receive His Help; and Yahweh Yireh freely gives us the daily Blessings of life, health, strength, provisions, and protection from His Army of guardian angels.

“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). And, we have a sound mind with the ability to reason and make prudent choices.

And yet, even with all these blessings, we choose doubt over faithfully trusting God. How do we get past the obstacle of doubting God?

We were given a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). Every day, we use our faith to believe and trust in human thoughts and strategies.

“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7). Letting go of the unbeliever’s practice of self-reliance, which always excludes God is not as easy as we think.

Overcoming the Stronghold: Relying on human wisdom satisfies the sin of Pride hidden deep within our hearts.

To have steadfast faith in God requires the humility to redirect our faith and focus from human wisdom and artificial intelligence, back to God.

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13). This command cannot be obeyed without receiving Divine Strength from the Holy Spirit.

Each new day brings distractions and temptations that we will not recognize and overcome unless, we surrender ourselves to God, asking the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and strengthen our faith.

Requisite for Intentional Faith: Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures

The Bible tells us that God is Eternal, Holy, Sovereign, and has Absolute Power and Authority:

“Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: ‘Who is this that obscures my plans
with words without knowledge. Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. ‘Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?'” (Job 38:1-4, NIV).

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'” (Matthew 28:18).

Yes, trusting God requires that we have Scriptural knowledge of God’s Sovereignty, still there is so much more to learn about God’s Character:

God Is Omniscient: “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).

God Is Love: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3, Amplified Bible).

Our Heavenly Father has a tender, responsive and forgiving heart that Loves, Cares, Helps, Protects, and Provides for His [obedient] Sons and Daughters.

God’s Proclamation: “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).

Scriptural knowledge provides the Spiritual Foundation to build a strong faith and trust in God, but we must also honor God by using our faith to believe that God is Who He says He is.

The Invitation: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the Throne of Grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16).

The Promise: “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” (Ezekiel 36:26, NLT).

Committing to follow Jesus with faithful obedience results in a spiritual heart transplant. Our faith invites the Holy Spirit to convert our heart, connecting us to Jesus’ Heart.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28, ESV).

As long as we use our faith to trust and obey God’s Plans for our lives, the Holy Spirit keeps us anchored in Christ, resulting in an unbreakable relationship with our Shepherd.

Humility Cures Worldliness: “So place yourselves under God’s authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.” (James 4:7, GW).

Reflection: How often do you have personal worship? Praying, Studying the Bible, Singing, and Thanking God for His Abundant Blessings?

“Could it be that we too need a spiritual renovation, a genuine, real, moment-by-moment walk with God?”

Using our faith, every morning, we must put on our Spiritual Armor [Ephesians 6].

“But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6, Amplified Bible).

Although we participate in Family Worship, we should practice the habit of “Separation, Solitude, and Silence.” Our daily journey with Jesus is sustained by having an intimate one-to-one relationship with Him.

Spiritual Bread: “Give us this day our daily bread. Beyond physical food, it is a prayer to partake of Christ, who is the ‘Bread of Life.'”

“As physical food strengthens our bodies daily, we must also feed every day on the Word of God through the Holy Spirit to renew our souls.”

Every morning and evening, separate yourself from all distractions, praying for the forgiveness of your sins, which is required for us to enter into God’s Holy Presence.

Our willingness to surrender to faithfully follow Jesus is rewarded by God, the Holy Spirit, who renews our mind, body, and soul with the refreshing Living Water of Jesus Christ, giving us increased faith, wisdom, discernment, and strength.

Spiritual growth and transformation of our mind and character into the Righteousness of Christ cannot be accomplished through weekly Church attendance.

The time spent in personal worship praying, praising, and thanking God along with studying the Bible, affirms and strengthens our faith, preparing us for an eternity of worshiping God, the Father and God, the Son [Jesus Christ]. Yes and Amen!

“I have decided to follow Jesus, and there is no turning back!”

Lord God, we confess that our faith is weak because we have used our thoughts and limited perceptions to attempt to navigate through life. And for this sin against You, we ask for forgiveness. Thank You, for Your love and faithfulness, and our abundant daily blessings. Lord, in faith, we come to You, asking for restoration and a new beginning in our Journey with Jesus. With humility, we express the desire to surrender and renew our covenant of faith. And we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Loving and Righteous Name, Amen.

Responding to Christ’s Love

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh [tender and responsive].” (Ezekiel 36:26).

“Those who love Jesus and appreciate His great sacrifice receive from the Savior the most precious of all gifts—a clean heart.”

Spiritually, the heart represents our mind: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5).

How did Jesus Christ think? “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” (John 8:29).

When we love Jesus, our Shepherd, we follow Him with total surrender and faithful obedience. Our hearts respond to His Agape Love with love, tenderness, and the desire to have the Character of Christ [Galatians 5:22-24].

Every day, we must strive to be loyal to God. Instead of chasing earthly treasures, success, pleasures, and relationships that pull us away from Christ, we refuse to participate in the sinful habits and lifestyles that unbelievers easily practice.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”(2 Timothy 1:7, BSB). When Christ created us, He gave us the spiritual gift of Self-Control, which gives us the ability to practice spiritual discipline, saying, No, to sin.

But, we were not created to fight against the natural desires of our hearts and overcome Satan’s temptations without Jesus’ Divine Intervention; every day, we must ask for His Strength.

When facing challenges, our first response should be a prayer asking for Heavenly Help. Jesus Christ, our Intercessor receives our prayers, answering through the Holy Spirit.

“Pray continuously!” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Although we have daily personal worship of Prayer and Bible Study, praying 1-2 times a day is never enough to live righteously and to fight against spiritual warfare.

The Commitment To Live As a Prayer Warrior

“Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the Throne of Grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive Mercy and find [His amazing] Grace to help in time of need” [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]. (Hebrews 4:16, Amplified Bible).

The Life of a Prayer Warrior: Before making decisions, facing difficulties, and even in the routine duties of life, always pray, and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance.

At work, school, social activities, and even while driving or walking, we should whisper silent prayers. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go…” (Psalm 32:8, ESV).

With humility, we ask the Holy Spirit to guide our steps, protect us [and our family and friends] against physical danger, and to give us the discernment to recognize the spiritual warfare of deception, and the strength to overcome temptations.

Every day, we face unknown circumstances that we should not attempt to resolve. To strengthen our faith, we desperately need to stay close to Christ. Always pray to be empowered with Jesus’ Wisdom and Strength.

The Responsive Heart: “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14). Pray and wait for God’s answer.

Whatever the circumstances, never feel pressured into making immediate decisions. God is Omniscient, All-Knowing; God knows every detail of our lives and He is never in a hurry.

“Be still and now that I am God.” (Psalm 46:1).

God’s timing is never our timing. Do not follow your thoughts or emotions. God never needs our help, He requires our steadfast faith, trust, patience, courage, and obedience.

“I will guide you.” How do we know that it is God’s answer and not our thoughts? God’s Answers reveal His Truth, Righteous Character, Honor Him, and always end with Perfect Outcomes.

“I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13).

Through personal worship, day by day, the Holy Spirit transforms our mind, character, and personality into the likeness of Christ.

Prayer keeps us connected to Christ, resulting in a responsive heart that is spiritually aligned with the heart of Christ.

With a tender and responsive heart, we receive the blessings of Christ’s Wisdom to perceive life through spiritual eyes, and His Life-Sustaining Power to think, speak, and live as the righteous Sons and Daughters of God. Yes and Amen!

“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:4-5, NIV).

Lord God, we thank You for this new day of life and we ask You for a pure heart, a heart that loves You, a heart that is responsive, teachable, loyal, and always willing to trust and obey Your plans for our lives. Thank You for your Amazing Love, Grace, and Mercy. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Thank You, God – Worshiping With Grateful Hearts

“This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:21-23).

Today, I took time to meditate on God’s Amazing Love and Faithfulness. God gifted me with many blessings this week, and as I reflected on His countless mercies, there were so many that it brought tears to my eyes.

The breath flowing through my Respiratory System is God’s Ruach breath. My heart beats a regular rhythm and my brain ensures that my internal organs maintain homeostasis [the body’s automatic, self-regulating process of maintaining a stable, balanced internal environment despite changing external conditions].

Each new day, I awakened alert and oriented, emotionally stable, and with good physical health. From praying and studying the Bible, with confidence, I know that God loves me, provided my necessities, and protected me from physical danger and spiritual warfare.

As each day progressed, I did not have to worry or wonder if I would have food, clothing, and a safe place to sleep. My home is clean, providing shelter and safety from the changing elements.

If it rains, I look out of my window, never thinking about the need to look for shelter and when the Floridian temperature escalates to 90 degrees, my air conditioner provides an ambient temperature, keeping my home cool and comfy.

And one of my greatest blessings, that I do not take for granted, is Religious Liberty. I have the freedom to worship God without fear of retaliation.

As if all of those blessings are not enough, the greatest blessing I received is the free gift of Salvation. “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19).

As I continued to reflect on God’s Love, I felt ashamed of the times that I complain, or desire more than God has blessed me with.

Every day, our Heavenly Father gives us countless blessings that we take for granted, never thinking to whisper, God, thank You, yet He remains Loving, Gracious, and Faithful.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17, NIV).

We only have one gift to give to Jesus Christ, our Triumphant King, and that is our heart filled with love, humility, surrender, faithful obedience, and gratitude.

Lord God, we love You and thank You for Your Abiding Love. We ask for forgiveness for taking your gifts of love for granted. As we enter the Holy Sabbath, we express our love and appreciation for taking care of us this week and keeping us out of harm’s way. We ask for the spiritual blessings of wisdom and strength and with immense gratitude, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Preparing For An Eternal Life of Worshiping God, Begins Now

Accepting Christ Makes Us Heirs of His Grace

“Remind them…to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men…” (Titus 3:1-2)

Every day, our thoughts, behaviors, habits, and lifestyle reveals if we are living a sanctified life of faithful obedience, preparing for an eternity of worshiping God.

God’s Gift of Salvation and Redemption; Titus 3:4-7:

“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done,”

“but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration [rebirth] and renewing of the Holy Spirit…”

“whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Through daily personal worship, we reveal our love, loyalty, faith, and trust in God, demonstrated by a life of daily surrender and obedience to God’s plans.

Self-governance and self-reliance, the bitter fruits of pride, cannot be present in the hearts of Christ’s dedicated followers.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8).

Jesus tells us that we cannot use our thoughts to follow Him on the Narrow Path of Righteousness, which requires a sacrificial life of self-denial and dedication to Christ, our Shepherd.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14, NIV).

Preparing One Day At a Time For Eternity With God

The Prayer of Humility: “Lord God, reveal to us everything that is standing in the way of worshiping You in surrender and with faithful obedience. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.”

Always Hold On To God’s Hand

“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

Every morning, pray a prayer of gratitude for the new day and ask the Holy Spirit to give you the wisdom to recognize God’s Voice speaking to you.

Because we face the unknown, we ask for God’s guidance whether we are facing life-changing circumstances, or insignificant challenges.

When we put our complete faith and trust in God, the Holy Spirit will give us the spiritual strength to live as faithful overcomers in the strength of Jesus Christ.

“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” (John 8:29).

Pray over every aspect of your life. Ask God to show you what He wants you to do. Faithful obedience is the only way that we can please God and receive His directions.

Keeping your focus on Jesus prevents fear and anxiety from becoming a stronghold in your mind. Trust in God’s promises and move forward in Jesus’ Strength! Yes and Amen!

Bible Study: Memorize Isaiah 41:10.

Lord God, teach us how to redirect our faith and focus back to your Love and Power. From thinking our own thoughts and focusing on life’s ever-changing circumstances, our faith is weak. Lord, we ask for strength. Restore our joy and peace and teach us how to place our faith and trust only in You. We commit to holding Your hand and never letting go as You guide us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness. In faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Powerful Name, Amen.

Pray! God Always Answers Our Prayers

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear [revere] Him…” (Psalm 103: 8, 11).

Every day, we must make decisions and choices that should always include God’s Divine wisdom. With God, our faith grows, and our minds are filled with peace, because we know that our Heavenly Father will always give us a perfect outcome.

Maintaining a spirit of gratitude, praying, and studying the Holy Scriptures are daily faith-building activities, giving us knowledge of God’s Character and His steadfast Promises. Daily personal worship indicates that we are actively participating in our journey of spiritual growth and development.

Loving God gives us the desire to be in His presence. Personal worship not only reveals our love and loyalty to God, but also invites the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual wisdom and discernment of the Scriptures and the strength to live righteously.

In John 14:1-3, Jesus reveals the expected end for the faithful, believers who let go of their desires and the world’s treasures and pleasures to follow Christ. God has gifted everyone a measure of faith. Either we use our faith to believe in ourselves, or in God.

Jesus compared “faith” to a mustard seed. The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, yet it is…” considered strong, hardy, and resilient, and capable of withstanding harsh conditions and providing shade.” By trusting God, the Holy Spirit keeps us aligned with God’s Divine purpose of Eternal Life.

To remain on the narrow Path of Righteousness, we use our faith to trust that Christ is the King of our lives, and we study the Bible with the intent to obey: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17).

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, NIV).

The Holy Scriptures reveal God’s promises and faithfulness in helping the righteous; still, we need more than knowledge of the Scriptures, faith requires the childlike belief of, “If God said it, He will do it.”

“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.” (John 16:33, Amplified Bible).

Hardships are guaranteed to happen. All is well, and then it isn’t. If we choose Christ, then we are never alone. In faith, we ask God for His help and guidance, and in the same prayer, we thank God for His intervention.

God never expected us to carry the burdens of life that we readily take ownership of, wearing ourselves down to the point of mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion. Burdens also prevent spiritual growth and restoration because they cause us to lose our faith in God.

“Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10). God commands us to “Cease striving.” Our Loving Heavenly Father does not require us to resolve our challenges; God requires us to have steadfast faith in His promises to always help us.

When we pray for help, if God desires our participation in the resolution, the Holy Spirit will guide us in understanding what we need to do. However, in many cases, God simply asks us to have faith and patiently wait for His intervention.

In fact, God tells us that He has already answered our prayer of faith: “I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” (Isaiah 65:24, NLT).

You may think, “But God has not answered my prayer because nothing has changed.”

God is Omniscient [All-Knowing], so He already knows every adversity we will face in our lifetime. And His answers to our challenges have existed, even before we were conceived.

“Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14). God’s timing is never our timing. We live in an environment of immediate answers and resolutions, but God uses the time of waiting to test our faith in Him.

“Would not God discover this? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44:21). Although we say that we believe in God’s power, God already knows whether our faith is weak and wavering or strong and steadfast.

Waiting on God places us at a Spiritual Crossroads. Either we will choose to place 100% of our faith and wait with gratitude for the anticipated resolution, or we will attempt to resolve the challenge ourselves.

The Big Reveal: Waiting on God has two purposes: Waiting is a powerful act of faithful obedience, and waiting reveals whether or not we really believe in and trust God’s love, power, and promises.

During the wait, if we have anxious, worried thoughts about our challenges, wondering how and when God will intervene, then our hearts are filled with doubt and unbelief.

“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!'” (Mark 9:24).

Jesus is our Savior and Heavenly Intercessor whose heart is filled with love and compassion, and He knows our weaknesses. With humility, we pray an honest prayer of confession: “God, my faith is weak, but I believe that You love me and will keep Your promises to help me.”

Reflection: What is your knowledge base of God’s promises? We should know at least 3-4 Promises of God, and meditate on them every day.

Christ is our Savior, Redeemer, Intercessor, Provider, and Protector!

“I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). Trusting in God’s promises of never abandoning us, and believing that God is faithful, always keeping His promises, gives us hope even when facing harsh adversity.

“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.” (Lamentations 3:25-26).

Steadfast faith in God also gives us the confidence that He always answers our prayers. God knows exactly what we need and when we need it. Weak faith? Pray anyway!

“Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and went out to a solitary place to pray.” (Mark 1:35).

Separation, Solitude, and Silence: In personal worship, we need to hear from God. “…go to a private, secluded, secret place to pray, God is there in that secret place.” Whisper the short prayer of humility: ‘Lord, I need Your help.”

“But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6).

Close your eyes, meditate on God’s love and promises. The Bible reveals that it is in the quiet places where the Holy Spirit enters, giving us comfort and guidance, and empowering us with Jesus’ strength.

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'” (Isaiah 41:10).

God asks, “Is there anything too hard for ME?”

We were created to rely on God and to have a mind filled with peace. How can we not trust God?

God is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory! God asks, Is there anything too hard for ME?

Like a child who trusts their parents, we simply trust God because “He is the Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnibenevolent, Sovereign God and we are not.”

At some point, in our Christian experience, we will face adversity that human effort cannot resolve. But why wait until extreme hardships enter our lives to trust God?

Surrendering control and self-reliance to God requires courage; and because of our obedience, God rewards us with perfect peace and victorious outcomes!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).

Lord God, we thank You for being Yahweh Yireh, God, our Provider. We thank You for always being faithful, although we are not faithful to You. Lord, we desperately need Your help and we thank You in advance for Your Divine Intervention. With faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

The LORD Is a Great God! Sabbath Peace and Blessings

“For the Lord is the great God…Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.” (Psalm 95:3, 1-2).

Today is the last day of January, 2026. Because of God’s amazing Love and Mercies, we are still alive! How do we return our love for all that we receive from God?

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.” (Psalm 95:6-7).

The commitment of personal daily worship, Prayer, Bible Study, and Singing praises of gratitude reveals our love, loyalty, and reverence for God, whose Love, Grace, Mercies, and Provisions flow abundantly.

“Heaven is waiting to [give] its richest blessings upon those who will consecrate themselves to do the work of God in these Last Days of the world’s history.”

The richest blessings that we need to live as victorious overcomers are not material possessions, wealth, and success. We require the daily empowerment of the Holy Spirit to stay on the Path of Righteousness that leads from Earth to Heaven.

Lord God, You have Sovereign Authority over our lives, this earth, and the universe. We come to You in humility, surrendering ourselves to You, and asking for the spiritual blessings of peace, wisdom, and the strength to persevere in this tough journey of life filled with obstacles, temptations, and dangers. Yet, because of Your love, we have safety. Lord, you promised to never leave us or forsake us; and we believe in Your promises that when we run to You, we will have refuge because You are a Strong Tower. Lord, we seek the blessings of spiritual restoration, peace, contentment, and joy, as we worship You on this Holy Sabbath Day. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

God Never Sees a Situation As Impossible

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).

We use our faith to believe that God is who He says He is: Loving and Omnipotent [All-Powerful], and YAHWEH Yireh [Our Provider]. Trusting God is easy when we are confident that He loves us and desires the best for our lives.

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

Unbelieving Believers: Believing only that God exists in Heaven happens when we redirect our faith and trust from God to ourselves. Sadly, many feel unloved by God because they trust their limited abilities to resolve life’s challenges.

When we doubt God’s Love, Power, and Promises, we place ourselves on the same spiritual status as unbelievers, who consistently play The Game of Chance with their lives, always experiencing consequences, and never having peace.

Although God created us to depend totally on His thoughts, plans, and help, He never forces us to love, obey, and trust Him. We are free to choose the course of our lives and whether or not we desire Eternal Life.

Self-Reliance Is The Weed that Produces Discouragement and Consequences

“Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.” (Proverbs 28:26, ESV). Wisdom is a blessing that only comes from obeying God.

Ouch! Although God’s words sound harsh, because we have placed our thoughts above God’s higher thoughts and ways [Isaiah 55:8-9], we need a spiritual reality check to come to our senses.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, NIV).

God is not punitive. Satan is the evil one who brings chaos and confusion into our lives. Every day, Satan mistreats unbelievers according to his diabolical schemes.

“The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:7-8, ESV).

But for the believer’s striving to follow Christ with faithful obedience, Elohim Shomri places protective boundaries around us. Study Psalm 91.

In John 16:33, Jesus warns us that we will face overwhelming trials that only He can resolve. Every day, we can build our faith by praying for guidance in resolving our small obstacles, so when the tsunami trial hits, our first response is a prayer of Faith: Lord, You promised that if I come to You in faith, You will help me.

We never have to perceive challenges and adversity as impossible if we acknowledge that Jesus Christ is our Shepherd and follow Him with faith, surrender, and obedience.

“We are the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3) reveals that “Christ is our Creator and Shepherd, who leads, provides, and protects His people (us) with abundant blessings and care of His presence, calling us to joyful worship and gratitude for His unending love and faithfulness. It emphasizes our belonging to Him, acknowledging our dependence on Him for guidance and provision in life.”

To remain in right standing with God, we are required to love God by putting Him first; No one, including ourselves, should come before God. Our highest worship is faithful obedience.

Returning to God Is a Life-Saving Decision: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).

Prayer of Confession: “God, my faith is weak because I have been trusting in myself instead of You, and for my self-reliance, and not trusting You, I ask for forgiveness.”

God’s Response: “I will answer them before they even call to Me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” (Isaiah 65:24, NLT).

“It is possible for us to do our best and still not see the light at the end of the tunnel. But that is because we have limited human ability.”

The Journey of Faith requires the courage to completely trust God with everything. Humility is the Key that Opens the Door of Faith: Even when we think that we can resolve our challenges, we redirect our faith, asking God to intervene.

Pray and involve God in every decision! Our Daily Prayer: LORD, I don’t know what I will face today, but You know. I believe that Your Power is Unlimited, and I desperately need Your Help. In Jesus’ Powerful Name, Amen.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). “God’s power is most evident when we admit our own inadequacy; embracing weakness opens the door for the Holy Spirit to empower us with Jesus’ Divine Strength.”

“God specializes in situations that human eyes [our minds] perceive as impossible. God is the God Who reveals that impossibilities are His specialty; He makes a way where there seems to be no way!”

“For the individuals who hold on to their faith in God, believing in His Unlimited Power, are the people who receive God’s greatest blessings and miracles.” Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we come to You confessing and repenting for using our gift of faith to trust in ourselves. We admit that we have embraced a stubborn spirit of self-reliance. Lord, we have tried every option, but our solutions have failed. We stand at the crossroads, knowing that we are helpless; Lord, we desperately need Your Help! We thank You for hearing and answering our prayer of need that we ask in faith and in the Powerful Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Bible Study: Mark 9:14-29.