Faith Love Loyalty – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Our Life Matters To God

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”

2 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it is not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

3 “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3).

God desires the best for us; He wants us to have a relationship with His Son, God, Jesus Christ; to know and do what is right; to live righteously, and to know and obey His One and Only Truth in the Holy Bible.

Because of the hardships in our spiritual journey with Jesus, we may become discouraged or disappointed, but if we feel that our life does not matter to God, then we are in a Spiritual Crisis.

To understand God, the Father, and God, Jesus, the Son’s phenomenal love requires that we maintain a heart-to-Heart relationship with Jesus Christ through daily personal worship.

“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 Vine: Jesus represents the Source of Life, Strength, and Power.” “The Branches: Believers must stay attached to the Source.” “Bearing Fruit: Doing good works and living a faithful life happens naturally only when staying close to Jesus.”

“Staying Connected: To “abide” means to keep a close, daily relationship with Him through faith, trust, obedience, prayer, and Bible Study.”

To abide in Christ requires using our faith to follow Him and live a sacrificial life of self-denial. Study Romans 12:1-2.

Put God First: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” To stay connected to God, we must love God and dedicate ourselves to follow Jesus Christ, our Faithful Shepherd, with surrender and obedience.

“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…It will be health to your flesh [mind and body], And strength to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8).

Becoming weary and feeling as if we are carrying the weight of the world reveals that we have excluded God.

By attempting to use our thoughts and strategies to navigate through life, we have separated ourselves from the Divine Source of All Knowledge, Wisdom, and Strength.

Jesus tells us, “…you can do nothing without me.” Our spiritual journey of growth and transformation cannot be accomplished without Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.

“It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24).

We desperately need to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to empower us with wisdom and strength. Because we must eat physical food every day, we must also pray daily, asking for wisdom and strength.

Nothing creates discouragement and despair like a decision that leads to facing unnecessary consequences. Yet we do not have to live the chaotic life of unbelievers, who will never enjoy Jesus’ Gifts of Peace and Contentment.

Resolution To Our Spiritual Crisis: We Make The Commitment to Redirect Our Faith and Focus Back To El Roi

El Roi (אֵל רֳאִי), translates to “The God Who sees me” or “The God Who sees.” Jesus knows every challenge and every adversity that will happen in our lifespan.

“I will never leave you or forsake you.” Jesus is committed to resolving life’s routine challenges and the unexpected hardships, but we must choose to include Him. Accepting Jesus as our Savior also means the commitment to follow Him; we pray, ask for help, and obey His instructions, waiting patiently for His resolution.

“Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you” [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. (1 Peter 5:7, Amplified Bible).

The Prayer: ” Lord God, today guide me in my decision-making and give me the strength to keep moving forward.”

Faith, Trust, Courage, and Internal Joy and Peace are Spiritual gifts available to every dedicated follower of Christ. Imagine being in a one-sided relationship: you give your all, and the other person receives but never reciprocates.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.” (1 John 3:1, NIV).

Jesus has given us above and beyond what we deserve. It’s time for us to lavish our love on our Loving and Compassionate Shepherd, Savior, and Triumphant King.

By dedicating personal time with Jesus, we can whisper words expressing our love and gratitude to Him for sustaining our lives with the daily blessings that we take for granted. God is the Sustainer of all life: Our greatest blessing is God’s Ruach Breath that flows through our bodies.

“Give us this day our daily bread.” Each day brings its own obstacles. We were never created to figure things out. The answer to building our faith and escaping the Spiritual Crisis is to restore our relationship with Jesus Christ by maintaining constant communication with Him through prayer.

“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27, NIV). Victorious faith requires that Jesus is actively involved in our lives, teaching and guiding us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Worshiping the King of Kings with consistent prayer and diligent study of the Holy Scriptures invites the Holy Spirit to give us the ability to see life through spiritual eyes.

The Holy Spirit empowers us with the wisdom and strength to persevere, keeps us spiritually connected to Jesus, and guides us to move forward and stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.

The Message of the Cross reveals the Plan of Redemption, which God, the Father, and Jesus Christ had in place before the world and before Adam and Eve were created. We have been rescued from the wages of sin [Romans 6:23]. Thank You, God!

“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, Amplified Bible).

All of Heaven, the Triune Godhead [God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit] and the host of angels are dedicated to guiding and giving us the spiritual wisdom and strength to persevere in our journey with Jesus from Earth to Heaven.

Does our life matter to God? The Cross answers with a resounding Yes! We are greatly loved! Through our faith, we are saved by God’s Grace, and we are alive because of Jesus’ Love and Mercies. “I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5).

God Validates Our Worth – The Spiritual Status of the Righteous: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” (1 Peter 2:9).

The Holy Bible reveals God’s Love, His Righteous Character, and is filled with countless stories of His Divine Intervention, which always produces victorious outcomes!

Does our life matter to God? We have 24/7 angelic protection! “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14, NIV). The righteous have guardian angels assigned by their Commander, Jesus Christ, to protect and guide us 24/7. (Study Psalm 91).

Not only do our invisible angels fight Satan’s invisible evil angels, but they also help us to recognize covert temptations [spiritual warfare] that the human mind cannot discern. The dedicated believer, who prays and relies on Christ, will never be scammed or suffer from financial loss due to deception.

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” (Jeremiah 31:3).

The Bible Is Our Spiritual Guide and Mirror

God has given us Commandments [His Moral Law] and Righteous Precepts that teach us the difference between His Truth and false doctrines, sin and righteousness, providing us with His never-changing expectations on how we are to think and live.

The righteous who remain faithful and persevere will be rewarded: “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21, NIV). Yes and Amen!

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12). It is just a matter of time, and He that shall come will come. Jesus asks, “…Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

In the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John gives us a limited description of the New Heaven and New Earth; Jesus reveals how sin and evil on this Earth will end; and His Ultimate and Definitive Plan to destroy the wicked and reward the righteous with our Eternal Crown of Life.

The Holy Scriptures reiterate that we are Sons and Daughters of the Sovereign God of this universe, who will inherit the Kingdom of God if we participate with the Holy Spirit by living righteously. Guarding our gift of time is crucial to progressing in our spiritual journey.

Busyness does not produce spiritual growth! “…making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil.” (Ephesians 5:15, Amplified Bible).

There is only one reason why Christian believers become despondent in their Spiritual Journey, questioning if their life matters to God: They are spiritually disconnected from Jesus Christ.

Too busy to spend time with God? We are drawn away by our digital devices, ChatGPT, wealth-building, pleasure-seeking activities, insatiable desires, and unholy relationships. “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (Matthew 16:26 NLT).

“Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He [Jesus] is righteous. He who sins is of the devil for the devil has sinned from the beginning…” (1 John 3:7-8).

We cannot follow Christ with a divided heart. Without being anchored in Christ, Satan easily uses distractions to entice us. Many former Christians have drifted so far from God that they have lost their sense of direction.

“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). Believers who spend time with God in Prayer and Study of the Holy Scriptures are anchored spiritually, mentally, and emotionally to Christ.

The Christian Community has changed—We cannot look for validation from those who do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, which also includes many church members who only practice ritualistic worship. Attending church does not indicate that we are spiritually connected to Christ.

“Be holy, for I Am Holy.” God desires that we live a pure and holy life, made possible through the Power of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual Transformation and Maturity require a lifetime of steadfast determination to live holy, revealing our desire to cooperate with the Holy Spirit.

“I can come to Jesus just as I am, but I cannot stay just as I am.” Our earthly lives are a time of probation. We only have the here and now to actively participate in our spiritual journey. Make your relationship with Jesus your priority!

The Bible Is Our Guide to Eternal Life: We must study the Scriptures for ourselves. We cannot grow spiritually from listening to someone else’s Biblical knowledge. God never instructed us to only study part of the Bible—this false doctrine has pervaded today’s Christian Community.

No, animal sacrifice in the Old Testament does not apply to today’s Christians, but learning the Sanctuary Service helps us understand the magnitude of the Plan of Redemption and the Sacredness of the Sacrificial Offering of Jesus, the Lamb of God.

The perfect lambs that were brought to the temple and sacrificed pointed to Jesus, whose death was required on Calvary’s Cross. Yes, only Jesus, the perfect Lamb’s blood had the Power to wash away our sins and to save our souls.

According to Bible Scholars, the New Testament contains 70% of the Old Testament. We live in extremely evil times; believers are confused [My people perish for the lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6] and desperately need the power of God that comes from knowing and obeying the entire Bible [Genesis to Revelation].

The Bible identifies and teaches us how to differentiate between what is Holy and what is “filthy unrighteousness.” Always ask yourself before speaking, watching, or participating in an activity: Does this honor a Holy and Righteous God?

Studying the Bible teaches us God’s Higher Thoughts and Ways, and invites the Holy Spirit to empower us with the wisdom to understand the Message of the Cross, and God’s Love, Grace, and Mercies.

The Bible teaches us how we should honor and worship God. While on earth, Jesus lived a sacrificial life of self-denial, and He gave us instructions on how to live righteously and renounce sin in every form. The Holy Scriptures build our faith and trust in God, and teach us how to surrender, obey, and follow Jesus.

When God matters to us, we will stay connected to Jesus through prayer; we will abide in Christ by diligently studying the Bible; we will ask the Holy Spirit to teach us how to live a righteous life that honors, reveres, and glorifies God.

When our love for God is genuine, and our worship is revealed by a lifestyle of consecration, only then will the Holy Spirit begin and continue the Spiritual Process of Sanctifying and preparing us for Eternity.

Sanctification: Through the Holy Spirit, day by day, we will experience continuous spiritual growth and transformation, becoming more and more like the Righteous Character of our Triumphant King. Yes and Amen!

“And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6).

Lord God, with humble hearts, we approach Your Throne of Grace, surrendering ourselves to follow Jesus with love and loyalty. We ask for forgiveness for the sins of self-reliance and following our thoughts, instead of asking for Your perfect plans for our lives. Lord, we have hit the wall and can go no further without Your Divine Help. We ask for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, we are Your sheep, teach us how to recognize Your Voice. Today we renew our covenant to follow and obey our Shepherd. Lord God, we look forward to the day when we will see Jesus and receive our Eternal Crown of Life. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus, Amen.

The Internal Conflict: Trusting Our Thoughts or Trusting God’s Sovereign Thoughts

“For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)

When three armies came against King Jehoshaphat, his immediate response was to declare a fast in the Kingdom of Judah. and using his faith, he prayed, asking for God’s Help.

“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are You not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and Might are in Your hand, and no one can withstand You.” (2 Chronicles 7:20, NIV).

King Jehoshaphat Prayer Focuses On God

If we look carefully at the King’s prayer, he honors and revere’s God by acknowledging God’s Sovereign Omnipotence: “You rule…Power and Might are in Your hand, and no one can withstand You.”

We were created to depend on Christ. Loving Christ is revealed by using our faith to follow and depend on our Shepherd with a spirit of humility, surrendering daily to follow and obey His will and plans.

Throughout the Bible, we find that God never focuses on human ability or weaknesses. God always redirects our focus to Himself: The Scriptures reveal His Love, Power, and Sovereign Authority.

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

“God reminded the Prophet Jeremiah that He holds Absolute Power over all humanity and creation, affirming that nothing is too hard for the Sovereign God.

Reflection: Do we really believe that nothing is impossible for God to resolve? “Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44:21).

Joshua, Israel’s New Leader: Although Moses mentored Joshua to lead the people, when Moses died, because of the Israelites history of stubbornness and disobedience, Joshua not only feared the people, but he also doubted his ability to lead them.

God’s Response: (Joshua 1:5-6, 9):

“No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.”
“Only be strong and very courageous… Observe to do according to all the Law…Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.”
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Reflection: Recently I listened to a discussion by a panel of pastors, who stated the reason that most believers are having a difficult time in their spiritual Journey, and their routine duties of life: “We are always focusing on ourselves instead of God.”

Whether we are facing the routine obstacles of life, or overwhelming challenges and hardships, our initial thought should not be, “What am I going to do?”

With humility, King Jehoshaphat acknowledged our human limitations and the fact that we must depend on God: “For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

Love and loyalty to God is revealed by our willingness to surrender to His Authority. In faith, we pray for guidance, with the commitment to trust and obey Jesus Christ, our Savior and Shepherd.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'” (John 14:6).

The Message of The Cross reveals that Jesus Christ has Redeemed us with His Life: “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV).

“From accepting Christ as our Savior, we acknowledge that His blood washes away our sins, which signifies, “New Ownership: Believers belong to God rather than to themselves or the ways of the world.”

God, the Father’s expectation is that we follow, trust, and obey God, Jesus Christ, His Son and our Shepherd by honoring Him with love, loyalty, surrender, faith, and obedience.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7). “And without faith it is impossible to please Him…” (Hebrews 11:6).

Do our thoughts and decisions reveal that our faith is in Jesus or in our abilities?

If we live from day to day relying on our thoughts and strategies then we have redirected our faith and focus to ourselves, which proves that we do not believe in the Power of God, nor do we trust Him.

A lifestyle of surrender and obedience is demonstrated through daily worship of Prayer, Bible Study, and asking God to reveal His will and plans for our lives.

Faith, trust, and obedience are the keys that prompt God to open the Windows of Heaven, and pour out His Abundant Blessings, especially when we need His Divine Help.

Great is His Faithfulness! God sustains our lives; it is His Ruach breath that flows through our lungs and His mercies that keep us alive.

The Failure to Reverence God is prevalent in today’s Christian Community: Sadly, because we have embraced self-reliance, rarely studying the Bible, we pray with a focus on ourselves, approaching God as if He is our equal. God will not acknowledge prayers that do not honor Him.

Our prayers should always begin with honoring and reverencing God’s Sovereign Authority: Jesus teaches us in the Lord’s Prayer to always acknowledge God, the Father’s Holy Name : “Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name.”

King David prayed: “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11).

“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7).

We have embraced the worldview of self-governance. Something is not right when Christians use their limited perception, and prior experience to evaluate a challenge, trust their feelings, and with a spirit of overconfidence, develop a strategy, believing that it will work.

Self-Reliance is the intentional decision to exclude God, revealing that we believe our mind is greater than God’s Omniscience, and His Higher Thoughts and Ways.

Not only does self-reliance dishonor God, but it also redirects our faith to trust in misguided human thoughts. “…Do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5).

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21).

Trusting in ourselves builds an impenetrable wall of resistance against depending on God, placing us in a state of disobedience, which immediately separates us from God.

Trusting in human wisdom compares to driving on a familiar road covered with a thick fog. Because we know every curve in the road, instead of driving with caution, we drive at our normal speed, because we do not anticipate encountering any hazards.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures reveal that God always redirects our faith and focus to His unlimited Power. Jesus created us to depend on His Wisdom, Strength, and Guidance: “Without Me, you can do nothing.”

“We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, God listens to him.” (John 9:31, ESV).

The Holy Spirit alerts every believer when they have detoured from the Narrow Path of Righteousness. Every day, we decide if we are interested in surrendering and following Jesus Christ.

“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:10, ESV).

When we live to please ourselves, we have an issue of the heart. God knows who loves Him, and although He knows we are attempting to serve Him with a divided heart, He will never coerce us to love Him.

When our response to John 3:16 is to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength then faithful obedience and surrender is not a burden or an inconvenience.

Receiving Forgiveness and Spiritual Restoration: “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).

First, we acknowledge that we have sinned against God by not revering and trusting His Love, Faithfulness, and Sovereign Power.

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

God requires a prayer of confession and asking for forgiveness because we have rebelled against His Sovereign Authority by embracing and practicing self-reliance.

“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).

When we repent for our wrongdoing and in humility, admit our helplessness, we serve a Loving and Faithful God, who will give us His Divine Help.

We do not have to live a life of hoping for the best to happen. Jesus’ Invitation:

“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 [for our failures] 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).

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:12, ESV).

Lord God, You are the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory. We confess that we have trusted in our thoughts and strategies instead of placing our faith and trust in You. And we ask You to forgive us for dishonoring Your Holy Name and Your Sovereignty. We admit that we have reached a dead end in our spiritual journey, and are facing obstacles that we cannot overcome without You. Lord, we ask You to restore us spiritually. We confess that we desperately need Your Help, and we thank You for Your Divine Intervention. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Why Are You Fearful? Receive Peace – Pray For God’s Guidance

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)

God is always faithful! His never-changing and comforting promise of continuous peace is revealed only in the lives of those who anchor their faith in Jesus Christ, The Rock.

“You will keep him in perfect peace” is also a reward: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27).

“The Hebrew word for peace here is Shalom, that does not imply an absence of trouble, but a [spiritual state] of absolute completeness in Christ, which produces wholeness, and an unshakable well-being.”

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.” (Psalm 25:4, ESV).

From praying and not relying on risky human thoughts and strategies, instead of facing unknown outcomes and consequences, we receive the blessings of God’s guidance, peace, and contentment.

Always trust God! Whether we are facing life’s toughest challenges, or daily routine obstacles, if we use our faith to pray, ask for Help, believing in God’s Power, He will give us victorious outcomes. Yes and Amen!

Consistent prayer gives us direct access to God’s Plans, Thoughts, and Directions. Consistent prayer also prevents thoughts of uncertainty, anxiety, and worry, which disrupts our gift of Jesus’ Perfect Peace.

“A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life], But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them.” (Proverbs 16:9, Amplified Bible).

Praying for God’s Guidance, waiting for His answer, and obeying His directives reveals our love, loyalty, and the willingness to follow our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who deserves our commitment of total faith and trust.

True Sanctification requires every believer to have the mindset of Christ, and to live as He lived: A Faithful, Humble, and Obedient Life.

Jesus proclaimed: “And He who sent Me is [always] with Me; He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.” (John 8:29, Amplified Bible).

Jesus’ Peace and Eternal Life are rewards for the righteous, who abide in Jesus by following Him on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.

Living a life of self-denial means that we control our emotions and desires. We live a quiet, spiritually disciplined life by keeping our focus on Jesus’ Promises in John 14:1-3 and Revelation 22:12.

When we perceive ourselves as the Redeemed Sons and Daughters of God, and the Righteous Heirs of Jesus’ Eternal Kingdom, we easily acknowledge and worship our Triumphant King with total surrender and obedience.

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

Those who proclaim to be Christians, but exclude Christ by following their own thoughts and strategies, possess hearts that are unconverted and filled with self-love and self-reliance.

“Thus says the LORD, ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in and relies on mankind, Making [weak, faulty human] flesh his strength, And whose mind and heart turn away from the LORD.'” (Jeremiah 17:5, Amplified Bible).

The warning is strong, but disobedience is rebellion, which separates us from God, for which there is no Heavenly reward.

“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23). With humility, the Prophet Jeremiah acknowledges God’s Sovereign Authority over humanity.

We acquiesce to God’s Sovereign Authority, not from fear [fear in the Scriptures means reverence], but because we love Him.

Total surrender and obedience reveals our appreciation and gratitude for our life-saving gift of Jesus redeeming and saving us from the penalty of the second and final death. [Malachi 4].

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27).

God’s Divine Guidance and Protection are limited to those who follow Jesus Christ, their Shepherd with unwavering faith and obedience.

The Bible, Our Spiritual Treasure Map, Reveals God’s Higher Thoughts and Ways

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

The Bible is Spiritually All-Inclusive. Asking for wisdom and discernment invites the Holy Spirit to empower us with the deepest understanding of God’s Love, Grace, and His One and Only Abiding Truth!

Ask for Strength: “…in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” The Holy Spirit also gives us Jesus’ Divine Strength to pursue holiness, keeping us on the Narrow Path that leads to Eternal Life.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Consistent Bible Study reveals our willingness to surrender to Jesus’ Authority as our Sovereign Ruler, and acknowledges our need to be taught by God.

From Genesis to Revelation God reveals His Loving Character, Divine Thoughts and Higher Ways. Yes, God is a Loving Heavenly Father, but we must also remember, God is also the Righteous Judge of humanity.

God warns us, “I do not change!” The Holy Scriptures provide absolute proof of God’s expectations: The righteous must serve Him with faithful obedience.

“If you love Me keep my Commandments.” (John 14:15). We were created with a free will choice. God never coerces us to surrender, pray, or obey His guidance.

But when our hearts are truly converted, it is not a burden to obey our Loving Shepherd. Following Jesus is the best decision, we will ever make!

From studying the Bible, we find that righteous believers always honored and revered God with steadfast faith: There was never any doubt or question in their mind that serving and honoring God required faith, trust, and obedience.

King David: “Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; all day long I wait for You.” (Psalm 25:4-5).

Job: “Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside. I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.” (Job 23:10-14).

From aligning ourselves with God’s Will and Plans, Jesus promises: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24).

Jesus’ Promise refers to praying and making requests that lead to spiritual growth and transformation. We need Spiritual wisdom, discernment, patience, contentment, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance to receive our Crown of Life.

From abiding in Christ, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live a consecrated life of Holiness. Surrender, Self-Denial, and Faithful Obedience, which are the characteristics of those who follow Jesus, distinguishing Jesus’ Loyal Sheep from the pretenders.

Yes, in our earthly lives, we can expect to suffer adversity (John 16:33); but the righteous can rejoice! Jesus has promised to give us His Spiritual Gifts of Strength, Joy, Happiness, and Peace, and to lead us from Earth to Heaven.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Hold On To Jesus!

“For, ‘In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.'” (Hebrews 10:37, BSB).

Following Jesus Christ requires walking through life on bended knees, living a life of self-denial, and praying continuously [with steadfast faith and courage] for Divine Guidance.

God, the Father, and God, the Son honors and rewards their faithful and loyal sons and daughters with all of our necessities, and at times, fulfills a few of our desires. Why? There is no need for us to get attached to this Earth’s money and material possessions.

Soon, King Jesus’ Gift of Eternity will come to fruition: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21). Yes and Amen!

We are Temporary Travelers Living on a Temporary Earth, who are preparing for the Greatest Event this world will ever witness:

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in Righteousness He judges and makes war. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11, 16).

Prayer: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” (Number 6:24- 26). Amen.

God Is the Definition of Love

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

John 3:16 and John 14:1-3 reveal God, The Father’s Love, and God, Jesus the Son’s Love and Faithfulness to humanity.

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

Knowing without a doubt, that you are loved by God invites the Holy Spirit to connect your heart to Jesus’ Heart, which builds a Love Relationship with our Shepherd, Who reinforces and anchors our identity and self-worth in Himself.

Lord God, we thank You for your Abiding Love, Faithfulness, and the willingness to help us in our times of need. We ask You to teach us how to love as described in 1 Corinthians 13. Lord, we also pray for the spiritual blessings of restoration, renewal, wisdom, and strength, as we celebrate the Holy Sabbath along with the heavenly angels. We look forward to the day when we will spend Eternity with You, worshiping face to face with Christ every Sabbath. Until Jesus’ Second Coming, we will continue to faithfully obey Your Commandments, celebrating Your Love for us through daily praise and worship. Your Holy Name. In faith, and with total surrender, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of our Triumphant King, Jesus Christ, Amen.

We Are God’s Greatest Investment – Are We Yielding Spiritual Returns?

According to religious statistics, “Globally, there are approximately 2.3 to 2.6 billion Christians worldwide. And there are over 4.3 billion people who have never accepted Christ.”

“Jesus came up and said to them, ‘All authority (All Power of Absolute Rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.'” (Matthew 28:18, Amplified Bible).

The remaining people have various religious beliefs, but do not believe that Jesus Christ is God, the Son and the Second Person of the Triune Godhead.

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)

Let’s direct our focus to the 2.3 to 2.6 billion Christians, who may attend weekly church services, yet many do not follow Jesus with surrender and faithful obedience, nor do they pray and study the Bible daily; “in the USA, only 11 to 13% of Christians study the Bible.”

The number of individuals who proclaim to be Christians are actually not practicing and living according to God’s Biblical Truth, or obeying His Righteous Precepts.

To God, the Father, we are His “Spiritual Investment.” Jesus gave His life to redeem us from the only penalty of being born into sin: “The wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23).

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV).

The Spiritual Returns That God Expects

Every day, our choices, thoughts, spoken words, and lifestyles reveal whether or not, we are living a sacrificial life of self- denial and faithful obedience.

Representing the Light of Christ to others is our greatest witness that following Christ makes a difference in one’s life. These Spiritual Returns are required to receive our reward of Eternal Life [Revelation 22:12].

“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:10).

Because we inherited sinful hearts, our minds and characters are easily influenced by the evil of this world. But the Holy Spirit convicts us when we are disconnected from Christ.

In Isaiah 55:8-9, God tells us that His thoughts and ways are much higher than our thoughts. Jesus tells us that we are on the Narrow Path of Righteousness, or the wide path leading to destruction [Matthew 7:13 – 14].

Many Believers are living compromised lives, never praying and studying the Bible, thinking that all is well. How is that possible?

Satan has spread a false teaching that has been readily accepted in the Christian Community: You can live as you please and still go to Heaven.

Jesus Says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8). We cannot live as we please and expect to inherit the Crown of Life [Revelation 3:21].

As Biblical Prophecy is being fulfilled, Christian believers will either fall into the group of the consecrated, faithful and obedient followers of Jesus Christ, “His Remnant:”

“And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: ‘Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved!” (Romans 9:27, ESV).

“The “remnant” in the Bible refers to a faithful minority of believers whom God preserves and protects during times of widespread rebellion, judgment, and hardship.”

Or as the Apostle Paul describes the majority of believers living in the Last Days, [In 2026, we are the Christians, who are living in the Last Days].

The Behaviors of Compromising Christians:

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:

2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,

4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers [and sisters], by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1).

Yes, our gift of Salvation is free because Jesus paid with His life. “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

Yielding Spiritual Returns: And for Jesus’ great sacrifice when we love and appreciate that we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, it is not a burden or an inconvenience to dedicate ourselves to follow and obey Christ, our Savior, Shepherd, and Resurrected King. Yes and Amen!

Lord God, many are standing at the Spiritual Crossroads, because they are attempting to portray themselves as dedicated Christians, but possess divided hearts. Yet, You know the true status of the human heart, and whether our love and loyalty is to Christ, or for ourselves. Lord, we pray for those who are wavering between the choices of life and death that they will come to their spiritual senses, making the decision to follow Christ with love, humility, and obedience. We ask the Holy Spirit to teach every believer how to live righteously, so we can be transformed, and receive our inheritance of Eternal Life. In faith and with humility, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Are You Growing In Spiritual Knowledge And Wisdom?

“‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.'” (Jeremiah 33:3, Amplified Bible)

Through daily surrender, prayer, and studying the Holy Bible, we invite the Holy Spirit to give us knowledge, wisdom, guidance, and the One and Only interpretation of God’s Truth in the Scriptures.

“See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know Him.” (1 John 3:1, NLT).

The Bible is God’s Love Letters, written for every Christian believer. Because we inherited sinful hearts [Jeremiah 17:9], it is easier for us to follow our desires, leading us into disobedience against God.

Every day, we must choose to do what is right according to God’s Righteous Principles. The test of our love and loyalty for Jesus is one that we cannot pass without being empowered with our Shepherd’s Divine Wisdom and Strength.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind [self-control]. (2 Timothy 1:7).

God gifted us with the Spiritual Fruit of self-control, but we must pray, asking for the spiritual wisdom and discernment to recognize sin, and the strength to say, No.

In Ephesians chapter 6, we learn that we are in a spiritual battle, requiring us to continuously overcome our heart’s desires and Satan’s temptations.

Still, we are not helpless! Satan can never force us to sin against God. We decide to embrace or to renounce sin. We have the power to be loyal to God by proclaiming, “No, I will not sin against God.”

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. 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).

The Bible also serves as our Spiritual Map. We were created with limitations, including the inability to see beyond the moment, we are living in.

God’s Words of Warning: “Do not be wise in your own eyes.” In Proverbs 3: 5-7, God tells us not to trust our own thoughts or follow human wisdom.

We are blessed to have the Holy Spirit who convicts us through our conscience when we are considering choices that separate us from God.

Recently, I had a “Come to Jesus” experience. While preparing for personal worship, the Holy Spirit convicted me of only sporadically praying for God’s Guidance. I quickly came to my spiritual senses, asking myself, What were you thinking? How can I know more than God?

When we separate ourselves to pray and meditate on God’s Love, Saving Grace, Mercies, and His Sovereign Authority and Power, the Holy Spirit opens our minds to understand the magnitude of our disobedience against God.

“Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people]…”

16 “making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Do not trust your salvation to anyone else! Do not believe the enemy’s lie that you do not have to pray and study the Bible!

Praying, Studying the Scriptures, and Obeying God is the way Jesus intentionally lived. Christ always prayed for spiritual wisdom, discernment, and the strength to overcome temptations.

The Apostle Paul was given the Spiritual Assignment of starting the early churches.

Since most of the converts were from pagan backgrounds, they required the knowledge to let go of former hatred for others, lustful desires, and idol worshipping practices.

The Holy Spirit empowered Paul with the knowledge to teach and guide the new believers in letting go of their sinful habits and lifestyles.

The Epistles [Books] of the Bible that Paul wrote are not only letters to the members of the Early Churches, his writings are still relevant for today’s Christian believers, who have the same unrighteous behaviors and temptations to overcome.

“Be holy, for I Am Holy.” (1 Peter 1:16).

The Holy Spirit is our Teacher. Through daily personal worship [Prayer and Bible Study], with faithful obedience, we surrender to Christ, inviting the Holy Spirit to give us the Spiritual Knowledge and Wisdom that we need to navigate in this sinful and evil environment that we live in.

“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, Amplified Bible).

God teaches us His expectations and how to live holy through the Scriptures.

The Bible teaches us about God’s Loving Character, the Creation, the history of God’s Divine Help, and the life of suffering that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, endured to complete the Plan of Redemption, required to save us from the wages of sin [Romans 6:23].

God’s Holy Word has separated the Christian Community into two groups of believers:

Those who study and obey the Scriptures will remain faithful and steadfast, because they invite the Holy Spirit to empower them with the highest level of Spiritual Knowledge and Wisdom; And those who refuse to study the Bible, who will continue to live a life of compromise, following their thoughts and living as they please.

God’s Grace and Mercy: “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).

Everyday, we have the opportunity to choose Eternal Life by renouncing sin, and dedicating ourselves to follow and obey Jesus through continuous prayer, and the study of the Word of God.

Bible Study: The Book of Philippians

Lord God, we come to You with humility, asking for the forgiveness of wilful disobedience. We have come to our senses, realizing that You demonstrated Your Love for us, by giving Your Only Son, Jesus Christ, who suffered, bled, and died on Calvary’s Cross. We know that the next time Jesus comes, He will come as the Triumphant KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS. Today, we commit ourselves with faith and surrender to follow Jesus Christ, our Savior and Shepherd. And we also ask for the Holy Spirit to empower us with wisdom and understanding, as we seek knowledge in Your Holy Word. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Represent God’s Righteous Integrity In Everything You Do

Last week, I was chatting with the maintenance supervisor in our complex, who stated that he finally has a crew of people who care, have high standards, and do quality work; yes, they refuse to compromise by taking shortcuts.

In Genesis Chapter 1, The Story of Creation, every day, God, Jesus Christ, who made all things [John Chapter 1] critiques the results of His spoken words: “Then God said, ‘Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear;’ and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:9-10).

Integrity: In the beginning, Christ established a guiding principle for everyday Christian living; He emphasizes that our beliefs, thoughts, words, and actions must completely align with His Perfect Righteousness:

“It is written, ‘Be holy, for I am Holy.'” (1 Peter 1:16). When Jesus looks at our heart and mind, examining our thoughts, beliefs, words, and actions, He should be able to say, “It is good.”

The Apostle Paul taught his new believers in the early churches: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17).

“As followers of Christ, righteous integrity must be practiced in everything we do, even the ordinary, daily tasks. Yes, every action should be done as an act of worship to honor God.”

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8).

God reminds us that His Righteous thoughts and ways are higher than our thoughts and strategies, which requires us to pray, asking for His plans to be revealed.

God tells us that He does not change. If we rely on His thoughts and ways, learning His Character and how He intervenes, then we will remain spiritually stable, despite the planet Earth’s declined morals, values, and ever-changing beliefs and practices.

Because we were created with free will, we must choose to do what is right. And that is increasingly more difficult, not only due to corrupt societies, but also because we inherited sinful hearts that easily compromise [Jeremiah 17:9].

Yet, God gave us the Holy Scriptures to learn how He defines what is right and wrong. And through daily personal worship, we pray for Divine Guidance, which is given to us by God, the Holy Spirit.

We study, commit to memory, obey, and live a life that reflects God’s Righteous Principles. To love God is to put Him first! The Holy Spirit teaches us how to live holy and guides in our daily spiritual journey on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.

“I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:10, NIV).

Always doing what is right is the choice that invites the Holy Spirit to convert our heart, guide our decisions, and transform our mind, character, and personality to reflect Christ’s Righteousness [Sanctification].

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

From obeying God’s Commands, our hearts are spiritually connected to Jesus’ Pure and Holy Heart. The Holy Spirit changes us from the inside out, empowering us to let go of old habits, behaviors, unbelieving friends, and former lifestyles.

When we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, we begin to think differently, perceiving life through spiritual eyes. Not only do our habits and lifestyles reflect Christ Righteousness, but day by day, we prepare ourselves to receive our Triumphant King’s Promises in John 14:1-3 and Revelation 22:12.

The pure heart is filled with Righteous Integrity and is a powerful witness of God’s Holy Standards of “Perfect Love, Obedience, and a Mindset of No Compromise.” These values constitute acts of worship, revealing that loving and obeying Christ does make a difference in one’s life.

Overcoming Satan’s Covert Deceptions

Satan is very devious and subtle with his temptations. Because we were created a little lower than the angels, we must remember that Satan is still a fallen angel; and his intellect and wisdom supersedes our intellect.

Divine Command: “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).

Covert Deceptions: When a temptation is presented that fulfills one of our heart’s desires, if we fail to pray, it is impossible for us to discern Satan’s diabolical schemes.

Without prayer, we will fall! Yes, we can repent, receive forgiveness, and apologize to those who were impacted, but Sin always leaves its Mark, and often irreversible consequences.

“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7). We must never cooperate with Satan, by letting our feelings override our sound mind [self-control and discipline].

Always pray and wait for God’s answer before making a decision that will easily compromise your integrity and right standing with God: Pray, Wait, and Obey!

“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake…” (Philippians 1:29, ESV).

Always doing what is right eventually requires a cost: To say No to an “Offer of Compromise” may result in the loss of our jobs, friends, family, a marriage, and what appears to be the world’s best solutions and greatest financial rewards.

When a situation arises, demanding that we compromise our integrity, or even if we are unsure and have a conflict within our mind, we immediately breathe a prayer for strength and ask God, “Will a decision of Yes, honor You?”

Do not let your feelings overwhelm or control you! There is no reason to be upset, Offers of Compromise are part of Satan’s continuous Spiritual Warfare [Ephesians 6].

From placing our faith and trust in God and His Saving Power, we remain calm and courageous by maintaining our faith and trust in God, by simply stating, “No, I cannot do that,” and walk away.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10-11, NIV).

We should never say, “I am sorry that I cannot do that.” We leave the door open for Satan to present the same compromise, using a more devious strategy. Never apologize for upholding God’s Righteous Standards.

God’s Action Plan To Honor The Faithful

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my Helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?'” (Hebrews 13:5-6, NIV).

If your decision results in loss, remain steadfast in your faith. Always trust God! We can only see life through natural eyes, but God tells us to redirect our focus to the Heavenly Realm, where the concept of impossible has never existed!

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

God is Omniscient [All-Knowing], so, He already knows every trial and temptation, we will face. Remain loyal to God by using your faith to pray, believe, and trust in His Promises and Mighty Power.

We Must Walk Through Life On Bended Knees – Build Your Life On Prayers of Faith

“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19).

God, the Father has promised to give us our needs through God, His Son, Jesus Christ. Pray, Prayers of Faith and Gratitude, thanking God in advance for giving you the victory and supplying your needs.

Keep your faith and focus on God and His Promises by not looking at the circumstances. Even in the time of waiting, remain steadfast with prayers and praises of gratitude!

Remain courageous: “Wait on the Lord.” Place your confidence in Jesus Christ, Who is Yahweh Yireh, The God Who Provides. He has already designed your personal Plan of Victory!

“And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind” [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes]…(Romans 12:2, Amplified Bible).

Yes, shortcuts, and hidden practices requiring the compromise of one’s integrity is the world’s standard, but our allegiance to God requires that we uphold God’s Holy Principles.

We are not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the decision to uphold the Righteous Standards of a Righteous God demonstrates our love and loyalty to Christ, our Savior and Triumphant King, for which we will be greatly rewarded.

Brothers and Sisters, it’s just a matter of time! Sooner than we think, “He that shall come will come” and one day, we will hear King Jesus say to us, “Well done,” and He will give us our Crown of Life. Hallelujah! Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we thank You for Your Amazing Love, Your Promises in the Holy Scriptures, and the open invitation to come to Your Throne of Grace in time of need. Lord, we realize that we are always in need, so we ask You to bless us spiritually, and to increase our faith that we may remain steadfast when facing temptations. We ask for the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual wisdom and discernment to recognize Satan schemes, and the strength to overcome. And Lord, we also ask You to please be our Strength. In love and faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Powerful Name of Jesus Christ, Yahweh Yireh, our Provider, Amen.

Practical Messages For Living In Impractical Times

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.