Faith Love Trust Obedience – Page 6 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Christ Always Keeps His Promises

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12).

Why has God delayed the Second Coming of Jesus for so long?

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9-10, NIV).

From studying the Scriptures, one thing is certain: God always keeps His promises. We know the promise of His Triumphant Son, Jesus Christ Coming Soon is Yes and Amen!

“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” (Revelation 22:14).

The Bible teaches that we need to stay on the Path of Righteousness. Yes, the Bible is our Spiritual Roadmap, teaching and guiding our lives according to God’s Precepts and Commandments, so we can inherit Jesus’ promise to give us our Crown of Life.

Despite the many hours we spend studying the Scriptures, we cannot overcome our hearts’ desires and temptations without asking for Divine wisdom and strength.

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7). Daily Surrender is our winning move! Every Christian requires daily guidance and spiritual strength from God, the Holy Spirit, to live as Overcomers.

Using only human effort places us in a lose-lose cycle of failure, producing discouragement and disappointment. God never expects us to navigate this tough journey alone; He knows that without His Divine strength, we will continuously fall into temptation. Why is it so hard to be a Christian?

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9, NIV).

We think that because we live in 2025 that our challenges are more taxing than the Christians who lived in Biblical times. Why did the emancipated Israelites travel 40 years in the wilderness, when the Promised Land was only an eleven-day journey from Egypt?

From studying the books of Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, God reveals that their lack of heartfelt love, loyalty, and obedience to God, and their love of pagan practices, were their chosen obstacles. And sadly, only two faithful men of God, Joshua and Caleb, from that generation, and those 20 years of age and under, entered the Promised Land.

Most countries have Religious Liberty laws, which give us the freedom and the right to choose to become Christians and serve God. But sadly, Religious history reveals the massacre of countless Christians who suffered physical harm, torture, and most often execution for not renouncing God.

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 1:13, ESV).

No one can force us to engage in the world’s pleasures; if we sin, it is a willful choice. Historically, we learn that it is easier for today’s Christian Community to be loyal to God by simply saying no to the temptations of worldly practices without suffering retaliation or coercion.

What does God require of us to live a Sanctified life representing Christ’s Righteousness?

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11).

“Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.” (Psalm 119:73).

Yes, we come from different cultures, denominations, and various life experiences, but from studying the Holy Bible under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we receive the wisdom and discernment needed to learn God’s Loving Character, His Precepts and Commandments, and the One and Only interpretation of God’s Truth.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105).

There are heavenly mysteries that we will never understand, but Jesus has given us the Spiritual guidance [The Bible] we need to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to experience daily spiritual growth and character transformation.

We can come to Jesus just as we are, but we cannot stay just as we are. Our minds, characters, and personalities must be changed into the likeness of Christ’s Righteousness for us to live forever with the Holy God.

With Jesus’ Divine Power, We Can Overcome Sinful Desires!

“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, ESV).

The moment we accept Christ as our personal Savior, we face spiritual warfare from Satan, our enemy [Study Ephesians 6]. Prayer is our greatest weapon. Not only do we receive the Spiritual Strength to say no to temptation, but Satan has to flee from the Christian who prays for Divine Help.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7).

Although the enemy’s schemes of temptations, distractions, and our innate desires to seek prosperity and success have enticed many Christian Believers to practice Compromised Christianity, the Apostle John tells us that God has faithful, surrendered, and obedient believers who are seeking God’s will every day on bended knees.

“And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.” (Revelation 15:2).

Live As An Overcomer! Those who are waiting with joyful anticipation for the Second Coming of Jesus, with humility, we consecrate ourselves daily to God, proclaiming, “I have decided to follow My Shepherd and Triumphant King, Jesus Christ!”

Preparation for Jesus’ Second Coming requires the daily commitment to live a Christ-centered, Faith-based, Holy Life consecrated to God.

“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Our decision to remain a faithful soldier in God’s Army usually leaves us separated from our closest family and friends, but when we memorize and believe Jesus’ promise in John 14:1-3, we keep moving forward in the strength of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Every Day, Remind Yourself of God’s Gift of Redemption: “And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.” (2 Corinthians 2:15, NIV).

Sharing My Daily Proclamation of Victory: “I believe Jesus’ promise that He is coming again, and because I love God, and desire my reward of Eternal Life, I will not sin against God by following my thoughts, desires, or engaging in the world’s pleasures.”

Lord God, we offer heartfelt gratitude for gifting us Your precious Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus, we thank You for paying the death price required to redeem us from our sins, allowing us to live righteously through Your Strength and Power. We look forward to the Great Day when King Jesus will come again. Until then, we ask for guidance, correction, and protection. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray, Amen.

Choosing Faith Over Fear

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.’ ” (Matthew 6:31-32).

When all is well, it is easy for us to think that our faith and trust is in God. But, the daily challenges we face always reveal the truth of whether our faith is in God, or in ourselves.

If we never take our routine obstacles and minor issues to God, asking for His Divine help then we easily develop a spirit of self-reliance.

The Truth of “Where Is Your Faith?” is revealed when adversity barges into our lives. If our initial response is, “What am I going to do?,” then our faith is displaced, which comes from relying and trusting in our human thoughts and wisdom.

Excerpt from Today’s Devotional: Embracing His Assurance – Elizabeth Viera Talbot

“Our senior pastor, Jon Cicarelli, preached a sermon entitled Fearless. To help the congregation visualize fear, he introduced his talk by showing several underwater photos of people cautiously swimming next to large whales and sharks.”

“As he developed the topic, he asked the congregation to repeat aloud: “Do not be afraid, only believe.” He reminded us that God is competent to handle our lives and that He loves us.”

“Fear is like a giant shadow lurking in the deep waters of our minds.”

“Yet most of what we fear never happens, and the rest is not within our control. This is not the ‘fight or flight’ type of fear but a restless anxiety that takes over our lives.

“But what if we are actually facing our worst fears?”

“This is what happened to Jairus. He came to Jesus, asking Him to heal his only daughter, who was twelve years old and was dying. On the way to his house, Jesus healed a hemorrhaging woman, who had been sick for twelve years (Luke 8:48).”

Then Jairus’ worst nightmare came true: “While He was still speaking, someone came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, ‘Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore’ (verse 49).”

“Jairus must have been very much afraid at that point, because Jesus had to tell him: ‘Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be made well’ (verse 50). Then Jesus proceeded to raise Jairus’ daughter from the dead (verse 54).”

“The treatment Jesus prescribes for fear has always been to choose Faith over fear.”

At some point, in our Christian Journey, every believer has experienced a challenge so overwhelming that fear was our first response. And maybe, you are currently facing a hardship that has revealed your faith in God is weak.

Prayer Is Our Lifeline to Divine Help!

“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).

With humility, we ask for forgiveness [for focusing our faith on ourselves], for God’s Divine Help, and thank Him for His Intervention in the same prayer.

Through prayer, we admit our inability to resolve the vicissitudes of life, and invite God to use His Sovereign Power to intervene.

From studying the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus, and 2 Chronicles 20, we learn that only God can give us the victory!

God never refuses to answer our prayers for His help, yet, His timing will never synchronize with our expectations.

Despite how lengthy the hardships last, we must overcome the desire to step outside God’s will while in the time of waiting.

“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14).

Because God sees time as Eternal, He knows our lifespan, and every challenge we will endure in our earthly lives. So, God who governs this world has no need to immediately answer our prayers.

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

Because the Triune God is Omniscient [All-knowing], when we pray for Divine Help, Heavenly Intervention begins immediately.

The Heavenly Chain Reaction for Helping the Righteous

God, the Holy Spirit takes our prayers to God, Jesus, the Son, our Intercessor, Who receives every prayer from the Holy Spirit, and sends His answers through the Holy Spirit.

Not only does Jesus send His Divine strength through the Holy Spirit, but He also sends messenger angels to give us the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical strength to persevere through the daily struggle. Yes and Amen!

We always receive spiritual strength before we receive God’s resolution. By waiting on God, our faith strengthens, and we reveal our desire to faithfully obey and depend on God.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.” (Jeremiah 31:3, BSB).

Lord God, we thank you for Your amazing love. We admit that we have not been faithful, and for this we ask for forgiveness. Lord, we desperately need Your help to overcome these challenges, and to stay on the Path of Righteousness. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

We Pray, Ask, Wait, and God Says, No

“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14).

Although our spiritual journey is unique, every believer has experienced the disappointment of God saying, “No,” to our heartfelt prayers requesting the things we desire.

God immediately denies requests that He knows are guaranteed to prevent our spiritual growth, development, and transformation, which is required for Eternal Life.

Everything God does brings honor and glory to His Name; therefore, He does not bless us if we do not possess the spiritual maturity to focus on the Giver instead of the gift.

“But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5, ESV).

With love, God agreed to Jesus’ voluntary sacrifice to die on Calvary to save us from the penalty of sin, which is the final death. God’s ultimate goal has always been to save our souls.

Sadly, many Christians disagree with God’s greatest desire for us to live with Him throughout eternity in the New Heaven and New Earth.

Wait! Who would accept Christ as their personal Savior and not desire His promise to give us the reward of Eternal Life?

“For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the LORD, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’ ” (Jeremiah 29:11, Amplified Bible).

When we ask God to bless us with a specific request and His answer is No, many of us are upset, especially when we see others with an abundance of money and material possessions.

God’s future plan of giving us a Crown of Life is steadfast, yet it is conditional. From the time we awaken, with a prayer of faith, we seek God’s plans, asking for the spiritual strength to obey, persevere, and complete His plans.

“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). Jesus reveals that the character trait of faithful obedience is required to stay aligned with God’s Perfect Plans for our lives.

The Believer’s Struggle is not only against the daily External Opposition of temptations, but we also must fight against the never-ending Internal Conflict of our desires.

It is easier to desire financial and material abundance instead of living a Christ-centered, faith-based life of self-denial. Because we inherited sinful hearts, enough is never enough. In Jeremiah 17:9, God says, The human heart is never satisfied!

When God says, No, we often feel that He is not a Loving and Gracious God. Regardless, God reminds us that He will not change His decision.

“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 does not perceive time as we perceive time; His Omniscient perspective of time is Eternal. Since He knows how long we will live, there is no reason for God to hurry up and bless us. Abraham was 100 years of age when Isaac was born.

There are 8 billion plus people on the planet Earth, and God knows every hardship, setback, disappointment, acts of obedience, and willful disobedience, along with every temptation, and victory we will experience in our lives from conception to birth to death.

“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes.” (James 4:14, CSB).

We can pray for and receive spiritual wisdom, but God tells us that we cannot look beyond today, so focus on the responsibilities and blessings of the given day. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34).

We feel slighted when God says “No,” because we have been deceived by Satan to think that we have the time and the right to pursue whatever makes us happy.

Signs of Living in the Last Days

In America, Religious Liberty and Freedom of Speech, two Constitutional Rights, are gradually being withdrawn. Many individuals have lost their employment for posting personal opinions regarding current global events on Social Media.

If the Christian Community began diligently studying the Bible, we would understand God’s refusal to give us what we are asking for. According to Matthew 24 and 2 Timothy 3, we learn that Bible Prophecies are rapidly being fulfilled, and we are currently living in the Last Days.

Although we do not know the exact time, those who are praying and preparing every day for Revelation 22:12, we recognize that Jesus, our Triumphant King, is coming sooner than we think.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6). We need Scriptural knowledge to fully understand our Heavenly Father’s Love and His desire to keep us from losing our spiritual focus, so the Holy Spirit can perform the work of Sanctification in our lives.

Misalignment with God’s Will and Plans

In 2016, I was employed as a Quality Nurse reviewing medical documentation for a national Home Healthcare Company. I imagined a very long career, possibly leading to retirement.

In my 8th month of employment, we received notification from the Corporate office that the branch would be relocated to a beautiful business park 45 minutes away from our current location.

I was very excited, but also realized that my high-mileage vehicle was not reliable for traveling 2.5 hours per day. Without praying for God’s approval, I went to the Nissan dealership and purchased a new vehicle.

God’s Warning Was Not Perceived!

Just before my purchase, I had a very interesting conversation with the office secretary. We became friends, and when I shared my plan to purchase a new vehicle, the answer she gave me was very disconcerting.

“Sonya, how do you know that everyone in this location will be relocated to the business park?” I simply did not respond because to me, it did not matter.

I rationalized that the office could not meet healthcare regulations without a quality nurse who reviewed and approved all medical documentation before submission for Medicare reimbursement.

Two months later, following our conversation, I met with the Director, who informed me that Corporate had made the decision to eliminate the position of all branch office Quality nurses. All quality reviews would be sourced to the Corporate office, which was located five hours from our branch office.

Because of my desire to have a new vehicle, I did not recognize that God was speaking to me through our office secretary, who was aware of the Corporate plan before the nursing staff was informed.

Sadly, three of the staff nurses were also unable to travel the additional distance, but were not eligible for unemployment because they were offered additional compensation to work from the new location, but could not travel due to school-age children.

Although I immediately found a 35-week contract assignment that paid well, I was not prepared for a change in my health status. I began to experience severe pain in both knees, which indicated the progression of my diagnosis of Osteoarthritis.

I can recall the shock of leaving my Orthopedic Doctor’s office with a mid-thigh to mid-calf brace on my left leg. Yet, from listening to the Doctor’s treatment plan, I knew my nursing career had ended. His recommendation to immediately apply for Social Security Disability [SSD] made me realize that we should never plan our lives according to our thoughts.

Because I did not pray for guidance before purchasing a new vehicle, instead of keeping my vehicle that was paid for, I was facing the consequences of making a decision outside of the will of God.

The new monthly note, along with sustaining the vehicle’s insurance and routine maintenance costs, consumed 100% of my unemployment compensation and was draining my savings.

Not only did the constant worry keep me mentally and spiritually drained, but the stress from not having internal peace also exacerbated my physical level of pain,

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

God is still merciful and does not leave us stranded when we genuinely repent of our wrongdoing. Although there was a 3-year waiting list for SSD applications, God rerouted my disability packet to another state, and my disability was approved in a record time of two months.

Fast forward to 2025, and from studying the Bible, I have learned that the human heart never loses its desire to acquire material possessions [the non-essentials], but we must practice our God-given gift of self-control [2 Timothy 1:7] with the commitment to live a sacrificial, obedient life, holy and acceptable to God.

“God, reveal Your will to me and I will obey,” is the daily prayer of surrender that honors God’s Sovereignty, and is not an easy prayer! But to love God is to honor Him with faithful obedience, which reveals our desire to be aligned with His perfect will.

Pray, Wait, and Obey!

God’s Love never changes. And His answers of No are not punitive, but demonstrate His immense love for us. We should never compare ourselves to others, often wondering why God is blessing them, but not us. Many believers step outside of God’s will by blessing themselves [like I did]; not every material acquisition is a gift from God

When God says “No,” our response should be, “Thank you, God for loving and protecting me from the future consequences that are impossible for me to anticipate.”

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].” (James 1:17, Amplified Bible). Yes and Amen!

Bible Study: James 1, Revelation chapters 21-22.

Lord God, we thank You for being a Loving and Protective Heavenly Father who knows every temptation we will endure in our lives. Lord, please give us the strength and the courage to overcome the internal conflict in our hearts of choosing loyalty and obedience to Your plans versus pursuing our desires without Your Divine blessing. In faith, we accept Your perfect will for our lives. We love You, thank You, and ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

“How Do I Know If It My Thoughts, Or God Speaking To Me?”

“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105).

“The Word of the living God is not merely written, but spoken. It is God’s voice speaking to us, just as surely as if we could hear it with our ears. If we realized this, with what awe we would open God’s Word, and with what earnestness we would search its pages.”

“How do we distinguish it [God’s Voice] from the voice of a false shepherd? God reveals His will to us in His word, the Holy Scriptures. His voice is also revealed in His providential workings…”

God’s Providence is manifested daily in our lives. The impossible situation you faced was not resolved by using your own power, with love, God intervened.

[God’s Providence]…will be recognized if we do not separate our souls from Him by walking in our own ways, doing according to our own wills, and following the promptings of an unsanctified heart…”

The Consequences of Compromise

God’s Warning: “Do not be wise in your own eyes…” (Proverbs 3:7).

Self-reliance always blocks the Holy Spirit from giving us spiritual clarity. Following our thoughts not only distorts our perception, but also prevents us from receiving God’s gifts of wisdom and discernment.

Those who live according to their thoughts will always be in a state of confusion. “…the senses become so confused that eternal things are not discerned, and the voice of Satan is so disguised that it is accepted as the Voice of God.”

Practical Ways to Recognize God’s Voice

How do we know God is speaking and directing us?

“If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.” (1 John 2:29, ESV).

Reflect on God’s Righteous Character: He is Holy. We recognize God’s Voice because His guidance always brings glory and honor to His Holy Name.

God never blends righteousness with the worldliness of success or prosperity. Because God brings honor to himself, His blessings never exalt human beings.
God never coerces us to make immediate decisions. If we are confronted with, “this deal is only good for today, or do it now,” then we know it is not of God. Instant gratification always reveals that Satan is involved.
We know it is our thoughts if the outcome satisfies our innermost desires, or exalts us, instead of God.

“Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10).

Before making decisions, always pray for God’s direction. Pray and Wait! Patience is a righteous characteristic that reveals faith in God and our willingness to obey.

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

Do not follow your anxious thoughts, which will only bring unwanted consequences to your life, and result in the separation of your life-sustaining relationship with Christ.

If we wait on the Lord then we can expect God to perform supernatural miracles that reveal His overwhelming Love and Sovereign Power.

From spending intentional time with Christ in personal worship, we learn to recognize God’s Voice speaking to us. The Holy Spirit conveys God’s will and plans through the Holy Scriptures and our thoughts.

“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” (James 4:17, NIV).

“In this verse, James gives an example of a sin of omission. When believers know the right thing to do yet fail to do it, God holds them accountable for not doing it. So, it is not only what we do that matters to God; it is also what we fail to do.”

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

When we accept Christ as our personal Savior, our lives are not our own. With humility and surrender, we pray, ask, and acquiesce to God’s perfect plans for our lives.

Our prayers should always focus on asking God what we need to do to have a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. Placing ourselves in alignment with God requires total obedience to His will and plans.

We are living in the last days of Earth’s history, our priorities must align with God’s priorities of receiving daily spiritual growth, character transformation, and godly wisdom.

“Pray continuously.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Everyday pray, ask God to search your heart, and reveal anything that would prevent you from hearing His Voice.

The Holy Spirit guides us in our daily decisions, and keeps us on the Path of Righteousness when we consecrate ourselves to serve God through surrender and faithful obedience.

“The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’ “(1 Samuel 3:10).

Bible Study: 1 Samuel 3

Lord God, teach us how to recognize Your Voice. We ask for the blessings of spiritual wisdom, discernment, and the strength to do Your will. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

Sabbath Peace and Blessings

Lord God, with gratitude, we thank You for the Victory of a safe passage through another week. Lord, we approach Your Throne of Grace because we are always in need of the spiritual blessings of strength, wisdom, and discernment. Jesus, as we reflect on Your love and faithfulness, we consecrate ourselves to follow You because You are Worthy and deserve all honor, glory, and praise. We ask for forgiveness of our sins of rebellion. Thank You for giving us the Sabbath, a time to rest from our cares, and a time to redirect our faith and focus to worship You in Spirit and Truth. In faith, and with joyful expectancy, we pray in the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.

Jesus, Our Loving Shepherd

“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).

With deep reflection, I began to think about the relationship between sheep and their shepherd. We can learn from the animals who consistently demonstrate love, loyalty, and obedience to their shepherd.

“Sheep behave with loyalty, recognition, and trust toward their shepherd, responding to their voice, scent, and presence, which signals food, safety, and care.”

“Their behavior includes following the shepherd, calming in their presence, recognizing their unique traits, and learning routines associated with their herder.”

“This bond is built on the shepherd’s consistent provision of resources and protection.”

Following and Guidance:
“Sheep will follow their shepherd willingly, knowing that the shepherd provides food, water, and guidance for their well-being.”

I began to think about our relationship with Jesus, our Loving Shepherd who desires to provide for us and protect us from Satan, our enemy. Yet, we must willingly choose to follow Jesus.

Our Greatest Challenge: We inherited hearts overflowing with desires that rebel against God’s plans for our lives.

It is easier to pursue our desires than to surrender in faithful obedience and follow our Shepherd.

Ask yourself, “What is keeping me from following Jesus, my Shepherd?”

Set aside some alone time to think about the desires, habits, and pursuits preventing you from making the commitment to become a faithful follower.

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me…” (John 10:14).

Jesus reminds us that He knows the pure motives of His sheep. They are the Believers who abide in Him by maintaining a heart-to-heart relationship through daily surrender.

The Characteristics of Faithful Sheep

Through daily personal worship, we consecrate ourselves utilizing Jesus’ prayer to His Father, Not my will, but Your will be done.” (Luke 22:42).

When our hearts are converted, we readily surrender ourselves to worship God in Spirit and Truth. Love and loyalty for our Shepherd is demonstrated by intentional obedience, which is our highest act of worship to God.

As time slips rapidly into eternity, we are confronted with the choice, Who will I follow? Jesus, or myself?

Our Triumphant King’s promise: “…Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the Crown of life. (Revelation 2:10).

The behaviors of the righteous: Follow Jesus, renounce sin, relinquish your desires, and prepare daily for His Soon Coming.

“Commit everything you do to the Lord [YAHWEH]. Trust Him, and He will help you.” (Psalm 37:5, NLT).

Lord God, thank You for giving us freedom from a sin debt that left us spiritually bankrupt. Jesus, You are our Shepherd, we give ourselves to You. Lead us, correct us, protect us, and cleanse us from the unrighteousness of our heart’s desires. With praise and faithful obedience, we thank You, God, and lift Your Name on High for the gift of Jesus. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

The Willingness to Live a Sacrificial Life

“I will guide you with my eye” (Psalm 32:8).

“God will provide intimate, personal, and watchful guidance to those who trust Him. This refers to God’s attentive, loving oversight rather than distant instruction, emphasizing a close, personal relationship where He leads us with His wisdom,” according to his perfect will.

We were not created to be self-reliant. Sadly, many believers have embraced autonomy by never praying and asking God to reveal His perfect will for their lives.

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

The ocean stays within its boundaries, and the Sun rises in the East and sets in the West, but human beings created in the image of God have consistently fought against the Creator by following the rebellious desires of their hearts.

Although, we were created with free will of choice, and inherited hearts that naturally rebel against total submission to God, total dependency on Jesus Christ is necessary to stay on the Path of Righteousness, and to receive our Crown of Life.

After many failures, with humility, I had to admit that it was impossible for me to live righteously using my strength. No, I could not walk through this earthly journey victoriously without God’s direction, protection, and correction.

Tired of feeling defeated, one day, I decided to fully surrender to God through the lifestyle changes of daily prayer, fasting, and Bible Study.

The hardships still happen, but my outlook changed as my heart embraced Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

Filled with hope, I began to understood the necessity of faithful obedience to God’s Sovereign Authority.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1, NIV).

Only Christ can give us the spiritual strength to live righteously. If we are willing to live a sacrificial life of following our Shepherd with faithful obedience then Jesus promises to transform us from the inside out.

“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)

When we humble ourselves and live a consecrated, obedient life, Yeshua promises to complete the spiritual work of Sanctification in our minds, characters, and personalities.

Preparing for Kingdom Life One Day at a Time: With each passing day, we are closer to Jesus fulfilling His promise of John 14:1-3. Yes and Amen!

Bible Study: Revelation 21-22

Lord God, we ask You to reveal any hidden desires, habits, and disobedience that would prevent us from receiving our reward of Eternal Life. We pray for the strength to overcome our internal desires and the external temptations designed to make us fall. In faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

Spiritual Growth and Transformation Requires Active Participation

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, ESV).

God’s Priority is to change our Character to prepare us for our reward of Eternal Life.

Are we cooperating with the Holy Spirit in the daily Spiritual process of growth and maturity [Sanctification]?

Pursuing the world’s temporary and meaningless prosperity, pleasures, and success are a waste of the Believer’s time and energy. We can take nothing with us to Heaven except a Righteous Character.

God promises to give us everything we need. Be content with what you have.

We are looking forward to a perfect life with Jesus in the New Heaven and New Earth.

Worship God in Spirit and Truth by consecrating yourself daily to follow Jesus Christ. Peace and Blessings.

Bible Study: Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 4

Lord God, we ask you to reveal any desire, habit, or behavior that would prevent us from receiving our reward of Eternal Life. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Do Not Fear, Worry, or Be Discouraged – The LORD Is On Your Side!

“I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: ‘Do not close your ears to my cry for relief. You came near when I called you, and you said, ‘Do not fear.’ ” (Lamentations 3:55-57, NIV).

“The Babylonians, led by King Nebuchadnezzar II, captured the Israelites during the Babylonian Captivity, which was a period of exile for the Jewish people into Babylon.”

“This event marked the destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem and a forced relocation of many Jews, including prophet Jeremiah, to Babylon as a consequence of their rebellion and idolatry.”

“…we are weary and find no rest.” (Lamentations 5:5).

Jeremiah, known as the Weeping Prophet, lamented in his prayer asking for God to extend mercy and redeem them from their Babylonian captivity.

God’s Promise: “This is what the LORD says: ‘You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again.’ ” (Jeremiah 29:10, NLT).

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we agree to follow God’s thoughts and plans for our lives. The Christian Believer’s life is not our own. We have dedicated ourselves to be followers of Jesus Christ, our Shepherd.

“You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15:14). Jesus clarifies that obedience is required to be His follower, to have a relationship with Him, and to receive God’s abundant blessings.

Learning God’s Plans: We remain in right standing with God when we consecrate ourselves through daily prayer asking God to reveal His will for the given day. The Holy Spirit speaks to us through the Holy Scriptures and our thoughts.

“Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.” (Proverbs 28:26, ESV).

One of the most discouraging times in our lives is when we must suffer consequences for following our thoughts and making decisions outside of God’s plans. Willful disobedience always bring consequences.

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

Clarification: The consequences of willful disobedience differ from suffering trials and hardships.

We experience trials and hardships for spiritual growth and the transformation of our characters. God places limits on the severity of trials and hardships, it would serve no godly purpose for us to be crushed and feel hopeless.

But consequences from disobedience have no boundaries! Following our misguided desires results in making decisions outside of God’s Perfect Will, which equates to intentional self-harm.

Sin Separates us from God: When believers fail to seek God, we may enjoy the benefits of our decisions, but spiritual consequences happen immediately, disobedience separates us from God.

Following our thoughts and desires desensitizes us to the magnitude of our rebellion against God; we can no longer perceive life through spiritual eyes.

The Holy Spirit cannot dwell inside of a believer who is filled with rebellion. Because God loves us, He does not prevent the devastating consequences of our decisions.

Suffering tangible consequences always produces feelings of regret, yet do not focus on how you feel, with surrender and humility, redirect your focus and faith to run to God with a Prayer of Repentance.

God Reveals His Love: “‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Zechariah 1:3b).

God is Omniscient, and knows every sin that we will commit against Him, still, our Loving Father never abandons us. He loves us, even in our state of disobedience, but we must repent for our rebellion against God.

David’s Prayer of Repentance: Psalm 51:1-4

“Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin…”

3 “For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight.”

Do Not Embrace Guilt! King David is our ultimate example of committing sins based on desire, repenting, and moving forward in his life.

Emmanuel: God With Us

“This name is more than a personal name; it’s a declaration of God’s covenant presence. It symbolizes God’s closeness and reassurance, a powerful statement of His enduring connection to His people throughout all stages of their spiritual life.”

“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).

Through personal worship of daily Prayer and Bible Study, we choose to stay close to God who promises to give us the spiritual strength to persevere through every trial, hardship, and even the harsh consequences. Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we are extremely grateful for Your abundant love, forgiveness, and steadfast faithfulness, even when we choose to rebel against You. We repent of our sins and ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Lord, we seek Your guidance and Perfect Will and Plans for our lives. We love You, and ask this prayer in the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.

The Loving Heart of Christ

“From one man He [Jesus] made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.” (Acts 17:26).

Sociology was one of my first academic classes required for my nursing degree. I can recall an assignment of openly confronting prejudice by exposing our inner feelings of “I dislike this group of people because…”

Being truthful required a spoken answer of identifying the individuals who we targeted our discrimination against, and giving the reasons for our prejudice.

As we listened to each other’s [mostly absurd] answers, we realized that learned behaviors [usually from parents and family members] produced unsubstantiated discrimination and prejudice against those who had never harmed us.

Shame and embarrassment permeated the atmosphere, yet there was an interesting twist when I verbalized my answer of, “I am not prejudiced,” which was met by a sharp rebuttal from our professor, “It is impossible for you not to be prejudiced!”

With confidence, I disclosed to my professor and classmates that I was raised by parents who taught us to love everyone.

From a young child, my mother taught us the magnitude of God’s love by singing this song, “Jesus loves the little children of the world. Whether red, or yellow, black, or white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

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

“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” (1 John 4:19).

Possessing the Loving Heart of Christ

The Love Commandments: “And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Matthew 22:37-39, ESV).

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11).

The sign of a converted heart is one that is filled with God’s love. God is love. We were Created from Love, and Redeemed by Love.

“The Samaritan woman said to Him, ‘You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?’ (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)” (John 4:9, NIV).

Jesus demonstrated love in His ministry by speaking powerful messages of hope. He exhibited patience, compassion, and the healing of countless multitudes of people without regard to their backgrounds.

God’s love will permeate Heaven’s atmosphere. And only believers who love others freely in their earthly lives will receive the glorious reward of living forever in the Lovely New Heaven and New Earth.

Reflection: Are there any biases or prejudices hidden in your heart that would prevent you from receiving your reward of Eternal Life?

“Prejudice can stem from the perception that certain groups or ideas pose a threat to one’s own belief system or way of life.”

In the Scriptures, God reveals that either we love or hate. There is no middle of the road feeling of “dislike” identified in the Bible. Disliking others reveals that we do not have the loving heart of Christ.

Because the manner in which we were raised varies, our different experiences define our perception of love, and define our boundaries of inclusion. But once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we embrace love as defined by God.

God gives us His characteristics of Agape love in 1 Corinthians 13.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5, NIV).

Love Your Enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…’ ” (Matthew 5:43-45).

“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” (Proverbs 10:12).

God will never condone biases for any reason. If we focus on our differences then it is easy to target those who embrace unbelief in God, practice pagan worship, celebrate various cultural customs, and live alternative lifestyles.

Yes, God hates sin, but He loves humanity, including sinners. “Jesus was and is absolutely inclusive. There is no ‘them versus us’ at the foot of the cross; Jesus paid the highest price for each one of us.”

Love Is the Catalyst for the Spiritual Transformation of Our Hearts

Sanctification is the lifelong, daily, and gradual Spiritual transformation of our minds, characters, and personalities into the Righteousness of Christ’s Loving Character, performed daily by the Holy Spirit.

The Prerequisite of Sanctification: We must possess the Righteous Characteristics of Christ: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23, KJV).

Christians who have hearts filled with Christ’s love shine brightly. They will know we are Christians when our temperament is gentle, our smile is genuine, and our spoken words are positive and uplifting.

“Heaven will be more diverse than we can imagine, with every people, nation, color, tongue, and gender (Revelation 5:9). Father, grant us your grace, that as Christians we may display your inclusive outlook, here and now. In Jesus’ Loving Name, Amen!”

Prayer: King David’s prayer must be our prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24, KJV). Yes and Amen.