Devotional reading–Prayer Increases Faith and Courage is available as a podcast on Spotify
Have you ever had a life-changing decision to make that threatened your peace of mind? Or an unexpected life event that produced a financial deficit or health issue?
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow worry about itself it’s on things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34
Our average Floridian temperature in the 70s plummeted to 30 degrees on Christmas day. I had an unexpected health issue arise when I turned the heater on. Fumes and smoky residue flooded my apartment from the AC/ Heater unit triggering the smoke/ carbon monoxide detector, and I had an asthma attack immediately following.
My first response was to quickly set up my nebulizer rescue medication and open the door for the frigid fresh air to enter and clear the toxic environment. Thankfully, I was prepared with a couple of wintry throw blankets and clothing from a previous life that included winter weather.
As the tears fell from my eyes and thoughts of Christmas day being ruined, I began to pray, God, help me. From my short, desperate prayer, I received immediate comfort from the Holy Spirit. But then something unusual happened I had increased mental and emotional strength. The air cleared, the smoke alarm stopped, and my small backup tower electric heater began blowing hot air.
But most importantly, my respiratory system reached homeostasis. I whispered another prayer of thankfulness because God’s Divine Intervention took control and safely guided me through and out of harm’s way.
Every one of us faces unexpected daily challenges that can bring chaos and despair. Changing our response to include God in every aspect of our everyday troubles–great or small builds our faith and gives us a habit of relying on God’s Divine Intervention to help us in every trial.
Forming the habit of consistent prayer changes our perception and awareness that God is an Awesome Heavenly Father. Our minds transition from innate weakness to one of strength and courage. No, we do not let pride give us false confidence in our own abilities, we build a love-trust-dependent relationship with God who is always faithful.
“Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
As Christian believers, we have 24/7 access to the Throne of Grace. Head knowledge of the Scriptures is not enough. Our dependency on God is evidence of a heart-to-heart relationship with His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. We are preparing now for an eternal life of worship based on the love and faith we possessed in our earthly lives.
Bible Study: Matthew chapter 6
Prayer: God, we are thankful for Your faithfulness. We pray for a closer relationship with Jesus based on faith, trust, obedience, and active communication through daily prayer and study of the Scriptures. Thank You for Your love and Divine Intervention that is always available. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Devotional Reading–Wait! That Decision Has Negative Consequences
Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! –Psalm 27:14
God is so good! In our moments of weakness, He provides and protects us from the negative consequences of decisions that we think are the best option. We can live without regrets by listening to God’s voice telling us, No or Not Now.
Surrender is not a trait we are born with, nor is surrender valued as a must-have character trait. If you are a parent or had younger siblings, you have first-hand knowledge of the developmental stage affectionately known as the terrible twos. And most remember going through the teenage stages of a raging rebellion against their parent’s morals, values, and rules. But suppose the child’s behavior was modified by initiating boundaries and disciplinary measures during these two defiant stages. In that case, they will develop into adults that not only accept and respect the answer of no, but also possess the character trait of self-control.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Despite our diverse backgrounds, a change of heart happens when we commit ourselves to God. This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone, and a new life has begun! As steadfast believers in Christ, we cease the natural inclinations to follow our selfish desires or maintain a spirit of disobedience. Nor do we develop little schemes to go outside God’s will to attempt to manipulate His answer of no.
When God created humanity, He gave us everything we needed to serve Him: Free will of choice, biblical instructions, prayer, a seed of faith, a sound mind, self-control, and the desire to stay connected to Him. But then we discovered that we could use our free will to chase after our desires. Yes, we still believe in God, but we have developed a spirit of independence–the same condition that Cain possessed. We place our disobedient desires over God’s requirement for our sacrificial offering–total obedience.
There are two types of Believers, those who almost always obey God and those who make it a habit to disobey and frequently misuse repentance and forgiveness.
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? –Luke 6:46
For the usually obedient group, God disciplines by shaking us. In His mercy, God may shield us from the extreme consequences of our disobedience. Recognizing that we went against the will of God, we readily repent and pray for forgiveness. We know repentance means never repeating the transgression against God for doing it our way. Because we love God with all of our hearts, after the shaking, we thank God for His mercy in not letting us suffer the full consequences of our disobedience.
“…but the way of transgressors is hard.” –Proverbs 13:15
The second group also loves God, but they suffer inner turmoil because they have developed a pattern of disobeying God. They live by the false prosperity message–name it and claim it. Their greatest pursuit in life is to be happy. Yes, all appears to be well–they are reaping a harvest of blessings. And they readily share with others, “God has abundantly blessed me.” Sadly, that is their critical mistake of bringing God’s name into their acts of disobedience.
God will protect His name and reputation!
Then the unthinkable happens, God allows the impact of their disobedience to come to fruition, and the life-changing consequences happen. All because they half-heartedly served God by continuous disobedience. “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” –James 4:17
“The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving wrongdoing, and rebellion. But He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He visits the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.” (Numbers 14:18)
Satan is using the same old tactic that he used with Eve, “Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die'” (Genesis 3:4). He uses false teachers to tell us that we do not understand the true meaning of what God said, and they give their reinterpretation of the Scriptures. Many believers have been deceived by accepting the false belief of Middle Ground Christianity. There is no middle ground! We cannot fulfill our desires and remain in the right standing with God. Either we completely obey God or we are living outside of His will by walking on the path of disobedience.
“If you love me, obey my commandments” (John 14:15).
In the evening, reflect on your day. How many blessings have you received? The big blessings are probably very obvious. Even so, remember to include the little things that worked out in your favor. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
We have a loving God who sustains our lives. The breath in our bodies is from God. Seeking God’s will is the foundation for serving Him. Obedience is such a small sacrifice compared to the incredible love and undeserved grace and mercies we receive. With all that we are given by our Heavenly Father, God is justified in His requirement for us to faithfully trust and obey Him. We must use our sound minds and self-control to stay within the will of God.
“For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,” says the Lord, “plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11, Amplified Bible)
Stop living the hard-knock life full of problems and consequences that belong to the lives of unbelievers!
We can never protect or provide for ourselves as God does. Do we thank God for His protection from the dangers of spiritual warfare [seen and unseen] that the angels, God’s messengers, defend us from every day? God’s protection also extends to shielding us from the terrible consequences of our wayward decisions.
When God says, “No, my child,” trust and believe that He knows the future consequences that would devastate our lives. Today, begin to let praises of thanksgiving and gratitude openly flow from your mouth. Surrender and commit your free will to always trust and obey God. We are truly blessed beyond measure!
Bible Reading: Psalm 34
Prayer: God, we want to say thank you for all that you have lovingly and freely blessed us with day after day. We love You and surrender our will to You. Let Your will be done in our lives. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.
Historically, rejection and oppression based on ethnicity, culture, religion, and socioeconomic status have existed since biblical times. Jesus continuously exposed the oppression of the Pharisees against ordinary people. The Pharisees felt their political and financial statuses made them superior to others.
“And they tie up burdens heavy and hard to bear and lay them on the shoulders of men, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.” –Matthew 23:4
“They Added Tradition To The Scriptures: The Pharisees added an enormous amount of traditional material that was passed down from one generation to the next.” blueletterbible.org. The Pharisees interpreted the scriptures according to their mindsets, yet they did not follow their manmade rules.
The Pharisees are a prime example of Israelites seeking to establish their own righteousness. They created manmade rules to control others and elevate themselves. Ordinary Jewish people could not enjoy serving God. Rituals create unnecessary burdens, are meaningless, and destroy the integrity of true worship.
Sadly, many believers feel that worshipping God is a burden. We have lowered our standards by living worldly and proclaiming at the same time that God is good. The issue is that today’s Christians are tired and weary of God’s standard of holiness, which they consider unrealistic and impossible to achieve. Their perception of God is skewed. They do not view God as holy and righteous but as one who is an unloving taskmaster with a list of too many “don’t do this.”
The similarity between the Pharisees and today’s church leaders is that they love money. But unlike the Pharisees who made additional rules to make lives harder, pastors are doing all they can to please their members [and keep their churches filled to capacity]. Many are not preaching about living righteously nor are their sermons focusing on Jesus and His Second Coming. The focus has changed to keeping people happy and if the truth is mentioned it is watered-down to keep the membership numbers stable and the money flowing in.
Recently, I watched an interview with Pastor TD Jakes who admitted if he preached from the Bible over 90% of his members would not understand because they lack knowledge of the Scriptures.
“Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 20:7
We have lost sight of the fact that God is Holy. The atmosphere of our homes and churches has become common and irreverent from our spoken words and the music, programs, and social media we eagerly watch. We attend or watch a virtual service weekly to hear a sermon or we choose the Scriptures of the Bible that are pleasing to our ears.
Biblical Israel’s Spiritual Condition: “The spirit of true devotion had been lost in tradition and ceremonialism, and the prophecies were interpreted at the dictate of proud, world-loving hearts.” E.G. White
Christianity [Spiritual Israel] has experienced a significant spiritual decline that is worse than biblical Israel. In the time of Moses, the Nation of Israel had complete knowledge of God’s laws, commands, and precepts which they rejected. As time progressed, God revealed to the prophet Hosea, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee… (Hosea 4:6). The knowledge deficit has created a misunderstanding of the purpose of living consecrated and holy lives.
The Dilemma in 2022: Either we lack knowledge or we have basic knowledge of only the Scriptures that keep us happy. “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4) is an example of not understanding the spiritual meaning of this scripture by thinking God will give us everything that we ask for.
God tells us, “I change not.” We can only have a relationship with Jesus Christ based on love, surrender, consecration, obedience, prayer, and study of the Scriptures. Our earthly life of true worship is preparing us to worship God forever in the New Heaven and New Earth.
“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” –Joshua 24:15
There is no middle ground. We cannot choose or select parts of the Word of God [the Scriptures] and fit them into our lifestyles. Either we are all in as evidenced by consecrating our lives to Christ and dedicating meaningful time to worship God through prayer and studying the Scriptures for ourselves, or we will continue to do what is pleasing to our dictates and miss out on the heavenly mansions that Jesus promised us in John chapter 14, verses 1-3.
The Spirit of True Worship is the willingness to surrender all to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” –John 14:3-4
Prayer: God, we repent for doing things our way. Jesus, we desperately need You. Please reveal our areas of disobedience and Your plan and purpose for our lives. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of Jesus, Amen.
Devotional Reading: The Spiritual Journey of a Healthy Lifestyle. Also available as a podcast on Spotify.
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. –3 John 1:2
Two factors determine if our lifestyle is in sync with God’s Plan for our mind and body to achieve optimal health: Our perspective of God and the use of our time.
How would you describe God’s Character? Our perception of God is dependent upon our scriptural knowledge and personal experience. Throughout the Bible, God reveals Himself which gives us head knowledge. There are many scriptures and stories of His interaction with humanity that tell us that He is a dependable God, but it is our love relationship with Christ [through daily worship, our struggles, defeats, and victories] that give us a heart-to-heart connection with our Heavenly Father.
In 5 days, Jesus created everything that Adam and Eve needed for a healthy lifestyle. On the sixth day, our parents were created. Yes, they had a peaceful and aesthetically beautiful home with food to sustain their lives. They did not live a lazy—do-nothing life. Although we do not have detailed knowledge of their daily lives. We know that our parents were assigned a few things. Adam named the animals and lovingly took care of them, Eve gathered their food every day, and they enjoyed each other’s companionship in marriage.
Until their fall, Adam and Eve enjoyed face-to-face interaction with Jesus who visited with them frequently in their garden home. We know this from Adam’s response after their fall into sin, “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8). They were accustomed to hearing the sound of Jesus walking in the Garden of Eden. How wonderful that must have been to sit down and talk with Jesus.
The Creation gives us God’s design for a healthy lifestyle—essential use of time, structure, discipline, and the companionship of godly friends. Jesus created the world and humanity in perfect sequential order. We were created to worship God. He is Omniscient and all-knowing. Jesus was aware that we would need a 24-hour break from the daily labors of life to receive the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical restoration necessary for us to have productive lives. And then on the seventh day–Sabbath, He rested.
“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” –Genesis 2:2-3
With the decline in morals and values and the coercion to accept noise from every technological advancement, and ever-changing worldviews, how much of our lives do we control?
“Locus of control is how much individuals perceive that they themselves have control over their own actions [internal] as opposed to events in life [external].”
Many believers have fallen away from the godly principles of faith, obedience, rest, and restoration because they have embraced worldviews. Like the Israelites who loved the Egyptian pagan worship and eating unclean foods, we also disregard God’s health laws by eating the toxins of processed high-calorie, high-fat, and sugary foods. Alcoholism and illicit substance are promoted to take the edge off of an unpredictable life but mesmerize and cripple our intellects by promising to provide us with a false sense of peace and relaxation.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own… (1 Corinthians 6:19).
The prophet Jeremiah tells us, “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23)
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived proclaims, “A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9).
The incurable mental and physical illnesses of today’s society continue to escalate. A three-digit emergency number [988] for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has been established for those who are hopeless and overwhelmed–thinking they have no other option than to end their lives. Urban churches are teaching self-help for anxiety, depression, worries, and burnout instead of focusing on Jesus, His love, the plan of salvation, redemption, living holy, and receiving the reward of eternal life.
We need Jesus! And we need to disciples to witness that we have a Savior who loves them!
The battle between God’s truth and false teaching is raging. Yet, the number one controversy is God’s commandment [the fourth] of the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath.
My upbringing does not include being a Sabbath keeper. Yet, after extensive research, I find no evidence of God changing or abolishing the Creation Sabbath. Emperor Constantine was involved with changing and making Sunday a holy day. I decided to observe all of God’s commandments including Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, the seventh day Sabbath because I believe that when Jesus died and the veil was torn from top to bottom, exposing the Holy of Holies in the Sanctuary that the ceremonial law of sacrificing lambs was abolished not the Ten Commandments. “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot [smallest letter] or one tittle [stroke of a pen] will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18).
Each of us will have to give an account to God, the only true and righteous Judge. During Judgment, either we will be on the side of Christ, covered by His righteousness, be vindicated—and receive eternal life or we will be condemned to the second and final death. [Read Matthew 25:31-46].
Our destiny is reflected by our willingness to surrender to God’s precepts and righteous standards. God gave His only begotten Son, Jesus for the redemption of our sins. And Jesus paid with His life on Calvary’s cross that our sins would be covered by His blood.
It should not be too much for us to dismiss prevailing worldviews and pray for the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom, discernment, and the strength to persevere in our spiritual journey. Worshipping God requires humility, surrender, faith, obedience, prayer, and diligent study of the Scriptures. Whisper a prayer, hum or sing a worship song, and use your work breaks to have a little talk with Jesus. Study the Bible and memorize God’s promises including Jesus’ Second Coming.
Our mental, emotional, and physical conditions are reliant on our spiritual status. Unless we commune with God daily, eat nutritious healthy food, exercise, and get proper sleep, our minds and bodies will not function properly. We will lose the mental acuity that is required to have an in-depth study of the Bible. Our prayer life will consist of a few murmuring words. And we will not have the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to discern God’s truth from false teachings.
“Each person is morally responsible for his or her own destiny. Judgment is when God finalizes the choice that we made to accept or reject Him. Our earthly lives manifest that choice as evidenced by our works.” SDA SS 2022 Q4 Lesson 13—The Judging Process.
Heaven is real! Perilous times are here. Give Jesus your heart, soul, and mind. And you will be transformed day by day into His likeness. Pray without ceasing to our Lord and Savior who is in heaven as our Intercessor. Our reward awaits us when He comes again.
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” –Revelation 22:20-21
Prayer: God, in the chaos of our lives, we have not prayed and studied the Scriptures to learn Your truth. And for this, we ask forgiveness. We pray for the anointing, presence, and power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, we desperately need You. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer. In Jesus’ Worthy name, we pray. Amen.
Historically, the United States Marine Corps had a catchphrase, The Few, The Proud, Always Faithful. The Corps has always boasted that only those who achieve excellence [which requires going beyond human strength] become Marines.
As an outsider looking in, I am challenging their proclamation that becoming a Marine is the highest victory that one can achieve in life. Yes, they withstood the grueling environments, but once they have completed their enlistment or retirement from the Corps, they can live according to their dictates.
The Toughest Journey in Life: Christianity Requires Human Effort Plus Divine Intervention to Succeed Because Our Spiritual Journey lasts a Lifetime. Once we become soldiers in the Army of God, we are always soldiers [if we remain faithful].
Accepting Jesus as our personal Savior with earnest conviction is Conversion. And then the grueling journey begins! Endurance and perseverance through the hard times of suffering that may last for months or years is God’s spiritual process of Sanctification which takes a lifetime.
Jesus forewarned what would happen when we decided to become a soldier in God’s Army: “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world, you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] –John 16:33, Amplified Bible.
Military soldiers complete their enlistment unless they receive an early honorable [based on medical diagnoses] or a dishonorable discharge. AWOL–Not completing one’s enlistment time is a criminal act.
Becoming a Christian does not mean one will stay a Christian. The Apostle Paul tells us there will be a great apostasy–falling away from God before Jesus comes.
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled …Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition…(2 Thessalonians 2:1-3).
The continuous cycle of unexpected harsh trials or chasing carnal desires causes many to fall away. We do not understand that our characters are being changed for a perfect and holy life for eternity. Suffering is the way we can become righteous. Those who fail to endure trials and tribulations will not receive their heavenly reward of eternal life.
But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. –Revelation 21:8
Yet the Apostle John says there is another group of Christians who made it first on the long list of sinners–the cowards—those who are fearful will also miss out on eternal life. Those who deny Christ, as evidenced by their cowardly actions–take the side of the opposers by verbal agreement or remain silent when controversial subjects such as pro-choice arise. Cowardly Christians do not stand for the truth around their friends because they fear rejection.
An example of falling away: Living a double life by attending church weekly but sinning on demand because you love pleasure. God will not interfere in our decision not to serve Him.
Some situations call for immediate spiritual intervention. Christians who become overwhelmed with their trials and those who are confused about the Biblical truth because they do not understand the role of the Holy Spirit are the first to fall away from God. Praying for yourself must be done first, but additional spiritual counseling from a pastor or a fellow believer who is a steadfast prayer warrior is also needed.
When fear overpowers our minds, it indicates a loss of faith in God. Christians who fear persecution from unbelievers, rejection from family members and friends, do not believe angels keep us safe by fighting spiritual warfare, are afraid of spontaneous demon possession, and fear the Second Coming of Jesus are just a few examples of cowardice.
Because fear is based on our mental perception, not even therapeutic counseling can eliminate our fear. Sadly, fearful Christians are at the highest risk for apostasy. Only faith can erase fear!
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” –2 Timothy 1:7.
The Apostle Paul mentored young Timothy as Pastor of the Early Church. When Paul was imprisoned, Timothy was afraid that he would also have to endure persecution. Paul’s spiritual reminder to Timothy was a loving but stern rebuke reminding him of our spiritual gifts and responsibilities to Christ.
God does not expect us to do the impossible. He never created us to bear our earthly burdens without Jesus’ Divine Intervention. When we are at our limits, trapped by out-of-control emotions, and ready to give up, pray, Jesus, I cannot stay on this journey without Your help.
Something happens when we call on the name of Jesus for help—the Holy Spirit arrives immediately, and extra angels are sent from heaven to fight the spiritual warfare we are going through. Study Daniel chapter 9.
When you are ready to throw your Christianity–relationship with Jesus away, go to a quiet place to be alone and take a bottle of water with you. Drink the water. And then pray and cry out to Jesus, our Lord and Savior. His promise, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:8). Close your eyes and believe that your prayer has been sent faster than the speed of light to Jesus, Our Heavenly Intercessor.
If you quietly wait, you will feel the rush of a Mighty Wind–the Holy Spirit imparting spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical strength to your mind and body. And then make certain that you pray a prayer of gratitude.
To my brothers and sisters, I am not writing a fictional story or referencing biblical history. This is my testimony of a meltdown experience today. I felt that the vicissitudes in my life were too overwhelming. And I reacted first instead of praying immediately. Still, through my tears, I began to ask Jesus for His help. The power of God brought spiritual strength to my mind and body. I started singing, grabbed my laptop, and started writing these words of encouragement.
We do not have to be ashamed of our weaknesses. Yet, we must present ourselves to Jesus through prayer.
Yes, the struggle is real, but Victory through Jesus is guaranteed! We have come too far to give up. Praying several times a day during peaceful times enables us to develop a lifestyle of prayer and reliance on God. Even when the overwhelming trials come, our first response will be to pray. Jesus never fails!
Bible Study: John chapter 17
Prayer: God, we thank You for your Love and Divine Intervention. We bring our burdens to You in faith. We know that You will take them and will deliver us. We pray for the patience to wait on Your timing. Anoint us with the power of the Holy Spirit so we can view life through spiritual eyes. For Yours is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory. In Jesus’ name, we have victory. Hallelujah! Amen!
Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the LORD. Lamentations 3:40.
Every day, we receive great mercies, which we often take for granted. Bless the LORD when you awaken. Like the blind beggar who was told to be quiet, Cry louder, Son of David, have mercy on me. Praise our loving, Heavenly Father for He deserves something in return for His gifts of daily mercies to us. Amen.
Devotional Reading–No Bible Study Equals the Practice of False Teachings
There has always been a dividing line among Christians–those who believe in God and obey Him and those who believe in God, yet do not obey Him. But in the past five years, something extraordinary has developed and escalated to disproportionate numbers–we now have Christians who do not believe studying the Bible is necessary for Salvation and Sanctification.
Fact: “All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]…2 Timothy 3:16
The entire Bible–Old and New Testament was given to holy men by God.
False Teachings: We do not have to study the Old Testament. The Ten Commandments are no longer valid including the Creation seventh-day Sabbath. Immortality is given when humans die. All people except the extremely wicked will go to heaven. Attending church once a week indicates that we are doing our part in the plan of Salvation.
Fact: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” –Psalm 119:105
We require daily spiritual guidance from God. Without instruction, we slip into darkness because we no longer need to be led by the Voice of God.
Fact: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17).
Sanctification is daily spiritual growth–conversion and transformation into the likeness of Christ [His Character]. The human effort of worshipping God through prayer, diligent Bible study, and surrender and obedience to the will of God is a lifetime spiritual journey.
False Beliefs: Since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we do not have to do anything additional to be led by God. If I memorize the Scriptures, then I do not have to keep studying–Head knowledge is placed as a priority over a heart-to-heart relationship with Christ.
Fact: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.…” James 1:22-24, BSB
Fact: “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). We cannot rely on self-rule.
Fact: “And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you” (Mark 7:20-23).
False Beliefs: God understands that we cannot live holy. Since we are covered by God’s grace, just repent for your sins that you can’t stop doing.
Fact: “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…'” (Genesis 1:26).
Yes, we were created in the image of God. Still, we are not demigods. Our minds are finite with great limitations. We require daily guidance, wisdom, and discernment that only comes from the Holy Spirit–we ask for these things through prayer. The spiritual warfare that we face every day is fought by our guardian angels [Read Psalm chapter 91].
Fact: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
To know God’s thoughts and ways, we rely on our Teacher’s daily anointing and guidance–the Holy Spirit who discerns the Scriptures and instructs us in our daily lives to do our Heavenly Father’s will.
Fact: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
The issue of our spiritual standing with God is serious. Jesus says that we must depend on Him to bear fruit–righteous thoughts, actions, and living.
Obedience is humanity’s greatest obstacle. We cannot live according to our desires and expect to receive the reward that Jesus promised. Christ explains that our dependency on Him is like becoming a little child with faith and trust in their parents. Having a thriving relationship with Jesus is easy when it flows from the love in our hearts.
Fact: I Am Coming Quickly! “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!'” (Revelation 22:20).
The times we live in are perilous. Evaluate your priorities. God must be first! Our time of 24 hours is sufficient to perform our activities of daily living and to have time to worship God every day.
Daily Worship is not an option for Christian believers. We must have a steadfast relationship with Jesus Christ. Make a covenant promise to fully surrender and obey God. Pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit–Our Teacher to possess wisdom and discernment of the Holy Scriptures. Study to learn the character of God, His promises, and His expectations for us to live righteously.
Prayer: God, we confess that we have not studied the Scriptures. We ask for forgiveness of our stubborn hearts. Anoint us with Your Holy Spirit. We thank You and give You the honor and glory that You deserve. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Devotional Reading—The Worship Hierarchy—Bless the Lord
Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, Bless His holy name! –Psalm 103:1
When we look at God’s Hierarchy, God, the Father, Jesus Christ, His Son, the Holy Spirit, the angels, humanity, and animals, it is evident that God created His Kingdom based upon a “We” [collective] standard. We were created from love and to have healthy interdependent relationships with the Trinity Godhead and with each other.
The individualistic mindset of “I” was not a concept of God’s original plan and will never exist in the spiritual realm. Placing oneself as a priority produces a selfish heart and distorts our outlook on life. Striving to place himself as one of the Trinity Godhead, Lucifer’s prideful heart brought chaos into heaven.
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him (Revelation 12:7-9, ESV)
The repercussions of Lucifer’s sins of pride and disobedience have infiltrated humanity, resulting in an internal conflict between God’s hierarchy and Satan’s hierarchy for thousands of years. As a result of our acceptance of the worldview of individualism, we are plagued with mental and emotional issues of low self-value, anxiety, worries, discontentment, and discouragement.
Many people are wandering through life without a sense of spiritual purpose so they attempt to calm their inner fears and turmoil by chasing after material possessions and engaging in unhealthy relationships. Despite the negative consequences of placing oneself as a priority, many accept the worldview of individualism as evidence of strength and empowerment.
Collectivist: relating to the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it.
The Biblical Worldview: “Now the LORD God said, “It is not good (beneficial) for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper [one who balances him—a counterpart who is] suitable and complementary for him” (Genesis 2:18).
Throughout the Bible, we have evidence [God’s numerous promises] that God did not create us to be alone nor has He ever left us to fend for ourselves.
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
“I will never leave you or forsake you “I will send you the Helper from the Father” (John 15:26).
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.” “So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not fear, what can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
God’s original plan is for us to live in harmony with His precepts. In the book of Malachi, God says that He never changes.
Have the Attitude of Christ
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” –Philippians 2:3-5, NLT
Jesus’ life of blessing others revealed His love and the desire to bless God by always giving His Father glory and honor. Jesus created us to love God, love others, and love ourselves—which is the only hierarchy that God approves of. Our Savior’s life was one of self-sacrifice. Jesus lived to help others by teaching them the love of God and providing the necessity of food along with spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical healing. Remember that Jesus, the Son of Man always put God, His Father first, and then the needs of others. Never once, did Christ place Himself above others.
Perform a self-evaluation of your mindset and values. Are they in alignment with the Biblical Worldview of collectivism? Yes, God has given us free will of choice. We can live according to our worldviews and interpretation of God’s Truth, yet, our individual choice will impact our destiny of receiving the reward of eternal life. The world as we know it, with the conflicting worldview of individualism, “Looking out for number one” will not have a place in the Kingdom of God in the New Heaven and New Earth.
Changing our mindset from I to We requires humility and obedience. With God, all things are possible. Jesus has promised to finish the work in us [Philippians 1:6] if we do our part in striving after righteousness. Live to serve! Placing the needs of others as a priority is an outward sign of the internal condition of our hearts. Our love for God is evidenced by blessing others. God is truly blessed by our desire to bring honor and glory to Him. “Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits…” (Psalm 103:2).
Bible Study: Matthew chapter 5, verses 1-12
Prayer: God, we have lost our way by accepting worldviews that conflict with Your precepts to live righteously. And for this sin, we ask forgiveness. We pray for a change of heart that we will live to bless others as You did. Thank You for loving us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Most of us have reached a crossroads in our lives when we faced a health or financial crisis impacting ourselves or a family member. At that point, we realize that the situation is critical and that only Christ can resolve the dilemma. We cry out in prayer, “Lord, help me! Yet, a major barrier still exists–our faithlessness in God. Most likely, we are asking for the crisis to be resolved not for God to save our souls.
Three men in the Scriptures demonstrated that they faithfully believed in Jesus Christ.
King David: “In Your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; Incline Your ear to me and save me” (Psalm 71:2).
The blind beggar: “So he called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Those who led the way admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (Luke 18:38-39)
The thief on the cross: “Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom’” (Luke 23:42).
Faith is active. Faith is intentional. Faith is a lifestyle of acknowledging the power of God every day. Faith places us in a posture of worship. Faith proclaims that my heart and life are committed to Jesus Christ. Faith causes us to surrender in humility to the power of God as demonstrated by our desire to obey God in all circumstances. Faith causes us to cry out, “Lord save me!” even when our lives are peaceful and all is well.
In these last days, where do many believers stand in their relationship with Christ?
Jesus answers the question: “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked…’” (Revelation 3:17)
Sadly, in these perilous times, many Christians are empty lamps—they do not have the oil of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. Their light no longer shines because they are content with their lifestyles. Gone are the days when they had the zeal to witness to others or to use their spiritual gifts and financial blessings to help others.
Faith requires human effort to grow!
The reward of eternal life will only be given to the righteous who strived through the good times and hardships to remain faithful to God through daily surrender, humility, and obedience. Commit to meaningful worship through fervent prayer and study of the Scriptures in your secret closet every day.
Bible Study: Luke chapter 18
Prayer: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us! Search our hearts and reveal the stumbling blocks that keep us from surrendering to You. We pray for forgiveness for the sin of being lukewarm in our relationship with You. We love You and surrender our hearts in total obedience. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of Jesus, Amen.
Can you imagine how your life would change if you surrendered to Jesus? I did it! I have peace, joy, and happiness. Even in times of hardship, I trust God. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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