Our Daily Walk with Christ – Sabbath Devotional – May 31, 2024
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” —Matthew 5:43-44
“…Love your neighbor as yourself.” —Matthew 22:39
“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings…” —Acts 17:26
“The projected world population on Jan. 1, 2024, is 8,019,876,189…”
Christ has given the command to love everyone including our enemies. We cannot obey Christ’s command and love everyone without immense love and loyalty to God, a converted and transformed heart, and a spirit of forgiveness. Our love for God is reflected by how we perceive and treat others. Who is my neighbor? Everyone. Am I my brother’s keeper? Yes.
You will never meet anyone for whom Christ did not die on Calvary’s cross.
Jesus died for the 8,019,876,189 currently alive on this planet and everyone who has ever lived and will live on this Earth. We only have one opportunity to ask the Holy Spirit to sanctify and transform our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ—in our earthly lives. That Great Day is coming! Love God, Love Others, and Love Yourself! Have a blessed Sabbath!
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 21, 2024
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” —Lamentations 3:22-23
Because God is Sovereign and Faithful, we rejoice in our challenges and sorrows as well as in peaceful times. We entrust our lives to be led by Christ because He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord.” —Lamentations 3:25-26
We can rejoice because we are living a Christ-centered, Faith-Based life [through surrender and obedience] continually striving for holiness under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
“Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the Lord; Let us lift our hearts and hands To God in heaven.” —Lamentations 3:40-41
We can rejoice because we search God’s Holy Scriptures to use as a Righteous Standard to measure our hearts, our motives, our love relationship with Christ, and our love for others. We rejoice because our hearts are open to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and we repent of the sins of thinking our own thoughts which is the source of all transgressions against God.
“If you love Me keep my commandments.” —John 14:15. “If you love me, obey my commands, and my commands are not burdensome…” —1 John 5:1-5
We can rejoice because our hearts are converted by the love and redeeming power of Jesus Christ. Our love for Christ is demonstrated through obedience to the Ten Commandments and His Righteous Principles. Yes, we love as Christ loves by loving God and placing Him above all. We rejoice because we love others despite their background or status.
“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” —Revelation 14:12
We can rejoice because we strive to be like Christ, our Perfect, Righteous Role Model who obeyed the Commandments in His earthly life and lived a life of humility and surrender to God, the Father. The faith of Jesus is His Righteousness which we also pursue, not in our own power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Every day we present ourselves before the Throne of Grace to seek God’s will and to receive Christ’s blessing of His strength to live holy. From our pleas for Divine Help, the Holy Spirit imparts Christ’s Divine strength. We are empowered to renounce sin and receive the wisdom and discernment to perceive sin for what it really is—spiritual death.
Artist’s Rendition of Jesus’ Second Coming
“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
“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
We can rejoice because we envision ourselves living with Christ forever in the New Heaven and New Earth! Hallelujah! Amen!
Lord God, we pray for ourselves that we will prepare today for Your soon coming and stay prepared. We bow to Your Sovereignty as our Lord, Savior, and King and ask for Your strength to be poured out as we persevere in Your Name to live righteously. In Jesus’ Matchless Name, we pray. Amen.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” —1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
“And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them…” —Jeremiah 45:5
When studying the Creation Story, we have evidence that God loves abundance and beauty. “Scientists estimate that there are about 8.7 million animal species on Earth, with 2.2 million of those being marine. However, only about 1.2 million species have been identified and described, mostly insects.” God is still giving humanity an abundance and desires that we develop and nurture a spirit of contentment.
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” —Micah 6:8
Develop a spirit of contentment—Be content with what you have. Our character matters to God. If we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, we will develop a character overflowing with love, justice, mercy, and humility, and focus on the needs of others instead of our desires. Remember, God never withholds what is good and necessary for us to enjoy a fruitful life.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” —James 1:17
Lord, we pray for a revival in our souls to prepare for Your soon coming. In Your Holy Name, we pray, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 16, 2024
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” —1 Thessalonians 5:18
The grateful heart continuously reflects on God’s loving character: “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). God’s loving promises and daily mercies are the catalysts to thank Him daily with a renewed covenant to live righteously and serve Him with a surrendered, obedient, and grateful heart.
We Are the Recipients of Every Good and Perfect Gift
God’s love and gift of His Son, Jesus, and Jesus’ willingness to rescue us from the wages of sin through the perfect Plan of Redemption, cover us with His Righteousness, and restore our characters through the process of Sanctification is much more than we deserve. Because human effort can never achieve righteousness, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to teach and empower us in our earthly journey.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” —John 14:26
The gift of the Holy Spirit, our Teacher and Comforter is responsible for our spiritual transformation [which requires our cooperation]. He is the Giver of wisdom and discernment of the Holy Scriptures, teaches us how to live holy, opens our eyes to recognize temptations, and to perceive sin as treacherous. The Holy Spirit also convicts us of our disobedience.
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” —Jeremiah 17:9
“For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” —Romans 7:19-20
Throughout the Epistles, the apostle Paul expressed immense gratitude for Jesus’ sacrificial offering, yet, he also shares his continuous struggle with sin. Born into sin and shaped by iniquity, we fight inner turmoil and external warfare all day long. It is easier to sin than to live righteously. Because we can never fight sin without the Holy Spirit, we should never minimize the devastating impact of sin.
“Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.” —Psalm 37:4
We love God and express gratitude for His goodness through our praise and worship, still, we fall. For the faithful believer, it’s usually something we perceive as insignificant that causes us to fall. Thank You, Jesus, for Your great sacrifice! God’s grace and mercies are beyond our comprehension. Yes, we sinned, but Divinity acts immediately, the Holy Spirit uses His convicting power to reveal our transgressions.
“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
Yes, we are sinners saved by grace, but God’s grace is a privilege. Although we repent, sin mars our character, and as a result, our spiritual struggle escalates. With humility, we fall to our knees and utter David’s prayer of repentance, “Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2).
“No one who abides in him keeps on sinning…whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God…” —1 John 3:6, 10
The grateful heart cherishes Jesus’ blood sacrifice. How do we view sin? When we reflect deeply on Satan’s never-ending deceptions and how the wicked one has impacted our lives, we should desire and prepare for eternal life with zeal. Praying for the Holy Spirit to open our eyes allows us to perceive sin for what it really is—the loss of eternal life and experiencing the fate of the second and final death.
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Our praise of Thank You, Jesus! for the Plan of Redemption must extend beyond spoken words, our gratitude is demonstrated by striving to live holy.
“But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct…” —1 Peter 1:15
With overflowing gratitude, we rejoice in God’s promises to keep us on the straight and narrow Path of Righteousness. Living in perilous times exposes us to the intentional warfare of busyness and distractions designed to divert our attention from God and steal our precious time. Our battle plan includes separating ourselves and praying for the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom to see life through spiritual eyes.
With our souls at risk, we desperately need to give God our attention and time through meaningful worship. True worship places us in the presence of God. To enter the presence and power of a Holy God is to experience spiritual transformation and heart conversion. We worship God in Spirit and Truth by possessing a pure heart filled with thanksgiving and ready to do His will. God rewards us with blessings of spiritual renewal and the strength to overcome Satan’s temptations.
“My grace is all you need, for my power is the greatest when you are weak.” —2 Corinthians 12:9
The grateful heart readily admits the wretchedness of inheriting a carnal heart and wholeheartedly believes Jesus’ warning, “…you can do nothing without me.” We live with the conviction that we were bought with a price, and our strength is from Christ, our King, therefore we willingly give ourselves away to Christ to live a life of servitude. “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master” (Matthew 10:24).
The Promise of Eternal Life: “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” —John 14:2
The grateful heart responds with honor and adoration to our Savior and King who is waiting for every living being to choose who they will serve, and “when the gospel is preached to all the world then will the end come.” With heaven ever before us, we must live as one who is forgiven. We are grateful sojourners—just traveling through this earthly life by preparing for eternal life with Christ Jesus.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” —John 3:16
The grateful heart is filled with immense love and gratitude because humanity is the benefactor of God’s love, grace, and mercies. We know that our identity is through Christ, “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).
“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). The grateful heart truly loves and appreciates God’s Divine Gift of His Son. Every day, with humility, we whisper the covenant words, “Lord, not my will but your will be done.” When Jesus is our First Love, our grateful heart reveals itself by following in His footsteps to live a sinless life of total surrender and obedience.
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. 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 22:12-14
Daily our resounding proclamation is, “I am going to heaven!” Not only in words but also in deeds, we consecrate ourselves to live holy. From our commitment, the Holy Spirit transforms our characters into a Christ-like character. Our thoughts, spoken words, habits, and lifestyles reflect a life hidden in Christ Jesus. Preparing daily for eternal life results in a life filled with praise and worship. We do not fear because we will receive our reward when Christ comes.
“The righteous are people who have entered into covenant with God by faith and seek to live according to his Word.” Jeane Jones
Lord, we thank You for Your life and Your love. We pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our lives that we travel this journey with conviction and courage. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 10, 2024
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16
One powerful way to build your faith and trust in God is to change your response to life-impacting events. Whether facing routine challenges or major hardships, every obstacle is a disruption to our lives. When feeling overwhelmed by the busyness of life or a situation arises that human intervention cannot resolve, how do we respond?
Discussing the presenting challenges with spouses, family, and friends is a natural response, but learned behaviors and habits that promote self-reliance by using our thoughts to develop solutions always decrease our faith and dependency on God. To maintain obedience to God, we must stand down our immediate emotional responses to reach out to others before we pray.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” —Hebrews 11:6, NIV
The defining characteristic of a Christian believer is to live a faith-based life totally dependent on God. We cannot please God by using varied responses according to the given situation. Therefore, we obey Christ’s command by changing our first response from discussing our challenges with others [which promotes worry and minimizes God’s infinite power] to “Let’s pray about this right now!”
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” —1 Peter 5:6-7
Yes, it is a daily struggle to live a life of self-denial by exercising faith over escalating feelings. Even so, with humility, we use our wavering mustard seed faith and place our burdens at Jesus’ feet. Remember God has foreknowledge of every obstacle, trial, and hardship we face.
Depending on God gives us a peace that permeates our minds, bodies, and souls. Our Father always gives us the strength to endure and provides comfort and hope for the given day—take no thought for tomorrow. And in His timing, we receive a victorious outcome that brings glory and honor to His Holy Name.
“When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.” —Psalm 91:15
Christ, our Heavenly Intercessor loves us, He patiently waits for us to come to the Throne of Grace, and ask for help. Worship shifts our Focus from our Problems to the Almighty God, the Problem Solver. We ask for Divine Intervention and whisper words of gratitude because our challenges are resolved.
“Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10). Pray in faith and wait. The wait tests our faith! As the days pass, will we remain steadfast and courageously trust in God’s promise to fight our battles?
Now is the time for us to actively participate in our spiritual growth by abiding in Christ through unceasing prayer. Faith bonds us to Christ. Come what may, our confidence and trust is in God! From our daily commitment to surrender, we have total access to God’s unlimited love and power.
The strength of our relationship with Christ is dependent on our decision to redirect our focus and live a Christ-centered, faith-based life. “Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24, BSB).
Prayer: Lord God, we thank You for being the Great, I AM! In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 7, 2024
Son of God: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16
Son of Man: “On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.” —Isaiah 11:10
I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). While walking on this earth, Jesus declared Himself as the Son of God. Although rejected by most of the Jewish people, Jesus was the Messiah whom Isaiah prophesied “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’ ” (Matthew 22:37).
For anyone who is married and in love, they strive to please their spouse. The foundation of all healthy and growing relationships is unselfish love. Our relationship with Christ is also based on unselfish love. From Christ’s blood sacrifice, He proved His overwhelming, selfless love for humanity. Does our relationship with Christ proclaim unselfish love and loyalty for the Son of God?
“Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him” (John 14:15).
In the parent-child relationship, love, respect, and honor are demonstrated through the child’s obedience. As children of God, our daily worship includes the prayer to know, understand, and obey His will. To prevent us from following our thoughts, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we diligently search the Scriptures which God uses first to speak His will to us.
“My people perish because of lack of knowledge.” —Hosea 4:6
To please God is to faithfully obey Him. The Bible is the Voice of God. The Scriptures reveal God’s answers to every life situation. The Bible is our Spiritual Roadmap that converts the heart and keeps us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness leading from earth to heaven.
“Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.” —Psalm 119:97-98, 104
The Old Testament proclaims God’s Laws as the highest authority and Righteous Principles to live holy, sacrificial lives. The exciting history of God’s loving Character and Divine Intervention along with countless life stories of rescuing us from sin and restoring us in the fullness of joy and peace remains unchanged.
The New Testament portrays Christ’s earthly life, His Ascension as King, and teaches us how to apply God’s Righteous Principles to practical living. As we gain knowledge, the Holy Spirit converts our hearts, we experience spiritual growth and transformation and learn how to live righteously. But most importantly, we learn to honor Jesus as our Triumphant King.
Christianity is the only religion that accepts Jesus as the Son of God. Yet, there is ambivalence in the minds of many Christians who do not understand Christ’s authority and His role in their lives. Jesus Christ is not only the Son of God, He is also God. The Scriptures substantiate Jesus as God, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead.
Jesus Proclaimed Himself as God: “He took the divine name ‘I AM’ for Himself (John 8:58, from Exodus 3:14). He said that the way to the Father is through Him (Matthew 11:27, John 14:1-7). He made Himself equal with God (John 5:18). He proclaimed that whoever saw Him saw the Father (John 14:9).”
According to Bible Theologians and Scholars, Hebrews, chapter 1 is a record of Christ’s Coronation after He ascended to heaven. From this chapter alone, God reveals that Jesus is also God. Not only does God, the Father call Jesus, “God” but He also refers to Him as “Lord.”
“But to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions. And: ‘You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.’ ” —Hebrews 1:8-10
God’s Supreme Revelation: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds…holding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…” —Hebrews 1:1-3
Jesus Authority Over Humanity: “…as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. ” —John 17:2, 5
Our perception of Christ reveals if our study of the Scriptures is selective or nonexistent, we become fixated on Jesus’ atoning sacrifice alone and attempt to achieve righteousness through our works. Because we lack knowledge of His Preeminence, we live a life that dishonors Jesus as God [He is the Second Person of the Triune Godhead] who sits at the Right Hand of God, the Father.
The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Colossae, “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him…” (Colossians 1:9-10).
Two characteristics demonstrate Jesus Christ is the Supreme Ruler of our lives: The active desire to be filled with the knowledge of His will and the decision to walk worthy in our earthly journey as His disciples. For us to understand Christ’s Kingly role, we must search the Scriptures, praying for the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and discernment, and in submission, we bow and worship our King with faithful obedience.
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”—Philippians 2:10-11
We have a decision to make that is long overdue. Living for Christ: We strive for a sanctified life demonstrated by heartfelt love and the surrender of our will. “Not my will but Your will be done” is our daily prayer [covenant] to faithfully honor God through obedience. From our desire to honor Christ’s Righteous Dominion as our Supreme Ruler, we will receive our reward of the Crown of Life when He comes.
“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.” —Revelation 19:11
A Life Lived Against Christ: The decision to fulfill our desires under the banner of Christianity will end in facing Jesus, the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” as the Judge and Warrior. There is no excuse for a Christian believer to hold the same spiritual status as the unrighteous. We are not thinking clearly.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.” —John 15:5
Jesus the Son of God and Son of Man is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Christ has given us the warning, “…without Me, you can do nothing.” Jesus Christ has full authority over every human being. Without bowing to our Lord, Savior, and King, sadly, our lives will be lived in vain, and we will perform the rituals of Christianity but never receive heart conversion and spiritual transformation.
“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble…” —2 Peter 1:10
The worries of life should never be experienced by saints of God. We have hope through Christ! Without Surrender, our minds become unsure and we develop a spirit of insecurity hoping for eternal life. Yet, we must not commit sins of presumption—thinking we will receive eternal life although we place our desires over the will of God. Our salvation and destiny rely on the choices we make every day.
“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’ ” (2 Corinthians 12:9). From living an earthly life as the Son of Man, Jesus experienced the trials and temptations we face. He extends the invitation, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37).
“…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” —Philippians 1:6
When we understand the overwhelming love of Christ who assures us that He will give us the Divine Help to live a sacrificial and surrendered holy life, we will renounce sin. Prepare daily to receive His Divine Strength from inviting Jesus, God, [the Son of God and Son of Man] to be the King and Supreme Ruler of your life.
Prayer: “Create in me, a clean heart, O God, and renew a right [steadfast] spirit within Me.” In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 5, 2024
“Thus says the LORD God to these bones: ‘Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.’ ” —Ezekiel 37:5
For His love and faithfulness, Christ is worthy to be praised! He is YAHWEH who imparts His sustaining Ruah breath of life to His creations. “Ruah is the wind that parted the waters and created dry land, it is the very breath that God breathed into humans in our creation…” wildwoodgathering.org
“O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, His mercy endures forever.” —Psalm 118:1
To worship God in Spirit and Truth is a command for the righteous to love, honor, and reverence the Most High with faithful obedience. From the moment we open our eyes to the mercies of a new day, our first response is to whisper prayers of praise and gratitude to Jesus, our First Love, and the Sustainer of Life.
“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all.” —1 Chronicles 29:11
The angels exalt Christ, the Commander of angel armies by lovingly fulfilling their purpose—to serve humanity. We exalt Christ by willingly consecrating our minds, bodies, and souls to fulfill God’s will and plans for the given day. Faithful obedience invites the Holy Spirit to empower us with wisdom, discernment, and Jesus’ strength to fulfill God’s will.
“Hallelujah! Give praise, O servants of the LORD; praise the name of the LORD.” —Psalm 113:1
Obedience to God is our highest worship. A heartfelt covenant of daily surrender rises to the Throne of Grace as praise-filled melodies proclaiming King Jesus is the LORD of our lives. The mercy of a new day is a constant reminder that God is Great and He is Faithful. Never-ending prayers and songs of praise reveal our desire to give Him glory, honor, and gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice.
We are nearing home! Daily surrender is the spiritual catalyst that ignites the Holy Spirit to transform our minds, characters, and personalities into the image of Christ. Life on earth is preparing us for a life of eternal worship to our Triumphant King in the New Heaven and New Earth.
“O LORD, I will praise you…Behold, God is my salvation I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ Praise the LORD, call upon his name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Sing to the LORD, For he has done excellent things; This is known in all the Earth.” —Isaiah 12:1-2, 4,5
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 28, 2024
“Be strong and of good courage…Only be strong and very courageous…Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:6-7, 9
When Moses died, God allowed a time of mourning for His beloved servant to be fulfilled. Immediately after, Joshua received his commission from God: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel” (Joshua 1:2).
Yes, God knew that Joshua’s heart was filled with fear, still, He commanded Joshua three times to be courageous and to move forward because “the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” God never justifies our fears. He gives us the only remedy, to put our faith and trust in His power.
“Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom…” —Deuteronomy 34:9
To serve as a courageous soldier in the army of our Mighty Warrior God, we must first possess godly wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). Wisdom gives us godly perception and discernment. We perceive matters with spiritual insight.
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting…” —James 1:6
Faith in God is the catalyst to accepting Christ as our personal Savior and faith sustains our relationship with Christ. By faith, we please God. By faith, we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness. By faith, we surrender and are transformed into the likeness of Christ. By faith, we live courageously upholding the banner of righteousness. Every spiritual attribute that God requires of us is based on the foundation of steadfast faith.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” —2 Timothy 1:7, NLT
Courage is an innate spiritual gift and a virtue we must possess in our walk with Christ. The Hebrew word for courage is chazaq—”to show oneself strong.” The Holy Spirit uses our God-given attributes of love, faith, and courage to prompt us to surrender and accept Christ.
From our commitment to discipleship, our love, faith, courage, power, and self-control are used by the Holy Spirit to facilitate spiritual transformation, empower us to renounce sin, and live a faith-based, Christ-centered life that honors God.
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” —1 Corinthians 16:13
Does courage matter? Throughout the Bible, God places a great emphasis on possessing courage. Courage is rarely addressed in sermons. Courage is not only required to put our faith in action, but courage is the remedy for overcoming anxiety, worries, and life’s hardships. It takes courage to refuse to sin when compromise rules.
Jesus says: “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
“If cowardice belongs to unbelievers, the implication is that one mark of a true Christian is courage (Ligonier.org). Jesus not only identifies cowardice as a mortal sin but it is the first sin listed that will cause unbelievers to experience the second and final death. If courage is vital to our lives as overcomers then why is it the most overlooked Christian virtue?
Courage is the catalyst that activates our love and faith in God to be practicing Christians. Courage is the spiritual fuel that feeds our choice to surrender and obey God when our hearts are driving us to sin. We use courage to choose God’s truth over false doctrines, live a sanctified life in a world filled with abject wickedness, and stand on holy ground when faced with offers of compromise.
“In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might.” —Ephesians 6:10, Amplified Bible
“If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray…” God has always required human effort before He intervenes. We exercise our inner strength to remain steadfast and courageous, still, we must rely on Jesus’ strength given to us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Every day, we fight to stand down our carnal desires and pray for the Holy Spirit to keep us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness. To resist our heart’s desires and renounce worldviews is a daily decision based on the courage to surrender, will we choose God?
Many are plagued with spiritual instability in their Christian journey. Sometimes they are courageous and on fire for God; other times their lights are flickering as if burning out. The inner struggle of our hearts will never cease. Yet, with determination, we must “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” (Joshua 24:15).
God will never coerce or beg us to obey Him. I can come to Jesus just as I am, but I cannot stay just as I am. God requires a complete spiritual overhaul of our minds, characters, personalities, habits, and behaviors. Our fight to live holy is severe! Still, we have the power to choose holiness! From our prayer of surrender, we receive the supernatural power to resist temptation and live as overcomers.
Living By the Power of His Might
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. —Ezekiel 36:26-27
To surrender is a prayerful decision that calls for faith in action. Most of us establish life goals and live accordingly to complete them. Every morning, set a spiritual goal, “I will not sin against God today.” Pray for spiritual strength. We can do nothing using only human effort. Living a faithful and obedient life requires full cooperation with Divinity.
It takes courage to pray and ask God for a desire of our heart and remain obedient when He says no. It takes courage to love the disagreeable. It takes courage to remain silent and walk away from conflict. To deny ourselves of forming relationships when loneliness arises because Christ has separated us for spiritual growth requires courage and much prayer for strength. To overcome the sin of disobedience, we must have the courage to practice self-denial and self-control.
“Do not be unequally bound together with unbelievers [do not make mismatched alliances with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” —2 Corinthians 6:14, Amplified Bible
Today’s believers are fighting one of the greatest battles—loneliness. Satan has increased his strategic warfare in the areas of Christian dating and marriage. Single men and women of all ages feel their lives have no purpose because they are not in love. Our enemy dresses the wolves in sheep’s clothing, but church attendance and saying, Lord, Lord does not indicate a man or woman of God has a converted heart. Pray and wait on the Lord!
The Increase of Conflict in Christian Marriage: Marriage is a holy union consisting of three cords, Christ, the husband, and the wife. Conflict in the marriage always originates from one or both spouses having an unconverted heart. Seeking marriage counseling does not change and purify the heart.
“Create in me, a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” —Psalm 51:10
Dissension in a marriage requires the husband and wife to bow down in humility and surrender fully to God. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church and the wife is to honor and respect her husband. The spiritual goal of marriage is to lovingly help each other receive their crowns of life.
Downsize Your Social Circle: Consistently perform a mental-spiritual review of your social circle. Every person should be a man or woman of God who is dedicated to Christ and can pray for you. They should lovingly but boldly use the Scriptures to address areas of compromise [iron sharpens iron].
“I can [and will] do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Compromising believers weaken our resolve and lead us astray. Let go of everyone who cannot pray and help you on your spiritual journey. It’s a tough decision, but never choose the familiar over the Divine!
“Be holy, for I am Holy” is God’s command to every believer who accepted Christ as their Savior. Not only do we fight against spiritual warfare, but every day, we fight the inner battle of a carnal heart that opposes all that is good and holy. The human effort of exercising steadfast courage, surrender, and faithful obedience are the spiritual virtues required to live a sacrificial life holy and acceptable to God.
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” —Acts 1:8
The life God commands us to live can only be accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit. As the jailer asked Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved?” every day we should separate ourselves from spouses, children, family members, and friends by going into our secret closets and seeking God’s presence through meaningful worship.
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” —Revelation 3:11
Do not let your faith waver! The spiritual journey of Sanctification compares to no other earthly hardship. Get ready for Christ’s return and stay ready. Either we will live our best lives now or in the New Heaven and New Earth. If we desire to walk with God like Enoch [who courageously stood on the Righteousness of Christ in wicked times] then we give God our best by making Him our priority.
“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
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 26, 2024
“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…’ ” —Genesis 1:26
When hardships, sickness, and death enter our lives, we need Christ’s Healing Balm to soothe our anxieties, emotional or physical pain, and sorrows. Jesus, the Man of Sorrows lived a bittersweet life. He knows the extreme side of suffering. Trust Jesus, God the Son to give you His Divine peace and strength. Only His love and power can provide the Spiritual Touch to heal our mental, emotional, and physical infirmities.
We do not have to pray lengthy prayers. The prayer of faith, “Jesus, help me” receives an immediate response from our Loving Savior. Jesus, the Great Physician is meek, loving, and compassionate. Although we are not promised physical healing, we always receive the Divine strength to persevere. All of heaven is involved in the believer’s Chosen Path of suffering. Never stop praying!
When Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane, in response to His prayers, God, the Father sent angels to minister and impart Divine strength to His Son needed to complete the Plan of Redemption for you and me. Our prayers for Divine Help receive the same heavenly response.
The Holy Spirit intercedes by taking our prayers of faith to Christ, our High Priest and Intercessor. We receive Christ’s supernatural strength and peace from the Holy Spirit, and the Commander of angel armies sends His angels to refresh our minds, bodies, and souls with His Living Water. Oh, what love the Father has for us.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 24, 2024
“As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” —Deuteronomy 33:25
The perplexities, lengthy trials, and hardships we endure will never overpower us. “We have the promise that…God is faithful. “He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT). (Joy in Tribulation).
The converted believer’s earthly journey is tumultuous because all unrighteous character traits, sinful desires, and habits must be removed. The journey on our chosen paths differs, yet, God’s goal of the spiritual transformation of our minds, characters, and personalities will reach completion until the day before Jesus comes if we are living.
We are granted the mercies of enough time to choose Christ and experience spiritual growth, but the moment we close our eyes in the sleep of death, our spiritual transformation ceases. “For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward…” (Ecclesiastes 9:5). The Apostle Paul explains the state of the dead in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4.
Salvation is a gift but includes Spiritual Conditions of Participation—we embrace and align our lives with God’s Righteousness. Our human cooperation with the Holy Spirit is manifested by daily surrender and faithful obedience. The Holy Spirit transforms us if we place our faith and trust in God, only then can our hearts be connected to Jesus, our High Priest, and Intercessor. The Holy Spirit teaches, imparts wisdom and strength, and convicts us of our cherished and hidden sins.
“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 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.” —John 14:2-3
When planning spiritual goals, we look beyond our present circumstances, this earthly home is temporary. We must let go of our love for the life we have on Earth. Few believers memorize Revelation chapters 21-22 and reflect on Jesus’ promise to have true happiness in a sinless, most beautiful New Heaven and New Earth. Nothing should distract us from reflecting on the fulfillment of Christ’s promise to see Him face to face and receive our Crown of Life.
In times like these [the last days of Earth’s history], we desperately need to study and memorize the Scriptures that convert our hearts and reveal God’s will for living righteously. We cannot face spiritual warfare without the Spiritual Ammunition of the Word of God. Now is the time to ask the Holy Spirit to fortify our strength so we can live as overcomers destined for heaven.
Our trust and obedience to God must be solid and built on Christ the Solid Rock. Jesus has not only brought us through past trials, but He also promises to hold us in His Righteous Right Hand to guide us safely through our present hardships, temptations, and future tribulations.
Christ rewards our faithfulness by giving us His strength to keep us moving forward on the Narrow Path. We receive Divine wisdom from the Holy Spirit to recognize and overcome satanic deceptions that we cannot discern with our human ability. Our role is to pray and filter the stimuli of the many voices who proclaim their messages are God’s Truth.
“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24). Never place your confidence in human wisdom. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal all beliefs that are not in agreement with God’s Bible-Based Truth. Jesus’ battle plan of sending the Teacher, the Spirit of Truth prevents us from accepting Satan’s erroneous interpretations of the Holy Scriptures.
“The conditions of receiving spiritual discernment and wisdom require that we have an honest, pure heart, and the desire to know God’s will, which can only happen when we surrender to God.” Pastor M. Finley
Pray before you study. Our love, loyalty, and allegiance are to the Most High God. The Spirit of Truth supersedes all human interpretations of the Scriptures. One of our greatest challenges is letting go of beliefs not substantiated by the Bible. Only an unconverted heart refuses to acknowledge their belief system does not coincide with God’s Truth when the Holy Spirit reveals error. We cannot worship God in Spirit and Truth by holding onto misinterpretations and false beliefs that hinder our spiritual growth.
“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” —Jeremiah 33:3
Our goal is to hear well done. Monitor the time spent on entertainment, disruptions, and distractions by creating a Spiritual cease-and-desist order to take back control over your God-given time. Make Jesus your Best Friend. We form an unbreakable bond by talking to Christ throughout our waking hours. Our spiritual goal is to grow stronger and become part of the remnant who have the Faith of Jesus Christ.
“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ.” —Revelation 14:12
According to the Daniel and Revelation prophecies, we face a future of end-time prophetic turmoil with intense spiritual conflict that will challenge our faith in God. Preparing now through consistent prayer, fasting, and study invites the Holy Spirit to give us a continuous outpouring of spiritual reinforcement. The Holy Spirit is our only guarantee of remaining steadfast. We desperately need to go deeper in our spiritual walk with Christ and like John become the disciples that Jesus loves.
“Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters…” Revelation 1:12-15
The Roman Emperor Titus exiled John the Revelator [affectionately known as the disciple that Jesus loved] to the Isle of Patmos. Even so, John’s banishment was part of Christ’s perfect plan. The disciple’s tribulation of isolation was for our benefit—the book of Revelation contains the history of the early Christian churches to the future End Time prophecies that foretell a repeat of Christian persecution.
Covered by God’s grace and living off of abundant mercies is a blessed privilege that we do not deserve. We have received Jesus’ warning and directive to His Apostle for future believers: “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7). Praise God, Revelation ends with Christ and the righteous as Victors standing on the Sea of Glass and Satan and all evil destroyed!
Since Jesus cast Satan and his angels to the Earth, we have always been his focus in the Great Controversy between good and evil. Now is the time to cultivate an aversion to the evil of sin. The truly converted heart does not suffer from an internal conflict of choosing Christ over Satan. We know that we cannot save ourselves and our only hope is Jesus Christ!
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” —James 4:10
God has given Christ, His Son, and sent the Holy Spirit, our Teacher so we can live as overcomers who receive their blessed reward of immortality when Christ comes again with majesty and glory. Take sufficient time and study the book of Revelation under the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Revelation’s plain truth prophecies will impact you as no other book of the Bible.
If you truly desire Eternal life then study the books of Daniel and Revelation. Your perception of this Earth will radically change, and you will strive to live a sacrificial, surrendered life pleasing to God. From our failure to study Bible prophecies and the Old Testament, we only have a limited understanding of the Characters of God, the Father, and Christ, God, the Son.
The lack of knowledge of Redemption, Sanctification, the Judgment, and Eternal life makes it impossible for us to live holy and surrendered lives because there is missing knowledge vital to our salvation. Not knowing the complete story tempts us to fill in the blanks with our interpretations, leaves us vulnerable to Satan’s many deceptions, and we do not possess the spiritual enthusiasm for the Second Coming of Christ.
Throughout the Old Testament, God revealed the earthly arrival of the Messiah. From Adam and Eve to Jacob, Daniel, and King David, to Malachi chapter 4 which describes the Great Day of God, we have Scriptural evidence the plan of Salvation was revealed to those living in the Old Testament times, “The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever” (Psalm 37:29).
Lord God, we pray for the strength to persevere in this earthly journey and to keep our eyes focused on You as we walk on our Chosen Path. In Jesus Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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