Faith – Page 2 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

God Never Sees a Situation As Impossible

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

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

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

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

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

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

Self-Reliance Is The Weed that Produces Discouragement and Consequences

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bible Study: Mark 9:14-29.

Uncertainty, Hardships, Loss, and Blessings: The Life of Persecuted Christians

At my most recent Library trip, I looked in the freebie bins and saw a magazine entitled Voice of the Martyrs. Never did I realize how my perspective would change from reading the experiences of persecuted Christians.

Excerpt from “The LAST to Leave” [The Story of a Christian Family Risking Their Personal Safety to Witness Christ to Others].

“The sound of gunfire and explosions was terrifyingly familiar. Sophia waited for the return of her husband Lewis at 3:00 a.m. one morning in March.”

“Lewis, a Missionary and Pastor who ministered to villagers deep in the __________ jungle, had taken a boat full of 30 Christians to a location safe from the violence occurring in their village.”

“As they pulled away from the riverside, Lewis prayed, “God, take care of us. Clear the way for us to go with no danger.”

Lewis and Sofia are resolute about God sustaining them through the loss of their home and all their personal possessions: “It is a passion for the souls. There are so many people who are lost. It is worth serving the Lord.”

Later that evening, I read multiple stories of the persecution that many Believers [globally] are suffering in their Journey of following Jesus, yet they remain committed and never complain.

I immediately prayed and asked God to forgive me for my self-centered and selfish heart. What do I know about the need to remain anonymous, or taking refuge in safe houses with minimal personal belongings, because I decided to follow Jesus?

And yes, with living in a country where Religious Liberty is my Constitutional right, God gave me a much-needed spiritual reality check to redirect my focus from myself to continuously pray for my Christian brothers and sisters, who could never imagine the blessing of the freedom to serve and follow Jesus without constraints.

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12). Truthfully, are we preparing ourselves spiritually for the day when we will suffer persecution for being a follower of Christ?

Our world is in chaos, and corruption and violence are steadily escalating. Still, while we have the opportunity to strengthen our relationship with Christ through daily personal worship, we must.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

“Suffering, to some degree, is the lot of us all. In the end, though, it is better to suffer for Christ’s sake than for anything else.”

Lord God, please forgive our self-centeredness and help us to think beyond ourselves. In faith and with compassion, we pray for the persecuted believers who are faithfully and courageously following You with unwavering faith, despite their perilous circumstances. Lord, we ask You to supply all of their needs, to comfort them in their times of uncertainty, and to strengthen their faith. We joyfully look forward to the day when there will be no more persecution, fear, and sorrow. And when we can openly worship Jesus, our Triumphant King. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Responding to Conflict with Caution and Courage

“But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to Him, ‘I charge you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.'” (Matthew 26:63)

Jesus knew that He was the Son of God, yet He also had the wisdom to know that if He said Yes, their hearts were rebellious, and would immediately accuse Him of blasphemy.

Despite the phenomenal miracles Jesus performed, including raising Lazarus from the dead, the Jewish leaders, Pharisees, Sadducees, and their devout followers would never accept Him as anything other than the son of Joseph, the poor carpenter, who lived in Nazareth.

Jesus’ earthly purpose of dying on Calvary’s Cross to redeem humanity from death—the wages of sin remained His priority. If Jesus answered, Yes, His accusers would have stoned Him to death, resulting in the failure to fulfill the Plan of Redemption.

“Jesus demonstrated humility, submitting to God’s plan, revealing His identity on His own terms, rather than defending Himself against false accusations or questioning by authorities like the high priest and Pilate, showing profound love and obedience to God, His Father.”

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” (James 1:26, NIV).

Inciting anger in believers is a significant part of the enemy’s spiritual warfare against those who love God. One of Satan’s most effective ways to entice us to sin is by using familiar people [family and friends] to offend us. The word choice, tone, and volume of our voices are effective weapons used to accuse, disrespect, demean, annihilate one’s self-worth, and defame one’s character.

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…Have nothing to do with such people.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5, NIV).

Yes, we are living in the Last Days, in a time where abusive communication has become an acceptable practice in our societies. Yet, God specifically addresses how Christians are to communicate even when we are attacked with fiery words:

“But now rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene (abusive, filthy, vulgar) language from your mouth.” (Colossians 3:8, Amplified Bible).

“[Verbal] Abuse is always sin. The Scriptures are clear. Abuse of authority or power…is always sin. Abusive speech and/or behavior are never an acceptable way to communicate with someone.”

God’s Warning: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” (Proverbs 18:21, ESV).

Many who attend church were raised in a home that included arguing and debating, and cultures in which it is a common practice for Christian parents, husbands, or older family members to verbally abuse their children, wives, and relatives, still God considers it sinful and unacceptable behavior.

Conflict is always fueled by uncontrolled anger. Domestic conflict has claimed the lives of many innocent victims, including church members. Never overlook threatening words—remain silent, remove yourself from the offender, and notify the police. It takes courage to say, “Enough is Enough!” And, it may result in saving your life.

“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the LORD.” (Romans 12:19, NLT).

One thing is for certain: Believers who use their words as weapons will eat the fruits of their behavior—they will experience earthly consequences, loss of employment, relationships, marriages, and often their freedom [incarceration] from using threatening words, which is assault—and most importantly, they lose their reward of Eternal Life.

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10). “For the Lord loves justice; He will not forsake his saints.”(Psalm 37:28). Because we are created in the image of God, and He loves us, God does not expect us to remain in abusive situations.

With faith, pray, and ask God to deliver you. We have a Loving Heavenly Father who promises to free us from the bondage of abuse. Never believe that staying in an abusive situation is your only option.

Conflict also occurs in environments outside the home, but it may be unrecognized because covert strategies are used. People frequently use humor to provoke anger.

There are many psychological techniques for Conflict Resolution, yet, for believers, God has given us His Divine Commands on Conflict Resolution.

“Know this, my beloved brothers [and sisters]: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20).

In a world of cruelty, abuse, and violence, when antagonistic words are freely spoken, it is our Christian duty to represent to others that we belong to Jesus Christ by remaining silent.

“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:14). Courage, Faith, and Steadfast Belief in God’s Power are demonstrated when we pray instead of responding. Unbelievers may perceive silence as weakness, but faithful obedience reveals our love and loyalty to God.

Conflict on the job is often experienced in employee break areas. In Micah 6:8, God tells us to stand for justice. It is our responsibility to document the incident, send an email to the immediate supervisor, and Human Resources to ensure compliance with the company’s policies.

“It takes the right situation to reveal a person’s true character.” When our hearts are converted and the Holy Spirit dwells within us, when confronted, we exercise discipline and self-control by remaining silent.

Yes, God expects us to take the appropriate actions to report conflict, but Christians must never retaliate with verbal sparring. Our response to conflict immediately reveals our character’s weaknesses, and most importantly, identifies whether or not we are true followers of Christ by obeying His commands.

Do not let your emotions cause you to sin by responding with anger and dishonoring God! We can apologize, but we can never retract spoken or written words.

“Ineffective Witnessing: Sinful actions by believers make God’s Holy and Righteous Name look bad to the world, bringing reproach on His love and mercies. (Psalm 69:6-7).”

From arguing, we not only lose our ability to witness the love of God, but we also lose our credibility as Christians and respect from unbelievers who silently observed our usual demeanor of kindness and self-control.

God’s Righteous Guidance on Conflict Resolution: “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” (Proverbs 21:23).

As the individual is speaking, or if you are reading a text message, remain silent, and immediately pray for guidance and the strength to silence your emotions, anger, and/or hurt. If you are on a phone call, the moment you sense hostility, immediately respond with, “God loves you, I am hanging up.”

Anger and Hostility Always Override Rational Thought Processes

“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind.” (Proverbs 18:12).

Fact: A person who is speaking offensive words is driven by negative emotions and does not have the mindset to be involved in a rational conversation. When they finish speaking, they are prepared to participate in an argument.

In John 8:44, Jesus describes Satan as ‘the father of lies,’ revealing his deceptive nature. Satan’s primary goal is to keep us annoyed, upset, and angry, which represents his unrighteous character, and brings shame and disgrace to the Name of God.

The Apostle Paul tells us to “Be angry and do not sin,” and “Let no corrupt words proceed out of your mouth.” To be honest, brothers and sisters, we cannot exercise that type of righteous self-control without the Divine Help and Strength from the Holy Spirit.

“Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, Amplified Bible).

The Apostle Peter used “this imagery to highlight the devil’s dangerous, relentless, and predatory nature, urging Christians to be alert, stand firm in their faith, and resist him.”

If our goal is to receive our reward of Eternal Life in the New Heaven and New Earth, where only love, peace, joy, and happiness will exist, then we must embrace God’s warning: “for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

Remember: Stay Silent! God Always Wins! Peace and Blessings.

Lord God, we ask for the courage, wisdom, and strength to remain silent when facing the spiritual warfare of Conflict. We pray for those who are in abusive homes that they will use their mustard seed faith to be courageous, pray, asking you to deliver them from the satanic bondage of mistreatment. Yet, Lord, you tell us to stand for justice, and we also, in faith, pray this Intercessory Prayer, asking You to deliver your sons and daughters from abusive environments. Lord, we realize that You are Elohim Shomri, our Protector, and You are The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, and we believe that You will fulfill Your Promise in Exodus 14:14, and with expectancy, we thank You in advance for deliverance. In faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Name, our Mighty Warrior, Amen!

The Power of Consistent Worship

“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” (Titus 2:7-8, ESV).

How important is Consistency in the Christian believer’s life? Consistent Worship is the essential foundation for us to receive the Spiritual Strength needed to live sacrificial lives of faithful obedience. It is Christ’s Strength that empowers us to remain steadfast, avoiding the practices of worldly habits and behaviors.

Yesterday, I was chatting with the maintenance worker in our complex who shared with me the downside of impulsive behaviors, decisions, and purchases.

As I listened, the memories of my past impulsive behaviors, mostly purchases, flashed through my mind. I breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that God delivered me from the stronghold of that terrible habit.

The Sovereign God is our Spiritual Point of Reference for Consistency

Throughout the Bible, God reveals the consistency of His Righteous Character. In Malachi 3:6, God declares His unchanging Nature: “For I the LORD do not change…” “God’s [Divine] Nature is characterized by consistency (Psalm 102:27).”

Consistent Worship reveals our love, faith, loyalty, and commitment to put God First! The most important area of consistency is the practice of daily [morning and evening] Personal Worship, which acknowledges God’s Sovereignty, keeping us connected to Christ, who gives us the strength to live righteously.

Consistent Worship reveals our love and desire to follow our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, wherever He leads.

“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God…And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.” (Psalm 95: 2, 6-7).

Consistent Worship reveals the desire to consecrate one’s mind, body, and soul to God because we appreciate His Love, Grace, and Mercies.

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

Consistent Worship reveals that our hearts are converted, and we are willing to honor Christ with our time, humility, total surrender, and obedience.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, NLT).

Consistent Worship is a lifestyle that reveals our willingness to give 100% of ourselves to Jesus Christ. Yes, surrender is our priority when we trust Christ’s promises to give us peace [John 14:27], to help us when facing challenges [Isaiah 65:24] and temptations [1 Corinthians 10:13], and to give us a Forever Home when He comes again [John 14:1-3 and Revelation 21-22].

Consistent Worship demonstrates our desire to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, who transforms us and guides us in our spiritual journey to stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10, ESV).

Consistent Worship invites Christ to empower us with His Divine strength to persevere in faith when facing unexpected health and financial challenges, suffering from life-changing events, and enduring the trials required to produce Christian maturity.

Brothers and Sisters, a Spiritual War, “The Great Controversy of Good and Evil,” has been raging since the fall of Adam and Eve.

On Calvary’s Cross, when Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” Jesus Christ won the war against Satan’s diabolical desire for all of humanity to be destroyed! Satan does not care about unbelievers and disobedient believers; they are already worshiping him.

“Be alert and of a sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, NIV). The roaring lion is He is currently targeting Jesus’ faithful Believers who worship God in spirit and truth.

Consistent Worship keeps us Spiritually Alert. One of the enemy’s most effective strategies is to use familiar family members and friends to suggest activities in places that Christ would never enter. Yes, it is your cousin’s birthday party, but it’s being held in a Pub that serves alcoholic drinks.

One thing is for certain: Satan is always consistent and persistent! He has been deceiving humanity for over 6,000 years. Yet those who stay close to Christ through persistent prayer for spiritual wisdom, discernment, and strength cannot be manipulated or deceived.

“As Christians, we are engaged in a life-and-death spiritual battle, and it is crucial not to misjudge Satan’s power or be ignorant of his schemes.” Never minimize Satan’s power over the human mind, which is evident in the rapid decline of integrity and morality in our societies.

“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3, ESV). In the Christian Community, many are afraid of Satan. Even unbelievers do not fear Satan, so what is the reason that Christ’s followers would fear Satan?

To understand God’s Higher thoughts and ways [Isaiah 55:8-9], studying the Scriptures requires praying and asking the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and a deeper understanding of the Bible.

From using only human wisdom to study, many erroneous and false interpretations of the Bible lead us to believe that God’s Commands are restrictive, yet we cannot see the invisible spiritual war being fought by Jesus’ angels to protect our souls.

“Elohim Shomri (אֱלֹהִים שׁוֹמְרִי) means ‘God is my Guardian/Keeper.'”

Christ, our Mighty Warrior, places limits on Satan’s attacks against Christians. Christ must approve every satanic plan against the faithful. Satan’s demons cannot possess Christ’s followers, nor can he kill us, or coerce us to disobey God.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1).

“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7). With humility, we must recognize our human limitations; we cannot use our intellect to fight the schemes of Satan, the Master Deceiver, who is still successfully scamming many Christians because we exclude God from decision-making.

Make Consistent Worship a Spiritual Priority! Always include God by praying and waiting for His answer before making major purchases, starting a business, changing jobs, and especially before beginning a relationship or entering into marriage.

Yes, we will always face many temptations, yet the apostle Paul tells us how to fight spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-18. Every believer should follow the spiritual strategy in these Scriptures by doing their part to receive strength and guidance through Consistent Worship.

Jesus’ devoted followers are not exempt from the internal desires that make us prey to the roaring lion. But it is not the obvious sinful activities that Satan can tempt true worshipers with.

Consistent worshipers are on the alert against the enemy’s typical schemes of materialism, wealth, success, relationships with unbelievers, secular music, and lifestyles filled with worldly pleasures.

In Ephesians 5:16, God tells us to “Redeem the time, because the days are evil.” We must make good use of our gift of time, not wasting precious hours on the distractions of time-wasting activities, but preparing ourselves every day to receive Revelation 22:12.

Time Wasters: The roaring lion devises covert temptations to manipulate us into wasting valuable time on the things that we like: streaming, social media, sports, gaming, cellular devices, excessive time at the gym, shopping leading to impulsive purchases, and the unhealthy habits of overeating and consuming junk foods that also impact our mental, physical, and spiritual health.

The Christian life is not a boring, mundane life; it is one of spiritual purpose, self-denial, and intentionality. We were created to worship God and to enjoy life. But without setting boundaries, Time Wasters can easily escalate into 3-6 hours of having fun.

The human heart always desires pleasurable activities instead of Consistent Worship. Activities that prevent us from giving God time in Personal Worship will leave us weak and vulnerable to Satan’s Schemes.

“In a world filled with evil, spiritual preparation means making the most of every chance for spiritual growth, service, and glorifying God. It means actively choosing God’s will over foolishness and worldly distractions, recognizing time as a gift to be managed for eternal purpose.”

The emphasis on “Consistent Worship” is not overstated; to remain steadfast in a spiritual war where we are Satan’s targets, we desperately require Jesus’ Supernatural Power and Protection to live as Overcomers.

Remain consistent! Devote yourself to live a Christ-Centered, Sacrificial Life of Consistent Worship, ensuring that you remain connected to Elohim, our Protector, and the Source of All Power and Might! Yes and Amen!

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

Bible Study: Ephesians 6

Lord God, we desire to honor You through Consistent Worship, surrender, and faithful obedience. We acknowledge Your love and thank You for being our Protector against the schemes of the enemy. We ask for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.

Jesus Is Our Only Source of Peace, Joy, and Happiness: Stop Collecting Stones

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

Every day, we strive to complete our responsibilities, relying only on our own strength. Yet, for believers, we also face many unexpected the spiritual warfare of challenges and temptations that test our faith, trust, and obedience to God.

“I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13). Without asking Christ for His strength to accomplish our tasks for the given day, we deplete our mental, emotional, and physical resources.

Can you imagine carrying a backpack of heavy stones as you perform your daily tasks? From using our thoughts and strength to navigate through life, we pick up Mental and Emotional Stones: Using emotions to react to challenging situations and people.

Collecting Stones: Stones are our emotional reactions, including doubt, fear, failure, discouragement, anger, and hopelessness, that impact our rational thought processes.

The “stones” we collect every day remain in our minds, and as the weight grows heavier, we cannot remain positive or enjoy Christ’s blessings of peace, joy, and happiness.

When we have put forth our best efforts and the outcome is not what we expected, we blame ourselves and begin to accumulate the “mental stones” of failure, stress, fatigue, disappointment, anxiety, and worry.

Stones produce a negative perspective: As we reflect on our day, we are unable to focus on our accomplishments; instead, we focus on the failure to complete our to-do lists, which are often unrealistic. Instead of relaxing after a taxing day, we think about various ways to complete today’s unfinished tasks and tomorrow’s responsibilities.

Although we desire to have positive interactions with our family, friends, neighbors, and others, it is an unrealistic expectation. Many individuals react to stress by communicating with emotional responses.

Stones cause us to overreact: If we take things personally, instead of telling ourselves, “Some people are just difficult, it’s not about me, or “Everyone has a bad day, so their reaction was not about me,” then we pick up the “emotional stones” of anger, hurt, embarrassment, disappointment, and feeling let down.

Taking everything personally leads to harboring feelings of sustained anger and resentment. Remaining upset provokes us to replay the negative interaction, which prevents us from enjoying a peaceful sleep, and our mental, emotional, and physical health begins to decline.

Stones cause Spiritual Decline: Most importantly, our Stones cause us to lose our spiritual perspective. We cannot focus on our spiritual journey with Jesus. Our daily personal worship of Prayer and Bible Study ceases, and our reciprocal relationship with Christ gradually declines. And sadly, we do not recognize that we are separated from Christ.

There is a better way to live! Jesus Is Our Stone Gatherer: “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'” (Matthew 11:28, NLT).

Giving Our Stones to Jesus Requires Two Actions: First, We Are Who God Says We Are: We Are Loved by God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and the recipients of God’s Grace. Do not practice self-criticism! Incorporate time management skills into your life by asking the Holy Spirit for guidance in your daily activities.

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

In John 16:33, Jesus tells us that His followers will face a life of continuous temptations and struggles. Satan uses people to speak harsh words to upset us so that we will become angry and sin against God with unrighteous responses. “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger…” (James 1:19).

From whispering a prayer for strength, the Holy Spirit will tell us when to respond and when to remain silent when confronted. To avoid collecting Stones, we must depend on Jesus’ Strength and Guidance, which requires us to stay connected to Him through a life of continuous prayer and praise.

A Relationship with Christ built on faith, trust, obedience, and daily prayer, and study of the Holy Scriptures is the only way to have “An Unbothered Mind.”

The Believer’s Privilege of Prayer

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

Prayer allows us to have a heart-to-heart connection with Jesus, our Creator and Shepherd, who “cares about you with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully.”

Invite Christ into every little detail of your life. Not only will you receive peace, but the Holy Spirit will give you the wisdom to resolve every challenge. We reflect the love of Christ to others through gentleness and self-control, eliminating the need to retaliate with emotional responses.

Reflection: How many times a day do you pray? Whispering prayers throughout our day keeps us connected to Christ, our Source of Strength, and the Giver of Spiritual Peace, Joy, and Contentment.

“There is necessity for diligence in prayer; let nothing [stop] you. Make every effort to keep open the communion between Jesus and your own soul. Seek every opportunity to pray.”

God’s Divine Love Revealed: 24/7, We Have Total Access to Christ!

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27, NIV).

We do not have to understand the Divine Pathway of how Jesus receives and answers our prayers. Whether spoken or silent, Christ tells us to “pray without ceasing,” and He will empower us with His Divine Strength, Guidance, and Wisdom.

“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24, NIV).

Brothers and Sisters, stop collecting Stones! Use your faith to depend on Jesus. Our Heavenly Intercessor waits for us to seek His Help.

Even if our backpack of Stones is overflowing, Jesus is waiting for us to cast those Stones at His feet, and He will deliver us from the weight of life’s challenges and empower us to live with an unbothered mind. Yes and Amen!

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

Lord God, thank You for Your Amazing Love and Faithfulness that never changes. We desire to begin a consecrated life of prayer; a life that is free from the stony weights of emotional reactions, uncertainty, burdens, anxieties, and worries. Jesus, today, we commit to redirecting our faith and trust back to You. And we thank You for the privilege of Prayer, and in faith, we ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Cultivating a Gentle, Quiet, Christ-Like Spirit

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32).

“Becoming more like Christ [should be] the desire of every believer, and it is encouraging to know that God has the same desire for us.”

How important is it for us to be conformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ? Our character, personality, and how we relate to others matter to God and will determine our destiny.

“In fact, the Bible says that God ‘predestined [believers] to be conformed to the likeness of his Son'” (Romans 8:29, NIV).

God’s Righteous Standards and Goals For Our Character Transformation

1. Hearts filled with Unconditional Love and Forgiveness.

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

2. The Fruit of the Spirit is Jesus’ Righteous Character Attributes:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

3. A spirit of humility, committed to standing for truth, along with treating others with kindness.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, ESV).

4. From Accepting Christ, We Become New People: Our characters should not imitate the characters of unbelievers or reflect their worldviews.

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:24-26).

Divine Intervention and Human Effort Are Required for Spiritual Transformation: We cannot change ourselves; it is the Holy Spirit who changes us. Still, we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit to experience spiritual transformation.

God does not override our Free Will of Choice; The Holy Spirit can only change us if we have the desire to be like Christ. With a spirit of humility, we pray and ask God to change our character. And then our battles begin!

The transformation of our character does not happen in the way that we think it would. We will face various types of challenges, and how we react demonstrates whether or not we are cooperating with the Holy Spirit to bring about change.

Reflection: Identify the situations that consistently annoy you, as these will be the trials and temptations that challenge your faith and ability to practice self-control, leading to spiritual transformation.

God has gifted us with self-control. As soon as you feel an emotional response stirring inside of you, remain silent, separate yourself, and pray an honest prayer: “Lord, I am angry, [annoyed, frustrated, anxious], and I need Your help. Please give me the strength to remain silent and calm my spirit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].” (2 Timothy 1:7, Amplified Bible).

We cannot use inherited tendencies or cultural influences to justify the wrongful mistreatment of others with anger and harsh words. We have the God-given ability to control ourselves, or we would not exercise self-control at church and on our jobs.

Although we come from various backgrounds, the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit teach us acceptable Christian Behaviors. Those who possess fiery tempers and abuse others have a demonic stronghold over their minds and will need to add fasting to their daily lives. [Study Matthew 17:14-21].

God knows that we cannot change ourselves without receiving His Divine Strength. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us with Christ’s strength to overcome unrighteous character traits. Much prayer and fasting are required to gain the victory over inherited traits and learned behaviors.

“I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13). With God, change is possible. Yes, we can have Christ’s gentle, quiet, and humble spirit.

Lord God, we recognize that we desperately need Your help to change. We ask for forgiveness for not controlling our behaviors and for hurting others. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness and fill us with a spirit of gentleness that represents Your love and character. In faith, we ask this prayer, in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

End 2025 and Begin 2026 In Victory!

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

Modern Biblical translation: “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).

“In Hebrew, tsalach (צָלַח) means to prosper, succeed, advance, break through, or flourish, often implying overcoming obstacles or moving forward mightily, not financial gain, but spiritual and personal progress, like Joseph in the Bible, signifying God’s empowering presence leading to success and flourishing.”

“The Greek word translated as ‘prosper’ is euodoutai, which means to progress, to develop in a positive way, to have a good journey, to go well.”

“A prospering soul is spiritually healthy, growing in faith, and aligning with God’s truth. For a soul to prosper implies a developing spiritual walk marked by integrity, peace, joy, and a deepening relationship with God.”

Truthfully, like the Israelites in Egypt, many of today’s Christians have embraced the pagan beliefs of our counterparts, and we associate the word “prosperity” with [$$$] wealth, materialism, and elevated social status.

The Prosperity Message is a false teaching that emphasizes the acquisition of wealth, material possessions, and success, yet it is not in alignment with God’s teachings of Holy Scripture.

We know who [Satan] developed this false, but highly effective message that continues to deceive and distract many Believers from being loyal to God by redirecting their focus to acquiring earthly treasures.

The fall of Adam and Eve proves that we are never satisfied with God’s blessings. Satan knows the condition of the human heart; we always desire more than what we have.

Jesus’ Command Protects Us: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21).

After Jesus completed His fast of 40 days in the wilderness, Satan’s third temptation to Christ was based on wealth and success: Jesus’ Response to Satan Clarifies God’s Righteous Principles on Materialism.

The Temptation: “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.'”

Jesus Used the Sword, The Word of God, and Satan Left: “Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ “Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended Him.” (Matthew 4:8-11, NIV).

We have given Satan the advantage over us because we do not know or understand who we are through Christ Jesus. We are the Sons and Daughters of God who will inherit the Crown of Life—Immortality in the New Heaven and New Earth. Yes, Salvation is free, but Eternal Life is a reward for our faithful obedience and spiritual works [Revelation 22:12].

Our Identity: “Then God said, ‘Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26); “For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence.” (Ephesians 1:4)

“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).

“You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet.” (Psalm 8:5-6). When Christ created Adam, He gave Adam Dominion—Rulership over the Planet Earth.

Adam sinned, lost dominion, which Satan gained; but when Jesus said, “It is finished!” On Calvary’s Cross, our Triumphant King not only completed the Plan of Redemption, but He gained dominion over the Earth! Hallelujah and Amen! Study Revelation 19 to learn the end of the story.

Jesus Gives Us Insight Into the Future: The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, so they attempted to challenge Jesus: “In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be of the seven? For all of them were married to her. Jesus answered, ‘You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. In the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven…” (Matthew 22:28-30).

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer…For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…I will be like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:12-14).

Satan’s temptations are effective for two reasons: 1. We do not understand Satan’s diabolical mind. Christ created Lucifer with superior intelligence, and we forget that Satan is a fallen angel that possesses intellect and wisdom beyond and above human intellect.

2. “My people perish for lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6). Satan has an advantage over most Believers: He knows the Holy Scriptures, and he also knows that we do not study the Bible, which makes us easy prey for this Predator of human souls.

Satan is not Omniscient; he cannot read our minds or thoughts, but from observing our lifestyles, if we are disloyal and disobedient, we easily reveal our true spiritual status with God.

Sadly, from our refusal to study the Bible that God has given to empower and guide us, Satan is overly confident that his temptations will make us fall.

And the roaring lion’s temptations will continue to bombard the Christian Community because we desire the same lifestyle as unbelievers, who live to gain prosperity on an Earth that will be destroyed.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:12-13).

Brothers and Sisters, The Great Controversy of Good and Evil is a Spiritual War between Christ and Satan. We are Satan’s target! He is after our souls, and it’s time for us to stop chasing our desires and pledge our Allegiance to the Most High and Holy God!

Jesus, Our Mighty Warrior’s Plan:

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

2. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV).

God’s plan is to give us a perfect eternity with Him, in the New Heaven and New Earth, which requires the commitment to live a sacrificial life.

“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. ‘Follow Me,’ He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9, BSB).

When we accepted Christ as our personal Savior, like Matthew, we became Jesus’ disciples, who dedicated ourselves to following our Faithful Shepherd with love, loyalty, and obedience.

Have this conversation with yourself: “Do I believe that Jesus loves me?” “Do I believe that God is interested in my personal struggles?” “Do I believe that God will help me live as a Victorious Overcomer?”

A heart overflowing with love for Jesus is revealed through a lifestyle of daily surrender, faithful obedience, seeking guidance in prayer, and studying the Holy Scriptures. Church attendance is good, but once-a-week worship cannot give the Spiritual Nourishment and Power that daily personal worship provides.

Being a soldier in God’s Army requires total commitment. Every day, we separate ourselves from others to worship God privately.

A reverent atmosphere of solitude and silence is required for us to be in God’s Holy Presence, resulting in the Holy Spirit empowering us with Jesus’ Divine Wisdom, Discernment, and Spiritual Strength.

Three Promises Proclaiming God’s Faithfulness

“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 1:9).
“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).
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20).

Brothers and Sisters, All or Nothing is required to love Christ. Do not give up your eternal inheritance for this earth’s temporary trinkets. Peace and Blessings.

Bible Study: Ephesians 6, Revelation 19-22

Lord God, we have come to our senses, knowing that we desperately need You to overcome the internal conflict of our desires and the external opposition of temptations. We confess that we have not loved You as You deserve, and for this we ask for forgiveness. Lord, we ask you to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, fill us with your Holy Spirit, and teach us how to think, speak, and live holy. In faith, we ask this prayer for strength and restoration in the loving and Powerful Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Immanuel – God, With Us

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
(Isaiah 41:10, NIV)

Many years ago, I had a conversation with my uncle, who is a pastor regarding the solitude of true Christianity. I expressed that I felt overwhelmed because of the lack of human support.

His response, “The journey with Jesus has always been one that requires us to be alone with Him. Yet, He gives us the strength to persevere.”

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37, ESV).

There are times when each of us experiences a decline in our inner strength. Yes, we give our best, but from relying only on our strength, we become overwhelmed by life’s constant, unexpected challenges.

Excerpt from a recent Devotional Reading:

“Throughout different seasons of my life, I’ve also found myself crying out to God, Help — I’m falling!”

“Nothing major or traumatic needs to have happened. It could be that I feel emotionally unsteady, physically exhausted, or overwhelmed by life…wandering and unsure if I have the strength to keep going.”

“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…] (John 16:33, Amplified Bible)

Because of the rapid pace of life, filled with so many distractions and responsibilities, it is the routine activities of life that produce our highest level of daily stress, eventually bringing us to the point of exhaustion.

Practicing the worldview of self-reliance always takes its toll on the mind and body. When we are mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted, we are also spiritually depleted.

We were created to depend on Jesus, who is our Source of never-ending Spiritual, Mental, Emotional, and Physical Strength.

Each new day is a gift of life revealing God’s Amazing love and mercies. Immanuel knows every difficulty we will face, and desires to be with us, but every day, we must choose to ask Christ for help.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

When we have done all that we can do, from our prayer, “Jesus, I am tired and feeling overwhelmed, I need Your help,” we can rely on our Loving Savior’s promise:

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

Our commitment to daily personal worship invites Christ to empower us with His Divine Strength for the given day.

When our mornings begin with expressing gratitude for God’s Love and Faithfulness, we receive the abundant blessings of peace and joy.

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

Not only does our faith increase, but we are confident because we know that whatever, we face, Immanuel, God is with us. Yes and Amen!

Bible Study: Philippians 4

Lord God, we thank You for Your love, faithfulness, and mercies. Thank You for reminding us in the Holy Scriptures that You always desire to be with us. Yes, we are tired, and confess that even in our daily activities of life, we desperately need Your strength and guidance. We honor Your Holy Name, and with love, faith, and gratitude, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

God Is Always Good!

“The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him.” (Nahum 1:7).

This morning, I read a Devotional on how easy it is for us to react negatively to the darkness of trials and hardships. But the author reminded us that God is Always Good, and the dark times are allowed for our spiritual transformation and redirecting us to depend on our Heavenly Father.

“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, NIV). From a perfect love that we cannot understand, God gave His only Son, Jesus, who sacrificed His life on Calvary’s Cross to redeem us from sin and to save our souls.

Yes, God’s priority is to give us Eternal Life, but we choose our destiny. Receiving immortality in our Forever Home requires us to actively participate with the Holy Spirit in our spiritual journey by obediently following Christ, our King, Savior, and Shepherd.

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). We abide in Christ through daily personal worship. With a spirit of surrender, we commit to faithfully obey our Shepherd. Our Daily Prayer: Lord, what do You want me to do?

Although we desire our heavenly reward, there is an obstacle that each of us must overcome: We have become too attached to this earthly home. Our lifestyles reveal that we are making future plans that have nothing to do with living righteously now and in our Forever Home.

Scenario: You purchased a house, and the closing date is 30 days away, but today the company announced immediate layoffs, and your supervisor informed you that you would also be impacted.

Feeling disappointed, you reach out to the seller to explain your situation. To your surprise, they respond by stating that they will not accept other offers. Instead, they give you a timeline of 3 to 4 months to find another job because they genuinely want you to purchase the house.

Your prayers of gratitude would include joy, happiness, and excitement, you know that God has given you a miraculous blessing.

Jesus’ Promise: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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 14:1-3).

Jesus’ promise of life in the New Heaven and New Earth that He gave to His disciples is for all believers. From Adam and Eve to every faithful believer who has lived on the planet Earth will receive their reward of immortality when Jesus comes again [Revelation 22:12].

In Revelation, the Apostle John describes the righteous as a number like the grains of sand. Every day, with joyful anticipation, we should reflect on Jesus’ love, preparing ourselves spiritually for Heaven through daily prayer and Bible study.

Jesus’ Warning: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16, NIV).

According to 2 Timothy 3, we are the generation of Christians who are living in the Last Days on this present earth. We cannot afford to waste our gift of time. Our lifetime is the only opportunity we have for the Holy Spirit to transform our minds, characters, and personalities.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19, 21).

Success and prosperity have the power to change us from the outside in, which opposes the spiritual process of Sanctification. We cannot experience spiritual growth if the majority of our time and efforts are spent fulfilling our hearts’ desires and pursuing personal and professional success.

To clear out excess inventory, many stores offer reduced prices for “As Is” items. We purchase these items because we have the vision and skills to modify them. When we come to Jesus, He accepts us “As Is: “I can come to Jesus, just as I am, but I cannot stay just as I am.” We must be changed into the likeness of Christ by the Holy Spirit in our earthly lives.

Perform a spiritual self-assessment. Do your behaviors, habits, and lifestyle demonstrate a God First or a Me First mindset? If we desire to live an obedient life, surrendering to God’s plans, then we have given access to the Holy Spirit to convert our hearts. Faithful obedience reveals that our hearts are filled with love and loyalty to Christ.

God Is Always Good: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8, ESV). God honors and rewards those who obey Him.

God Is Always Faithful: Jesus knows that our spiritual transformation requires His Divine Help and Strength, so He allows the “Chisels of Trials and Hardships” to enter our lives.

God’s Rescue Plan: “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 filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, Amplified Bible).

“We must overcome through His Strength and Grace, that we may be partakers of [His] Divine Nature…Our pride, selfishness…passions, and love of worldly pleasure must all be overcome; therefore God sends us afflictions [adversity] to test and prove us, and show us that these evils exist in our characters.”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23). The Fruit of the Spirit describes the attributes of Jesus’ Righteous Character that we must also have.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2, NIV).

One thing is for certain: Self-discipline and self-denial are within our power to exercise under all circumstances. But overcoming our internal desires requires the willingness to live a sacrificial life of saying no to the world’s treasures and pleasures. Sadly, this is the turning point for many believers who decide to detour from the Path of Righteousness.

Loving God motivates us to agree to become Spiritual Works-in-Progress. Every day, the Holy Spirit gradually performs the work of our spiritual transformation from the inside out [heart conversion]. Through daily personal worship, we ask God to reveal His plans, and we obey, without doubting His Divine Wisdom.

“This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21). God reveals His promise to provide guidance and direction for His people.” Faithful obedience invites the Holy Spirit to teach us how to live righteously. We are never alone. The Holy Spirit guides us day by day in our rugged journey on the Path of Righteousness.

The Life of Self-denial: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:2, NIV).

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

Yes, the Christian journey is tough! Although human effort is required, we cannot save ourselves. Every day we pray, asking the Holy Spirit to empower us with Jesus’ Divine Strength to overcome the internal conflict of our heart’s desires, and the external opposition of temptations.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2-3, NIV).

God Is Always Good! We have 24/7 access to Christ, who gives us His strength to persevere through our trials and hardships. Pray for guidance, wisdom, and strength throughout your day. Jesus lived on this earth, and He knows that daily self-denial is a tough journey.

God’s Divine Intervention: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV).

Human Effort: “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7, NLT).

Live With the Mindset: “I will not disobey God!” Our enemy, Satan, the roaring lion, knows our weaknesses, developing personalized temptations that are temporary and worthless. Still, we can never be coerced into sinning against God; we choose to sin.

When tempted, immediately pray with audible words that you can hear, asking Jesus, our Mighty Warrior, for His Help. Every prayer asking for Jesus’ Strength to overcome temptations and challenges is immediately answered by Jesus, our High Priest.

God is Always Good! Before we can blink our eyes, Psalm 91 tells us Michael [Jesus], the Commander of Angel Armies, sends His angels to strengthen us and to fight the unseen spiritual warfare of Satan’s evil angels. Hallelujah and Amen!

The days we live in are filled with evil. Become a prayer warrior! Prayer keeps us connected to Jesus, who receives every prayer. The Holy Spirit empowers us with Divine wisdom and supernatural strength to live righteously.

God is Always Good! The Triune God [God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit] is doing all that is possible to ensure that every believer receives their Crown of Life. The decision to choose life is up to us.

Human Effort plus Divine Intervention Always Ends in Victory!

Lord God, we thank you for your Amazing Love, Grace, and Mercies. We desire to change and ask You to reveal the traits in our characters that prevent us from living a sacrificial, faithful, and obedient life. We ask for forgiveness for wasting our gift of time, chasing after worthless desires. Lord God, thank You for Your love, faithfulness, and for always being Good. Teach us how to worship you in Spirit and Truth, and guide us in our journey so we can receive our reward of Eternal Life. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.

Surrender is Freedom!

Can you imagine a life without the chains of uncertainty, anxiety, worry, and fear of the future?

Every believer has the opportunity to live a life overflowing with Jesus’ gifts of peace, joy, and happiness. Brothers and sisters, I am finally living that life!

The Commitment to Live a Sacrificial Life Dedicated to Follow Christ Is Required to Receive Spiritual Freedom

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV).

“Yes we are stained by sin, but the Supreme King of the universe says to come before His throne to receive help in our time of need. We are always in need of Jesus’ Divine Help.”

Through daily personal worship, we learn God’s plan for the new day. We pray the Prayer of Surrender: “God, what do you want me to do today?” Pray, Wait, and Obey.

When we commit to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through our thoughts and the Holy Scriptures, leading and keeping us on the Path of Righteousness.

The willingness to surrender our self-reliance and totally depend on our Shepherd with faithful obedience is rewarded with Jesus’ Righteous Blessings.

Despite the uncertainties of life, the faithful have no worries. But most importantly, we do not have to wonder if we are going to receive our reward of Eternal Life.

The Fruit of the Spirit describes the attributes of Christ’s Righteous Character: His followers must also have the Fruit of the Spirit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:22-24).

Faithful obedience keeps us connected to Christ. In Philippians 1:6, Jesus promises to complete the work of spiritual growth and the transformation of our character, if we follow Him.

“Pray continuously!” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Jesus Christ, our Savior, Shepherd, and Triumphant King invites us to come boldly before God’s Throne of Grace with our failures, weaknesses, sorrows, and cares.

Pray more! Perfect peace comes from letting go of our thoughts and inclinations to resolve life’s challenges. We were created us to have a dependent relationship with Christ.

“I will never leave you or forsake you.” Jesus desires us to know that we are never alone. Created in the image of God, all of Heaven is dedicated to helping us in this journey of life.

Yeshua, the Commander of Angel Armies Promise: “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways…” (Psalm 91:11, NIV).

Christ always protects the righteous! We have guardian angels who fight the unseen spiritual warfare of Satan’s evil angels. Whisper prayers throughout your day to express gratitude for Jesus’ Abundant Love, Faithfulness, and Protection.

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding…” (Proverbs 2:6). God desires for us to have the spiritual wisdom necessary to perceive life through spiritual eyes.

Every day, ask for the free gift of wisdom. The Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom to discern truth from error, to understand the deepest meaning of the Holy Scriptures, and to understand the complexities of life.

Divine wisdom prevents us from becoming victims of scams, and being manipulated by Satan in matters of everyday life.

Divine wisdom and strength are required to recognize and overcome the internal conflict of following our hearts desires, and the external opposition of temptations.

Thank you Jesus for your Love! Yes, we have access to our Shepherd’s Divine Help 24/7. Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we come before Your Throne of Grace, yes, we are stained with sin, and have weaknesses, sorrows, cares, and failures. Still we accept Your invitation to help us, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We ask for the forgiveness of our sins. Guide us and empower us with the strength to live as victorious overcomers. Lord, we acknowledge that You are the Supreme King of the universe, and the Sustainer of our lives. With faith and joyful expectancy, we believe that You have answered this prayer that we ask in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.