Faith – Page 21 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Fulfilling the Desires of Our Hearts

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 4, 2024

Scenario: Your son, age 10 asks for a bicycle. Both of you develop a plan based on merit to be completed within a reasonable time frame and if the conditions are met, he will receive a new bike. Excitement has driven him to excel and with expert advice from the manager at the bicycle shop, he chooses his new bike. Despite your best efforts, things didn’t go as planned. You didn’t anticipate his negative reaction to the tight fit of the bicycle helmet, and you also didn’t foresee the need to use wrenches to lower the seat and remove the pedals temporarily for balance training without an end date. Yet the greatest surprise is your son’s anxiety due to his fear of falling. The look on his face displays that his joy has quickly turned into disappointment. Despite feeling frustrated, you verbally express positive affirmations to keep his hope alive.

“Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.” —Genesis 2:15, 19

With Adam, God’s desire for beings created in His image and to worship Him was fulfilled. Christ gave Adam tasks that not only challenged him intellectually, but also promoted spiritual growth, happiness, creativity, and optimal physical health. When we think of the animal kingdom, we realize that Adam’s heart was filled with love and intent when naming the animals. Can you imagine a lion, tiger, or eagle being called by any other name?

“…And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name” (verse 19). In the Creation story, we have proof that humanity was created with the free will of choice. Not only did we receive innate talents, the ability to dream and strive for excellence, but we also received spiritual gifts, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

“Remember that you will never reach a higher standard than you yourself set. Then set your mark high, and step by step, even though it be by painful effort, by self-denial and sacrifice, ascend the whole length of the ladder of progress. Let nothing hinder you” (Reflecting Christ, p 299).

Throughout our lifespan, we must continue to strive for excellence by developing realistic short and long-term goals that utilize our talents and spiritual gifts. If we pray and align ourselves with God’s plans, He guarantees victory. Yes, the road is rough, but we were created with the resilience to persevere despite the obstacles and setbacks. The goal is life with Christ.

Job dissatisfaction is one of the primary complaints when pursuing personal and professional growth. We grow tired of suffering hardships, but still, our prayers for a new job remain unanswered. God is using adversity to develop the Fruit of the Spirit in our character. Because we do not know what to pray for, God closes doors and gives us the answer of “no” to keep us on the Path of Righteousness.

Our Father uses the ordinary things of life to produce extraordinary character transformation. Even our chosen professions are designed for continuous intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth and development. Our role is to pray for the strength to endure the struggle of being transformed into righteous saints of the Most High God.

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

When Christ brought the animals to Adam, we find that God’s original plan required humanity to cooperate with Divinity. If our talents and spiritual gifts are used to glorify and honor God then we invite the Holy Spirit to work His transforming power within us. Praying for God’s plans to be revealed and waiting on the Lord for an answer demonstrates faithful obedience.

Spiritual upward mobility results in the transformation of our minds, characters, and personalities. This life is our only opportunity to prepare for Eternal life. Sanctification is a lifetime’s work and is directed and guided by the Holy Spirit. If we compare ourselves to the Scriptures, the Standard of Righteousness, we would surrender and seek God’s will without fail. To have the Character of Christ requires consecration, fasting, and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Scriptures Defining Righteous Character Traits

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind…” (Mathew 22:37).
“Love your neighbor as yourself…” ( Matthew 22:39).
“A man’s insight gives him patience…” (Proverbs 19:11).
“The Fruit of the Spirit is…” (Galatians 5:22-23).
“If you forgive men their trespasses…” (Matthew 6:14-15).
“Be kind and tender-hearted…” (Ephesians 4:32).

“O LORD, I know that the path of [life of] a man is not in himself; It is not within [the limited ability of] man [even one at his best] to choose and direct his steps [in life].” —Jeremiah 10:23, Amplified Bible

We easily pursue the desires of our hearts, yet, in doing so, we have strayed from God’s original plan—praying and accepting His will. The worldview of success has enticed us and crept into our values. Never, ever trust your heart! Our hearts lead us to believe that social status, titles, financial wealth, and tangible things equate with striving for excellence. Without the Holy Spirit’s daily guidance, we hold the same status as the unbeliever, to direct our steps places us in spiritual bankruptcy.

“Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.” —Isaiah 55:6

The parent and son were not prepared for the amount of effort and practice required to learn how to ride a bike. As a result, they both ended up feeling disappointed and frustrated. This could be attributed to the parent relying too heavily on prior experience and underestimating the challenge involved in teaching a child to ride a bike. We can avoid disappointments and chaos by relying on God in every aspect of our lives.

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” —1 Corinthians 10:31

The war raging between God’s will and our desires never experiences a cease-fire. Still, we have the power of self-control—making godly decisions is a choice. Whenever our hearts strive for control, we must put our wayward desires in check: Does this action or decision honor God? Will the outcomes align with God’s plan for the spiritual transformation of my character?

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

If we acquiesce to God by allowing Him to navigate our pursuits then we will receive spiritual transformation, intellectual and emotional growth, and optimal physical health. We have come too far in our spiritual journey to settle for earthly trinkets. Make a commitment to surrender to God in humility and patiently wait for His perfect plans.

Surrendering our desires is the test that proves our love for Christ. To be in sync with God’s plans is the daily challenge every believer faces. Our goal is to live forever. We should remind ourselves every day of God’s definition of upward mobility: “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” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Lord God, we pray for the strength to overcome our innate desires which are enmity against Your will and plans. Lord, cleanse us from all unrighteousness and fill us with the Holy Spirit. We ask You to give us wisdom and discernment in our daily lives so that we recognize the temptations designed to make us fall. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Breaking Down the Wall of Resistance – Part 2

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 2, 2024

We are living in a critical time of earth’s history and must decide whether we are all in for Christ by praying daily, Lord, what is your will for my life? If only it were that easy for believers to give up the desires and traits that build our Walls of Resistance to a commitment of total surrender and faithful obedience.

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’ ” (Matthew 16:24). Our inherited carnal hearts drive us to pursue our desires. The act of following our hearts nurtures a spirit of disobedience resulting in a loss of faith and denial of the power of God.

When the disciples were unable to cast out the child’s demons, they asked Jesus why. “So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief…” (Matthew 17:20). The disciple’s hearts were filled with ambivalence which left them faithless. They imagined Jesus would set up an earthly kingdom and overthrow the Roman government, so they fought with each other as to who would sit on the right and left of King Jesus’ throne.

Although Christ knew their desires were responsible for their internal Walls of Resistance, Jesus never addressed emotional feelings. He identified the solution that would increase their faith and cast out the stronghold of a spirit of contention: “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” —Matthew 17:21

And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. —Matthew 4:2

Christ practiced what He preached. Jesus was a Spiritual Advocate of much prayer and fasting. His wilderness experience consisted of 40 days and 40 nights of prayer and fasting to overcome temptation and prepare for His earthly journey. Before Jesus chose the 12 apostles, he separated Himself to commune with God. “One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night” (Luke 6:12).

We agree that although Jesus was human, He was also Divine. If His life consisted of unceasing prayer and fasting, how much more do we need to stay before the Throne of Grace? We cannot let our pride produce overconfidence regarding our spiritual status with God. Never trust your heart or opinion regarding your righteousness!

The Spiritual Traits that Breakdown Our Walls

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” —Psalm 139:23-24

Worldviews, family, and friends influence us. Would Jesus live our lifestyle, make the same decisions, or bless our recreational activities? To break down the “Wall” we must humbly present ourselves before God, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to perform a spiritual analysis of the desires and habits that are separating us from God.

Spiritual Fasting Breaks Down Our Walls of Resistance

Two weeks ago following morning worship, I noticed that I was not experiencing hunger for an additional 4-6 hours. It wasn’t until the third day that I realized the Holy Spirit was leading me to initiate fasting into my life. This was a response to my fervent prayers to have a deeper relationship with Christ.

I can only express that since I began fasting my entire life including my spiritual perception is changing. The Holy Spirit has identified the unrighteous characteristics that I used to build my Wall of Resistance. With prayer and fasting, I am striving to break down this wall of separation day by day.

Spiritual fasting is not the same as Intermittent Fasting which is commonly practiced for weight loss. Nor does fasting during our hours of sleep fulfill the qualifications of fasting for spiritual reasons. The Biblical definition of spiritual fasting is the wilful act of abstaining from food to receive the spiritual strength to endure our tribulations and overcome temptation or sinful habits and behaviors.

Jesus fasted during His earthly life to remain in the perfect will of God, the Father. To experience a deeper relationship with Christ, incorporate daily fasting into your life. Choose a time you can separate yourself from others and all distractions to pray, praise, and study the Bible.

Begin your spiritual fast with 2 hours every day for seven days. The first two days will be your greatest struggle. Yes, your body will betray you by escalating hunger pangs. Maintain hydration with adequate amounts of water. Avoid rigorous exercise before your fast. Your mind and body should be relaxed, anticipating the presence of God.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” —John 3:16

Through fasting, the Holy Spirit empowers us with the wisdom to assimilate the deepest meaning of God’s love. When our hearts are filled with love and loyalty to God, we possess overwhelming gratitude for the Day that God, the Father and Jesus, God the Son created the Plan of Redemption. For the sacrificial gift of Jesus’ life, the only gift we can give is to willingly place our minds and bodies in submission to God.

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

Fasting invites the Holy Spirit to reveal every sin and character trait within our hearts whether open or hidden. These are the behaviors and sins that we used to build our Wall of Resistance. When we learn our true status with God, we are standing at the Crossroads which requires a decision to follow Christ or ourselves.

If we confess, repent, and ask for forgiveness then we begin a new life in Christ Jesus. From our humility and the desire to change, our burdens are lifted, and our minds are peaceful. To be in the right standing with God gives us unspeakable joy. From our willingness to surrender, we receive many spiritual benefits.

“Call to Me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” —Jeremiah 33:3

As we search the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit empowers us with the wisdom to gain the deepest meaning of the Truth. The Spirit of Truth guides us in our study of the Scriptures. Our focus changes from studying to gain intellectual knowledge to studying the specific Scriptures necessary for correction, guidance, perseverance, and spiritual growth.

“Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.” —Psalm 37:5

Lord, we dedicate ourselves to worship You in faithful obedience. We ask You to let Your will be done in our lives and pray for the strength to think, act, and live as overcomers. In Jesus Holy and Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.

Breaking Down the Wall of Resistance – Part 1

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 1, 2024

“For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” —Romans 7:19, NIV

Think about a time when you experienced an overwhelming inner conflict between right and wrong. Despite the obvious consequences you still chose to do wrong. Psychologists suggest that the teenage stage is characterized by rebellious behavior. However, is it truly the most rebellious period in one’s life?

Since the 2020 pandemic that brought lockdown and sadly, many deaths, some Christian believers have not resumed their steadfast relationship with Christ. The bold revelation of increasing resistance to obeying Biblical principles can be seen in social media responses. Trending is the decision to pursue and fulfill one’s desires versus seeking the will of God and waiting on the Lord.

Recently, a pastor in Fresno, California was asked, “What is the greatest problem you face in your church?” He lamented over the Christians in his congregation who choose unbelievers for relationships that evolve into premarital sex, living together, or marriage.

The number one desire of single Christian women of all ages is to have a financially stable husband. For most single Christian men, financial success is their first desire with few expressing an interest in marriage at present, but would consider marriage in the future.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” —Matthew 6:21, 24, 34

Approximately 2000 years ago, Jesus addressed the desires and worries that would override our devotion to God. Instead of enjoying our gift of peace, pastors are preaching sermons on how to rid oneself of worries, anxieties, and depression. Disobedience creates internal ambivalence.

To live holy requires the daily practice of self-denial and self-control. Surrendering to God is reflected in our daily worship and lifestyles. We invite the Holy Spirit into our lives and are required to strengthen our relationship with Christ.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” —2 Peter 3:9

Currently, prophetic signs [Matthew 24, 2 Timothy 3] indicate we live in the perilous times of the last days. Instead of preparing daily for the Second Coming of Jesus, many are distracted by their heart’s desires. Sadly, we have built an impenetrable wall of resistance to the warnings and promises in the Holy Scriptures. In Revelation, we are told this earth is temporary and will be destroyed and replaced by the sinless New Heaven and New Earth.

Breaking Down Our Wall of Resistance

What steps are necessary to redirect our focus to Eternal life when we are constantly praying for God to fulfill our desires or we become impatient and are fulfilling our desires?

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). An immense love for God motivates us to serve God through surrender and faithful obedience. The Holy Spirit enlightens our minds by giving us spiritual wisdom and discernment.

Love for God allows the Holy Spirit to convert our hearts. Our responsibility is to bring our minds into harmony with God. Instead of thinking our thoughts, we pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. God has given us the Holy Bible which contains the Only Truth to live by.

Intellectual knowledge does not convert our hearts. From our love, surrender, and faithful obedience, the power of God transforms our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” —Psalm 32:8

We must face the inner struggle to choose righteousness over unrighteousness every day. And that’s when we cry out as many times as needed for Jesus to give us strength to overcome. “David gives a word of caution to sinners. The reason for this caution is, that the way of sin will certainly end in sorrow. Here is a word of comfort to saints. They may see that a life of communion with God is far the most pleasant and comfortable.” Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

“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

To believe this beautiful promise, we must think outside of the box [beyond life on this earth]. A future refers to our forever life in the New Heaven and New Earth. The hope that burns within our hearts must be for the Second Coming of Jesus. Daily we ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds by giving us spiritual wisdom and discernment.

Study Revelation chapters 21 and 22 until you can form a mental image of the New Jerusalem. Can you imagine having a conversation with Jesus? What would you say to Jesus?

Lord God, we are distracted by too many earthly activities that are preventing us from having a relationship with You. We ask You to search our hearts and reveal all unrighteousness. Forgive us of our past and present sins. We desire eternal life. In Jesus Holy Name, we pray. Amen. [End of Part 1 of 2]

We Serve a Risen Savior!

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 31, 2024

Each new morning, we celebrate our Risen Savior and King, Jesus Christ. Our worship is given through prayers, songs of praise, and studying the Holy Scriptures. Yet our highest worship is demonstrated through surrender to God’s will and faithful obedience. Living a sacrificial life is to emulate the life of Christ while He was on this earth.

“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” —1 Corinthians 13:12, NIV

One day, we will see our King face-to-face. Developing the habit of bowing in worship in our earthly lives prepares us to join the angels for the heavenly worship that gives honor and adoration to the Lovely One who gave His life so we may have eternal life.

Jesus, Lamb of God, our King, we love You! We worship You, Holy One. Our desire is to live with You forever and ever. Amen.

Sabbath Blessings—Pray for Peace

Globally Mental Health has reached a Crisis. While Christians have their faith in God to rely on, many individuals who know nothing about Jesus are suffering. They ask, “What is my purpose in life?” Many are losing their will to live.

“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.” —Romans 10:1

As a Christian believer who worked as a Behavioral/Mental Health Nurse, I am asking every believer to pray for those who are fighting mental and emotional diagnoses. Jesus died for every human being that has lived and is living on the planet Earth. “For this reason, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is powerful in what it can achieve” (James 5:16, CEB).

Lord God, we come to You this Sabbath asking for Your healing touch for those who have no hope. We pray for Your Divine Intervention to touch the hearts of the believers who are eager to be disciples and tell others that Jesus loves them. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 20, 2024

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin’ ” —John 8:31-32, 34

“He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.” —Proverbs 21:21

To abide in Christ is to delve into the Scriptures and to obey and follow His commands. Jesus is the Word. Jesus is Truth! The Omniscient eyes of God roam the earth and He sees the true status of our hearts [Hebrews 4:13]. If our love for God is genuine and we desire to know the Truth then we are spiritually connected to the heart of Christ, and the Holy Spirit imparts the wisdom to understand the deeper meaning of the Scriptures and the Righteousness of Christ.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” —Matthew 5:6

Recently I read a post entitled “When will sermons change from feel good and return to the Gospel Truth?” To commit oneself to live a surrendered life, strive for holiness, pray fervently, and study the Scriptures only to hear “feel-good sermons” with selected truths must be a profound disappointment. Yet, one must not despair. Loving God with all of our hearts not only increases our faith, but our dedication allows the Holy Spirit to strengthen our bond with Christ.

“O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water.” —Psalm 63:1

The believer who wrote the post on seeking sermons based on spiritual sustenance was alerted by the Holy Spirit [our Spiritual Alarm] that something was not right. Not only will the Holy Spirit convict us of the sin within our hearts, but we will also receive warnings regarding the half-truths of omission when preached, written in many Inspirational books, and posted on the Christian blogs. Sadly, pastors and authors exist who are more interested in member and reader recognition than in Christ’s saving grace and teach messages that reinforce the false belief that eternal life is an easy reward.

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” —John 7:38

The believers who are desperately thirsting for Christ, the Living Water receive immediate Divine intervention. God does not allow those who seek to remain spiritually empty nor does He leave them in the darkness of only hearing the feel-good messages. The Holy Spirit responds to our prayers of faith for guidance by always revealing a Bible-based church whose pastoral staff is preparing its members for eternal life.

The apostle Paul wrote a warning for the church: “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3).

“The Greek word translated ‘itching’ literally means ‘to itch, rub, scratch, or tickle.’ To want one’s ears ‘tickled’ is to desire massages rather than messages—sermons that charm rather than challenge, entertain rather than edify, and please rather than preach.” Gotquestions.com

The reality is that Biblical prophecies are rapidly being fulfilled. We are the “Last Days” generation who desire to hear and read the all-is-well sermons and blogs that promote happiness and to enjoy one’s life because Christ paid it all. The messages of doing nothing for our spiritual transformation because we are covered by grace, or to do good and believe in your heart that you are going to heaven along with the “Name it and Claim It” prosperity and healing concepts are not Bible-Based.

“…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” —Hebrews 12:1-3

How did we transition from praying for the strength to persevere and run daily in the tumultuous Christian race to desiring an earthly life of bliss and contentment? “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).

In Matthew chapter 7, Jesus addressed Judging Others, Asking and Seeking Spiritual Blessings, the Narrow Way versus the Broad Way, Recognizing Signs of False Prophets and Teachers, I Never Knew You, and Building Our Spiritual Foundation on Christ, the Solid Rock. Jesus forewarned us that our lives would be filled with tribulations, yet, we must never lose hope because our victory is found in Him.

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” —1 Peter 3:15

Every member of the church is a disciple and was left with the responsibility to do our part in sharing the Gospel Truth. Whether we are Christian bloggers, writers, digital content and social media creators, prayer warriors, musicians, singers, poets, missionaries, Bible teachers, or on the maintenance crew in the upkeep of the church, every believer has the responsibility to tell others that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Praying for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to speak through us and for us only has one outcome, we post the One and Only Entire Truth, not from our perspective, but as willing vessels whom the Holy Spirit anoints. Yes, we have the freedom to use our individual styles of creativity, yet, we must never present God’s Truth as watered-down or carefully designed buffered messages of omission that flatter the readers, viewers, or ourselves.

Too much is given, much is expected. We must use our spiritual gifts to scratch itching ears with the powerful, life-changing Truth of the Word of God. Christ has chosen us to write, speak, sing, pray, and share the Scriptural messages of Truth given by the Holy Spirit that challenge, edify, and provoke both the creator and the viewer/hearer to experience deep conviction and desire true conversion of the heart.

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.” —Luke 12:40,43

God, we thank You for the gift of Jesus, Your Son that we may receive eternal life if we so choose. Lord, we pray for the courage to share the One and Only Biblical Truth without hesitation even when we are rejected and scorned. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.

True Religion Produces Humility

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 18, 2024

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” —Matthew 5:3

By possessing a spirit of humility and compassion, Christ presented a marked difference between Himself and the religious leaders of His time who felt they were the source of knowledge and rich in spiritual treasure. “The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector’ ” (Luke 18:11).

“As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.’ ” —Romans 3:10-12

Although most Christians would never utter the Pharisee’s arrogant words, we suffer from the silent sin of self-exaltation. We measure ourselves using earthly standards—we are knowledgeable, and do good works, but we compare ourselves to others by measuring the various sins on a scale. Like the Pharisees, we console ourselves by thinking, “At least, I am not committing those great and terrible sins.”

“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” —Proverbs 14:12

God desires for us to understand that we are in a state of continuous spiritual poverty because our hearts are naturally carnal. We may deny the reality of our plight, however, our greatest battle comes from within—we inherited desperately wicked hearts [Jeremiah 17:9]. Self-perception will always be in opposition to how God sees us with His Holy eyes. Truthfully, we can receive abundant blessings and sin against God on the same day.

The Plan for Overcoming Our Enemy Within

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” —Romans 7:15, NIV

To receive victory, our first action is to acknowledge and accept our struggle with faithfully trusting and obeying God. The human effort of self-control along with asking the Holy Spirit for spiritual strength gives us the ability to rebuke and stand down the desires of our hearts. Still, our fight is daily. We must choose who will be the master of our lives. Either we will submit to God or we will continue to please ourselves.

Living the Victorious Life!

Jesus demonstrated Spiritual humility to God. What is Spiritual humility? To faithfully follow God requires a loving heart, surrender, and obedience. Serving God eliminates passivity. God has always required human effort in the plan of Redemption. “Not my will, but Your will be done” was Christ’s daily prayer. The spoken words of “God, I love You also require the dutiful action of obedience. We prove our love by acquiescing to God’s Sovereignty through a daily prayer of surrender and we choose to follow His directives.

Love for God requires reinforcement! Much prayer and Bible Study keep us in the presence of God. Dedicated love prevents us from disobeying God. Our mindset is one in which we fully trust God to do what is best for our lives. The heart filled with Spiritual humility is totally reliant upon Christ who is the Lord of our lives.

“The Lord GOD has opened My ears, and I have not been rebellious, nor have I turned back.” —Isaiah 50:5

Spiritual Humility is the instinctive desire to surrender ourselves to God. Our worship includes a time of meditation whereby we strive to listen to the Voice of God. The Holy Spirit enters our hearts and we respond with deep conviction and obedience. When we truly love God, we acknowledge that obedience is our only acceptable sacrificial gift.

True religion is found in the heart filled with overwhelming love for God which is the foundation for possessing a spirit of humility. We do not think our own thoughts, fulfill our desires by following our inclinations, or determine the steps of our earthly journey. Christ shepherds our Chosen Path and the Holy Spirit reveals the steps of our predestined journey to us through prayer and the Scriptures.

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” —Philippians 2:8

The Reality: “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” —2 Timothy 3:1-5

The Invitation: “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

The Reward: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” —Revelation 3:21

God, we ask forgiveness for our refusal to surrender and humble ourselves by seeking Your will and casting aside our earthly desires. Lord, we thank You for the sacrificial offering of Your life that we may receive our inheritance of eternal life if we abide in You. We love You, King Jesus, and ask to be filled with the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit. Lead us in our earthly journey as we prepare for Your soon coming. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

God’s Divine Nature is Love

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 17, 2024

“And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” —1 John 4:10

“We love Him because He first loved us.” —1 John 4:19

For an understanding of the origin of love, we refer to the Scriptures. The Characters of God, the Father, God, Jesus the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit are Love. Only human beings were fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. We are the only living beings for which Christ died which is a powerful indicator of His overwhelming love.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” —2 Timothy 1:7

God gifted us with the innate characteristics [present at birth] of power, a sound mind, self-control, free will of choice, and a heart filled with love. Because of the ravages of sin not everyone has a sound mind but all can freely love God and others. Even those who are developmentally disabled can love and respond to love. If we prayed for the wisdom to grasp the magnitude of God’s love and appreciated our gifts, we would readily consecrate our lives to Him.

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’ ” —Matthew 22:37

Christ’s Divine Nature is Love—”Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” —John 15:13

Every believer is commanded to love like Christ: “No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us” (1 John 4:12). Because we are impacted by our various backgrounds and life experiences, we must learn God’s definition of Love by studying 1 Corinthians chapter 13.

God’s character and Divine nature reveal that He is a Holy and Righteous God. “…because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy…’ ” (1 Peter 1:16), God requires that we strive for righteousness. The Holy Spirit with our cooperation empowers us to accomplish above and beyond our human abilities.

Our steadfast love for God and the commitment to make Jesus our First Love results in the Holy Spirit guiding us every step on our Chosen Path of spiritual transformation. We are never alone in our spiritual journey. Our love for God produces devout faith and obedience which overrule our natural desires and we acquiesce to His Sovereign plans.

Surrender and obedience are the fruits of love that keep us grounded in our relationship with Christ. If we love Christ then our hearts are connected to Him. And from that connection, we receive our Savior’s abundant love which acts as a spiritual catalyst to dedicate ourselves to God. Daily consecration and surrender to God’s will requires courage and perseverance. When we proclaim, “Jesus, I will follow You,” we may lose the support of family and friends who will not understand our spiritual commitment.

What does it mean to commit ourselves to God? The Apostle Paul’s answer is “…to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God…” (Romans 12:1).

The simple answer is that we must stop choosing sin. Is it possible to live a sin-free life? Enoch and Job are two men of God who lived a sinless life. How can we walk with God? Spiritually, we are never alone. God honors our decision when we dedicate ourselves to following Christ. Not only do we receive God’s Divine promises of resolution in our hardships, but we also receive wisdom, strength, and comfort through the Holy Spirit.

Christ the Commander dispatches angels who fight the evil forces of spiritual warfare and assist us in staying on the narrow Path of Righteousness. The righteous are truly loved by God.

As long as we stay spiritually connected to Christ, we are promised the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit to live as victors. Through daily worship, we reinforce our love relationship with Christ. God opens the windows of heaven to give us the blessings of spiritual guidance, wisdom, strength, and discernment. Making prayer our first and continuous response keeps us connected to the Source of Life.

The Win-Win Spiritual Strategy: “But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion].” —Luke 16, AMP Bible

In studying the life of Christ, we are given the key to keeping our love alive and remaining loyal to God, much prayer! Twice daily worship is not enough. We cannot run and win this Christian race using spurts of spiritual energy. Stay in God’s presence by whispering short prayers throughout your waking hours.

The Nature of God: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, 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. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” —Galatians 5:22-25

To be like Christ, the Holy Spirit with our cooperation transforms our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ’s righteousness. The believer’s journey includes praying morning, noon, and night. Much prayer reinforces our love for God, forms an unbreakable bond that allows us to abide in Christ, and invites the Holy Spirit to empower us to live righteously!

“…You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.” —Psalm 40:17

To receive spiritual strength, use your time wisely. Fight the enemy’s plans with prayer. The earnest prayer of surrender that we offer in morning worship requires a prayer of reinforcement for Divine Help when the afternoon and evening temptations arise. Every prayer we speak even when all is well should include the request for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

The mercies of a new day will always require a struggle against our carnal desires. When facing temptation, respond with prayer, ask for the Divine Help of the Holy Spirit, and stand your ground by declaring No to sin. We can proclaim much love for God and live disciplined lives, but we were not created with the ability to overcome temptation and sin without the Holy Spirit’s power.

The Holy Spirit [our Teacher] empowers us with Jesus’ spiritual strength to perceive life through spiritual eyes and to overcome temptation. Still, we must use our God-given attribute of self-control to rebuke our heart’s carnal desires. The Holy Spirit always warns us of temptation before we step into sin’s danger zone. The decision is ours to make. Either, we use our free will to choose righteousness or we succumb to sin.

“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” —1 John 3:9, NIV

If choosing between right and wrong is a struggle then we have a heart issue. We cannot measure love for God in increments—loving God is all [100%] or nothing [0%]. When our hearts are overflowing with love for Christ, we do not have the desire to willingly sin against God. Our love for God remains steadfast because we remember Jesus paid for our freedom with His blood sacrifice that God, the Father required for our redemption.

Loving Christ fuels our desire to remain loyal and to stay in the safety of Jesus, our Shepherd. We steadfastly proclaim, Because I love God, I will not compromise! Every believer is dependent on the Holy Spirit to change us into the image of Christ. The heart filled with love for God, others, and self [in that order] is the only heart that is acceptable to God and the only heart that the Holy Spirit will enter.

The Human Effort of Love + Surrender + Obedience + The Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit = God’s Goal of Our Spiritual Transformation

God, teach us to love. We desire to have a heart overflowing with Agape love for You and others. We ask for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit. When we are thinking our thoughts, we ask the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins. God, we love You, worship You, and praise Your Holy Name. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we pray in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

Jesus Gives Us True Rest

Our Daily Walk with Christ – Devotional – March 14, 2024

“And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.’ ” —Luke 4:17-19

“So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way” (Luke 4:28-30).

In Jesus’ earthly life, He suffered many atrocities including constant rejection and hatred. One of the most significant incidents occurred when He was rejected in Nazareth [the city where He was raised] involving worshipers in the synagogue who turned into an angry mob because Jesus proclaimed He was the Messiah.

Although Satan desired to kill Christ and the Pharisees devised many plots to rid themselves of the Teacher who proclaimed He was the Son of God, God, the Father provided continuous angelic protection throughout the earthly life of His only Son. No harm would ever come to Christ until the Plan of Redemption was completed on Calvary’s cross and Jesus arose from the dead. Refer to Matthew 26:52-54.

“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

As followers of Christ, we must also endure many of life’s ups and downs in our earthly journey. Although most hardships make us feel as if we were the only survivors on a deserted island, nothing could be further from the truth. Because of Jesus’ love and devotion for humanity, He condescended from His Heavenly throne to live a life of sorrow. Jesus the Divine became human and possesses experiential knowledge of our challenges and temptations.

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” —Psalm 46:1

To experience a heart-to-heart bond with Christ, believers are required to possess core characteristics of Righteousness—love, faith, obedience, humility, compassion, and immense gratitude. We must commit the Biblical history of Christ’s life to memory. It is impossible to have a spiritual connection with our Savior and Intercessor when we lack a knowledge base of His life.

Have you noticed there are Four Gospels written by four authors—the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, documenting Jesus’ life on earth? Studying the life of Christ changes our perception of who He is. Jesus is no longer a stranger when we ask the Holy Spirit to give us a deeper spiritual understanding of Christ in our quest for Scriptural knowledge of His life of 33 years.

Not only does Jesus become our First Love, but our faith and trust in Him strengthens. Instead of relying on ourselves, we develop an automatic response of calling on the name of Jesus when facing all hardships. Most importantly, bonding with Christ in our earthly lives prepares us to live with our King eternally.

The worldview of moving forward based on one’s strategic thinking to resolve challenges is the mindset of the transgressing unbelievers who do not mind suffering consequences. Many Christians also practice this concept of self-reliance because they trust themselves above God.

Acknowledging that Christ is the Son of God, but never fully trusting Him leaves us spiritually empty. We can verbalize Jesus’ name, but we will never relinquish our will to God unless we have given Him our hearts. Sadly, traveling on the broad and crooked path of self-reliance separates us from God.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” —Proverbs 3:5-6

Human reasoning can never compete with or replace God’s Sovereign Omniscience and Omnipotence which always renders Divine outcomes of perfection and completion. We were not created to stand alone in our journey. A dependent relationship with Christ frees us from the need to brainstorm for possible solutions that are destined to fail.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” —Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus has extended the invitation to give Him all of our burdens, yet to receive His intervention requires daily surrender. The righteous have privileges and promises that have never come to fruition in the lives of many believers because they have not embraced Christ as their First Love. The rest for our souls is only a humble prayer away, “Jesus, I love You and I need Your help.”

As a testimony, those who have committed their hearts to Christ, receive an all-inclusive daily gift package of love, redeeming grace, peace, rest, contentment, mercies, and 24/7 angelic protection. And in return, all Jesus asks of His greatly beloved is to follow Him in wilful obedience. Taking the leap of faith by placing 100% trust in our gentle and lowly King is our only option if we desire rest [peace of mind, body, and soul] and victorious outcomes.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.” —Isaiah 26:3-4

Set a goal for 2024 to study the Four Gospels. Although it may seem strange to take one year to study four books of the Bible, knowing the life of Christ provides the foundation for a dependent love relationship with Him on earth and gives us the desire to live with our King eternally.

Lord, we come to You, bringing every challenge and worry because we have failed to trust You and now we are weary. Thank You for being our Savior, Burden-bearer, and our Protector. Forgive us for taking Your love, grace, mercies, and protection for granted. We ask this prayer in Your Holy Name, Amen.

Christ, the Sun of Righteousness

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 11, 2024

Yesterday, I took a midday walk, and the sun’s warmth felt like a loving embrace. Feeling uplifted, I prayed and began to smile. Yes, I felt extreme happiness as I reflected on the goodness of God. To be honest, I felt joyful and energized all day long. Still, something was different.

I understand the blessings of being in God’s presence through daily worship, but I begin to think deeply about the warmth of the sunlight. What is the effect of sunlight on the human body? But most importantly, while worshiping out in nature, I experienced a greater spiritual blessing along with mental clarity and physical energy that was different from my indoor worship.

So, I put my research hat on because I had to know, first, how the sun affects one’s mood and energy level. To clarify, my interest was not in the pagan practice of sun worship. Perhaps God was revealing to me the benefits of worshiping Him outside in the beauty of nature.

“Exposure to sunlight is thought to increase the brain’s release of a hormone called serotonin. Serotonin is associated with boosting the mood and helping a person feel calm and focused. Serotonin is a chemical messenger that is involved in controlling your mood. (healthdirect.gov.au)

“The Sun is our solar system’s only star. It is a dynamic star, constantly changing and sending energy out into space. Life on Earth is only possible because of the Sun’s light and energy.” (science.nasa.gov)

When we pray for knowledge and understanding, the Holy Spirit always gives us the spiritual wisdom to discern God’s perfect plan for the believer’s life. During my evening Bible Study, the author identified Christ as the Sun of Righteousness [the reason one feels spiritually energized]. Although I accomplished several things on my to-do list, late into the evening, I still felt like I could run a marathon.

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” —3 John 1:2

Yesterday, God reminded me of my duty to follow His physical health laws and principles. Christ created the human body with the anatomy and physiology for movement [not to live a sedentary lifestyle]. Our physical health plays an important role in our spiritual and holistic health. Worshiping while walking allowed me to receive a double blessing that energized my spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health.

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.” —Psalm 84:11

Christ is “the Sun of Righteousness.” He is like the sun…the great light of the world that dispels darkness. Christ is the “Sun” that enlightens the righteous with the light of His grace, warms them with the beams of his love, and provides cheer and refreshes their souls with the light of his countenance. (Bible Commentary)

The phrase “the sun of righteousness” also appears in Malachi 4:2: “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.” This blessing is promised to those who fear the Lord and are preparing every day for Christ’s return. (Bible Commentary)

Both the sons of Korah [Musicians and singers whom King David selected and appointed) and Malachi proclaims Christ as the Sun of Righteousness. Yet, Jesus Himself established His identity as the Light of the World: “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life’ ” (John 8:12).

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” —Revelation 3:20

We receive Christ’s Light from our willingness to have a heart-to-heart relationship with Him. Whether the Sun [Christ] fully reveals Himself or hides behind the billowy clouds depends on our choice. Will we embrace the glory of Christ’s light by opening the windows of our hearts with a prayer to invite Him in? Or have we decided to avoid the Sun of Righteousness’ life-changing Light by keeping the door of our hearts closed?

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” —Luke 6:46

The individual who refuses to open their blinds, and curtains, or to go outside and enjoy even a few moments of sunlight will eventually have low levels of serotonin, resulting in a depressed mood. Without opening the windows of our hearts [through prayer and faithful obedience] we deny ourselves the redeeming light of Christ’s countenance, consequently, our hearts become gloomy resulting in a life of spiritual darkness.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” —1 John 5:3

The Sun of Righteousness defines loving God as the foundation of our relationship with Him. When we love God, our heart is filled with the attribute of meekness, and our first response to a new day is to surrender. Christ rewards our obedience by shining His light on us and we immediately feel the warmth of the bright beams of Jesus’ love deep within our souls.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” —Matthew 5:16

Only those who are willing to travel with the Sun of Righteousness on the narrow Path will receive the ever-shining heavenly light of Grace and be drenched by the refreshing showers of God’s love and mercies. The Holy Spirit imparts the daily gifts of spiritual peace, joy, happiness, contentment, wisdom, and strength which are freely given to sustain and energize the Light within our souls.

If NASA agrees that life on Earth is only possible because of the Sun’s light and energy then as believers, we must wholeheartedly agree that Christ, the Sun of Righteousness is our only option for sustaining us spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically in our Spiritual Journey on this Earth!

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” —Ephesians 5:8

Jesus, we thank You for shining Your bright beams of love, grace, and mercies in our souls. We ask for the Light of the Holy Spirit to permeate our hearts so that we may walk as children of light. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.