Be Careful of Acquired Knowledge

Be Careful of Acquired Knowledge WordPress Version Today’s Devotional October 25, 2023

God created us with the desire to explore and learn. Our insatiable curiosity fuels our desire to acquire knowledge and discover various philosophies. But sometimes we delve into spiritually forbidden areas. In my teenage stage, from taking a Greek Mythology class in high school, I got caught up in the web of worldly pagan beliefs.

Every week, I visited the library to read and take home every book I could find on Greek Mythology. Believe me, during that impressionable stage, without my devoted mother’s knowledge, I read and memorized every imaginable book on the Greek deities—their gods and goddesses.

Yes, I loved Jesus and knew that He was coming again, but my sense of right and wrong had shifted. I replaced studying the Bible with pagan philosophies. Although I was raised in a strict, Bible-based Pentecostal home, I possessed a terrible secret, embracing mythology over the Scriptures.

My desire for the knowledge of pagan beliefs did not stop as a teenager. In college, I chose several Eastern and Western Religion courses as electives. My acquired knowledge placed me in a serious dilemma, my morals and values transitioned, and I ceased studying the Bible.

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” —Colossians 2:8

Pagan religions, philosophies, and practices usually pique our interest. But evil is always disguised and visual imagery is used to mesmerize. Many believers let their children watch Disney movies filled with themes of witchcraft, reincarnation, and the ability to enter other realms. The beautiful make-believe characters hide the themes of magic and fantasy. Online games are filled with violence and promote breaking the laws of society.

Most children’s programs feature fictitious monsters that disrupt a child’s peaceful sleep. It is the visual beauty and music that provides an effective cover to hide the demonic themes that are prevalent in programs, games, and movies.

The Nation of Israel is our example of a people called to represent the goodness of God to heathen nations, yet, they embraced paganism to the point they even sacrificed their children to idols. Satan is skilled in deception and easily entices us to delve into spiritual wickedness by presenting the occult and pagan beliefs as family entertainment.

Reflection: Where do we stand in our acquisition of knowledge? Are we seeking and embracing satanic themes and human wisdom over Divine wisdom?

“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” —Romans 12:3, NLT

As Christians, we have a great responsibility, not only to be humble representatives of Christ but also to remain teachable. With our God-given spiritual gifts, we were chosen to be messengers of Christ who use the Holy Scriptures as the foundation for our beliefs, morals, and values. Our lifestyles should represent God’s righteous standards.

In 2023, the worldview is to develop your version of the truth and to promote your truth. Sadly, many Christian books, articles, and movies reflect a blend of personal views, acquired philosophies, and a false interpretation of God’s truth.

As disciples and followers of Christ, our higher calling was given to us by God and we owe Him our utmost loyalty. We received our spiritual gifts to witness God’s love, grace, mercies, the Plan of Salvation, and Redemption. We fill in the gap for those who do not understand how to apply the Scriptures to their lives.

A sinner who uses their measure of faith to accept Jesus as Lord is a new believer and does not understand the significance of the love and power of the Triune God, nor do they know how to “Be holy, for I am Holy.” It is our responsibility to impart knowledge that strengthens and gives hope to new or weak believers. We tell them that Jesus cares and that the purpose of trials and hardships is to build their faith. Yes, we help others when they are faced with daunting hardships, so they do not give up on God.

We share our testimonies to remind them of Jesus’ encouraging promise, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” We are called to care for others! Christian believers are to shine their lights into the darkness of the loneliness that new believers experience when they have lost all of their friends, and their family has forsaken them because they accepted Christ.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” —John 14:26

We glorify God by praying for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit to anoint our minds before we write or speak. Our prayer of surrender and humility includes asking the Holy Spirit to give us the words that will provide clarity of the Scriptural truth to feed our souls and the Shepherd’s straying sheep.

As Christian believers, we were called and predestined to proclaim the love and saving power of Jesus Christ, to spread the seeds of hope, to shine light into the darkness of despair, and to teach others in this dying world how to live by faith. We teach others to pray for the anointing and discernment given by the Holy Spirit so they can avoid the false teachings of pagan beliefs disguised in seemingly innocent books, programs, and movies.

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

We will be rewarded for our discipleship—witnessing to others, our faithful obedience, and for striving to live righteously in a world that embraces wickedness as in the time of Noah. God’s expectation for every believer is that we fulfill the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20.

Prayer: God, we thank You for choosing us to be spiritual ambassadors. Lord, we fall by giving in to the carnal desires of our hearts, Pride causes us to seek the foolish knowledge of human-derived philosophies, and for this, we ask for forgiveness. We pray for an Upper Room outpouring of the Holy Spirit to change our minds, characters, and personalities. Lord, we ask for wisdom and discernment so our words will reflect Your Love, Righteousness, and Truth. In Jesus’ Matchless Name, we pray. Amen.

© 2023 Sonya Darcell Johnson, Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

Choose to Stay on the Chosen Road that Leads to Victory

Choose to Stay on the Chosen Road that Leads to Victory Today’s Devotional Reading October 24, 2023

“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

Striving and Suffering for Christ are two requirements of every Christian believer. If we remain faithful in our fiery trials, Christ will refine our characters into pure gold—into the likeness of His Righteous Character. God chooses the road for each of us to travel on in our earthly lives. No two journeys are alike, yet, all chosen roads are spiritually designed to end in Victory—the Reward of Eternal Life.

Choose to Stay on the Chosen Road

Choose to stay on the chosen road of trials and sorrows even though it brings the landslide of bitter disappointments

Choose to put God first and live righteously even though you don’t understand His roadmap

Choose the strength of Christ even though the strongholds of sin and temptations appear as treacherous cliffs

Choose hope in Christ even though your circumstances are stumbling blocks that have you gridlocked

Choose to believe in the promises of God even though the uncertainties cause fatigue and you seek a rest-stop

Choose to obey the Voice of God even though you are weary but God says to keep going

Choose to pray and get back up even though you keep falling down from the rocky obstacles

Choose to study the Bible even though the winding, treacherous curves of doubt fill your mind

Choose to have faith in the Divine power of God even though your trials appear as dead-end roads

Choose to wait on God even though the obstacles on the one-way road prevent further travel—it’s your God-given rest stop

Choose to stay on your chosen road even though you see detours for alternate routes

Choose to keep walking ahead even though you cannot see beyond the hopeless roadblock

Choose to lift your head even though your hope of high beams cannot penetrate the insurmountable darkness of despair

Choose to redirect your focus on the small, glimmering light ahead even though the distance is great

Choose to keep walking in the direction of the glorious light even though you have stumbled many times in the darkness

Choose to direct your eyes to the figure in the light— it is Jesus standing with outstretched arms leading you on your chosen earthly road to victory.

In faith, when we pray for the strength of the Holy Spirit and keep our focus on Christ the “even though” of every hardship and challenge on our chosen road is cast down. Our earthly responsibility is to believe in the Triune Godhead’s Sovereignty and stay focused on the three Divine powers readily available to guide and empower every righteous believer.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full into His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

Jesus also traveled on God’s chosen road in His earthly life. Like Christ, our greatest sacrifice to God is through daily surrender and faithful obedience. If we remain steadfast through daily prayer and consecration asking for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we will receive the wisdom and power to continue our earthly journey.

Yes, if we remain faithful, the Holy Spirit will empower us, and Christ, the Commander of angel armies, will direct angels to guide and protect us on this journey of life to reach our reward of the crown of eternal life. Hallelujah! Amen! Study Psalm chapter 91.

Prayer: God, we pray for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit. In faith, we surrender ourselves to obedience to Your will. Lord, we promise to give You the honor and glory You rightfully deserve for the rest of our lives. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

© 2023 Sonya Darcell Johnson, Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

The Assignment: Will You Accept?

Today’s Devotional, October 23, 2023

How would you react to this Spiritual Assignment from God knowing that you would be excluded from your family and friends who would not understand?

When God calls us to do His will, it always involves a sacrificial offering that not only proclaims our love and loyalty but also brings honor and glory to His Holy Name.

Prayer: God, we pray for the strength and the courage to do Your will. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray. Amen.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

Lay Every Burden at the Feet of Jesus

Lay Every Burden at the Feet of Jesus — Today’s Devotional October 20, 2023

Humanity’s Plight: “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

This morning as I thought about the challenges I faced, I felt weary. Still, I prayed for the Holy Spirit to breathe on me and give me strength. After I said, Amen, I began to hear a bird chirping its little song of gratitude to God. I smiled. Immediately the Holy Spirit brought Jesus’ promise to my remembrance: “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26).

Yes, we are of more value than the birds! God did not give His Son, Jesus to save the birds, Jesus willingly sacrificed His life for us. Although every believer knows that Jesus died to redeem humanity and the Bible contains hundreds of God’s promises, it appears there is a roadblock that prevents most believers from relying on Jesus’ promises when we face our tribulations.

“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

When burdens overwhelm our lives, believers react in one of three ways:

  1. The Fearful Believers: Their fear manifests as anxiety, worry, and thinking about the situation over and over [which produces mental, emotional, and physical weariness]. They usually pray for help but also include family and friends asking for their opinions on how they should resolve the unresolvable challenge. The fearful believer also has a time limit on waiting for God to perform a miracle. They pray and wait for two to three days but when their prayers are met with silence, they become discouraged and fall into the pit of despondency.
  2. The Overconfident Believers: They have a spirit of self-reliance. Reflecting inwardly on their many accomplishments, prior experience, and the ability to develop strategies that have brought resolution in the past, they fail to pray because their mind is consumed with themselves. Their time is spent on developing fail-proof strategies. Sadly, these believers end up with feelings of anger toward God, blame God for their misfortunes, and usually continue their lives as unbelievers.
  3. The Faithful Believers: Yes, the faithful ones rely on God. They are the prayer warriors, the ones who easily remember and tell others of the miracles that God has consistently performed throughout their lives. The faithful will direct others to study the Scriptures such as Joseph’s [Genesis chapters 37-50] and David’s [1 Samuel chapters 21-23, Living as a fugitive when King Saul threatened to kill him] lengthy trials and tribulations. The faithful will pray for you, but they will use the Word of God to preach the truth. They boldly proclaim, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God. “

Did you know that humans are creatures of habit? It’s a proven psychological fact! Interestingly, most of our behaviors can be predicted based on our consistent habits. If psychologists utilize theories based on predictable behaviors then we have the assurance that our Sovereign Omniscient God knows how we will react.

Make constant praying a new habit and watch as your life transforms. Recently in a sermon, Pastor Wintley Phipps stated the key to his steadfast faith is his prayer life, he admonishes every believer to whisper a prayer every hour while awake. Communication with God allows the empowerment and anointing of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” —Proverbs 3:5-6

God is not concerned about our comfort; He will do whatever is necessary for our faith to become steadfast. We cannot resolve spiritually allowed trials. And if we attempt to carry out our feeble solutions, God says our thoughts are like a crooked path. Trials and tribulations bring every believer to the Crossroads of Faith and Trust in God.

Either we will put all of our efforts into self-resolution tactics which are certain to fail or we will confess that our faith is weak but keep striving by placing the little faith we have in God. God loves us and He will do whatever it takes for our spiritual growth and transformation. Yes, our Heavenly Father is preparing us to live with Him forever and ever. Amen!

I will readily admit that I am a fearful believer who is striving to grow my faith in God. Since January of 2023, my life has been filled with a succession of trials. Yet, I will continue to trust God in the struggle to become a faithful believer. It is not enough to possess knowledge of the Scriptures. For us to transition from fearful to rock-solid faithful believers, we must believe that God is in control of His world and He allows continuous, lengthy trials to strengthen our faith.

And for those who possess the spirit of self-reliance, there is a better way to live. Never give up on God! Acknowledge your human limitations, confess, repent, and begin walking on the Path of Righteousness. Every day, trust God through surrender and acknowledge His Love and Omnipotence. Victory only comes through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

God requires that our faith continue to grow throughout our earthly lives. Yet, there are believers whose faith has matured into total reliance on God. For the faithful believers, keep striving, pray for your brothers and sisters who are on the spiritual journey of strengthening our faith, and share your testimonies of God’s faithfulness.

Lay Every Burden at the Feet of Jesus

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” —Hebrews 4:15, ESV

Brothers and Sisters, think and live as overcomers by striving through your trials and tribulations. We receive power from the Holy Spirit to withstand our disappointments and hardships. The outcome is total reliance on God which gives us Steadfast Faith. We are nearing Home! Our King Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is returning for the faithful! Hallelujah! Amen.

Profiting from Trials
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. —James 1:2-8

Prayer: God, we confess that we have not put our faith and trust in You. We desire to have steadfast faith. We ask for the presence, power, and anointing of the Holy Spirit to give us strength when we are weak and weary. Lord, we know that You are All-Powerful. We surrender and make the vow to become totally reliant on You. Thank You for your love, grace, and mercies. Thank You Jesus for giving Your life for us. Help us to have a renewed conviction in our faith. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God

The LORD is Everlasting Strength

Today’s Devotional, October 17, 2023

“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

In 30 days, I will reach a milestone, the blessed age of 65. Even if we don’t think the aging process is a blessing, the insurance companies proclaim a different perspective. They are in strong pursuit of the precious commodities [seniors] who are turning 65. And their focus is intentional. My mailbox is full of offers every day. With so many voices, seniors without knowledge of the importance of benefits applicable to their medical condition will easily be influenced.

Thankfully, one of my previous positions was as a Quality Nurse with a health insurance company. Despite the countless letters of invitation to choose the best, I have already chosen the best coverage. This morning during worship I reflected on this thought, “Although I have the advantage of working knowledge of the health insurance industry, am I relying on my knowledge to make the best choices in serving God?

“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” —2 Timothy 2:22, NKJV

Youthful lusts are not only limited to sexual desires. Everyone has passed through the stage of being a teenager when we thought that we knew everything about life and resisted all wise counsel. According to psychologists, during adolescence, individuals are more susceptible to persuasion because of the struggle with establishing their identity. They have the desire to appear all-knowing and powerful to their peers. From a spiritual perspective, it is wilful pride that causes one to possess an arrogant demeanor and disobey sound morals, values, and concepts.

Sadly, many Christians have retained that same teenage mindset in their adult lives which prevents them from seeking godly knowledge and wisdom. “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12). By our thoughts, desires, and pursuits, we choose our own destiny!

Reflection: How would our lives change if we pursued Jesus like the ravenous insurance companies pursuing seniors who are eligible for Medicare coverage?

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

Certainly, our minds, personalities, and characters would change into the likeness of Christ. Self-centered pride would be replaced by humility, self-seeking attention would be washed away, and our desires for tangible things would disappear. Not only would we put God first, but we would reverence Him with honor, glory, and praise in our spoken words, choices, and lifestyles.

Still, we cannot achieve righteousness through our works. Human Effort and Divine Intervention are required for the spiritual transformation of our hearts and minds.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” —John 15:5

Yes, many of us desire to live righteously but fail to stay on the Path of Righteousness because we attempt to use our human strength to remain in right standing with God. When Jesus says, we can do nothing without Him, believe Him! But once we invite the power of the Triune God into our lives, we are unstoppable! The Holy Spirit empowers us with a “Do Right” mind!

Through surrender, we acknowledge the Sovereignty of God. We acquiesce to His authority by our relentless pursuit of righteousness. Our commitment is reflected in our lifestyle. By seeking God as evidenced by praying throughout our waking hours and asking for the Holy Spirit to reveal the will of God, humanity is brought into alignment with God’s Plan of Righteousness by Faith.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” —Romans 12:2

Imagine how much more fulfilling our lives would be if we spent our time wisely, studying and living by the teachings of the Holy Scriptures. Instead of wasting unfulfilling hours on mindless entertainment, we could be growing in knowledge, wisdom, and faith. Steadfast faith, dedication, and total reliance on God are required to be transformed spiritually.

Choosing to follow Christ requires steadfast faith and the commitment required to make a covenant vow of daily surrender. It is then we are empowered by the Holy Spirit who gives us the spiritual strength to live a victorious life. In Christ, we gain the power to live as overcomers, and when He returns, we will receive our crown, robe of righteousness, and eternal life.

Prayer: God, we ask forgiveness for the sin of self-reliance. We ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to anoint us with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We pray for Divine wisdom and guidance in our journey of life. Thank You for Your love and the gifts of repentance and restoration. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

Jesus Gives Us a New Identity of Self-Worth

Today’s Devotional, October 15, 2023

Jesus Gives Us a New Identity of Self-Worth, Today’s Devotional October 15, 2023

One of the most amazing phenomena in nature is the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. Spiritually, I believe that Jesus was intentional in using the metaphor of caterpillar to butterfly to represent His love and mighty wonder-working power to transform us into His likeness.

Growing up in a home without love and nurturing results in an adult who suffers from insecurity and low self-worth. From an unhealthy childhood, we live a life of compromise by trusting the wrong people and making choices that always result in outcomes with negative consequences.

We accept the brokenness of our beginnings because we do not understand the love and power of a God who heals and specializes in new beginnings. Thankfully, we do not have to continue in the brokenness that has impacted our perception of our worth. God knows the beginning to the end of every person’s life. And He is always ready to intervene by healing and restoring us if we choose to be made whole.

Through our relationship with Christ, we can receive a spiritual, mental, and emotional makeover, at any point in our lives. The Apostle Paul says, “We are new creatures in Christ Jesus.” The human effort of acknowledging, accepting, and asking for a “New Beginning” requires a giant leap of faith!

Before Our Existence: “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” —Psalm 139:13-14

In Psalm 139, we are told that “God Has Perfect Knowledge of Man.” God was fully aware of the unhealthy environment which produced your fractured mental and emotional state. He knows your fragile heart and the desire to be loved and appreciated. Agape love is the love that looks beyond our faults and sees our needs.

“When Jesus saw [the man] lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well? ‘” — John 5:6.

Yes, Jesus promises to heal our broken hearts. Just like He asked the lame man, “Do you want to be made well?” Jesus is asking us the same question. By surrendering our fragile hearts and exercising the faith and trust that Jesus is our Healer, with love and compassion, He makes us well. Not only does He heal us, but Jesus also gives us His strength and victory over our past. Pray for His Divine help!

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

Psalm 32:8 NLT: “The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”

Praise God that we do not have to use guesswork in our earthly lives. From trusting God with every aspect of our lives, day by day, our little faith begins growing. Our faith will flourish when we totally depend on God. Like God’s love, there are no limits on the growth of one’s faith. Believe In God, because our Victory is Sure!

Through Christ, we are overcomers! Let the Holy Spirit guide you! Pray fervently before making every decision! God’s thoughts and ways are much higher than our thoughts. Never again will we live a life of compromise just to be loved and accepted by others. Our brokenness will be replaced with spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical wellness. Do you want to be made well?

Scripture: “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.” —Isaiah 40:28-29

Prayer: God, we know that you are Omniscient. And You knew our beginnings would produce broken hearts. Yet, You promised to do a new thing, to make us over, and cover us with the Righteousness of Christ. We desire to be healed and made whole. Lord, we surrender and consecrate our minds, bodies, and souls to You. We pray for healing and ask You to make us well. We believe and ask this prayer in the Powerful Name of Jesus, Amen.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God

Mustard Size Faith Moves Mountains

Today’s Sabbath Afternoon Devotional, October 14, 2023

From every unexpected life event, we are given the opportunity to use our faith and trust in God’s promises. From Moses lifting his rod over the Red Sea to childless Hannah, and Daniel in the lion’s den, God has always required us to put forth the human effort of faith before He intervenes.

“We have the same God that has worked for his people in ages past. Jesus stands by our side and as the trials come, so will the power of God.” EG White

God’s timing is never our timing. Pray in faith and wait. Be still and wait for God to manifest His power!

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

Prayer: God, we ask You in faith to intervene and we trust in You to resolve our mountains of difficulties. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

The Life-Giving Message of Jesus Saves

Sabbath Devotional, October 14, 2023

If every believer would witness to one person a day, we would fulfill Jesus’ command to “Go.” Telling our personal testimony of how Jesus saved us is the most effective method of witnessing to others. When we give our hearts to Christ which requires faith, He cleanses us from all of the unrighteousness of sin and makes us a new person. We think, speak, and act differently because we are covered with His righteousness and the Holy Spirit abides within us.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ ” —Matthew 28:18-20

Choose to View God As Good – Happy Sabbath! – Pray for God’s Mercies

Choose to View God As Good – Happy Sabbath – Pray for God’s Mercies
Sabbath Devotional, October 13, 2023

The struggles of this life are becoming more challenging. Many countries are experiencing war and famine which produces overwhelming sorrow, grief, and death. The innocent men, women, children, and babies are not only wounded physically but also mentally and emotionally. Why does God allow these terrible atrocities?

I invite you to study Matthew 24 and Revelation chapters 18-22. Jesus speaks of the events that will happen in these perilous times of the last days of Earth’s history.

Although Satan causes disasters, wars, countless diseases, and deaths, God must allow the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies. These events lead to the Great Day of Jesus, King of Kings, and Lord of Lord’s Second Coming. We know how the story ends! Choose your destiny by faithfully serving God in humility and obedience.

God is good in that He gave Jesus to die for us. God is good because we are saved by His Grace. God is good because He promises to protect the righteous at the end of time. Study Psalm 91. God is good because His love and mercies are freely given to the human beings who continue to reject Him.

God is good because He will never allow Satan to destroy the earth or all humanity. God is good because He never changes and we know the expected end of this Earth. God is more than good because He has given us sufficient time to choose Him. God is more than good because the righteous will live forever with Him in the New Heaven and New Earth!

Prayer: God, our hearts are filled with sorrow and despair. We ask You to extend mercy to the innocent victims of every war that exists throughout this world. Hunger, hatred, and the evil of violence have escalated as we have never seen before. Lord, we thank You for the Sabbath and ask You to bring peace to each of us according to Your will. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries