“For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.” —Proverbs 8:11
Being created in the image of God and surrendering to Him gives us access to His Divine wisdom. When we pray and ask for godly wisdom, the Holy Spirit empowers us with spiritual discernment, knowledge, and understanding. We make choices that align with God’s will. As recipients of wisdom, we never have to hope for the best, the outcome is always perfect because God is involved. And we know that God always brings honor and glory to His Name.
Scripture: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” —Proverbs 9:10
Prayer for Wisdom
Lord, teach us how to recognize Your voice. Give us the wisdom to discern Your will and the courage to obey even when we face opposition. Guide us today in our choices and teach us how to love. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Enjoying the Lifestyle of Compromise? Today’s Devotional October 11, 2023
Many years ago, I remember having a conversation with my aunt [who now is my Mother’s only living sister] about Jesus coming again and going to heaven. It was an exciting conversation until she said, “Oh niece, not every Christian desires to go to heaven. You have a naïve perspective of Christianity.” With disappointment, I responded, “But that is one of the reasons that we serve God is to go to heaven.”
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” —2 Timothy 4:3-4
Fast forward three decades and my Auntie spoke the truth. In Revelation chapter 3, Jesus revealed the status of the Laodicean church which according to Bible scholars represents today’s Christian believers [Study Revelation 3:14-19]. The spirit of compromise originates from Satan’s skillful deceptions. We have blended worldliness into our lives and have lost sight of God’s commandment to be holy.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd Knows His Sheep
Lukewarm Christians are prevalent in 2023 and they are not ashamed of their lifestyle choices. Social media posts reveal their focus and desires to please themselves. How can Christian believers be so deceived that they think serving a Righteous God is according to their whims? “But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you” (John 10:27).
“For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” —Matthew 24:7-8
Climate change and global warming are feeble human-made concepts developed [in an attempt] to explain the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies. God did not leave us without knowledge. In Matthew 24 and the books of Isaiah and Revelation, God has revealed the natural disasters and the spiritual changes that would happen on this earth which indicate living in the last days and the end of time.
As violence, disasters, and social problems increase, the number of steadfast and faithful Christians decrease. In Revelation, chapters 18-22, God reveals the victorious end of the Great Controversy of Good and Evil. Still, Satan has convinced many Christians they have the time to pursue their desires without praying for God’s guidance.
We are concerned about the impact of Artificial Intelligence, inflation, and the future instead of making sure our relationship with Christ is steadfast. Satan is using sensory stimuli to distract us away from God. There are two phenomena that we have no control over, once we watch, listen, or read information, we cannot undo the sensory input routed from our eyes and ears to our brains. As one Instagram response stated, “You cannot reverse and erase what you have seen or heard.”
The second phenomenon about the brain is the adaptation and changes in the cognition and behavior of those who develop sinful habits. Disobedience changes our thought processes and places us in opposition to a Holy and Righteous God. Like Cain who offered a sacrifice that he thought God deserved, we continue to travel on the detour road. We do not realize that we are no longer on the Path of Righteousness because disobedience has changed our perception.
We say Lord, Lord, but our heart’s carnal desires rule our lives and we continue to chase our dreams. And we feel good about our life full of accomplishments and the acquisition of material things.
“Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. —Galatians 6:7-8
Many attempt to use the works of attending church and reading the Scriptures, yet, their lifestyle reveals the behaviors of practicing worldly habits. Even our outward appearance changes. Once we spoke, dressed, and worshipped God every day as dedicated Christians, but now worldly music and programs have replaced praise and worship music. And our clothing in social outings are more provocative.
Still, God knows our heart. The voice we are listening to is not the voice of our Shepherd, Jesus Christ. There is no evidence of living a faith-based life of surrender and obedience. Yes, we experience transformation but it is not spiritual.
“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” —John 8:44, BSB
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (13) Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. —Hebrews 4:12-13, BSB
When I was in my late 50s, my dentist told me something that I have held onto for years. Now that I have reached that stage in life, I have learned to say, no, without hesitation. He stated, “Something I would like for you to be aware of, once you become 62, physicians and dentists will try to convince you to have elective surgeries and to spend thousands of dollars on cosmetic dental procedures, don’t do it. Only agree to the procedures that are necessary to sustain your health.
And yes, I have refused 100% of recommendations to change the one BP medication that I have taken since 1998. Although I have end-stage osteoarthritis in my knees [no cartilage, bone on bone], since 2015, I have refused knee replacements. Yes, I have limitations, I cannot walk on the beautiful Floridian sandy beach, but I can sit on the boardwalk and enjoy the ocean breezes. And with weight loss, I no longer need an assistive device.
My objective in sharing this story is for you to reflect and ask yourself, “Who convinced me to compromise?” Was it a pastor, family, or friends? Or was it from the pursuit of your heart’s desires? How did you transition from repenting, surrendering, and dedicating your life to Christ to one of compromise that will lead to destruction? Is the pleasure of sin really worth the loss of eternal life with Jesus?
“Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” —Matthew 7:14
“And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it—only those who walk in the Way—and fools will not stray onto it.” —Isaiah 35:8
Jesus paid for our freedom with His life! We do not have to be enslaved to sin and suffer the dire consequences that were meant for Satan and his angels. Yet, we were created with the free will to serve who we choose to serve. But know this, there is only one narrow gate that we pass through to stay on the Path of Righteousness. Compromise will never provide us with the reward of the New Heaven and New Earth.
Our love and loyalty for Christ is demonstrated through our faith, evidenced by daily surrender and obedience. Only what we do for Christ will last and be counted in the end. Stand up and renounce the life of sinful compromise! The righteous who are sanctified through Christ have a great reward waiting for them. And we must be in the number of those who receive their crowns.
Scripture: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” —John 10:10
Prayer: God, we pray for the believers traveling on the detour road of compromise that they renounce sin and commit to rededicate their lives to You. Lord, we thank You for the precious gift of Your life. We pray for the Holy Spirit to breathe on us and give us the power to stand as soldiers in Your Army until Christ comes again. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.
“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
Loving God requires a loving heart overflowing with genuine faith and the desire to obey His will. In serving God, the believer prays the prayer of sacrificial surrender every day. We dedicate and consecrate ourselves to seek God and live according to His will.
“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” —1 Thessalonians 5:18
We love God by possessing a heart of gratitude for His love and mercies which we express throughout our waking hours by singing, praying, and studying the Scriptures. Our times of worship reflect our love. “O LORD, You are my God. I will exalt You. I will praise Your name, For You have done wonderful things. Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth” (Isaiah 25:1).
“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12
Our thoughts, behaviors, and actions reveal the motives of our hearts. Our lifestyle is concrete proof of who we love and worship. We can go through the motions of attending church and reading the Bible, but our attempts to use works as the way to be in the right standing with God are just feeble attempts to make us feel content.
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” —Hebrews 4:12
Born with carnal hearts, we naturally have sinful thoughts and desires that cause us to pursue self-gratification. Our Father knew that we could not govern ourselves nor control our desires without His help. Therefore, God gave us His Holy Scriptures—God-breathed commandments, precepts, and promises as the roadmap for our lives.
“I will send you the Helper from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me.” —John 15:26
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” —Romans 8:26
Not only do we have the Bible, but we were given the Holy Spirit to provide direction for our daily lives. Yes, the Holy Spirit reveals God’s purpose and plans for every believer. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the righteous hear the Voice of God through their thoughts and the Scriptures. Many ask, How do you know God is speaking to you through your thoughts? God’s Voice is always consistent with the Scriptures.
Read 1 Corinthians 13, Galatians 5:22-23, and Ephesians 4:32
The Holy Spirit also performs daily spiritual transformation [spiritual growth] and changes our hearts [our minds] and our character traits. Yet, as free will agents, we must give our permission and cooperate with Divinity to receive Sanctification which is a life-long spiritual journey.
In Philippians 1:6, we receive the promise that Jesus will complete the work in us which requires our full cooperation by striving to live holy and pursuing righteousness every day. Still, the promise states up until the day Jesus comes. Jesus will not transform our character or sinful habits on the day of His Coming. Every person has already made their decision to be faithful or not and will receive their just reward. Our destiny is in our hands!
Jesus, Our Loving Lord, Savior, and Intercessor
Romans 8:34 says that Jesus ‘is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” In 1 John 2:1 we read that Jesus is our “advocate with the Father,” and from Hebrews 7:25 we learn that Jesus “always lives to intercede” for us.
Jesus is our Heavenly Intercessor who receives our prayers and covers us with His righteousness, presenting us faultlessly before God. Our responsibility is to shun evil and pray without ceasing for the strength to live holy. As our Intercessor, Jesus also prays for us. When our hearts are receptive to the Holy Spirit, our response is one of faithful obedience. It is then that Divine intervention occurs and we receive Christ’s strength.
The Believer’s Life is One of Constant Battles
At the Last Supper, Jesus warned Simon Peter that a test of faith was coming: “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31, NKJV). The outspoken disciple seemed to be in the same predicament as Job when Satan sought to put him to the test (Job 1—2). Satan wanted to “sift Peter as wheat,” which means that he wished to shake Peter’s faith so forcefully that he would fall, proving that God’s faithful servant was lacking. gotquestions.org
Like Peter, our faith is weak. And Satan, our deadly enemy uses our desires and carnal weakness to develop deceitful temptations that we cannot resist without the Holy Spirit’s Divine Help. His evil angels observe our lifestyle and present strategic deceptions [personalized temptations] designed to make us fall.
Satan’s most effective method is to use people to make a believer fall. The lonely person meets someone who says, Lord, Lord, one who appears to serve God, but their behaviors and lifestyle reveal they have not surrendered to God. Ignoring the warning signs, the believer continues in the relationship and falls. By acting on their emotions, they begin walking on the path of compromise because their love for God is no longer a priority.
Just as we do not drive in the middle of the road, there is no middle ground of compromise in our relationship with Christ. Either we will surrender ourselves in humility and obedience to God and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us spiritually in preparation for Eternal life or we will lose our reward because we chose to live our best life on this earth.
To love God is to obey God. To love God is to pray every day and ask Him to reveal His will. To love God is to surrender and strive to stay in His will.
Scripture: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7
Prayer: God, we pray for the desire and the strength to give up every sinful habit and the individuals who will prevent us from receiving eternal life. We confess and repent that we have not surrendered and committed ourselves to faithfully obey You. Lord, we know the signs You gave to us in Matthew 24 are being fulfilled. And it is our fervent desire to receive our reward and live with Your forever and ever. In Jesus Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Overcoming the Stronghold of Abuse Today’s Devotional — October 8, 2023
“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” —Psalm 139:14
We were created in the image of a loving God whose purpose is for us to have relationships based on mutual love and respect. In the Christian community, most pastors are not addressing the evil of abuse. It is a false concept that God expects us to stay in abusive relationships and marriages. Whether it is a husband, wife, parents, family member, or a friend, let them go!
God lovingly gave His Son, Jesus for us who created us from love and expects us to have loving hearts. Does God tolerate abuse? Read the story of David, Abigail, and Nabal in 1 Samuel chapter 25. When we pray for Divine Intervention, God will deliver us from the stronghold of abuse. It is our duty to God to not tolerate abuse in any form. We were not ransomed from sin to become victims of the satanic stronghold of abuse.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” —2 Timothy 1:7
Individuals who are abused live in fear. The barrage of abuse weakens their mental and physical strength and the resolve to take care of oneself. Abuse places a person in the mental and emotional chains of discouragement and defeat. Their outlook declines into a state of hopelessness.
Most people who are in abusive relationships do not leave or leave and return because the journey of new beginnings usually requires one to fully depend on God. Human emotions tell them it is better to stay in an abusive relationship than to be alone or restart life on an unknown journey.
“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” —Deuteronomy 31:8
You cannot have God’s gifts of peace and joy nor maintain your relationship with Christ while living under the stronghold of abuse. This may sound harsh, but in Revelation 21, verse 8, Jesus tells us there will be no cowards in heaven. To serve God requires strong, unwavering faith and perseverance. Pray and ask God to reveal His perfect plan for you [and your children] to leave and begin a new life based on love.
God is waiting for every person to pray and ask for His help. God already has a way of escape. The prayer of God, help me, is one that always receives an immediate answer. Once God reveals the way to victory do not share His plan with anyone else. We never know who Satan will use to defeat your journey to freedom. Pray and remain silent. Use your faith to escape and God will take care of you!
If you do not reside with the abusive individual then establish healthy boundaries by severing the unhealthy relationship. The preference is to use silence. If you choose to have verbal or written communication to tell them why you are ending the relationship, it is a guarantee they will use the opportunity to speak hurtful words.
We are preparing for eternal life which requires steadfast faith and trust in God who always requires us to take a step of faith before He intervenes with a Giant Leap leading to victory. Be bold! Be courageous! the Lord God is on your side.
“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. For He brings down those who dwell on high…” —Isaiah 26:1-3
Scripture: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” —Numbers 6:24-26
Prayer: God, we pray this intercessory prayer for those who are living under the stronghold of abuse. We ask You to give them strength and reveal the plan of escape to begin a new, peaceful life that includes Your overwhelming love and guidance. We pray for the healing of their fragile, broken hearts. We ask this prayer in the Name of Jesus, our Warrior God. Amen.
Think about your priorities. Do they reflect that you are preparing for Eternal Life?
Sadly, we are focusing on the earthly, ordinary things of life that distract us from preparing for the Day of the Lord. The antediluvians—inhabitants of Noah’s era were so preoccupied with their daily tasks and personal desires that they failed to acknowledge the warnings of an impending and great flood that would destroy the earth.
Because of their sinfulness, they could not possess the faith necessary to believe in Noah’s messages, resulting in a lack of desire to enter the ark.
“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” —Genesis 6:11
It is phenomenal that the condition of humanity described so many centuries ago is evident again in our world today. Not only are we repeating the same behaviors of those in Noah’s time, but advancements in technology have driven us into a frenzy. We already spend the majority of our free time looking at screens. With the development of AI [Artificial Intelligence] our interest is piqued.
Mentally, we suffer from the negative impacts of spending countless hours staring at screens to keep up with innovation. But the necessity to stay current has produce a life and death adverse effect—believers are suffering from the spiritual desensitization of Jesus’ Second Coming.
The pace of life is one of overwhelming busyness and is filled with numerous voices [secular and religious]. It is the ordinary routine life tasks that result in eating up our time, leaving us no time to worship God every day.
Our Priorities Determine Our Destiny
Busyness has us so mentally and physically fatigued that we do not have time to have a personal relationship with Christ. Or we have those who study the Bible but still live according to their desires because it’s easier to deviate from the truth then to consistently be forced to choose between right and wrong.
“Then Elijah approached all the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.’ But the people did not answer a word.” —1 Kings 18:21
But our spiritual dilemma requires us to take action and make a choice. Faith, surrender, obedience, prayer, and daily study of the Bible are the non-negotiable requisites for the Christian believer. God must be first!
The apostle Paul said, “I die daily to sin.” We fight a continuous internal battle waged by the desires of our carnal hearts. It is easier to think and do wrong than to live righteously. To remain in God’s will, we must pray the I surrender prayer every day.
The Scriptures define the humility and character that is required by God to receive eternal life. Many have redefined righteous living according to their mindsets and lifestyles. At the end of the day, we should reflect on our thoughts and actions, “Did I do all to the glory of God?”
Are we witnessing to others every day, face-to-face, or through social media? We are not saved by our works, but our works are evidence of our faithful obedience to God’s commands for the spiritual works of every believer.
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” —Revelation 22:12
Either we will live our best life on this earth or in the New Heaven and New Earth. We must decide, will our earthly life reflect our priorities or God’s priorities? Each person determines their own destiny by whom they place their love and loyalty. Pleasing self is a form of idol worship.
Yet, Jesus created us as free moral agents. God will never force us to accept His will. But if we choose to follow our agendas then we should not deceive ourselves into thinking we will receive the reward of eternal life for living a self-seeking lifestyle on this earth.
We Require Divine Intervention to be Spiritually Transformed into Christ’s Likeness
“Can people change the color of their skin, or a leopard remove its spots? If they could then you that do nothing but evil could learn to do what is right.” —Jeremiah 13:23, Good News Translation
Although the trending worldviews proclaim that humans possess the powers of manifestation, self-healing, and mind control, we were created with limited abilities. We cannot change ourselves spiritually, mentally, or emotionally. Truthfully, we struggle with the behaviors that we can change. As creatures of habit, even when diagnosed with chronic illnesses, it usually takes a health crisis to initiate a change in an unhealthy lifestyle.
From our desire to be faithful and obedient, we invite the Holy Spirit into our lives to transform our minds and characters into the Righteousness of Christ—Sanctification. Spiritual growth and development are comparable to that of a baby maturing into an adult. It takes a lifetime of human effort and Divine Intervention to change the innate sinful heart into a righteous heart [mind] and character.
We must fully cooperate with Divinity to be changed into the likeness of Christ.
“For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.” —Galatians 5:17
Preparation for eternal life is not a last-minute decision. It is accomplished by putting God first. Praying every day for His will to be revealed followed by our surrender and obedience invites the Holy Spirit’s presence and power into our lives. Spiritual transformation and obedience to God is possible for every believer who is willing to live righteously!
Preparation not only requires us to have an intentional mindset of obedience and the wilful determination to go all the way with God, but we also place boundaries on the ordinary things of life that distract and prevent us from receiving our reward of eternal life.
Scripture: “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
Prayer: God, we are at a crossroads in our lives that requires us to make the decision to prioritize our desires and make the decision to devote ourselves totally to You. Today, we renew our covenant vow with You. Lord, we pray for the strength to put aside the ordinary things that prevent us from faithfully obeying Your Will. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Our Spiritual Journey—Becoming One with Christ Devotional Reading September 12, 2023
Most of us have the natural desire to travel with other people, or at least one other person. Still, many are adventurous and comfortable exploring this beautiful world alone. Even if we decide to forge ahead on a solo journey, the opportunity to interact with others is always available.
The believer’s spiritual journey requires both a solo effort and interaction with the church family for fellowship. What does it mean for the believer to travel alone and how do they receive spiritual support outside of attending church? The spiritual transformation of our hearts and the strength to stay on the Path of Righteousness only involve two participants, the believer and Christ. Yes, the other deities of the Triune Godhead [God and the Holy Spirit] are involved in every aspect of our spiritual transformation, but our daily walk is with Christ.
Because of Jesus’ sacrificial offering of Himself, He took the penalty of sin [the wages of sin is death] and offered every believer redemption from their sins. Coming to Jesus is not complicated, in love and faith, we believe that He died for us, we confess and repent of our sins, and immediately accepted into the royal family of Christ. “So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household’” (Acts 16:31).
Regardless of trending false doctrines, salvation is only available through Christ. The relationship between Christ and ourselves is built on love. We dedicate our lives to Christ and honor Him as our Savior and Heavenly Intercessor.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6). Salvation is only available through Jesus Christ who died for the redemption of our sins.
“We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). A heart-to-heart relationship with Christ is possible because we love Him.
Where did our love for Christ come from? God is the Origin of our love:
“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
“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
Sadly, many new converts do not know what happens next once they have accepted Christ as their personal Savior nor do they understand the concept of salvation.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” —Ephesians 2:8-9
Grace is an attribute of God shown to undeserving human beings. We have received the opportunity to be saved from death which is the penalty for sinful disobedience to God. Because of grace, we can come to God in prayer and confess and repent of our sins and we are forgiven. Our sins are erased!
The habit of prayerful confession and repentance should be practiced daily. There are times that we sin and because our hearts are naturally carnal, we may overlook the sin especially if it is a character trait or habit we need to overcome from our former, unconverted lives.
The second most misunderstood concept is faith. Faith is simply believing in God without questions or doubts. We were created with a measure of faith. Let’s compare our gift of faith to a mustard seed. Through consistent faith and trust in God [even in situations that appear impossible], we believe in God’s Sovereign power to resolve every challenge in our lives.
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” —Jeremiah 32:27
Taking our eyes off of the situation and placing them on God’s ability allows our faith to grow abundantly. Imagine your faith growing from a tiny mustard seed to the size of an avocado seed. Yet, the growth of our faith and trust in God has no limits. If we only memorize one Scripture, it should be Jeremiah 32, verse 27.
Our Spiritual Journey Involves Daily Spiritual Change and Growth
Reflection: We can come to Jesus just as we are, but we cannot stay as we are. Tell yourself, “My present character is unacceptable to God.”
Sanctification is the spiritual transformation of our mind, character, and personality into the likeness of Christ’s Character which is necessary to receive eternal life. We cannot change ourselves. In humility and surrender, we acknowledge our sinful traits and habits, repent, cease the sinful behaviors, and ask the Holy Spirit to change us and guard us from succumbing to temptation. Never forget, that it takes an entire lifetime to become like Christ.
We can do our part in experiencing spiritual transformation because God has gifted us with innate gifts: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind [self-discipline and self-control]” (2 Timothy 1:7).
The core value of loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind is the catalyst to daily spiritual growth and transformation.
“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 willingness to surrender every day to the will of God and the commitment to serving Him with love, faith, obedience, and loyalty is God’s expectation of every believer. God required the same righteous characteristics from Jesus in His earthly life. Before Jesus was born as a human, His mind was one with God. Jesus commanded angel armies who obeyed His directives. Still, God His Father required that Jesus learn obedience.
Spiritual Growth in Marriage
How does our individual walk with Christ and Sanctification apply to a marriage? Although in marriage, two become one, salvation is still one-to-one with Christ. God intended for the husband and wife to spiritually support and help each other to live righteously and prepare for eternal life.
Yet, the willingness to surrender, reverence, and worship God in Spirit and Truth through faithful obedience is an individual choice. Having a first love for Christ is from a responsive heart filled with love for God. Husbands and wives will be judged separately by God. They should not attempt to persuade one another to love and serve God. “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven” (Matthew 22:30).
Satan knows his time is short on this earth. He is using any means necessary to separate us from God. Now he is targeting single Christians by presenting people who believe in God but are not dedicated to serving God. Many believers are involved in unequally yoked relationships that eventually cause the believer to reach a crossroads in their relationship with Christ—will I choose Christ or the person I am in love with?
I read a post where a young woman shared a story about never letting another person change you according to their mindset. After dating for a few years, her significant other told her that he wanted to share some good news with her. Naturally, she assumed that he would ask her to marry him, which he did when they met over dinner. But she noticed there was no ring presented with the spoken desire for her to be his wife. Still, she loved him, so it didn’t matter. She was shocked by his next statement, “Before we get married, you need to give up your cats, I can’t imagine living with cats.” Fast forwarding to the end, she immediately broke off the relationship. The majority of women responding to her post disagreed with her decision. Yet, the spiritual issue is deeper than putting one’s pets over a significant other. This was a long-term relationship. His masquerade of pretense equates to deception. His attempt to manipulate her response by presenting the proposal with an ultimatum revealed his true nature of a selfish heart and a corrupt character.
Practical Living Guidelines
“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
Remember, only God knows the true condition of a person’s heart, desires, and innermost thoughts. Living in these perilous times and last days requires Divine Intervention. Believers face many obstacles in their earthly journey. When we love God, we will pray and wait before we decide to accept people as friends into our lives. It is a daily struggle to stay on the straight and narrow Path of Righteousness. Why enter into relationships with those who are stumbling blocks and do not love and put God first?
The healthiest relationships are a result of men and women of God who have a genuine love for God and others. We must possess loving and forgiving hearts, share Biblical views, morals, and values, and strive to put God first. Whether we have similar likes and dislikes, no person can ever be a carbon copy of someone else. We differ in our strengths, weaknesses, personality, habits, and perception of life in general. Our uniqueness is God-given. No two people can ever develop, mature, dream, or think alike because we were created as free moral agents. Let the Holy Spirit guide you.
Each believer’s spiritual journey differs–several factors impact our spiritual growth and development. Do we love God and put Him first? Is Jesus our LORD and Savior? Are we faithful? Have we consecrated ourselves to God? Do we seek God’s will every day through prayer? Are we diligent Bible students?
Based on our faith, love, and loyalty, we trust God due to our knowledge of the Scriptures and our desire to accept God’s will. We have Divine help [24/7] from the Holy Spirit who empowers us to live righteously, avoid mistakes, and experience spiritual growth. Obedience takes our relationship with Christ to the highest level. The Holy Spirit guides us to let go of unholy character traits which are a sum total of our hereditary tendencies and life experiences. Our new character reflects Christ and we begin to possess the Fruit of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22-23].
From our willingness to go all the way with Christ, we receive evidence of daily transformation: We value our times of personal worship. We have inner peace. We gain spiritual insight which results in a change of our perception of God. Our lifestyle choices reflect obedience to God. And we begin to recognize the Holy Spirit speaking to us through our thoughts and the Scriptures. Most importantly, we seek the will of God before making life decisions.
Spiritual growth and transformation are an exciting part of our spiritual journey. Yet, it takes courage! We cannot expect our family and friends to understand our walk with Christ. As we grow deeper in our relationship with Christ, we will lose some friends, family, and sometimes a spouse who will not embrace our journey. Persevere anyway, there is a crown and robe and an abundant eternal life waiting for us. King Jesus is coming soon. Amen!
Scripture Reading: “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:12-14
Prayer: God, we pray for strength and guidance from the Holy Spirit to accept our Higher Calling and to stay on the Path of Righteousness. We ask this prayer in faith. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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