Tag: Faith

Guidance From the Spirit of Truth—The Holy Spirit Devotional Reading August 11, 2023

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” —Ephesians 2:8-9

The word of the hymns “I Surrender All” and “Have Thine Own Way” indicate the writers understood our part in the plan of Salvation and the conditions of our relationship with Christ. To serve Christ requires a spirit of humility and a prayer of daily commitment. The love in our hearts acts as a catalyst to faithfully follow Jesus through surrender and obedience.

Yet, we need Divine Help in our daily spiritual journey of Sanctification—living holy and righteously and experiencing spiritual growth and transformation of our character into the Character of Christ.

“I will send you the Helper from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth [the Holy Spirit] who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me. And you will tell people about me too, because you have been with me from the beginning.” —John 15:26-27

Like Jesus’ disciples who struggled greatly in their journey of spiritual transformation, our Savior knew that all future believers would need Divine Intervention to remain faithful disciples. His promise to send the Holy Spirit was evidenced after His ascension on the Day of Pentecost. Study Acts chapter 2.

Jesus identified the Holy Spirit using the pronoun “He.” The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Triune Godhead—God, the Father, Jesus, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit. Sadly, there is a disconnect in our belief that the Holy Spirit is necessary for our spiritual journey. If Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help His disciples who were physically with Him then we definitely need the Spirit of Truth to continue on the Path of Righteousness in our earthly experience.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” —Isaiah 55:8-9

Because we tend to minimize or discard truth that is beyond our understanding—the power of the Holy Spirit is a mystery—we find it easier to exclude the presence and power of the Holy Spirit from our lives. Still, we must have the Divine power of the Holy Spirit to maintain our relationship with Christ, to discern truth from error, and to gain an in-depth understanding of the Scriptures.

The Holy Spirit reminds us of the Divine precepts on how to live righteously and warns us of the deceptions and temptations of spiritual warfare. We are no match for the evil schemes of Satan our enemy. The Holy Spirit is also our Protector.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” —Proverbs 3:5-6

We must acknowledge our human disadvantage of being born into sin, shaped by iniquity, and possessing a carnal heart. Our thoughts are influenced by our childhood experiences, friends, family, worldviews, politics, social media, and denominational doctrines. Without the Holy Spirit, we will never comprehend God’s Agape Love or the plan of Salvation—it is through our faith we are saved by God’s grace.

We can read and memorize chapters of the Bible, but without using our faith to pray and invite the Holy Spirit into our life, we will never experience spiritual transformation. Some atheists read the Bible for knowledge or appreciate its documentation of ancient times, but they do not have faith in its teachings. Without faith, the Holy Spirit cannot give us spiritual wisdom, understanding of Salvation, God’s Sovereignty, the impact of sin, and how to live righteously.

When we fail to pray in faith for the power of the Holy Spirit, we are in the same predicament as atheists. We read the Bible, apply our human understanding, and become discouraged because we feel that God is distant. In the Bible, oil represents the Holy Spirit. It is the oil of the Holy Spirit that fills the emptiness of our spiritual vessel.

We would be hopelessly lost without the Spirit of Truth who takes our seed of faith and expands our knowledge and wisdom of the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit is our Teacher who imparts us with a deeper knowledge and understanding of the Bible. As we gain discernment and wisdom of Biblical truths, our relationship with Christ grows, and we begin to perceive life through spiritual eyes.

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” —Matthew 21:22

How does one receive the presence and power of the Holy Spirit? Daily, we pray in faith and ask for the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in our lives.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” —1 Corinthians 6:19

Jesus created us as vessels to have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Imagine a clean bottle that you fill with oil. To be filled with the Holy Spirit requires that our mind and body be a clean vessel. We demonstrate our love for God through faith and obedience.

What does total surrender look like? “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15, ESV. “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance…” —1 Peter 1:14, ESV

Our decision to shun evil by choosing not to willfully sin is strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Some temptations are so powerful, we need to cry out loud for Divine Help to overcome them. Yes, we need the power of the Holy Spirit!

David’s prayer, “Create in me, a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10) provides us the model prayer demonstrating faith, humility, repentance, and surrender.

To be empowered with righteous attributes, our hearts must possess love and loyalty to God.

First, we must love God more than we love ourselves or anyone else. And we must possess the desire to live holy. We strive for righteousness through our faith in Christ Jesus. Without the intentional desire to live holy, we do not see the need to surrender or obey God. The human attributes of surrender, faith, and obedience are a freewill choice and reveal our love and mindset toward Christ.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” —Jeremiah 29:11

Another role of the Holy Spirit: “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

With so many voices speaking their version of God’s truth, How do I know the Holy Spirit is speaking to me? Develop the habit of a consistent prayer life. Pray several times a day. It is not the length of our prayers that move God. Prayer is a two-way conversation. Include time for meditation and you will begin to recognize that your spiritual thoughts are from the Holy Spirit speaking to you.

A word of caution, do not manipulate the message. God never goes against His Holy Word found in the Bible. If you are praying for a material possession or a romantic relationship, wait on the Lord! The Holy Spirit does not always answer immediately. We know it is of God when supernatural miracles begin to happen and the request is brought to fruition.

In faith, we pray and ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We pray with confidence because we can rely on the promises of God. God’s promises are steadfast and demonstrate the declaration of His Character—I change not!

“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

On Wednesday night, I prayed for spiritual guidance regarding a complex situation. At 3:30 am, Thursday morning when I awakened, in my thoughts, the Holy Spirit gave me the steps that I needed to take for complete resolution.

The Holy Spirit speaks to us through our thoughts and the Scriptures [Study the Bible]. The answers we receive represent Divine completion and provide Divine resolution. Not only do we receive answers, but the Holy Spirit is also our Comforter who ministers to our minds and souls by giving us peace and contentment.

When we receive direction from the Holy Spirit, there is no guesswork or confusion. The Holy Spirit knows our level of spiritual understanding and meets us exactly where we are in our spiritual journey. We can always count on the Spirit of Truth to give us clear and concise answers that provide clarity. And because God is a God of Completion, He does everything to glorify His Holy Name.

We claim the blessing of the Holy Spirit through our faith. In prayer, we surrender ourselves every day to be guided and controlled by the Divine power of the Holy Spirit. In humility, we wait for spiritual guidance and intervention. From our obedience and long-suffering, we receive a double blessing. Not only do we receive resolution, but we also receive spiritual empowerment. When we are faithful, we can tell others by sharing our praise testimony of God’s faithfulness and our victorious outcome.

“And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear [reverence] the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul…” —Deuteronomy 10:12

Without a total heart and soul love for God, we will never reverence Him or accept His Righteous Precepts and Righteous Standards. Obedience is our highest form of worship. Active faith is demonstrated by surrender and obedience. God knows the true condition of our hearts, either we love Him or we do not. There is no middle ground!

Remember, we were not created to stand alone. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to overcome the temptations of spiritual warfare. Not only do we have carnal hearts, but the worldviews that conflict with the word of God have caused us to compromise and accept watered-down versions of God’s Truth. We cannot save ourselves! Nor can we resolve the conflicts and challenges that leave us without answers. Do we need the Holy Spirit? Every second of our lives!

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.” —Acts 2:1-2

Even though everyone in the place witnessed the anointing of the Holy Spirit, some doubters accused the apostles of being drunk with new wine. Study Acts chapter 2. Without faith, we reject the Holy Spirit and all evidence of His power.

The Holy Spirit enables us to view life through spiritual eyes. It is not climate change that is impacting our earth. We are living in the last days. The perilous times that the Apostle Paul wrote about in 2 Timothy 3 describe our present earthly conditions. Jesus is coming soon! The Holy Spirit empowers us to live righteously on this planet earth that is plagued with increasing sinfulness.

God is Holy! The Bible is our Spiritual Mirror. The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual discernment of the Scriptures and continuous guidance to overcome life’s challenges. Yet, we must choose to receive spiritual empowerment. We can never pray enough! When we pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes by taking our prayers and presenting them to Christ, our Intercessor.

“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” —Matthew 6:6

Worship is asking and inviting the presence of God into our life. Every prayer that we utter should reflect our willingness to surrender. Asking for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit is a prayer that is answered immediately. Separate yourself and meditate while worshiping God. Changing our mindset to accept that the Holy Spirit is not an option empowers us to prepare for eternal life.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.… Matthew 7:13-14

Is it possible to live a godly life, stay on the narrow Path of Righteousness, and receive our reward of eternal life without the Divine power of the Holy Spirit? The answer is No.

Prayer: God, we desperately need the Holy Spirit in every aspect of our daily lives. We pray for the forgiveness of our sins, especially our wilful disobedience. Give us a clean heart and teach us how to hear Your Voice. Lord, we pray for wisdom, discernment, and guidance from the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

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

Jesus Says, “The Scriptures Testify of Me” Devotional Reading August 2, 2023

Some Christian believers struggle with the teachings of the Bible. This is not because they are actively studying and unable to comprehend the Scriptures, but rather because it is easier to listen to the multitude of voices claiming to speak God’s truth than to study the Bible on their own.

One of the reasons given for the lack of studying the Bible, there are too many churches teaching too many different doctrines.

What has caused this overwhelming conflict in the Christian Community? One source identifies the origin of the chaos in the following statement: “American Protestantism is diverse, encompassing more than a dozen major denominational families – such as Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, and Pentecostals – all with unique beliefs, practices, and histories.” Pew Research Center

Something is not right! The estimate of more than a dozen is actually 9,000 denominations that exist in Protestantism. And the qualifier, “all with unique beliefs, practices, and histories” should cause grave concern in the minds of Christian believers. We cannot change the history of any denomination, but we should have basic knowledge of how the denominational movement began and if the doctrines are Bible-based.

The qualifier, “all with unique beliefs and practices” should raise mental and spiritual red flags. If 9,000 denominations exist and have developed numerous self-interpretations of the Bible, we must ask ourselves, Where do I stand in the battle of God’s Truth versus error?

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that has nothing to be ashamed of, rightly dividing the word of truth.” —2 Timothy 2:15

Every Christian is accountable for the decisions they make and the lifestyle they live. We cannot make excuses for not studying the Bible as part of our daily worship. The refusal or lack of desire to study reveals the condition of our hearts.

1. God gave us the Bible—The Old and New Testaments to provide us with the Gospel, Truth, and knowledge of the Presence, Power, and Divine and Loving Characteristics of the Triune Godhead: God, the Father, God, Jesus the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit.

In Genesis chapter one, we can study the origin of the world, the creation of human beings, and all plant and animal life refuting the humanmade, erroneous concept of evolution.

The Bible explains itself! The authenticity, origin, and purpose of the Holy Scriptures are revealed in the Bible. The Bible also contains the Ten Commandments. health laws, and righteous principles that promote love and unity among believers which are still valid today.

Jesus said, “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter [jot], not the least stroke of a pen [tittle], will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. —Matthew 6:13.

We always need Divine Help when studying the Bible! Pray for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and discernment as you study. “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 that I said to you.” —John 14:26

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” —Psalm 119:105

The Bible is filled with spiritual treasures that produce spiritual growth and transformation of the believer. As we study, our love, faith, and loyalty increase and we grow closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Fact! The Bible is the only Book that contains no errors. It does not need to be revised or updated. The Author tells us the reason that the Scriptures will stand forever, “For I am the Lord, I do not change…” —Malachi 3:1.

In the Holy Scriptures, we learn of Christ’s Divine Status as God, the Son, and His Divine Character. Jesus, our Heavenly Father is full of Sacrificial Love, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Meekness, Grace, Mercy, Power, Faithfulness, and Unequivocal Righteousness.

2. The entire Bible [Old and New Testament] is about Jesus. “You examine the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is those very Scriptures that testify about Me…” —John 5:39, NASB

God, the Father clears all confusion about Jesus’ status as God, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead. “But to the Son, He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions [the heavenly angels].’ ” —Hebrews 1:8-9

Jesus Christ created this universe and all living beings. “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him, all things consist.” —Colossians 1:16-17

“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” —1 Timothy 2:5

Salvation is only through Jesus Christ! No human being can mediate for our salvation and the forgiveness of our sins. We confess and repent of our sins to God in prayer and are forgiven of those sins through our Heavenly Intercessor, Jesus. Every other concept is part of Satan’s deceptions. We learn from the Scriptures that we must accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. Jesus is the only way humanity can have salvation and redemption from their sins.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ ” —John 14:6

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” — Romans 10:9

3. The Bible is our spiritual mirror and provides God’s blueprint [instructions] for every believer’s life. Through the Scriptures, we obtain spiritual knowledge of God’s moral code, and our responsibilities [surrender, faith, obedience, and love for God and others] when following Christ. The Bible outlines all of God’s laws, precepts, and righteous expectations for believers.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” —2 Timothy 3:16

“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

4. From the Bible, we have scriptural evidence of the Triune Godhead: God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Although the Holy Spirit is a mystery, we learn from the Scriptures who the Holy Spirit is, He is the third person of the Godhead who gives us spiritual discernment, wisdom, and the strength to overcome temptation.

“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ ” —Matthew 3:16-17

Jesus Promises the disciples to send the Holy Spirit after His Ascension: “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” —John 16:13-14

5. The Scriptures provide us with God’s definitive plan for the afterlife of the righteous and the demise of the wicked. Every religion except Christianity has erroneous concepts which teach by humanity’s works [doing good] one can gain a blissful afterlife.

Trust the word of God over any belief, doctrine, or concept that cannot be substantiated by the Scriptures. As we grow closer to Christ, the Holy Spirit alerts us that the false teaching we heard is not from God.

I can remember hearing a pastor say that when Jesus comes and we go to heaven that we will cry over our family and loved ones that did not make it. Believe me, he was surprised to receive my email reminder that Jesus says in Revelation 21, verse 4, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Remember, we cannot rely on our limited human wisdom [which God considers foolishness] to self-interpret His Righteous Precepts. Always pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal the Truth of the Scriptures. Another false teaching is that the wicked will burn forever. Would God be loving and a fair and just God if people were suffering in hell’s fire for eternity?

“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.’ He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.” —Revelation 21:6-7

The afterlife for the righteous is eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth and the wicked do not have an afterlife, they will be destroyed by fire [Malachi 4].

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” —Revelation 21:8

We choose our destiny! “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.” —James 1:22

The believers who have the opportunity to study the Bible and choose not to learn of the precious precepts will fall victim to sin, doubt, worry, and unbelief. They will not have the biblical foundation that prevents them from accepting false teachings as God’s Truth. Nor can they have faith and trust or obey God whom they know nothing about.

God has given us His Divine Guidebook to edify our minds and souls. Studying the Bible is food for the soul. Without Biblical knowledge of God’s Character, His Promises, the Life of Christ, Salvation, and Redemption, and the Holy Spirit’s Purpose, we are in Spiritual Bankruptcy! Fill your emptiness with the spiritual nourishment of the Scriptures and faithfully obey God’s Truth by hiding the word of God in your heart.

Inspirational Quote: “Truth is inspired and guarded by God and truth will triumph!” Acts of the Apostles

Reflection: Why should I diligently pray and study the Holy Scriptures?

Jesus warns us “The Way is Narrow.”

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” —Matthew 7:13-14

Prayer: God, we thank You for giving us Your precious words in the Holy Bible. We also thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. We desire to know more about Your saving grace and commit to studying the Bible every day. We ask for forgiveness for not studying Your Holy word. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Worthy name, Amen.

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

The Believer’s Prayers of Self-Examination Devotional Reading July 31, 2023

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” —2 Corinthians 13:5

Every day with prayer and meditation, we ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the inner condition of our hearts. Only a committed believer who desires to be steadfast and faithful to God will pray these continuous prayers of total surrender.

It is indeed a humbling experience to examine ourselves using God’s Righteous principles as our standard. With deep introspection of our minds, characters, and lifestyles, we die daily to sin by placing ourselves on the altar of sacrifice to shun evil and go all the way with Christ.

The Amplified Bible says, “Test and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as [committed] believers.” —2 Corinthians 13:5, [first part]

Five characteristics reveal whether or not our relationship with Christ is growing and developing.

1. Our love for God is demonstrated by putting Him first. The time we spend every day in God’s presence through worship reveals our love and the desire to fully surrender our hearts and lives.
2. We are faithful and obedient by always praying for His will to be revealed through the Holy Spirit. We receive God’s blessings because our decisions are in alignment with His plans.
3. Our lifestyle reveals that we are striving for holiness. We let go of all worldly behaviors and relationships. Yes, we will fall, but with a repentant heart, we confess, ask for forgiveness, and continue to persevere by moving forward.
4. We study the Holy Scriptures under the guidance of our Teacher, the Holy Spirit, praying for discernment and the wisdom to apply the word of God to our lives.
5. We pray continuously throughout our waking hours —prayers of thanksgiving, prayers asking for Divine Intervention and Guidance, and the spiritual strength to overcome temptation.

When we are living for ourselves [still participating in worldly activities], yet attend church weekly, give tithe and offerings, and work in the church’s outreach ministries once or twice a month, but our prayer life and Bible study are inconsistent, the waters of our thought processes become muddy.

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” —Matthew 26:41

Yes, we love God, but we also love the things of the world! Our minds end up in a spiritual conflict that we cannot resolve—we are easily led astray because the desires of our hearts have led to spiritual blindness.

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” —James 4:3

The sins that we consider to be insignificant are the very sins that separate us from God. Chasing our dreams, disliking others, watching programs with profanity and sexual content, spending money on frivolous things, relaxing for hours on social media, online gambling, using recreational drugs or sipping on a glass of wine, working overtime to the point of exhaustion, unhealthy diets, and relationships with unbelievers are some of the sins that we overlook because they are enjoyable.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” —1 John 2:15

We measure ourselves by using unbelievers as the standard and console ourselves that our activities do not compare to the wickedness of the world. Sadly, we think all is well. But our appreciation of holiness disappears. Sometimes we fall into a routine of going through the motions of religious practices, but our thoughts and goals are influenced by worldly values.

Losing the ability to differentiate between truth and error, our relationship with Christ becomes stagnant. Eventually, we lose the desire to pray and consecrate ourselves to God. Focusing on a lifestyle of pleasing ourselves distracts us from recognizing the warning signs from the Holy Spirit that our relationship with Christ is failing.

Our spiritual decline continues because we have created a middle ground of compromise that prevents us from putting God first. We say that we love God, but no longer strive to live a faithful and obedient life. Jesus calls our status lukewarm [Revelation 3:14-18].

Something happens when we are caught in the middle—we begin to manipulate our prayers. In fact, “Manipulation of prayers is a covert tactic used by many Christians who enjoy the pleasures of sin.” The wording of our prayers change so the Holy Spirit does not have the opportunity to convict us of our sins.

Last Sabbath, I listened to the testimony of a young Christian woman who revealed that she intentionally manipulated her prayers. To avoid feeling conviction for her sinful actions, she carefully chose words that only expressed feelings of gratitude toward God, or she asked for material blessings. She admitted that her prayers never acknowledged or included the confession and repentance of her sins.

“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” —Isaiah 59:2

As time passed, she became discouraged which rapidly progressed to hopelessness. From studying the Bible, she knew that she was in a place of spiritual darkness that almost stopped her from serving God. Yet, she decided to pray a final prayer, asking for help from the Holy Spirit who revealed that her persistence of sinful activities led to her separation from God.

But Satan did not want to release her from sin’s bondage. Instead of feeling joy and peace from God’s forgiveness, she faced a mental and emotional roadblock. Although this young woman was aware of God’s love and immediate forgiveness, she was unable to move forward due to the thoughts of overwhelming guilt.

She began to ask herself, “How did I get to the point in my life where I manipulated my prayers to avoid the conviction of sin? I pretended to be a steadfast Christian, and lived a double life in front of my family.” Her past actions prevented her from embracing the promises of God’s forgiveness and complete restoration. After much self-humiliation, she disclosed her dilemma to her father who recommended that she study the book of Psalms.

The Psalms reveal David’s spiritual, mental, and emotional real-life struggles that Christian believers face today. Our nature is sinful! The thoughts, habits, and spoken words that we overlook and fail to perceive as sinful persist because we judge ourselves using unbelievers as our standard instead of Christ.

King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and ordered for her husband to be placed on the frontline in battle [knowing he would be killed]. Have you ever wondered why David did not feel guilt over his actions? Pride led him to believe that as a King he was entitled to everything he desired without boundaries.

Certainly, David continued to pray after committing these heinous sins, but most likely manipulated his prayers so he would not be convicted of his sins. Even so, God is Holy and Righteous! The prophet Samuel anointed David as king when he was a teenage boy. David was in his early 30s and the prime of his life when he became king. Still, a Righteous God did not tolerate, nor would God overlook the King’s open sins without confession and repentance.

God extended mercy to David by giving him an opportunity to repent. God revealed David’s sins to the prophet Nathan who used a parable to disclose to David that God was aware of his sins. “Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight?” (2 Samuel 12:9a). Until David was approached by the prophet Nathan [Study 2 Samuel chapters 11 and 12], he felt no remorse for his sins of adultery and premeditated murder.

The Confession: “So David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.” —2 Samuel 12:13. “For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight…” —Psalm 51:3-4

King David’s prayer of repentance is recorded in Psalm chapter 51. Like David, many believers have embraced sinful habits and fail to pray for repentance. Every day they manipulate their prayers to reflect gratitude or to make requests from God but fail to pray prayers of surrender, confession, and repentance because they do not want to be convicted of the sins they enjoy.

Day by Day and moment by moment, our lifestyles, spoken words, and habits either reflect our sinful desires or the righteousness of Christ. The choices we make reveal the condition of our hearts and those choices impact our relationship with Christ. Spiritual growth begins from the inside and expresses itself through our love, loyalty, and obedience to God.

Reflection: “Am I manipulating my prayers to avoid the Holy Spirit’s conviction of my sins against God?”

The power of the Holy Spirit is incredible! Every believer receives warnings that their lives are not in sync with Christ’s righteousness. God is calling for His people to disconnect themselves from worldly pursuits and social activities. We have one earthly life to prepare for the heavenly life.

The human effort of shunning evil habits and forming relationships with unbelievers along with the power of the Holy Spirit enables us to change the course of our lives. It is not enough to desire heaven! God has given us His Righteous expectation, “Be Holy, for I am Holy!”

The choice to use the covert tactic of manipulation in our prayers to reject the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin produces deadly consequences. An unholy earthly life will not result in receiving the reward of eternal life.

To receive eternal life, we must pray honest prayers of confession and repentance with the intent to renounce sin and its pleasures. Every day we must renew our covenant with Christ. We are not compelled to sin. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit for humanity—we are the only recipients who require spiritual strength. Through our prayers, we invite the Holy Spirit to cleanse our minds and hearts to receive the fullness of Salvation and the Righteousness of Christ.

By faith, surrender, and obedience, we receive righteousness through the grace of God. Every day we have the opportunity to choose right doing over sinful activities. When the Spirit of God is flooding our souls, we delight in living righteously. Our decisions, works, and lifestyles reflect the power of the Holy Spirit who is transforming our minds and characters.

Sanctification is a lifelong spiritual journey of the transformation of our characters into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character. Yes, we are saved by God’s grace through our faith in Christ Jesus, still, we cannot live holy and acceptable lives unless we confess and repent of our sins.

Our heartfelt prayers should reflect the desire for the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins. Because we face an internal battle of carnal desires versus living holy and acceptable lives, we must seek God in prayer every day by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal all hidden sins. The human requirement of daily spiritual self-examination is reflected in the words of our prayers.

In surrender, we ask the Holy Spirit to convict us of every thought, behavior, habit, and spoken word that will prevent us from receiving our reward of eternal life.

In humility, we pray, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

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

Depending on the God Who Always Provides Devotional Reading July 30, 2023

At some point in life, we will have to depend on the faithfulness of God. Feeling confident because all is well and relying on our status of possessing financial wealth destroys our faith and trust in God. Our mindset and lifestyle proclaim that we do not need God’s Divine Help.

Reflection: How often do I pray and thank God for my daily provisions? Is studying the Holy Scriptures a priority in my daily schedule?

Studying the Bible is food for the soul
Without knowing God’s Character and
Promises, the Life of Christ, and the
Holy Spirit’s Purpose, we are in Spiritual Bankruptcy!

“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

Establishing a relationship with the God who provides when all is well prepares us for the tribulations we will suffer at some point in our lives. Studying the Bible lays the foundation of faith and trust in God and is strengthened day by day. Through the habit of daily prayer, our connection with God allows us to “Be of good cheer—to have steadfast faith and courage” when the seasons of life change.

Without a Spiritual Foundation of God’s Promises

We will fall victim to doubt, worry, and unbelief
We will accept false teachings as God’s Truth
We will not have faith and trust in God
We will not pray, believe, and patiently wait on God

Study 1 Kings 18 and 2 Kings 4

The Powerful God of Biblical Times who demonstrated His love for humanity reassures us that He does not change. Walk this earthly journey in faith and obedience. When unexpected circumstances arise, we have no worries because we have placed our confidence and unwavering faith in God.

Yes, Jehovah-Jireh who reigns with Majesty and Power not only gives us the daily spiritual strength to persevere, but He also promises to supply the physical provisions to sustain our lives!

Prayer: Lord God, we pray for those who believe that You exist, but do not know Your Character and Promises. Thank You for being the only Constant Foundation in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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