“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow Me,’ He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9, NIV).
As Matthew, the corrupt tax collector, sat outside at the tax table, day after day, he frequently overheard many individuals talking about Jesus’ Love, Compassion, messages of Salvation, and the countless miracles of healing He performed on the multitudes.
Although Matthew was despised by the Jewish leaders and community, his social circle included men who were as wealthy and diabolical as himself. Yes, Matthew had everything that Satan offers: wealth, pleasure, social status, and an easy life.
“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33, ESV).
Matthew gave up the sinful pleasures of life and a prestigious job to follow Jesus. The Roman government was Matthew’s employer, and to walk away from a once-in-a-lifetime job that guaranteed forever wealth would destroy any chance of rehire.
Matthew was not intimidated by the cost of following Christ; he trusted that Jesus was exactly who He said He was, “the One sent from God.” The wealthy tax collector who immediately got up [without hesitation and with silence] from the table demonstrated the giant leap of faith that boldly says, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back.”
The same leap of faith required to follow Christ is one that many of today’s believers are unwilling to take. We have been deceived by Satan into thinking that we can serve God and live as we please, but there is no reward for those who are not willing to be modern-day Matthews.
“But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:10, NLT). Jesus discerned the Tax Collector’s heart, knowing that Matthew was ready to embrace righteousness; Jesus extended the invitation, “Follow Me.”
Matthew’s decision to follow Christ did not happen at the time he received Jesus’ invitation. From previously hearing about Christ, Matthew used his faith to believe, which invited the Holy Spirit to perform immediate Heart Conversion when Jesus said, “Follow Me.” [In Genesis chapter 1, the Scriptures mention that God, the Holy Spirit, was present with God, the Father, and God, Jesus, the Son.]
Despite the hardships of rejection and hardships that all followers of Christ must endure, Matthew was 100% committed to love and obey God, love others, renounce his former sinful habits and lifestyle, and remain loyal to Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
As one of the twelve apostles, Matthew traveled with Jesus for three years [the duration of Christ’s earthly ministry]. Spending time with Christ every day resulted in a complete spiritual transformation of his mind, character, and personality into the likeness of Christ.
The apostle Matthew proves that, despite our past, dedicating oneself to following Jesus results in a new heart overflowing with love, faith, obedience, and loyalty to Jesus Christ. Every day that we consecrate ourselves to faithfully follow and obey Jesus invites the Holy Spirit to perform the life-transforming spiritual process of Sanctification.
“The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:14, NIV).
Not only will eleven of the twelve men [Jesus’ original disciples], and Matthias who replaced Judas, receive Eternal Life when our Triumphant King comes again, they will also have their names inscribed on the foundations of the New Jerusalem.
Righteousness by Faith: Our greatest desire should be to follow Jesus with love, loyalty, and faithful obedience. We only have one opportunity to become faithful followers, and that is in our earthly lives. Only those who are willing to let go of every desire, pleasure, and material treasure to follow their Savior and Shepherd will receive the Crown of Life. Yes and Amen!
Bible Study: Matthew 9, Revelation 21-22
Prayer: Lord God, create in us a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within us. We ask You to turn our eyes away from worthless things, so like Matthew, we are willing to follow You wherever You lead us. We ask this prayer in the Powerful Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart [Be courageous]; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
The Spiritual Purpose of Hardships: Christ sees us as His sheep who have individual needs, and He guides us according to the spiritual transformation required for each of us to have a righteous character necessary to receive our reward of Eternal Life.
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ ” (Hebrews 13:5, NIV).
Unfortunately 99% of our goals are usually materialistic ones. But our desires for prosperity and success always create opposition to God’s Sovereign Plans for our lives.
“Discouragement is also the Emotional Response to Placing too Much Value on Future.” We were created to live happy and healthy lives, which is not possible when we worry about the future.
Bible Study: Matthew 6:25-34: “Do Not Worry About Tomorrow”
In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us not to be concerned about tomorrow, which has a literal meaning of the next day, and the future. Neither tomorrow, or the future is promised to us. Live for today!
Jesus, our Heavenly Provider promised to give us the daily provisions necessary to sustain a healthy and happy life. The only futuristic goal we should prepare for is Jesus’ Second Coming [Revelation 22:12].
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2, NIV).
Because we inherited hearts that drive us to pursue what we want, Believers stand at the “Crossroads of Decision-making” when God fails to give us what we desire.
The Crossroads: Either we will choose to follow and obey God’s answer of “No, or Not Now,” or we will separate ourselves from God by pursuing our desires without His Divine Approval.
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” (1 John 3:1, ESV).
To clarify, God loves us and He does not want us to live miserable lives, still, He is doing everything possible to give us Eternal Life. Never forget, we are greatly loved by God!
Why do we strive against God’s will? Because we are impacted by our environment that promotes the worldview of Greed Over Need, we feel unloved and dissatisfied when God does not fulfill our desires.
I am sharing the following Notes on a Sermon by Pastor D. Snell: “Fighting Through Seasons of Discouragement [and Disappointment],” which gives Believers like you and me Spiritual Solutions to follow and obey God while navigating through be emotions of Discouragement and Disappointment.
“Discouragement can be like quicksand. Fight and stand down your natural responses so that you don’t make a bad situation worse.”
1. Don’t make big decisions. Do not make any decisions while you are in a state of mind of discouragement. Pray and wait for God to answer your prayer. Let God provide clarity. 2. Do not compare your life with someone else’s life. Redirect your focus to God, not to yourself, or other people. 3. Don’t Complain! Face the problems, but complaining will become a substitute for praying. Never let your complaining become stronger than your Prayer life. 4. Stop waiting on the circumstance to change, or end. We have no control over when our circumstances or seasons will change. 5. Change your attitude, your outlook and your focus. [Trust God Sovereignty! Know that He is making the best decisions for your life]. 6. Stop waiting on outward validation and encouragement. David encouraged himself in the Lord. (1 Samuel 30:6). 7. Be selective about the company you keep. If friends or family cannot pray with you, do not share your personal feelings with them. (Luke 9:28). Jesus took Peter, James, and John, the most faithful disciples. 8. Guard the words you receive, and guard the words you express. David asked himself, “Why are you downcast, oh my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet Praise Him, My Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:11). 9. Ask yourself, “Who is in control?”
God has given us music which penetrates the mind, body, and soul. Listen to Praise and Worship music. Sing! Study the Bible, and direct yourself to praise God!”
Faith, Trust, Prayer, and Bible Study invites the Holy Spirit to empower us to Fight Through A Season of Disappointment and Discouragement.
Every day, make the commitment to pray, and put yourself in God’s hands by giving up self-reliance. Turn to God for guidance. Ask for strength! Be patient and wait! Peace and Blessings.
Lord God, we admit that our faith and trust in You has been very unstable, and we ask for forgiveness for doubting your Love, and questioning Your Sovereign Authority. We realize that You love us. We made the decision to follow Jesus, and we will use our faith to trust and obey Your Perfect Plans. We pray for strength, and to hear Your Voice as we travel through this journey of life. We love You, and ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of Jesus, Amen.
“Behold, I am Yahweh, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me? (Jeremiah 32: 27, LSB)
We can agree that life has many challenges which keep us distracted from focusing on the unlimited power of God. Still, God is who He says He is.
Take a moment to reflect on “Who” you are praying to, God reminds us in the Scriptures that nothing is too difficult or complicated for Him to resolve.
The many benefits of studying the Bible is that God defines His Loving Character, and provides us with the history of His Divine intervention in the lives of those who pray in faith, asking for His help.
Jesus, God, the Son, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead is our Heavenly High Priest and our Mediator who receives and answers all of our prayers.
The same Jesus who parted the Red Sea, delivered the three young Hebrews from the fiery furnace, and raised Lazarus from the dead is still performing Great and Mighty miracles in 2025.
“I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” (Isaiah 65:24, NLT).
Exchanging self-reliance for total dependency on God guarantees that we will enjoy a peaceful life. Prayer does not prevent or remove the trials, yet prayer combined with faith gives us the assurance that God remains committed to helping us.
Jesus promised to give us Divine strength to persevere when we are experiencing the hardships of life. Our role is to believe without doubt and wait on Him to resolve our challenges.
“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14, NLT).
When facing adversity, we use our measure of faith [even weak faith is still faith] to believe that God loves us, and He will intervene. Yes, we can pray with confidence knowing our Heavenly Father is always faithful in keeping His promises.
Lord God, we thank you for Your abundant love and Your willingness to help us when we pray in faith, believing that You are the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory. We know that nothing is too hard for you, and we ask forgiveness for our doubt and unbelief. Jesus, we ask for Your Divine Help in resolving the obstacles that we face, and thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we pray in Your Worthy Name, Amen.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” —2 Corinthians 5:17
All praises and glory to Jesus, our Savior, who redeemed us from the ravages of sin. Because of Christ’s great devotion, love, and loyalty to humanity, as evidenced by the sacrificial gift of His life, every day, we are covered with Grace and receive abundant Mercies.
God’s love did not stop at Redemption. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus reveals that faithful and obedient believers will receive the reward of Eternal Life. Yes, we know how the Amazing Story ends: a perfect life in the New Heaven and New Earth.
Our God-given Gifts: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].” (2 Timothy 1:7, Amplified Bible).
Winning The Fight to Stay Free
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1).
To follow Christ requires total sacrifice. More than human effort is needed to live as Victorious Overcomers. It is the Holy Spirit, AKA The Spirit of Truth, who empowers us to stay on the Path of Righteousness. Our role in the Plan of Redemption is to dedicate ourselves each morning with the prayer to do God’s will.
“For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do” (Galatians 5:17).
“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire” (James 1:14). Yes, we inherited hearts always gravitating toward wrongdoing, still, Jesus created us with the ability to fight for our spiritual freedom from the chains of sin by praying for Divine strength and using self-control.
Satan cannot use coercion to make us sin; it is always a willing choice to sin against God. Every day, we face the external opposition of temptations, but our greatest battle is the internal conflict between following our heart’s desires and staying loyal to Christ.
Not only do we have the power to say “No” to all temptations, but when Satan attempts to deceive us with stealth moves, the Holy Spirit warns us that we are facing covert deception. The hesitation and the uncomfortable feeling inside are from the Holy Spirit. Immediately remove yourself from the temptation.
When tempted by another person, immediately cease the conversation by stating, I love and serve God. The longer we listen to deception, we become weakened, and our chances of saying no become impossible. If fighting an internal desire, immediately get on your knees and pray. It doesn’t matter who sees us, pray!
Many people feel, based on their personal experience, that it’s too hard to be a Christian, so they return to a life of sin. So let’s look at Christianity from God’s Perspective using Biblical God’s Truth.
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (John 6:46 ). The Christian journey is one of humility, surrender, and faithful obedience. In Jeremiah 29:11, God tells us He has predetermined plans for our lives.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:2). Our mind is divided, we attend church, but the majority of our thoughts are on fulfilling our desires, so we chase success and prosperity.
Truthfully, I have never heard of an unbeliever complaining by saying, It’s hard being an unbeliever. Their minds are not divided. Unbelievers are focused on their goals and will do whatever is necessary to achieve them. Yes, Sin is enticing, but the bondage is devastating!
The reason we cannot devote ourselves fully to Christ is that we also want what we want. But a believer who does not follow God’s plans reveals that their heart is unconverted. To receive spiritual growth and transformation requires humility, faith, and obedience.
Loving God means fulfilling His desires. This is our greatest obstacle to enjoying spiritual freedom through Jesus Christ. We must love God more than ourselves. God defines truth and error, and right and wrong.
Without Biblical knowledge of the Scriptures, Satan easily manipulates our minds to feel that God is withholding the best from us. It is Satan who has introduced the erroneous beliefs of the middle road, an imaginary gray area in serving God.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
We embrace spiritual freedom by letting go of worldviews and secularism by renouncing the darkness of sinful pleasures. “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).
Every day, we practice boundaries against breaking governmental and state laws, and adhere to the employer’s policies. If we can use self-control to live as law-abiding citizens, then through the power of Jesus Christ, we can live righteously. Salvation is free, but Jesus paid our sin debt, so God, the Father, requires that we follow and obey our Shepherd.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:10-12).
Yes, we are warriors in the relentless battle against sin that will last until Jesus comes. Staying on the Path of Righteousness is the toughest challenge we will ever face in our lives! Prayer is our weapon, use it frequently!
“The fear [reverence] of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble” (Proverbs 19:23, NIV). Consecrating our minds and bodies to serve God is the only way we can live righteously in this continuous fight against Satan and his evil angels.
From possessing the mindset, “I will not sin against God,” all of heaven engages to help us in our fight against all temptations.
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, NIV).
Jesus Christ is a Mighty Warrior! We are never alone. Through the Holy Spirit, we have total access to Jesus’ Divine Power, 24/7. Help is only a prayer away. Jesus promises, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
“I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust’ ” (Psalm 91:2)
The Prayer of Consecration: “Lord God, I want what You want for me. And I desperately need Your help to think and live a holy life pleasing to You. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.”
Prayers of humility and surrender asking for help are answered immediately! Through studying the Scriptures and praying, we invite the Holy Spirit to speak to us with powerful words of Divine guidance and encouragement. We can never become entangled in the bondage of sin when we maintain our connection with Christ through personal worship.
Live one day at a time. If we continue striving with courage and in the power of our Triumphant King, Jesus Christ, we have the guarantee of receiving our Greatest Reward of a Forever Life when our Triumphant King Jesus comes again. Hallelujah, Yes, and Amen!
Lord God, we surrender ourselves to become faithful followers and disciples of Jesus Christ. We pray for strength, guidance, wisdom, and the steadfast faith to overcome internal desires and the external opposition of temptation. We claim the victory in the Powerful Name of Jesus, and ask this prayer in our Mighty Warrior’s Name, Amen.
“Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles [unbelievers] seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” —Matthew 6:31-34
Worrying about the future is the greatest insecurity that humanity suffers from. We can expect unbelievers to suffer from roller coaster emotions, but something is not right when Christians also manifest the same mental and emotional unrest as our unbelieving counterparts.
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.” —Proverbs 3:7
How did we veer off of God’s Chosen Path? Most believers do not wake up and decide to abandon God’s Perfect Plans; detouring off the Path of Righteousness is a gradual process. We begin by making daily decisions without God, resulting in the redirection of our faith from God to ourselves.
If our confidence has always been in our life experience and the speculations of analysts, we probably do not realize that we are disobeying God. When the nation of Israel was taken into Babylonian captivity, “The Lord could not give them prosperity, He could not fulfill His covenant with them…”
Because compromised Christianity is at its highest level, not too many sermons or reels emphasize that “To obey God is His Command.” Studying the Bible under the direction of the Teacher, the Holy Spirit is the only guarantee of knowing, understanding, and living God’s Absolute Truth.
The Plague of Worrying continues to spread, overpowering our desire to prepare for Jesus’ Second Advent. The message of living Holy through the Power of Jesus Christ is no longer the focus of most churches.
Sadly, because of our discouragement and unhappy lifestyles, pastors are burdened by the necessity to preach sermons on how to have peace instead of helping their members prepare to receive their Crown of Life.
“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, NIV)
Salvation is not a shared gift. Our relationship with Christ is built on our love, faith, and the desire to follow Him. Using our faith to trust in God’s Sovereign Authority is a foundational belief of Christianity.
“Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you…” (Isaiah 55:3).
Trusting in God and His Faithfulness is our security. With humility, we reverence God with obedience because He gave Jesus to Redeem us, saving us from death. Certainly, God deserves our love and loyalty.
What does God tell us about Himself and His Intervention in our lives?
God Declares His Omnipotence: “…Who then is able to stand against Me? Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine. (Job 41:10-11).
Spiritual Security is only possible when we use our faith to believe that God is Who He says He is.
God’s Command to Us: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you ‘ ” (Hebrews 13:5).
The Love of Money has distracted us to the point that we are fixated on the growth of our financial portfolios as opposed to spiritual growth.
Inflation, tariffs, the Dow, our 401k, and interest rates are guaranteed to fluctuate, but our faith and trust in God and His promises must remain steadfast.
According to the latest study, only 30% of Christians globally study the Bible, and many do not own a Bible. Yet, the 30% who stay in God’s word, we can sleep like newborn babies. Our goal is to go to heaven.
“Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him” (1 Kings 19:18). The Apostle John in Revelation saw a number of people like the sands of the sea who received Eternal Life.
Every human being has been given the spiritual gift of a measure of Faith. Yes, God knows who will remain faithful throughout their earthly lives by only bowing to Him, but we choose our destiny.
Despite the obstacles, those who have consecrated themselves to obey God will receive Jesus’ Power and Strength every day. Embracing God’s Divine Plans invites the Holy Spirit to empower us to live holy, giving us the wisdom to maintain a steadfast relationship with our Shepherd.
“Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12).
Restructuring our time spent on pleasure is imperative to invest in our salvation. We should enjoy uninterrupted time in daily personal worship with God through consecration, prayer, and studying the Scriptures.
“When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek’ ” (Psalm 27:8). Our love for God is the catalyst to fall to our knees and spend more time in His presence.
When we form the habits of Prayer and Bible Study, we are nurturing our faith, which invites the Holy Spirit to strengthen our trust in God and give us Divine peace.
It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us with Jesus’ Divine strength and wisdom to perceive life through spiritual eyes.
The Holy Spirit, who transforms us daily into the Righteous Character of Christ, can only perform Sanctification when we fully cooperate by seeking God’s will and obeying His plans.
“Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6).
From obeying God’s command to seek and surrender to Him, we allow God to secure our future. Obedience gives us the assurance Jesus will finish our transformation before He comes [Philippians 1:6].
God desires for us to enjoy peace and happiness in our earthly lives. Still we must commit to align ourselves with our Heavenly Father’s thoughts and ways. Our testimony of victory is based on an unwavering faith in God’s love and faithfulness.
We have a lot to be thankful for, our greatest gift is Jesus Christ who covers us with His Righteousness, presenting us as holy to God, the Father when we fulfill God’s Righteous Conditions of Participation in our salvation.
All of God’s promises are conditional, including Eternal Life. John 14:1-3 is Jesus’ promise to prepare our new home [Revelation 21-22]; still, we must acquiesce to His Sovereignty as children obey their parents. Pray, Obey, and Persevere!
“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, KJV).
In the King James translation of the promise God gave to Jeremiah is one of hope and certainty of our future. Jesus Christ fulfilled “The Plan of Redemption,” which includes returning to this planet to take the righteous to our Forever Home in the New Heaven and New Earth.
Study Revelation chapters 21-22, Romans 12, Galatians 5, and strive to live holy. “…The future belongs to the Lord. And our futures are secure when we put our trust in Him…” Yes and Amen.
God is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory!
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you…”
“For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior…you are precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you…Fear not, for I am with you…” (Isaiah 43:1-5).
Lord God, we desire to draw closer to you. We repent of self-reliance. With gratitude, we thank You for the gift of Your life. We ask you to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and give us guidance through our earthly journey. Jesus, we need spiritual wisdom, discernment, and the strength to keep moving forward. In Your Holy Name, we ask this prayer in faith, Amen.
Many years ago, I recall having a conversation with a retired army Sergeant, mid-40s, who shared something profound, “Unless you have chosen the military, or a travel position, relocating from state to state, and changing jobs several times reveals mental and emotional instability, and unfortunately, the person’s well-being and finances are also negatively impacted.
Yes, our lives change, and many times those unexpected and unwanted changes produce great uncertainty. The Believer’s only viable option is to pray for God’s help, but instead of dropping to our knees, we often use our feelings and preferences to make quick decisions that produce unforeseen consequences.
“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7). We are deceived by the worldviews of self-governance, instant gratification, and convenience. Every day, like the unbelievers, we use our prior experience and strategies to make decisions, excluding God from our lives.
In Proverbs chapter 3, God warns us, “Do not listen to your thoughts.” Because we have formed the habit of resolving our challenges, not only do we listen to our thoughts, but we also seek the advice of family and friends who give us well-meaning suggestions; still, it is not what God desires.
Sadly, when we end up suffering devastating consequences, which produce regret and sorrow, only then are we ready to turn to God. Thankfully, our Father loves us, always responding to prayers of repentance and asking for Divine help.
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). God knows our lives from beginning to end, so nothing comes as a surprise to Him. With humility, Pray and Wait for God’s instructions.
Facing consequences produces mental distress and emotional unrest. How do we redirect our focus to differentiate God’s voice from our thoughts? Genesis 12 is the story of God speaking to Abram, later known as Abraham.
“The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you…”
“So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.’ ” (Genesis 12:1-2,4-5).
On the way to Canaan, Abram and his family had to travel through Egypt. Because of fear Abram told a lie that Sarai was his sister instead of his wife, placing her in a predicament with Pharaoh. God intervened and rescued Sarai from the situation. Study Genesis 12:10-20.
Yes, Abram immediately obeyed God and left all that was familiar to him, but he let fear override his knowledge of God’s power. Our Father God is loving and merciful, the Old Testament has countless stories of God rescuing humanity from their willful disobedience.
Unlike Our Plans, God’s Plans Always Have Divine Purpose and Glorify His Holy Name
We know that Abram’s move to Canaan was God’s Divine will; not only does God fulfill His wonderful promise to Abram, but with his New Beginnings, God changes his name to Abraham [Genesis 17:5].
God is Love, Giving Us New Beginnings [with Conditions] Even When We Sin Against Him
“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, You, God, will not despise” (Psalm 51:17, NIV).
Redirecting our faith from ourselves to God is demonstrated by letting go of our spirit of self-reliance, embracing a spirit of humility, and surrendering to God’s Sovereignty through praying, fasting, and waiting on God.
God’s Promise: “Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24, BSB).
To hear His voice, we must repent for living a life of self-reliance and approach God with a different mindset and a posture of surrender. God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, who uses the Scriptures [Study the Bible] and prayer to reveal His instructions.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘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, NIV).
God’s thoughts and ways are higher than our thoughts, and easily recognized by His Perfect Plans of Miraculous and Powerful Interventions. The phenomenal plan of rescue and restoration that you’re thinking of came from God. We know it is Him because the Holy Spirit also gives us spiritual peace.
Even if our knowledge of the Bible is scant, God meets us with loving kindness where we are and uses different methods to reveal His plans for resolution. Yet, we must not commit the sin of presumption.
God’s warning, “My people are destroyed because of lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6, NIV). God expects us to worship Him daily through prayer, obedience, and studying the Scriptures.
Although we mess up, when we repent, God always intervenes to stabilize our lives. Without God’s mercies, we would be hopeless. God will never deny us help, but He may not allow us to keep our desires.
There is always a price to pay for willful disobedience. We may lose the job, the house, the car, the relationship, or the marriage that God never intended for us to have.
Every believer will face circumstances that place us at the Spiritual Crossroads, which always requires that we make a decision of either following God or pleasing ourselves.
Following Christ is to live a selfless, sacrificial life. Yes, we will experience hardships, but God never crushes us, which serves no spiritual purpose. Even in the storms, we can rely on a stable foundation, Christ, the Solid Rock, our Shepherd, and King.
A life consecrated to serve God with faithful obedience gives us the peaceful assurance of Jesus’ promise, “I am with you always even until the end of this world.”
Lord God, we are facing adversity, and need Your help. We come to You asking for rescue and restoration. Lord, we repent of the sin of self-reliance that has brought consequences, we cannot resolve. We pray for direction, protection, and correction in our journey of New Beginnings. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.
“This Scripture emphasizes the stability and strength that comes from relying on God. The psalmist is confident in the face of adversity because he knows God is with him. In essence, Psalm 16:8 is a declaration of faith, trust, and dependence on God, leading to a life of steadfastness and assurance.”
“But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not fear; you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows” (Luke 12:7).
“Overcoming Fear and Anxiety: The parable of sparrows is used to remind us of two concepts: We are loved by God, and we are His priority.
“Jesus uses the example of sparrows to reassure His followers that God cares for us even more deeply than for sparrows. He points out that humans are of greater value, as evidenced by the fact that God even numbers the hairs on their heads.”
“I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I’ve drawn you with love and kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3).
The Bible is a love story. In Genesis, we learn of God and Jesus’ conversation: “Let us create humanity in our image,” which establishes our identity in Jesus Christ as created human beings. Genesis also reveals God’s Divine intervention when facing the impossible, as well as the many victories given to the faithful.
Revelation chapters 20-22 reveal Jesus’ return as the Triumphant King, give us the conclusive knowledge of how sin and death will be destroyed, and a magnificent overview of the New Heaven and New Earth prepared for the righteous.
When God, the Son, Jesus Christ, created humanity, He equipped us with spiritual gifts and the spiritual capacity for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We were given the highest intellect of all created beings, Free Will of choice, the ability to love, and the power to choose right over wrong.
The Omniscient [All-Knowing] Triune God knew that Adam and Eve would choose to disobey His command, “Do not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.” The Scriptures verify that Jesus’ vow to give His life, the Plan of Redemption, was established between God, Father, and God, the Son, before the world’s creation, and before sin entered the Earth.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
God, the Father, approved Jesus, His only Son, to leave His Heavenly throne, come to Earth, live in poverty, suffer hatred, and die a gruesome death on Calvary’s Cross because we are loved.
How often do we think about and thank Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, for sacrificing His life for us? Yes, we are covered by Grace, yet if we choose Him as our personal Savior, then God expects us to learn and obey His Commandments and Righteous Principles.
The Book of Ruth is a love story of God’s Redemption. Often, we associate the story with God giving us the perfect husband or wife, yet there is a deeper spiritual meaning of Boaz redeeming Ruth.
In the Old Testament, God established a law that a person and his property could be redeemed by the closest relative. Boaz redeeming Ruth represents Christ, who redeemed us from the wages of sin, which is death.
God’s Promise to Provide for the Righteous
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matthew 6:31-32).
God Protects the Righteous
Psalm 91 tells us that we have angelic protection. God has assigned us guardian angels to protect us from unseen spiritual warfare and physical danger.
Our Royal Identity Is in Christ
“We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” (1 Peter 2:9).
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:17).
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. Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new…’ ” (Revelation 21:4-5)
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know” (John 14:1-4).
Today’s Christian believers live with troubled minds, overwhelmed with anxiety, worries, and do not enjoy Jesus’ gifts of peace, joy, and happiness. How did we end up with the same troubles that unbelievers suffer from?
There are many reasons why we are as discontent, weary, and burdened as unbelievers. We are suffering because we are focused on fulfilling our desires to be wealthy, successful, and in love. Because we do not enjoy a strong relationship with Jesus Christ, the external opposition of temptations is the catalyst that results in continuous internal conflict. Righteous priorities result in peace of mind.
According to religious surveys, less than 30% of global Christians study the Bible. Satan has deceived us into thinking that church attendance satisfies God’s requirements, “Be holy, For I Am Holy (1 Peter 1:16). Because we lack knowledge of God’s Holy Scripture, we cannot abide in Christ.
Reading the Scriptures versus Studying the Scriptures: We may not realize that many historians and atheists also do not believe in Darwin’s erroneous theory of evolution. They utilize the Bible for an accurate history of the planet Earth. But they are never transformed spiritually because salvation is not their goal.
Reading the Bible differs from studying the Bible under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, which transforms our mind and character. Unless our hearts are converted, the Spirit of Truth cannot give us the wisdom and discernment to fully understand God’s loving character.
If we accept Christ and do not know His earthly life of revealing and rebuking Satan’s deceptions, temptations, and His ministry of healing mental and emotional oppression, and physical illnesses, or study his parables and sermons, then Jesus is a stranger, and we feel no connection to Him.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2, NIV).
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame, success], but forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul [his blessed life in the kingdom of God]? (Matthew 16:26, AMPC).
Sadly, because our beliefs are a mixture of world views and little bits and pieces of the Scriptures that we hear in weekly sermons, we have convinced ourselves that we are living righteously.
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, NIV).
For over 6,000 years, Satan’s deceptions have been effective. Believers, we have allowed Satan to abuse us by manipulating our minds, convincing us that, like Cain, we can give God the sacrifice we determine to give Him. We have accepted Compromised Religion as our standard for serving a Holy and Righteous God who reminds us in Malachi 3 that He does not change.
Our lifestyles reveal that we are in agreement with satanic concepts of redefining sin into categories of least to greatest. We believe that if we do not commit grievous sins according to our definition of sin, then we assume that all is well with our right standing in God.
Most of the Christian Community is suffering from internal conflict because we are not living consecrated and surrendered lives. The internal restlessness that we attempt to appease by seeking material wealth, success, and forming relationships with unbelievers is the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts, warning us that we are no longer traveling on the Path of Righteousness.
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). Our sin of disobedience and rebellion against God is demonstrated by our failure to bow before God every day through surrender, and seeking and obeying His will.
“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets’ ” (Matthew 22:36-40).
Not only must we love God more than ourselves, but we must also love our brothers and sisters, which God defines as everyone. Although we attempt to challenge the concept that hatred is in our hearts, Christ tells us that either we love or hate; there is no concept of disliking others, and unforgiveness reveals that we do not love God. We must possess Christ’s love, forgiveness, and character.
The Attributes of Christ’s Righteous Character are also defined by Galatians 5:22-23 and Ephesians 4:32.
The converted heart seeks to worship God with love, trust, faithful obedience, and surrender. Daily surrender, prayer, and studying the Bible are the only way that we can maintain our relationship with Christ. Worship is a lifestyle.
“My people perish for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).
Who is Jesus Christ? The Four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, were written by four writers inspired by the Holy Spirit who used great detail to reveal the Righteous and Loving character of Christ. Loving Jesus is Knowing Jesus.
The Holy Scriptures encourage believers to use our gift of faith to completely trust in God’s love, provision, and protection. God knew that we would face many false teachings and doctrines. Yes, God knew that Satan would constantly tempt us to follow our hearts and pursue the world’s empty promises and prosperity.
God has given us the Righteous Ammunition to fight the spiritual war with 66 Righteous Books that comprise the Holy Bible to guide us on the Path of Righteousness.
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come ” (John 16:13).
Human effort alone is inadequate to live righteously. The Holy Spirit is also God. Jesus identifies the Holy Spirit as He. Yes, the Spirit of Truth is a mystery; we do not have to understand how the Holy Spirit works in our lives.
From a whisper of Prayer, we have access to Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Intercessor, who gives us His Divine guidance and the supernatural strength we need to overcome sinful desires. It is the Holy Spirit who imparts Jesus’ Righteous Attributes to believers who commit to following Him.
What more could Jesus have done for us?
Brothers and sisters, we must fight the good fight of faith and persevere until the Second Advent of Jesus’ Coming. Reflect deeply on why you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.
With holy conviction, we must use our faith to love God and pledge our loyalty to King Jesus. With humility and unwavering faith, we strive to live righteously because we appreciate His Agape love and great sacrifice to save our souls. Only then can we enjoy God’s peace, joy, and happiness.
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. (Jeremiah 31:3).
We are loved! Therefore, we prepare ourselves every day, and with joyful anticipation, live as the righteous heirs of our Triumphant King who is coming sooner than we think! Yes and Amen!
Lord God, as we worship You in spirit and truth on the Holy Sabbath, we ask for a revival of our hearts and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We are overwhelmed by the many false teachings and ask for spiritual clarity. Please reveal Your One and Only Truth. We repent of our sins and ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We desire to receive our Crown of Life. Thank You for Your great sacrifice, and Your love, grace, and mercies. In Jesus’ righteous Name, we ask these things in faith, Amen.
“For you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good and ready to forgive, and abundant in Mercy to all those who call upon You (Psalm 86:4- 5).
The book of Psalms reflects David’s love, faith, and trust in God. Throughout history, no musician, or songwriter can equal the heartfelt Psalms [Songs of Praise, Worship, and Petitions], which are prayers from the depths of David’s heart.
“In the day of my trouble I will call upon you, for you will answer me” (Psalm 86:7).
Many do not understand David’s prayers and feel that he was depressed. No, he understood God’s Love and Sovereign Authority, and the limitations of human effort to resolve life’s challenges.
David, the shepherd boy who played his harp in the fields was given the supernatural strength to kill bears and lions with his hands. Yes, young David tenderly cared for his sheep, matured into a mighty warrior, and was honored by God to become King over Judah and Israel, yet David was hated.
“O God, the proud have risen against me, and a mob of violent men have sought my life. Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to your servant. Show me a sign for good that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, because You Lord have helped me and comforted me” (Psalm 86:14, 16-17).
David’s petitions reveal an unwavering faith in God, reliance on the power of prayer, and the belief that humanity was created to depend on God, Jesus Christ, the Creator, therefore, he honored God by continuously crying out to Him for Divine help.
“For great Is Your mercy toward me” (Psalm 86:13).
We have received the mercies of a new day, will we pray and obey, or move ahead to fulfill our desires and plans? Sadly, many Christians have embraced the worldview of self-sufficiency resulting in the exclusion of God from their lives.
If our first response to challenges and adversity is to ask ourselves, “How am I going to resolve this?” then we have separated ourselves from God. Christ always prayed with the intent to seek and obey God, the Father’s will. [Read John 8:29].
The Bible teaches us that unless we love God more than ourselves, and like Christ, surrender daily by seeking His Divine will and plans, we will not receive the eternal reward that God desires to give us.
We accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior because we love and honor Him for His great sacrificial offering on Calvary’s Cross. Every day, we must remind ourselves that we desperately desire Jesus’ promise in John 14:1-3.
Yes, faith, reverence, and loyalty are fruits of a loving heart that readily acquiesces to God’s Sovereignty in total surrender and obedience.
“Teach me your way, O Lord” (Psalm 86:11).
God is Sovereign, Holy, Righteous, and Majestic, the angels cover their faces when worshiping Him. Daily surrender develops a spirit of humility, “God, not my will, but Your will be done” preparing us for a forever life of worship.
Our earthly lives are the only opportunity to invite the Holy Spirit to change our character into the Righteousness of Christ. Sanctification is performed by the Holy Spirit and is the spiritual process of mind, character, and personality transformation that requires a lifetime.
When our hearts are overflowing with love for God, our perception changes, and like David, we begin to cry out continuously with praise, worship, and petitions asking for Divine Help. Yes and Amen!
“Bow down your ear, O LORD, hear me; for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life…You are my God; Save your servant who trusts in You! (Psalm 86 1-2).
Lord God, we ask for forgiveness for not honoring you with the worship of surrender and obedience. Lord, we ask you to show us your mercy, and grant us Your salvation. We pray for Your guidance, which is the only way that we can stay on the Path of Righteousness. We ask this prayer in faith, and in the Sovereign Name of Jesus, our Triumphant King, Amen.
Today, I looked at my Air Purifier that runs 24/7 and wondered how much more time it has left. It is easy to replace machines, just purchase another one, but most are treating their minds and bodies like machines that can be easily replaced.
How did we get to the point of despising these much-needed, rejuvenating times of rest? We have embraced the non-stop busyness of always being in a hurry which doesn’t give our fearfully and wonderfully made minds and bodies time to renew, restore, and regenerate itself.
Rest vs Sleep: They are not the same.
“For most, feeling tired or worn down might make you think you need more sleep. While quality sleep is critical to feeling whole, rest is so much more than your nightly hours of shut-eye.”
“Rest involves your whole being, not just your body. With complete and regular rest, you will restore your health, enhance your performance, and achieve an amazing sense of wellness.”
“So many small — but impactful — bouts of rest can be incorporated into your everyday routine.”
Take Routine Time Outs
“Removing yourself from a stressful situation or anxious environment might be all you need to take a mental and physical break. Think of it as your own little “time out” to connect with your thoughts, feelings and body. Even a short, calming prayer can help you rejuvenate in body, mind and spirit.”
The Lack of Rest is Dangerous to Our Spiritual Relationship with God
“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’ ” (Mark 6:31, NIV).
Jesus, the Creator of humanity, in His earthly life also adhered to the principles of maintaining one’s health by establishing boundaries. Our Savior never expected His disciples to follow the rigid schedule that He endured.
As terrible as it sounds, truthfully, when we are mentally fatigued, the last thing that we desire to do is to study the Scriptures, Pray, and be in the Divine presence of God.
Our inability to concentrate, pay attention to the small details, use critical thinking, and sound judgment are greatly impacted by our lack of regenerative rest periods. Mental fatigue impacts our ability to think outside of an emotional responses.
Satan uses our overloaded schedules to distract us from spending time with God, and to present alternative [demonic] modalities, burning sage, secular music, Eastern meditation, alcohol, mushroom tea, CBD, and hours of scrolling on social media designed to produce a false state of euphoria.
Many Christian believers who are reading this devotional may not be aware that we are living in the last days of Earth’s history. To clarify, we are not in the End Times which occur right before Jesus comes again.
The Apostle Paul defines the characteristics of Perilous Times, which is now.
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power…” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
Jesus has not kept secrets from us, in the Book of Revelation, we know how the story ends. In Matthew chapter 24, the signs that Jesus gave to his disciples are rapidly being fulfilled!
“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).
Jesus’ forewarning is not to instill fear, but to give us the opportunity to review our lives and to eliminate any roadblocks that will prevent us from receiving our reward of Eternal Life.
Take a day off to separate yourself, silence all distractions, and scrutinize your lifestyle. Pray for guidance and perform the task of prioritizing and eliminating all activities that prevent your ability to incorporate small blocks of spiritual rest breaks throughout your waking hours.
I can recall working for United Healthcare as a Quality nurse with the responsibility of assisting physicians to deliver patient care within Medicare’s guidelines. Every day it was a taxing effort to prepare ourselves to present the monthly reports of deficiencies to the Doctors, which always produced an escalated level of resistance.
One day, I felt extreme burnout and fatigue, and recall thinking, “I cannot do this job much longer.” The Holy Spirit spoke through my thoughts instructing me to take my lunch break in my vehicle. Yes, for an hour, I listened to inspirational music, sang, prayed for strength, and mental clarity, and God intervened by renewing my strength, and changing my perception of the position, Do not take the pushbacks personally.
Begin and end your day with prayer and study of the Scriptures. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in incorporating several short rest breaks, using them as a time to ask for clarity, strength, and wisdom.
Whisper a prayer, listen to music, sing, and reflect on God’s Faithfulness, thanking Him for His never-ending love and mercies.
Nothing compares to receiving a spiritual boost of Jesus’ Supernatural strength!
“Yet those who hope in Yahweh will gain new power; They will mount up with wings like eagles; They will run and not get tired; They will walk and not become weary” (Isaiah 40:31, LSB). Yes and Amen!
Lord God, we come to you weary and fatigued by the responsibilities in our lives. We ask for Your Divine guidance in eliminating all unnecessary activities that have distanced us from You. Jesus, we need your strength and wisdom to persevere through this journey of life. And we thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him” (John 4:23).
Personal worship is a lifestyle of total surrender and faithful obedience to God. True heart conversion is manifested by seeking God’s will every day, we desire to please God because we love Him.
“He [Abraham] said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you’ ” (Genesis 22:5).
Abraham demonstrated an obedient response to God’s command to sacrifice, Isaac, his only son because he trusted God. Yes, it was the greatest test of Abraham’s faith, but Abraham believed that God would fulfill the promise He had given to him before Isaac was born.
From our devout love for God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, we acquiesce to His Authority because He is God, the Sovereign Ruler of this universe who sustains our lives.
Through prayer, we ask for God’s plans to be revealed for our lives, and then we fulfill His plans through obedience and perseverance. God honors consistent worship, yet, the rejection of Cain’s sacrifice teaches us that we cannot offer God what we think He deserves.
From our willingness to surrender and obey, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through our thoughts, and the Scriptures, giving us the wisdom and guidance required to follow God’s plans, and to live righteously.
“But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6, Amplified Bible).
For personal worship, Jesus tells us to separate ourselves from everyone else. Personal worship should not include our cellular devices, or other people. Distractions prevent us from experiencing one-to-one communion in the presence of God.
God is Holy, and we reverence Him with the utmost respect. The power of God manifests itself through the Holy Spirit. We receive spiritual discernment, strength, and renewed endurance to run the Christian race, despite our obstacles.
Daniel prayed three times a day. When thrown into the lion’s den, Daniel’s faith remained strong because he believed that God is who He says He is, our Faithful, and Powerful Deliverer who promises us victory when we depend on Him.
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NLT).
Personal worship is the only way to maintain our relationship with Jesus Christ who covers us with His Righteousness. Worship begins in our hearts. From spending time with God, the Believers who consecrate themselves daily receive a life-changing experience from the Holy Spirit.
Eternal life will include worshiping God every day. Our earthly lives are the only opportunity that we have to establish the habit of honoring God through personal worship.
Because we live in perilous times, we desperately need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to overcome temptations, recognize false teachings, and to keep us the Path of Righteousness. We cannot fight spiritual warfare without angelic protection and intervention.
Many believers attend weekly church services, but never grow spiritually because they fail to maintain a heart-to-heart relationship with Jesus through the daily commitment of personal worship.
Ritualistic worship accomplishes nothing, we feel no remorse for our sinful lifestyles. One cannot experience spiritual growth from attending church once a week, which explains why many can live a double life of committing sin, but still attend church without feeling guilty.
Sanctification is the lifelong spiritual process of being transformed into the image of Christ. Daily worship invites the Holy Spirit to give us a deeper understanding of the Scriptures, and strengthen our faith in God.
Faithful obedience and surrender are the requisites for worshiping God in spirit and truth. Spiritual growth and maturity is the work of the Holy Spirit that requires our cooperation of humility, faith, and abiding in Christ through prayer and Bible study.
Praise and worship for God is manifested beyond external expression. We must love God more than ourselves. Love is the catalyst that propels us to present ourselves as a Living Sacrifice to God by exchanging our desires for His Perfect Plans.
“I appeal to you, brothers [and sisters], by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2, ESV me).
Lord God, we come to you in humility and surrender ready to fulfill your will and plans for our lives. We pray for guidance, wisdom, discernment, and the strength to persevere in our spiritual journey. We ask this prayer in the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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