As a nurse, I have administered thousands of narcotic and non-narcotic medications to alleviate my patient’s physical pain. But I realize, even with all of the advancements in the healthcare arena, we cannot medicate to stop the distress of emotional pain.
Emotional pain damages the psyche leaving scars that not even therapeutic intervention can heal. In 2021, the statistics of those who suffer from mental health conditions surpass the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Even so, God knew we would need His Divine Intervention. Hence, the reason God gave us specific instructions and promises in the Holy Bible to give Him our painful burdens. God lovingly waits for our prayer to release our pain, struggles, and challenges.
One of the names of God is Jehovah Rapha, meaning “The God Who Heals.” God promises to make us completely whole. When God heals, there is no “Emotional Scar Tissue.” Do you believe? Then pray this prayer of faith until you receive His healing touch. Pray for the courage to claim the victory in Jesus’ name, and move forward as a new creature in Christ.
Most of us have experienced hardships involving loss. A few days ago, one of my friend’s daughters, a single parent with four children [girls], home burned quickly. Many of the wooden 2 x 4’s remained standing like charred trees in a wildfire. When I saw the picture, I was filled with overwhelming grief. Memories of my childhood flashed through how I cherished a bedroom full of favorite things that always resulted in complete happiness.
But then, God gently reminded me that His grace and mercy were greater than the loss of tangible items. Because of the loving devotion of the LORD, we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness! Lamentations 3:23-24. My first reaction is that I saw this situation with blinders in my spiritual eyes–focusing on the loss of things.
You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! Psalm 139:5-6
The mother and her young girls were out of town when the flames of a raging fire consumed their home. Our Omnipotent and loving God extended His never-ending mercies. Not only did God spare their lives, they did not have to watch the destruction of their precious memories.
What is blocking your view from seeing Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Is it the unhealthy relationship or marriage, the scars of your past, financial troubles, guilt, ungodly habits, the idols of material wealth, the fun of worldly pleasures, or disobedient children?
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8
Without spiritual reinforcement, we cannot see beyond our circumstances. Jesus Christ paid the price for humanity that no one else was worthy to do. The gift of salvation is priceless. Even so, acknowledging that His sacrifice ranks above and beyond any act known to humanity are subjective. We are not robots. Our free will of choice and gratitude determines whether or not Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords in our life.
And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary, His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11
Jesus’ birth is not a Christmas story, nor should it be taken lightly. The wise men traveled a long journey to worship Jesus, the Savior, and King. What did they recognize that many of us cannot? Have we minimized Salvation to the level of a Christmas story? Sin leaves us with a debt that we are incapable of repaying. We would be hopeless without the Divine Jesus agreeing to become Jesus, the human servant, and crucified as payment for our sins.
God does not require us to pay penitence, nor do we earn salvation by our works. We confess, repent, and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and live a faith-based life with humility, trust, and obedience. Every day, we travel the road of Righteousness by Faith as we strive to live holy and acceptable lives.
Can you see Jesus for who He truly is? He is still looking beyond our faults and sees our needs. Jesus is still serving humanity. As our Heavenly Intercessor, when we pray for forgiveness, He presents us as faultless to God. Still, Jesus warns us to be ready, “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.” Revelation 22:12
Bible Study: Matthew 27–The Crucifixion of Christ
God, we ask for forgiveness for focusing on the distractions of worldly pleasures and our earthly trials and sorrows. We acknowledge that Jesus is our Savior, and He is coming again. Please open our eyes that we may see you in all of your power and glory. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
God is Omniscient–all knowing. Nothing that happens in our lives comes as a surprise to Him. Did you know that God is aware of every trial and sorrow that we will face [present and future]? He also knows how we will react to each challenge. It is by faith that we can grasp His promise to never leave or forsake us. And it by faith, that we can have the reassurance that He will bring us through as victorious overcomers.
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Prayer: God, we thank you for loving us. We are overwhelmed by the hardships that we are going through and ask you to give us peace while we endure suffering. God, our confidence is in you. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DIY Package: Living with anxieties and worries are evidence that we are trying to face and fix the uncertainties in our lives.
God’s Package: I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on Earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart [be brave and courageous], because I have overcome the world. John 16:33
And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” 1 Kings 17:1
When I read the story of the prophet Elijah praying for rain to stop for three years, I asked myself, “Who was this man of exceeding faith, and how can I become faithful like he was?”
Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain, and the earth began to yield its crops. James 5:17-18
So let’s go to the scriptures to see what God has to say about us having the capability to have Elijah’s solid and unwavering faith.
Our faith pleases God: And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Hebrews 11:6
Stay in the will of God: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what the will of God is, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Ask and receive: “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.” John 16:23
Get rid of a disorganized lifestyle: Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10
Patiently wait for God’s answer: Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. Psalm 27:14
Obey His commands: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” Luke 6:46
Having faith over fear remains a challenge for most believers. The disciples who were in constant physical contact with Jesus, the Son of God also struggled with their faith. We have our own agendas and plans which are contrary to God’s plans, which prevents total faith and trust in God.
But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:26
Fear prevents us from having solid and unrelenting faith in God: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
God is Omnipotent: Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27
Pray often, but do not fixate on yourself: Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18
God knows, and He cares: Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24
Bible Study: 1 Kings 17 and James 5
Prayer: God, we are weary because our faith is weak. We are ready to have rock-solid faith like Elijah. Please teach us to take one day at a time in our spiritual growth. We desire to live faith-based lives by trusting you with all of our hearts. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of Jesus. Amen.
Prayer: God, we pray that you open our spiritual eyes. Amen.
Jesus is here, walking in front of us. We are entering another storm, even so, keep your eyes focused on the Savior. Follow your Guide! The path is narrow. Don’t look to the right or to the left! And if the cloudy darkness of hardships and sorrows blind you, just call out, “Jesus, I can’t see you, Jesus, please help me.”
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
It is a conscious decision to awaken to a new day and invite Jesus into our life. “Behold, I stand at the door [our heart, which is our mind] and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20.
Struggles are necessary to develop the faith that keeps us totally dependent: “…Without Me, you can do nothing.” John 15:5. Yes, we are required to surrender our will, along with the way we think and the things we desire. And why not? For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Read Joshua chapter 6.
But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days.” Joshua 6:2-3.
Faith: Have we placed ourselves in the position to receive God’s plans? “Be still, and know that I am God;” Psalm 46:10. Prayer keeps us connected to God. Why is studying the Bible a necessity? Not only do the scriptures reveal the character of God, but they also teach and remind us that faith, trust, and obedience are required to stay in alignment with God. Jesus, the Lamb of God, the Alpha and Omega is the only way to receive salvation.
Obedience: “Do not shout; do not even talk,” Joshua commanded. “Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!” Joshua 6:10
Victory: When the people heard the sound of the rams’ horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it. Joshua 6:20
Like the walls of Jericho that fell, if we put God first, He will lead and guide us through every heartache, tribulation, and challenge. Put your faith and trust in Him. It is only then, we can cry the shout of victory!
Prayer: God, thank you for loving us. Please forgive us for our sins. We desire to faithfully serve, obey, and wait for you to reveal your plans for our lives. We thank you for the gift of the Sabbath–a time dedicated to redirecting our focus on you. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
When I pursued my nursing degree at the age of forty, I felt insecure because my classmates were in their twenties. Realizing that the sharpness of my cognitive abilities had passed their peak performance, I doubted God’s directive for me to relocate from New Jersey to Upstate NY. But during the first day of class, our tough-as-nails Nursing 1 professor reassured us that if we dedicated our time and efforts to learn, they [the professors] possessed the knowledge and teaching skills for us to achieve our goals. On the final day, it was only seven of us who completed the rigorous program. But it was a high-time of celebration. We embraced each other and shouted, “We made it!”
The most challenging journey that we will ever endure is the one of following Jesus Christ. Many succumb to the rigors of striving to live holy and simply give up. Would God give us the impossible? We have a team, God, the Father, Jesus, our Savior, the Holy Spirit, and messenger angels to ensure that we will make it through this turbulent journey called life.
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.
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]. John 10:10
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:14-15
Our responsibilities in the plan of salvation:
Mandatory: And without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6
Faith knows that every day our lives bring uncertainties, but faith believes that God has the power to take care of our trials, sorrows, and hardships. Faith is not a feeling based on an emotional high or low. Faith requires total surrender to the Almighty God.
Prayer and Study: It is from lack of knowledge [we must study the Bible] and inconsistent communication [always pray throughout the day and night] that our relationship with God lacks strength and depth. Just as the professor reassured us that they were well-qualified to provide everything we needed to become registered nurses if we did our part, God promises to bring us victory when we stay connected to Him.
When sin struggles for the mastery in your soul and burdens the conscience, when unbelief clouds the mind, go to the Saviour. His grace is sufficient to subdue sin. He will pardon us, making us joyful in God. Let us no longer talk of our inefficiency and lack of power. Forgetting the things that are behind, let us press forward in the heavenward way. All heaven rejoices when weak, faulty human beings give themselves to Jesus to live His life. Ellen G. White
Redirect your focus: “We have everything we need.” Our spiritual team is always ready. Never give up!
“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:12-13
Bible Study: 1 John 5
Prayer: God, we ask you to forgive our doubt and unbelief. Thank you for loving and taking care of us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24
Prayer: God, we are ready to recommit our hearts, souls, and minds to you. It is our desire to deny our desires and to faithfully serve you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” John 5:6
Jesus is waiting for our faith-based answer of ” Yes.” Whatever is going on in your life, He was aware before it happened. It’s time for us to rely on God in every situation. “Is there anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27
Trust God
God, we are saying, yes. We give you every burden, every situation, and every hardship to You. And we will faithfully wait until you bring victory. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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