Faith – Page 36 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Destroy Fear with Faith and Prayer

Fear has several dictionary definitions:

1. An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat.
2. A feeling of anxiety concerning the outcome of something or the safety and well-being of someone.
3. A mixed sense of dread and reverence [refers to God].

Countless situations initiate fear. We will not speak on the physical dangers of where someone or something threatens our physical safety because God has given us a “fight or flight” [stay or run] system in which the body prepares to protect itself.

The third definition of fear is one that all believers should challenge because it refers to God, our Creator, and Heavenly Father. When we love God, we do not have dread. Our fear is reverence and awe of God. But truthfully, if we believe that God is Omniscient and Omnipotent–that He is fully aware of our hardships, problems, and situations before they happened then what is the basis for our fears?

We have two issues: 1. Lack of faith. 2. Focusing on our limited abilities.

Fear is an age-old problem. Even with God’s countless promises, miracles, and deliverance, we still fear our circumstances. Our minds immediately become bombarded with the thoughts of how we will take care of yet another problem or life event.

The Israelites also lived with fear, and God comforted them: “When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you! For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!” Deuteronomy 20:1, 4

Jesus’ disciples who had seen the power of God through Jesus, the Son of God required comfort: That Sunday evening, the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. John 20:19.

How is that possible? Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Matthew 26:40. The disciples also had the same deficit that many of us have: Limited time spent with God in prayer.

I asked my mother, who is 87 y/o this question: “Why do modern-day believers have so many doubts and fears?” She responded: “They do not pray enough. It is not enough to pray one or two times a day.”

Last night, I prayed for God to reveal the answer to alleviating all of our fears and wavering faith. This morning, my sister-in-Christ sent me the following devotional reading:

DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. – Isaiah 65:24

God who heard Daniel’s Prayer will hear ours when we come to Him in contrition [repentance]. … It is a part of God’s plan to grant us, in answer to the Prayer of faith, that which He would not bestow, did we not thus ask. – Great Controversy, p.525. Ellen G. White

• A Point To Ponder •

The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray. – Samuel Chadwick

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 is not an option when serving God. It is a privilege to pray to the God who sees all, knows all, and lovingly cares for us. God always answers prayers.

It is time for us to acknowledge the ceaseless love of our Heavenly Father by communicating more frequently. When hardships hit like a tsunami, pray prayers of faith and thanksgiving. Who else can comfort us as God can? Who else can provide the answers?

Develop the habit of praying more and more each day. Your faith will strengthen and you will be confident in knowing that God will bring victory. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

God’s Promise: 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. Yes, God is aware of our challenges. Because we need reminders that we are to remain dependent on God, we are required to approach Him in prayer with reverence and humility. Be transparent and honest. God already knows that we are fearful with weak and wavering faith. Even so, verbalize your feelings in your prayers and thank God for hearing and answering your prayers. He knows, and He cares.

Bible Study: Deuteronomy chapter 20

Prayer: God, although you have taken care of our challenges in the past and performed mighty miracles, we are still are overwhelmed with fear. We acknowledge that we are not praying enough, nor do we have the faith and trust needed to serve you. Please forgive us for our lack of communication, our doubt and unbelief. Thank you for the privilege of prayer and thank you for being our Jehovah Jireh–our Provider. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Benefits of Serving God: No Worries Ever!

Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. 1 Peter 5:7 AMP

God, we desperately need your help. Please forgive our doubts and unbelief. In Jesus’ powerful name, we pray. Amen.

How to Please God

But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Many of us are familiar with the first part of Hebrews 11:6: But without faith, it is impossible to please him. However, the scripture also says that it takes additional action to receive our reward from God. We must believe and diligently seek Him, only then will we be blessed with the gifts that God has for us.

Serving God requires active participation every day. There are many sermons directed toward our anxiety, worries, and feeling down and out. But the answer to our emotional distress is for us to pray more. Communication with God through prayer is our life-line.

The Holy Spirit goes into the Spiritual Comforter mode while we are praying. It is a relief to feel your burdens lifted while praying. I may have started broken, weary, and hopeless, but never have I felt anything but victory after seeking our Heavenly Father in prayer.

Hebrews 11:6 further explains that we must believe that God is who He says he is, recall that God told Moses to tell the Israelites, “I Am” sent you.

Another messenger’s sermon on faith:

You may say, “I love God, but I just have difficulty trusting Him.” Then you are not pleasing to Him. You cannot struggle at the core of your relationship with God and still enjoy a vibrant fellowship with Him! Faith does not eliminate problems. Faith keeps you in a trusting relationship with God during your problems. Faith has to do with your relationship with God, not your circumstances. Some may say, “I’m not much of a person of faith. I am more of a practical person!” Yet you will never do anything more practical than to place your trust in the Lord! Nothing is more secure or certain than that which you entrust to God. From Today’s Devotional-Experiencing God Day-by-Day

Making a renewed covenant with God is just a prayer away. We are not required to do anything strenuous or challenging to serve God. It is a simple commitment to offer ourselves and worship our Creator. God loves us more than we will ever know. Believing (faith) in God requires constant communion with Him. We cannot live off of yesterday’s worship, praise, or prayers. Diligently seeking God places us in a position to build our faith and trust in Him. Whether we are in the mountain highs or the valley lows, God is always here! He is patiently waiting for us to seek Him.

Bible Study: Hebrews 11

God, we have failed to keep in touch with you as we should. Please forgive us for not diligently seeking you. We are renewing our covenant to have a much closer relationship with you. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Highs and Lows

What you need to know for the Highs and Lows

This life is full of ups and downs. There are moments when it seems as if you’re touching the hem of heaven because they’re so dazzling. And others when it seems you stand on the brink of hell because they’re so heart wrenching.

We can tend to feel far away from God in both. When times are good, we forget how much we need Him. When times are hard, we wonder why He has forsaken us. And yet both of those responses are only our humanity talking.

Neither height nor depth…will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39

God’s affection for us is the same at the highest and lowest moments of our lives. The heights of success and the depths of despair cannot separate us from Him. His love is the one constant we can count on no matter what.

Take comfort in this, friend: Whether this is your best day on earth or one of your worst, you will never be alone or unloved. Not even for a moment.

-Devotional encouragement by Holley Gerth, from her blog Heart to Heart with Holley.

The Darkest Valleys

The moments we feel helpless and hopeless are the moments we must humbly seek God through prayer.

The valleys are the seasons of darkness that God is using to develop you not destroy you!

Without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6

Prayer is our direct link to God. Even when we do not know what to ask for the Holy Spirit presents our petitions to God in a manner that He will hear and answer.

Consider this: I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is there anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27 NLT

Ask God to reveal the characteristics in your life that are displeasing. Most of us struggle with faith. When all is well and we are happy and content, we shout, “Hallelujah!.” Even so, in our low times are we still happy and praising God?

Although I spent thousands of hours studying nursing theory, it was the clinical practice that proved my knowledge, and skills of judgment and critical thinking in giving care to my patients. Faith is belief in God when we are on mountain highs and in valley lows. Faith is knowing and believing that the Almighty takes impossible situations and works them out for our good and His glory.

When we are walking through the valley of darkness, it is a journey in which we move forward with God. We are never alone!

Psalm 23 is the expression of having faith in God and a powerful proclamation of God’s love and presence in every situation that we face.

God, we are not feeling our best right now. But we know that you are doing a great work of transformation within us. Thank you for loving us and taking time to develop our characters. In Jesus’ mighty name, we pray. Amen.

The Seasons will Change

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5

Presently, our small town in Texas is crippled by the bitter, icy winds and the chilling temperatures that have frozen our utilities leaving many without water and electricity. Our streets are layered with a thick coat of ice and adorned with a snowy covering that has turned from snowball quality to a highly dangerous road hazard.

For those who endure far worse winters as a routine way of life, please know that we are not equipped to meet the challenges of icy winter storms. Our county does not have plows or dump trucks filled with a sandy/salty mixture for traction. We barely own clothing that would protect us below a temperature of 40 degrees if we dared to venture outdoors. And did I fail to mention that all cable providers have sent apologies for the outages?

Being from the Northeast, I have endured many harsh winters without blinking an eye. But the brutality of this storm has caused the cessation of all activities with the exception of looking out the windows. As I read, study, crochet, or use my cell phone to stay connected, I console myself that this storm will be over in four to five days. In fact, by next week our temps will be in the 60s.

During my solitude, I figured out a secret to staying content during our winter storm, I know that this storm will not last. There is an end to the harshness that has us at a standstill. If only it was that easy to remain content when I face the seasons of my trials and tribulations. If only my faith was stronger and I believed Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. There is no other way to grow strong spiritually than to go through trials.

God requires continuous growth. We are not where He needs us to be in our relationship with him. Faith and trust must flourish and until it does, God helps us to reach the mark, the level that pleases Him. Unlike the counterproductive storms, our trials produce: And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5 NKJV

God, we thank you for loving us so much that you help us to build the spiritual qualities that are pleasing to you. We pray for the strength to trust you during the process of changing and growing. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Praying Through the Darkness

Psalm 88 is the one song that King David wrote, which begins in despair and ends in despair.

Beginning: O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you by day. I come to you at night. Now hear my prayer; listen to my cry. For my life is full of troubles, and death draws near.

Ending: You have taken away my companions and loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend.

The dark times in our lives may feel as if we have been abandoned by God, our family, and friends. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Joshua 1:5. We should not attempt to ask “why” or use analytical deduction to figure out the reason for our dark times.

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12

In my personal experience, God has used the temporary state of darkness to draw me closer to Him, and to build my faith. The reality is that we need the trials and tribulations to stay on the path that leads us to the Light, Jesus Christ. Remember Job and his dark period? God told Satan that Job was a righteous and faithful man. Job faithfully served God, yet, he endured extreme suffering. God is aware of how much each of us can bear. Our Omnipotent God knew that Job would remain faithful, even through an extended period of darkness. It is God who allows our tribulations for the purpose of preparing us for our greatest reward: Eternal life!

Pray through the Darkness

Human beings have fragile hearts, we can only take so much before we are ready to completely give up. But I would like to invite you to change the manner in which you are praying. If you were speaking to your best friend would you repeat the same conversation over and over each time you chatted? God is our Heavenly Father, Jesus is our Savior, and Heavenly Intercessor, and the Holy Spirit is our Comforter. Pray with honesty: “God, I am feeling the worst that I have ever felt in my life. Please show me that you are here and that you love me. Jesus, help me!”

There is power in the Name of Jesus!

The darkness places us in the position to desperately look for the Light, who is Jesus Christ. Seeking God through His Son, Jesus is the only way to escape the darkness, and as young children, we must approach God with transparency. God does not require eloquent four-syllable words for us to communicate with Him. He desires that we pray with humility and honesty.

Praying through the Darkness

Where do we take our anguish? Do we call our family or friends? We can, but only after we take it to God in prayer.

Do not stop praying! Prayer meets our inner need to connect to God, our Heavenly Father.

The benefits of praying in our darkest hour:

1. Freedom from Fear, Psalm 118:56.
2. Strengthens Your Soul, Psalm 138:3.
3. Receive Guidance, Isaiah 58:9-11.
4. God-given Wisdom and Understanding, Daniel 9:20-27.
5. Deliverance from Harm, Joel 2:32.
6. Rewards for being Alone with God, Matthew 6:6.
7. Gift of the Holy Spirit, Luke 11:13.
8. Fullness of Inner Joy, John 16:23-24.
9. Complete Peace, Philippians 4:6-8.
10. Freedom from Anxiety, 1 Peter 5:7.

The scriptures for the Benefits of Prayer are from a sermon that I listened to by a powerful, and annointed Woman of God, who believes that our worst problem is not praying enough. I am inclined to agree with the Pastor, “Why is it so hard for us to pray?” The good news is that we can break the habit of ignoring God immediately. I encourage each of you to make a covenant with God in the year 2021 that you will begin to “Pray without ceasing.”

There is a simple but powerful song: God answers prayers in the morning, God answers prayer at noon, God answers prayer in the evening, so keep your heart in tune.

Bible Study: The 10 verses listed that explain the benefits of prayer.

God, we admit that we have failed in honoring you with our prayers and praise, and for this intentional sin, we ask forgiveness. Thank you for the privilege of prayer and for being our Heavenly Father. As we worship you daily, may we draw closer to you and prepare for the soon coming of your Son, Jesus Christ. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

How long have you been waiting?

Although the focus has intently been on Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos and his net worth, my 10 -year membership with Amazon Prime is all about satisfying my desire for instant gratification. Yes, I am a product of a Capitalistic environment, and the fact that I can get what I want in 1-2 days delivered at my front door brings joy to my heart, and a smile to my face. With me, there is no generational conflict against the Millennials who virtually shop, Instacart delivers my groceries order from my favorite local supermarket in two hours. It is not the pandemic, my disability, or the lack of a vehicle that forced me to modify my shopping habits. I enjoy receiving what I want on time without any hassle. And why not?

Yes, why not?

The downside of knowing precisely what you will receive and when you will receive it is that our desires facilitate an inner controversy of our will versus God’s will. Our habits reflect our character! There is no middle ground, either we obey or disobey God’s plans for our lives. Serving God is a daily commitment where we must empty ourselves by praying, “Not my will, but your will be done.” Many are suffering from turmoil because they are double-minded. We cannot pray and ask God to resolve our challenges or provide our needs if we try to take control.

Think about your current or previous trial or tribulation: Did you attempt to help God resolve your challenge? Back to the habit of loving instant gratification, it places us in opposition with Jesus’ command to, Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. Psalm 27:14. Our desires will always be in direct conflict with the plans or outcomes that God has for us. The pursuit of resolving our problems usually develop the “fast and easy,” which eliminates faith, trust, and obedience to God. After all, who enjoys traveling down the path of suffering?

But that is the way you and I think. God says that we must suffer and enjoy the trials and sorrows:

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4 NLT

Those of us who do not like waiting: A double minded man (or woman) is unstable in all his ways. James 1:8 KJV.

James 1:5-8, New Living Translation states:

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

How long have you been waiting for God to resolve your situation?

My plans aren’t your plans, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my plans than your plans. Isaiah 55:8-9 CEB

Instant gratification versus waiting on God is a daily struggle. We must die daily to our selfish desires and disobedient hearts. How long have you been waiting? Take the time to build your faith and trust in God during the waiting period, and pray, pray, pray!

Bible Study: James 1

God, we desperately need you. Because of our desires to end our suffering, and take the quickest way out, we are in turmoil. We ask forgiveness for pursuing our own desires. Please give us the strength to endure as we learn to wait, and to faithfully trust and obey your plans for our lives. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

“Don’t Preach to Me!”

The desire to have relationships is innate. When we read the Creation story in Genesis, even God said, “Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” Genesis 2:18. In our pursuit to find the one who is just right for us, we often compromise. Yes, we are selective in our choice. Still, the person is not suitable for us according to God’s standards.

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14

Being unequally yoked extends well beyond our desire to have a romantic relationship. Our social circle of friends, along with family members, are also included in God’s command to separate from, if they are unbelievers. You may think, but how is it possible to exclude my biological family? The separation may not occur as in the physical location. You may live in the same home. The separation from unbelievers occurs on a much deeper level, spiritually.

Reflect on the unbeliever’s mindset, morals, values, conversation, habits, and the places they visit. Their lifestyle and choices have nothing to do with serving God.

What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 2 Corinthians 6:15

The other day, I was involved in a conversation with a family member who shared a situation with me. She confesses that God has changed her life, yet, the words that flowed from her mouth did not convey righteousness. Many are intimidated, or we ignore when our family and friends share their wrongdoings with us because:

1. We accept them as “thats just the way they are.”
2. We have no interest in witnessing to others.
3. We have not studied the Bible, so what we say is only our opinion.

To complete the story, she became angry and stated, “Don’t preach to me!” And that is when God allowed me to face a crossroads, “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15.

As much sorrow as my human heart could bear, I was saddened by her outburst of not accepting God’s truth. But when praying for comfort, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and told me not to take this personally. Her declaration was against God. “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” Luke 10:16. Remember, when witnessing to others, if they are not willing to accept God’s truth, we continue to pray for them and move forward in the Name of Jesus.

It is painful to separate ourselves from those that we love. Even so, our spiritual walk with God is a tough journey, and we need to have a close association with believers who can pray with us and share God’s love and precious promises. Satan will attempt to distract us from having an up-close and personal relationship with God. We know how the story ends, read Revelation the 20th chapter.

Some of you may wonder why I choose to share my personal experiences with temptations and trials. Each of us who has committed to serving God will have a life full of suffering and sorrows. Sharing our real-life experiences enables us to spread hope. God loves us, and He will always bring us through no matter what we are facing if we just faithfully believe and always trust in Him. What is our goal? To receive our reward of Eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth!

To remind us that we are not alone in our struggles, God allowed me to read this scripture found in 2 Corinthians today.

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed but not driven to despair. We are hunted down but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

Please begin to study the Bible. Oh, how He loves you and me. Hallelujah! Praise God!

Bible Study: 2 Corinthians 4

Prayer: O Lord our God, we are asking you to reveal your love to us. We desire to witness and tell others that there is another way to live. Thank you for your great sacrifice and the plan of redemption. Please heal our brokenness and give us the strength and courage to continue through life’s journey. We ask for an increase in faith and trust in you. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

It’s a Tough Journey

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

As I reflected on the adversities throughout my lifespan, I realize that I have a lot to thank God for. After hearing a few virtual sermons on praise and thanksgiving, I have concluded that God has an extraordinary love for humanity. The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.” Jeremiah 31:3

Our challenging journey should not be a surprise because we were forewarned: “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

If you interviewed for a job where the interviewer said, “this will be the hardest job that you will have ever worked on,” would you accept the position? Jesus told us that our spiritual walk with Him would be a tumultuous journey. Even so, He promises us peace and inner joy when we fully rely on Him as our Lord and Savior.

Remember, God is Omniscient—all knowing! He allows tough times for our benefit. Character refinement and spiritual growth are necessary to prepare us for Eternal life. We are usually caught off-guard by the change in our circumstances, but nothing comes as a surprise to our Heavenly Father, who consistently reminds us to depend on Him. 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

At times, we may wonder, “Where is God?” Throughout our lives, God has always been available to deliver us from our trials and tribulations. Our path to victory must include prayer, diligent Bible study, praise, listening to inspirational music, patience, along with unquestioning faith, trust, and obedience.

So what is the purpose of our adversities? There is no other way to grow strong spiritually than to go through trials.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 3:3-5

Now we can look inwardly and question ourselves, “Why am I not rejoicing if I will reap the benefits of a character that is pleasing to God, and unwavering faith?” There is something that I really love about the Godhead, God the Father, Jesus our Savior, and the Holy Spirit, our Guide, and Comforter. They are always available to comfort and strengthen us when we are weary. God does not allow trials and sorrows to batter us to the point that we feel like we are shipwrecked on a deserted island.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Commitment to God requires walking on the narrow path. A believer’s journey is preplanned. Becoming a follower equates to strict obedience to God’s way because He does not compromise. It is worth it to give our earthly burdens over to the Creator. We are promised a bright future filled with hope, peace, and joy when we trust and obey. Yes, the trials are tough, even so, we have the love, grace, and mercy from our Heavenly Father who knows and cares.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10

Bible Study: 1 Peter 5

God, we thank you for always being available when we are going through tough times. Please help us to remember that you will never leave or forsake us. We pray for an increase in our faith and to always trust in your perfect plan. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.