Faith – Page 37 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

The Difference Should Be Obvious

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Serving God sets us apart from unbelievers. Can others see that you reflect the light of Jesus Christ? So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. Galatians 5:16 ESV. What about your character? But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23

Performing good deeds is not the same as accepting Jesus as our personal Savior and living holy and righteous lives. Many philanthropists and those who volunteer to alleviate the suffering of others embrace atheistic and agnostic beliefs. And yes, there are individuals who believe in a higher power outside of themselves. Even so, their faith is not in the “I AM.” They worship idols, angels, imaginary part human and part animal demigods, nature, practice witchcraft and divination, and then there is self-worship.

It is easy to find self-appointed false prophets who convince others they are foretelling the future or speaking to the dead, along with persons who claim to be equal to God. One of the most sinister and rapidly growing cults is the Church of Satan–Satanism, where his followers are pulled in because of greed, which is now known as the “joy of excess.”

Do not be intimidated by Satan! We should acknowledge that the greatest enemy of humanity has evil power. Refer to “The Fall of Man” in Genesis 3. But Satan’s power and deceit can never overshadow the power of God the Almighty. Satan will never have the unlimited ability to do what he would love to do, and that is to destroy every true believer of the Most-High God.

We have a Godhead: God, the Father, Jesus Christ, His Son, and the Holy Spirit who will always limit Satan, yet, provide us with the power against sin if we do our part.

16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. Galatians 5:16-18 NLT

Our thoughts, spoken words, demeanor, behaviors, and actions indicate who we are loyal to, God, or Satan. The friends that we hang out with, the places we visit, the management of our time and money, the food we eat, and how we dress should loudly proclaim, “I believe in and serve the only God, the “I Am,” who has completely transformed my life.

Joshua challenged the Nation of Israel, who loved paganism, “But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 NLT

Make it obvious that you serve God, even if it means letting go of relationships. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. 2 Corinthians 6:17.

If it is difficult to know which relationships are beneficial to righteous living, begin the elimination process by asking your friends to be prayer partners and to study the Bible with you. Believing in God and dedicating your life to Him through love, faith, trust, and obedience is required to live a holy and righteous life. Because we are naturally loyal to sin, we need the Godhead to attain spiritual growth and overcome sinful tendencies. And that is why God tells us to separate ourselves from unbelievers. We don’t need additional opposition in our day-to-day lives.

Human Effort + Divine Intervention = Victory

God’s promise of a better life is coming very soon for those who serve Him with their heart, soul, and mind: Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2

God, we ask for your divine power as we strive to live holy and acceptable lives. Please reveal to us the people, places, and things we must give up to live righteously. We need your strength to overcome sin. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Static Interference

Do you listen to the radio? Among all forms of media, radio is still the most popular. Invented by Guglielmo Marconi: an Italian inventor, he proved the feasibility of radio communication. Marconi sent and received his first radio signal in Italy in 1895. https://public.wsu.edu/~bryan.mclaughlin/Radio/Who_Invented_Radio.html

Is radio still relevant today? Listener habits have changed, but our love for radio hasn’t. Discover why radio is still popular, outperforming podcasts and TV in the digital era. Across all demographics, Nielsen demonstrates that radio is still the most popular form of media in America. Radio reaches 90% of adults aged 18-34, 94% aged 35-49, and 91% aged 50 and older. That being said, here are our thoughts on why radio is still popular today. https://radio.co/blog/radio-still-popular

As much as we enjoy radio broadcasts that have stood the test of time, there is one element that plagues radio, static interference.

Static is the noise produced in a radio or television receiver by atmospheric or natural, or man-made electrical disturbances and the electrical disturbances producing this noise. http://www.merriam-webster.com

Yes, static is something that remains entirely above our technological capabilities. Even so, we have adapted and readily expect noise interference to occur at some point during our listening enjoyment.

Daily I pray and ask God to reveal the thoughts and behaviors that prevent me from fulfilling my divine purpose to live righteously. I will share the answer that the Holy Spirit placed in my mind: As Believers, we have too many concerns that have nothing to do with serving God.

Like the radio that will forever be plagued with static interference, we have also placed ourselves in a position to suffer from static. We have allowed people, our day-to-day challenges, and our fluctuating emotions to create ongoing interference. The noise that we allow in our lives stands in the way of our commitment to establish and maintain an unwavering, faith-based relationship with Jesus Christ. Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. 1 John 3:7

In 2021, reduce the static interference of too many concerns by redirecting your focus. Begin by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. Use your Facebook page, TikTok, Instagram, youtube, etc., to help others. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT. If you believe that God helps us to overcome, then share your testimony. Let others know that there is a loving God who can help us gain victory over the static noise in our lives.

Living by the Word of God can only be done by diligently studying the Bible. Remain faithful to Jesus by whispering a prayer throughout your day. Have a meaningful praise and worship session with God at least twice a day. And most importantly, Jesus says, “If you love me keep my commandments.” John 14:15. Without obedience, we fall back into our old habits from a former lifestyle of sin.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV

God, we thank you for the ability to develop a strong relationship with you. We desire to eliminate the static interference that prevents us from serving you with all of our heart, soul, and mind. Please help us to guard our thoughts and become more aware of the distractions that pull us away from you. Thank you for hearing and answering this prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Maintain the Connection

As I studied John 15, I received a spiritual recharge compared to a cell phone connected to its charger. Only I did not have to wait for the timely process of being fully charged. Human Effort: For 2021, my mindset is different. The expectation is that I will receive the blessing of total restoration from God. And what a difference that has made in my outlook on life. God does not make us wait, the spiritual recharge happened immediately. Divine Intervention: During prayer, I received the reassurance that Jesus is Lord, and as long as I stay connected, I will experience the never-ending joy and peace that comes from serving God.

I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! John 15:9-11 NLT

In this chapter of John, Jesus was instructing and encouraging His disciples because of his pending death. We are Jesus’ disciples, and He has given us the answer to possessing constant inner joy: Stay connected to Him through faith, trust, and obedience to God’s commandments. And the reward is: Yes, your joy will overflow!

Staying connected is the only way to be energized with the peace, joy, and reassurance that comes from faithful commitment to Jesus Christ, our Savior, and Lord. Jesus obeyed His Father even unto death. Remain in me, and I will remain you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. John 15:4. Daily prayer, praise, and study of the Bible indicate our desire to worship and dedicate ourselves to God.

Serving God is a guaranteed mood stabilizer and frees us from the bondage of fear. Doubt, depression, sadness, anxiety, and worry are fruits of fear. We cannot have fear and faith. Staying connected requires faith. Staying connected requires that we expect to receive a spiritual recharge every time we worship God.

In praying, we ask God for many material blessings, begin to ask Him for an increase in faith, and to give you the desire to serve Him with all of your heart, soul, and mind. You will receive joy, peace, and contentment, despite the presenting circumstances. We should not be living on empty when we serve the Most-High God. Jesus paid for us with His life. And because of His sacrifice, we can receive spiritual recharges any time of the day or night.

Jesus is the True Vine. It is impossible to succumb to the adversities in this life when we are connected to the vine. 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 15:4

God, we have not done our part in staying connected to you, and for this, we ask forgiveness. Thank you for the gifts of love, joy, and peace. We commit to serving you with all of our hearts, souls, and minds. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

The Reflection of 2020

We can agree that the year 2020 brought adversities as we have never experienced before globally. The COVID-19 pandemic not only rates as the most virulent, still, we continue to have growing statistics of disease, death, destruction, and depression impacting nearly every individual and family. We have endured the sorrow of physical death along with the crumbling of a strong economy and further tearing down of our social structure. Shattered dreams add to our loss as we wish for all of this to be over. We desire to make new memories to soothe the emotional pain. Overall we just want better days.

If 2020 left you feeling victimized, then we need to view our adversities through spiritual eyes. The Apostle Paul asked the question: You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? Galatians 5:7 NLT

We are the “who” that has held us back from following God’s plan for our lives by becoming discouraged. We removed our spiritual eyeglasses, became distracted by our circumstances, and never looked for them again until we felt the agony of defeat. Yes, COVID-19 hit our world like a continuous tsunami with a domino effect catapulting everything we knew to be stable and strong. Find those eyeglasses and immediately put them on.

Jesus gave us this warning: “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, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. Even so, with this warning, He also gives us a promise that He has overcome everything that we face, and through Jesus Christ, we are victors, not victims of our circumstances.

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT. Although it feels as if we are suffering much more than others, God tells us it simply is not true. Our trials, sorrows, and suffering are universal and experienced to some degree by all. Are we relying on our abilities or praying for God to give us the strength to endure?

There is no shortcut to having a character that reflects the character of Jesus. In our present condition, we are not acceptable to inherit our greatest reward of eternal life. God is intervening on our behalf because: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”… He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” 2 Peter 3:9 NIV

Put on the whole armor of God! Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24

God has a plan for us: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

The goal of an Overcomer is to win, and winning does not happen without human effort. God is aware that we would not seek Him consistently. He knew that we would need trials to produce faithful and obedient soldiers that rely entirely on Him in times of plenty and drought.

3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5 NIV

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23

God does everything with intent and purpose. Yet, He does not leave us alone to attain spiritual growth. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

We have entered a season of change, which will not end because we are in 2021. Choose the goal to strive for holiness, and live righteously by placing 100% of your trust in God. Like Job during his harshest trial, we must proclaim: But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end, He will stand upon the earth. Job 19:25

All Glory, Laud, and Honor lyrics

All glory, laud, and honor

To thee, Redeemer, King

To whom the lips of children

Made sweet hosannas ring

Thou art the King of Israel

Thou David’s royal Son

Who in the Lord’s name comest

The King and Blessed One

The company of angels

Are praising Thee on high

And mortal men and all things

Created make reply…

Praise and worship God through prayer, and study of His Holy Word.

God, we thank you for allowing us the opportunity to change and achieve spiritual growth. We pray for an increase in faith, trust, obedience, and perseverance. This prayer, we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Use Your Weapons!

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Ephesians 6:10

Whatever battles you face in life, God has given you all you need to stand firm.

On the hierarchy of created beings, King David says: What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him? 5 You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor. Psalm 8:4-5. With glory and honor, we are to serve God actively. Our Creator was aware of the struggle we would face against Satan, humanity’s greatest enemy. And that is the reason we have given spiritual armor to fight off Satan’s attacks against us.

Human Effort
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 1 Peter 5:8-9

What are our weapons? Love, Faith, Trust, Obedience, Prayer, and Studying the Bible.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle, you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:13-17 NLT

When we diligently study the Bible and pray without ceasing along with unwavering faith, God says, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper,” Isaiah 54:17, first part.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:18. Rate your prayer life. There is not one individual who can say that they pray too much.

Divine Intervention
Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation. Hebrews 1:14 NLT

Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. Luke 10:19

We are disciples of Jesus Christ! We must claim the victory! Stop believing that you are helpless against our greatest enemy–Satan is the Master Deceiver and the Father of all lies.

Faith propels us to a spiritual level that we would never achieve without putting on the whole armor of God. Fear, doubt, disbelief, anxieties, and worries should never be a part of our mindset. Those are the characteristics of unbelievers who can never overcome or enjoy peace of mind.

Take your rightful place as a soldier in the Army of God. Declare war against every situation that Satan presents. We know how the story ends:

Satan Is Destroyed Forever
7 When the 1,000 years are finished, Satan will be free to leave his prison. 8 He will go out and fool the nations who are over all the world. They are Gog and Magog. He will gather them all together for war. There will be as many as the sand along the sea-shore. 9 They will spread out over the earth and all around the place where God’s people are and around the city that is loved. Fire will come down from God out of heaven and destroy them. Revelation 20:7-9 NLV

God, we confess that we are not putting on the whole armor, which has left us weak and defenseless, and for this, we ask forgiveness. We desire to be soldiers in your Army. We pray for strength as we prepare for Eternal life to live forever with you. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

Changing your Life by Witnessing-Happy Sabbath

At least once a week, I participate in online surveys. Two questions appear in every survey: Are you influenced by your family and friend’s experiences with a particular product or company? If you were offered a job equal to your current job, would you be proud to work for this company? All companies that expect to thrive in the current economic decline environment are very concerned about their reputation and the consumers’ perception of their business culture.

We can also perform a self-survey. Do other individuals influence your commitment to serve God? What opportunities do you seek out to share your faith by telling of the goodness of God?

God has given us a commission-a work that He considers our duty in serving Him. We must witness to others! Not only does sharing our testimony of spiritual transformation strengthen our relationship with God, witnessing is a faith-building activity that encourages others to include God in their lives.

Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20

Read verse 17. Although the disciples were with Jesus and eyewitnesses of His ministry, which included the healing power of physical ailments, casting out demons, and providing food for a multitude, some of the disciples still had doubted the divinity of Christ. What is the road-block that kept them from having 100% faith and trust in Jesus? In verse 18, take notice that Jesus had to remind them that He was the Son of God, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.”

Even though we live in times of economic instability, we have total faith in our employers that we will receive our salary, or the supermarket we shop at will always have food for purchase. And certainly, we believe in our abilities. Who doesn’t enjoy completing goals in which we entirely relied on ourselves to accomplish? How many of us think about the gift of God’s grace for a new day of life and the ability to function with mental and physical strength? We receive many blessings that God lovingly provides, yet, our doubt is targeted at Jesus, the Son of God who sacrificed his life for our salvation.

1. Taking the Giant Leap of Faith-serving God is a spiritual decision and requires an unwavering faith-wholehearted belief that God will do exactly as He says he will do. But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

2. Self-forgiveness and God’s forgiveness-Forgiveness is often an area of intense struggle. Perhaps we have hurt others who will never accept forgiveness because they refuse to interact with us. Even so, we can always pray and ask God to forgive us, and then we must forgive ourselves and move forward in the power of Jesus’ name. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19

3. Human Effort-Serving God always requires action on our part. We must put forth the determination to fulfill our role in the Plan of Salvation. …and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open, and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.…2 Chronicles 7:14-15

4. Remaining Motivated-Accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior brings many low in the valley experiences. 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, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. Trusting in Jesus provides us with the confidence to enjoy the sweet peace and comfort from knowing that God will bring us through victoriously.

5. Perseverance-Never become weary in serving God. “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. The plans that our Heavenly Father has for His faithful children end with living in a perfect New Heaven and New Earth.

Many are fearful of sharing their testimonies with others. How has your life changed since accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? As unique as our fingerprints, so are our testimonies of the transforming power of Jesus that has touched our lives.

Sharing our testimony is essential for spiritual growth. When the Apostle Paul was before King Agrippa, he testified of his conversion from Saul to Paul.

“‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future. Acts 9:5-6

The Apostle Paul always shared the powerful story of his spiritual transformation with unbelievers. When we can tell our personal experience of how God has transformed our lives by accepting us, usually at our lowest point, then our testimony proves that God is real. And that He is waiting for each and everyone to come to him.

Our spiritual eyes must be fully open before we can tell others about Jesus Christ. We must possess a firm foundation of belief, trust, and faith in God. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance when testifying of your deliverance from sin. For example, if you have a history of child molestation, most individuals do not need the intimate details of the suffering you experienced. Your focus is to bring glory to God and how He provided deliverance by giving you complete mental and emotional healing.

From my experience, I have been told many deep, dark secrets while witnessing. Because there are many atrocities that I have never suffered, I often share the story of the Apostle Paul’s transformation. Read Acts chapter 9. Saul had a thirst to seek and kill Christians who believed in the saving power of Jesus Christ. And the worst part is that Saul thought he was doing this under the cloak of religion. Because of his level of wickedness, God physically blinded him, and for three days and nights, he did not eat or drink. But, our God always brings a victorious end. God not only took away Saul’s desire to kill, to complete his spiritual transformation, but God also changed his name from Saul to Paul. Hallelujah!

Do not be discouraged if the person you are sharing God’s love with does not accept God. If they have taken the time to listen to your testimony, then their heart is open to change. The Holy Spirit will minister to them as they reflect on the words of truth they have heard. It is not only spoken words that convey our relationship with God. We may never know the burdens that lift from the persons to whom we said a joyful “Good Morning,” or performing a kind deed when it was least expected. Our smiles and cheerful disposition are an outward reflection that we have the inner joy that comes only from serving God.

Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, we can use social media for witnessing. It has been a rough and turbulent ride in 2020. Pray and ask God to reveal the opportunities to share your faith with or without words. Your relationship will continue to grow deeper with God, and your faith will strengthen. In a world filled with hopelessness, we must proclaim that we serve a mighty and loving God who delivers us. God is always faithful! Despite our trials and sorrows, like Job, we can proclaim, But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end, He will stand upon the earth. Job 19:25

God, we thank you for the Sabbath. We ask in your name to grant us the holy boldness to tell of your great love and plan of salvation to others. Please fill our hearts with compassion and the desire to serve you with all of our heart, soul, and mind. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

“**Hawaiian Sunset**” no_foreign_lands, B. Domino-Reyes photography

Changing your Life by Surrendering

What is your first thought when you hear the word surrender? Many think of giving up or defeat. After-all the dictionary definition is: to cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority. And yes, in the case of interaction with an adversary, the dictionary definition accurately describes the situation.

“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, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NLT

Take my Hand

Surrender takes on a totally different meaning when God is involved. When the storms of life have beat us down, and we feel as if we cannot deal with another problem, if we allow ourselves to surrender to Jesus Christ, He takes the impossible and performs miracles. Surrendering is asking Jesus to be a part of our lives by confession and repentance of our sins. Having a relationship with God is not complex, nor is it complicated. The spiritual component in humanity and the seed of faith that God has given to everyone automatically connects to God when we commit to serving Him.

We do not have to understand or attempt to analyze the peace and inner joy we receive from serving God. It is in the midst of our raging storms of trials and sorrows that all we have to do is say, “God, help me.” And the hands of Jesus reach out, and the spiritual bonding begins as our hearts start to calm down from the reassurance that we are no longer alone to bear our burdens.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

With our Heavenly Father, defeat or the feelings of being overwhelmed are part of our past. We decided not to ever surrender to our harsh trials and tribulations again. Feeling empowered and victorious is the outcome of giving ourselves to the only One who can tell our storms, Peace, be still! Who else would know exactly what we need when we need it? Never forget who you belong to: Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us… Genesis 1:26

Make your life complete by surrendering to God. It takes human effort to nurture the seed of faith. By believing, trusting, and obeying God in all circumstances will guarantee that you will never be defeated again.

God, we are ready to surrender to you. We confess and ask forgiveness of our sins. We commit to love and serve you with all of our hearts, souls, and minds from this day forward. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

**Surrendering to God gives us constant peace, despite our circumstances. Image credit: no_foreign_lands, B. Domino-Reyes photography**

Love God, Love Others, and Love Yourself

“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” Jesus declared,” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.’ “Matthew 22:36-38 BSB

As Believers, we are to think, act, and live differently from those who do not believe in God. The pursuit of financial gain is the goal of those seeking to satisfy their desires. Unfortunately, many who profess to serve God have boarded the “Prosperity Ship” because of greed. Our overabundance is not to be used to purchase the latest fashion or trends. One of the most discouraging things I have ever witnessed was an individual who was a Pastor’s wife and had converted one of their bedrooms into a closet.

At Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon, he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” Acts 10:1-4 NIV

Loving God means that we strive to stay in alignment with His plans for our lives. We have primary responsibilities to help those in need. God has given everyone spiritual gifts and talents. Consider the elderly, living alone because spouses preceded them in death, and their children live in other states. Certainly, they could use a prepared meal or help with cleaning their homes. Local Churches involved in community service require monetary donations beyond the tithe and offerings from their members.

Currently, with the pandemic, many children are engaged in virtual learning. Two of the most challenging courses are math and science. If you are gifted in these subjects, you could offer virtual tutoring to assist the learning process and alleviate the burden of parents who cannot help their children learn the new and updated versions of these subjects.

When we love God with all of our hearts, souls, and minds, we have a natural desire to reach out beyond ourselves.

“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Luke 22:42

Until Jesus was born as a human, He never experienced suffering. In His Divine Nature, Jesus did not have prior personal experience of the mental, emotional, and spiritual anguish that accompanies harsh trials and tribulations. Contrary to popular belief, there is not biblical support of Jesus or the angels crying in heaven. Sorrows, trials, and tribulations are part of the earthly journey of humanity.

Nevertheless, in the short span of 33 years, Jesus’ desire was always to please, honor, and glorify God, His Father. the Bible is full of stories of our Savior always helping and healing many of physical illnesses. The life of Christ demonstrates that He broke the barriers of all the “isms” that prevent many of us from reaching out to those in need.

Jesus gave Himself for us and to us, paying a holy and precious price on the cross. After giving His all, is it too much for Him to ask us to do the same thing? No man or woman will ever amount to anything in God’s kingdom or ever experience any of His power until this lesson of prayer is learned–that our personal considerations, no matter how important or precious to us, are secondary. Dr. Francis… From the Devotional Streams in the Desert

Study the Life of Christ in the book of Matthew, and reflect on the great sacrifice that Jesus willingly made for us. We cannot say that we are followers without possessing knowledge of Jesus, His character, and the manner in which He lived.

We are in a holiday season where the focus is placed on spending money and gift-giving. Although we do not have Biblical support indicating the actual day of Christ’s birth, many accept the celebration of Christmas day as His entry on earth as a human. Make every day a celebration of Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection by committing to serving God and serving others.

Bible Reading Plan for December: Matthew chapters 1-28

God, we thank you for our spiritual gifts and talents. May we always put you first, and have a loving and giving spirit. Thank you for always providing our needs and blessing us with additional resources that we may help others. As we celebrate the season of giving, we thank you for giving your life that we may have redemption from our sins and receive the reward of eternal life. We pray in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Edited and updated on 12/14/2020, 9:05 am

**Christmas Wreath handcrafted by Sonya Johnson Ruiz**

Prayer is Our Weapon

Read: Acts 12

The praying Believers did not believe that Peter was at the gate. They prayed but had doubt that God would answer their prayer.

Prayer is the only option we have.

Prayer puts us in the neighborhood of God. When our faith is weak and our doubt is strong, pray anyway.

Prayer places us to be in alignment with God.

Prayer unleashes the Power of God!

Acknowledge your weakened faith, by praying, “Lord help my unbelief.”

Prayer, fasting, and humility of heart places us in the vicinity of God.

Pray in your desperation. Prayer points us into the direction where God is.

Just keep praying. Prayer increases our Faith!!!

As we commit to a closer and deeper relationship with God, increase your communcation with God through prayer.

Make the promise to yourself that you will increase your prayer life. Pray to the Creator, the God of Heaven and Earth and you will see a change in your life like you have never witnessed before.

God, we ask you to forgive our unbelief. We pray for an increase in our faith. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

God’s Promises

Hopefully, you have committed to accept the gift of the Sabbath. God was aware that we would need 24-hours a week to cease the necessary day-to-day activities that place excessive strain on our minds and bodies–mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Life with God ensures that we are not alone and left to struggle even under harsh trials and sorrows.

Receiving God’s promises requires that we have a relationship with Him. God’s promises are for “His people.” We agree that we will fulfill the terms of our covenant with God.

Diligently seeking God in prayer, studying the Bible, exercising faith, trust, obedience, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ are conditions of participation in the Plan of Salvation.

Serving God is not passive, nor is it based on doing nothing. We actively strive toward spiritual perfection, which we achieve through Christ.

Set your spiritual standards high, and Satan will never have the opportunity to take you low. Knowing that God loves us and will never abandon us erases all doubt, discouragement, and stress.

Validate your status by verbalizing, ” I belong to God!” You will begin to notice that peace will replace a discontented spirit. Serving God has definite advantages, and now is the time for us to discover the perks that come from having a Heavenly Father. No worries, ever!

Claim God’s promises through faith. It pays to serve the Lord.

God, we thank you for the ability to serve you. Please help us realize when we are feeling alone, we have failed to connect with you. Thank you for always being consistent with your love and blessings of grace and mercy. We love you. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.