Faith – Page 6 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Jesus Reveals All We Need to Know

In Jesus’ earthly life, He faced constant opposition from the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees who possessed knowledge of the Old Testament, but the conditions of their hearts prevented them from receiving the deepest spiritual wisdom and transforming power of the Holy Scriptures.

In Matthew chapter 22, Jesus was challenged with a question contrived to deceive Him. “If a woman was married and her husband passed away, and she married his succeeding seven brothers who also passed away, whose wife would she be when resurrected?” [Study Matthew 22:23-33].

“Jesus answered and said to them, ‘You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.’ ” (Matthew 22:29-30).

Their question not only revealed their inability to discern the spiritual meaning of the resurrection, but also exposed their disbelief that Jesus was who He said He was, “The One sent from God who fulfilled the prophecy in the book of Isaiah of the coming Messiah.”

In the Holy Scriptures, Jesus has revealed everything we need to know to actively participate with the Holy Spirit in our earthly journey of spiritual growth, maturity, and transformation.

“But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].” (James 1:22, Amplified Bible).

“The Bible is a book which discloses the principles of right and truth. It contains whatever is needful for the saving of the soul, and at the same time, it is adapted to strengthen and discipline the mind.”

No time or desire to study the Bible has permeated today’s Christian Community. We should let nothing prevent us from searching God’s Spoken Words of Wisdom.

The failure to understand why we accepted Christ as our personal Savior, and what God requires of us to participate in our spiritual transformation has many thinking that all we have to do is attend church weekly to be saved and receive Eternal Life.

The Bible was written to reveal God’s Love, His Righteous Character, and to provide guidance on how to live a sacrificial life. We cannot stay on the Path of Righteousness without receiving Divine guidance every day.

Can you imagine being hired for a position where you were not offered an initial orientation and continuous updates to learn the company’s policies, and the protocols required to fulfill your job description and achieve the company’s productivity standards?

Without guidelines, not only would you fail to function in your fullest capacity, it would be impossible to achieve your personal career goals, and the company would never fulfill its Mission, Vision, and maintain its viability in a highly competitive global business arena.

“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).

Satan has deceived us into believing that we can live righteously from thinking our own thoughts. Faithful Obedience to God is required for the Holy Spirit to transform our mind, character, and personality into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character.

Praying and asking for God’s will to be done in our lives, and studying the Bible reveals our willingness to honor God by learning His Plans and Promises.

Every aspect of God’s plans for our lives has the definitive purpose of transforming our character in preparation to receive our reward of Eternal Life.

Every day, through personal worship, we must seek God’s guidance and plans for the new day. Communicating with God in prayer invites the Holy Spirit to direct our lives according to God’s Divine Flow Chart for every believer’s life.

Without Divine Intervention, it is impossible for us to determine our Chosen Paths. With His Omniscient wisdom, God designs every believer’s spiritual journey according to our individual spiritual needs.

God is loving and patient. He knows that we are unique in our levels of knowledge and understanding of His Truth, and that our character strengths and weaknesses also differ.

“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, NIV).

Every believer’s journey is designed to correct their individual character deficits and produce the vital spiritual growth and transformation, Sanctification required to receive Eternal Life.

Still, each of us share the responsibility of working on our salvation by living a Christ-centered, Faith-based life of self-denial, and obedience to God.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap.” (Galatians 6:7, Amplified Bible).

We cannot see beyond today, but God views time as Eternal. Yes, God is a Faithful God of Love who is patient, doing all He can to save our souls from the final death, the cost of sin, but we must never forget that He is also the Righteous Judge who does not excuse sin.

What more could God the Father, Jesus, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit do for humanity that has not already been done?

We have received the most precious, life-saving gift from God the Father, His only Son, Jesus, who died on Calvary’s Cross, so we would not have to die for our sins.

Reflecting on Jesus’ answer to the Sadducees, “that we will be like angels of God in heaven” gives us insight into the magnificent spiritual transformation God has planned for those who cooperated with the Holy Spirit in their earthly lives to strive for righteousness. Yes and Amen!

“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.” (Revelation 21:4).

Lord God, we ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and baptize our hearts with the Holy Spirit. We pray for daily strength, wisdom, and discernment as we seek Your will through continuous prayer and the study of the Holy Scriptures. We thank You for revealing Your plan to transform us into angels of God when Jesus comes again. Lord, we give you the honor, glory, and praise, and ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

The Righteous Name of the LORD Is Our Strength

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3).

September 18, 2025 is a date that God changed my life by giving me a deeper understanding of His plans for my life. The Holy Spirit helped me to prioritize my time and goals, so my relationship with Jesus Christ would grow, and my faith in God would become steadfast.

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6).

This deep spiritual connection happened because I made the intentional decision to spend the entire day with Jesus in the personal worship of prayer, singing, and studying the Holy Scriptures.

Yes, it was an intense effort to discipline my mind to meditate on the written words of God and His goodness. I prayed often for the Holy Spirit to give me the strength to redirect my focus to God.

Jesus tells us that He is the Living Water and the Bread of Life. Although I did not engage in a complete fast yesterday, I ate a minimal diet of mostly fruits and lentil flatbread along with keeping myself hydrated with water.

The sacrificial life results in total dependency on God, which is greatly rewarded. Not only do we receive spiritual wisdom, peace, and God’s guidance from spending intentional time with Him, but we also receive answers to the complexities in our lives that are impossible for us to resolve.

Christ Delivers Us From the Chains of Sin

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1).

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16).

Attempting to use our strength against the internal desires of our hearts and the external temptations of this world always results in failure. We must have the strength of Christ to live as a Victorious Overcomer!

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10).

Many times it is difficult for us to realize the overwhelming love Jesus has for us. From Jesus’ sacrificial death on Calvary’s Cross, God proclaims that we are valued beyond our finite understanding. Yes, we are Heaven’s priority. Yes and Amen.

Our decision to consecrate ourselves daily to God by dedicating frequent time in solitary worship [free from distractions and other people] invites the Holy Spirit to open our eyes, gifting us with deeper spiritual insight, and empowering us with the strength of Christ.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, ESV).

Everyday, we have an opportunity to bond with Christ. Our love for God is the foundation for using our faith to prayerfully consecrate ourselves in surrender to God with the commitment to follow Christ, our Shepherd.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

“Knowing the time means recognizing the urgency and significance of life, especially in light of Christ’s imminent return and the brevity of human existence, and therefore should be lived with wisdom, a focus on God’s will, and the mindful use of every opportunity to honor God.”

Time is precious. Doing our part is to be grateful for God’s gift of time. Many believers do not even give God one hour a day in personal worship.

With a God-first commitment, we let go of the habits of time-consuming recreational activities, and distractions which prevent us from worshiping God in Spirit and Truth.

Intentional time with God in daily personal worship is essential for the Holy Spirit to transform our mind, character, and personality into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character, which is required to receive our reward of Eternal Life.

LORD God, we thank You for the gift of a new day. We confess our sin of wasting the precious time that You have given us. We ask you to help us to prioritize our lives according to Your perfect will and plans. And ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of Jesus, Amen.

Spiritual Growth and Transformation Requires Active Participation

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, ESV).

God’s Priority is to change our Character to prepare us for our reward of Eternal Life.

Are we cooperating with the Holy Spirit in the daily Spiritual process of growth and maturity [Sanctification]?

Pursuing the world’s temporary and meaningless prosperity, pleasures, and success are a waste of the Believer’s time and energy. We can take nothing with us to Heaven except a Righteous Character.

God promises to give us everything we need. Be content with what you have.

We are looking forward to a perfect life with Jesus in the New Heaven and New Earth.

Worship God in Spirit and Truth by consecrating yourself daily to follow Jesus Christ. Peace and Blessings.

Bible Study: Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 4

Lord God, we ask you to reveal any desire, habit, or behavior that would prevent us from receiving our reward of Eternal Life. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Greatest Love

Following Jesus is the best decision, we will ever make. Yes, life is filled with unexpected challenges, but Jesus promises to give us His strength, so we can move forward. Trust Jesus with your life. No love can come close to our Creator’s love for us. Pray, Obey, and Persevere! Peace and Blessings!

Jesus, we thank You for Your everlasting love. LORD, we dedicate ourselves to follow You with faithful obedience. Give us wisdom, strength, direction, correction, and protection from the spiritual warfare designed to separate us from You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

© 2025 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Matthew’s Conversion: “Follow Me”

“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.

“Fighting Through A Season of Discouragement and Disappointment”

“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.

Be Anxious About Nothing!

“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.

Through Christ, We Celebrate Freedom from Sin

“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.

Trusting In God Guarantees A Secure Life

“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.

Trust God, He Always Gives Us a Life of Stability and Hope

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.”