God Jesus Holy Spirit – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Pray! God Always Answers Our Prayers

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear [revere] Him…” (Psalm 103: 8, 11).

Every day, we must make decisions and choices that should always include God’s Divine wisdom. With God, our faith grows, and our minds are filled with peace, because we know that our Heavenly Father will always give us a perfect outcome.

Maintaining a spirit of gratitude, praying, and studying the Holy Scriptures are daily faith-building activities, giving us knowledge of God’s Character and His steadfast Promises. Daily personal worship indicates that we are actively participating in our journey of spiritual growth and development.

Loving God gives us the desire to be in His presence. Personal worship not only reveals our love and loyalty to God, but also invites the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual wisdom and discernment of the Scriptures and the strength to live righteously.

In John 14:1-3, Jesus reveals the expected end for the faithful, believers who let go of their desires and the world’s treasures and pleasures to follow Christ. God has gifted everyone a measure of faith. Either we use our faith to believe in ourselves, or in God.

Jesus compared “faith” to a mustard seed. The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, yet it is…” considered strong, hardy, and resilient, and capable of withstanding harsh conditions and providing shade.” By trusting God, the Holy Spirit keeps us aligned with God’s Divine purpose of Eternal Life.

To remain on the narrow Path of Righteousness, we use our faith to trust that Christ is the King of our lives, and we study the Bible with the intent to obey: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17).

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, NIV).

The Holy Scriptures reveal God’s promises and faithfulness in helping the righteous; still, we need more than knowledge of the Scriptures, faith requires the childlike belief of, “If God said it, He will do it.”

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, Amplified Bible).

Hardships are guaranteed to happen. All is well, and then it isn’t. If we choose Christ, then we are never alone. In faith, we ask God for His help and guidance, and in the same prayer, we thank God for His intervention.

God never expected us to carry the burdens of life that we readily take ownership of, wearing ourselves down to the point of mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion. Burdens also prevent spiritual growth and restoration because they cause us to lose our faith in God.

“Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10). God commands us to “Cease striving.” Our Loving Heavenly Father does not require us to resolve our challenges; God requires us to have steadfast faith in His promises to always help us.

When we pray for help, if God desires our participation in the resolution, the Holy Spirit will guide us in understanding what we need to do. However, in many cases, God simply asks us to have faith and patiently wait for His intervention.

In fact, God tells us that He has already answered our prayer of faith: “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).

You may think, “But God has not answered my prayer because nothing has changed.”

God is Omniscient [All-Knowing], so He already knows every adversity we will face in our lifetime. And His answers to our challenges have existed, even before we were conceived.

“Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14). God’s timing is never our timing. We live in an environment of immediate answers and resolutions, but God uses the time of waiting to test our faith in Him.

“Would not God discover this? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44:21). Although we say that we believe in God’s power, God already knows whether our faith is weak and wavering or strong and steadfast.

Waiting on God places us at a Spiritual Crossroads. Either we will choose to place 100% of our faith and wait with gratitude for the anticipated resolution, or we will attempt to resolve the challenge ourselves.

The Big Reveal: Waiting on God has two purposes: Waiting is a powerful act of faithful obedience, and waiting reveals whether or not we really believe in and trust God’s love, power, and promises.

During the wait, if we have anxious, worried thoughts about our challenges, wondering how and when God will intervene, then our hearts are filled with doubt and unbelief.

“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!'” (Mark 9:24).

Jesus is our Savior and Heavenly Intercessor whose heart is filled with love and compassion, and He knows our weaknesses. With humility, we pray an honest prayer of confession: “God, my faith is weak, but I believe that You love me and will keep Your promises to help me.”

Reflection: What is your knowledge base of God’s promises? We should know at least 3-4 Promises of God, and meditate on them every day.

Christ is our Savior, Redeemer, Intercessor, Provider, and Protector!

“I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). Trusting in God’s promises of never abandoning us, and believing that God is faithful, always keeping His promises, gives us hope even when facing harsh adversity.

“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly.” (Lamentations 3:25-26).

Steadfast faith in God also gives us the confidence that He always answers our prayers. God knows exactly what we need and when we need it. Weak faith? Pray anyway!

“Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and went out to a solitary place to pray.” (Mark 1:35).

Separation, Solitude, and Silence: In personal worship, we need to hear from God. “…go to a private, secluded, secret place to pray, God is there in that secret place.” Whisper the short prayer of humility: ‘Lord, I need Your help.”

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

Close your eyes, meditate on God’s love and promises. The Bible reveals that it is in the quiet places where the Holy Spirit enters, giving us comfort and guidance, and empowering us with Jesus’ strength.

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'” (Isaiah 41:10).

Preparing for Heaven – Eternity With Jesus Christ

The Final Victory: 1 Corinthians 15:50-54

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.”

51 “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep [die], but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

53 “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

54 “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.'” (1 Corinthians 15:50-54).

When we believe Jesus’ promise in John 14:1-3, our worship, thoughts, and lifestyles reflect that we are “Temporary Travelers on a Temporary Earth,” preparing every day for the Coming of Jesus Christ.

The Sacrificial Life: (Romans 12:1-2).

“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.”

(2) “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.”

A God First life is purpose-driven and requires daily surrender and faithful obedience. Our personal agenda includes our thoughts, decisions, pursuits, goals, and lifestyles that are never placed above God’s Will and Plans.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

Because it is impossible for us to change ourselves, achieve spiritual growth, or stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness without Divine Intervention, through personal worship, we include God by prayerfully seeking His guidance before making decisions, even when we feel they are insignificant.

Spiritual Time Management: “See then that you walk circumspectly [carefully], not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

“Redeeming the time” is God’s directive for believers to make the most of our precious gift of time to grow closer to Christ.

We ask and rely on the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom: “…so we act with spiritual diligence, using our gift of time for God’s purpose rather than wasting life on seeking the trivial things of earthly treasures and pleasures.”

“What could this world possibly offer that’s worth forfeiting what Christ offers us?”

Every Believer’s Spiritual Status: “Temporary Travelers on a Temporary Earth,” preparing every day for the Soon Coming of Jesus Christ.

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12).

“Why is the promise of Eternal Life so crucial to all that we believe?”

It is not enough to know Jesus promised us eternity with Him. Spiritual preparation is a dally endeavor that requires the Human Effort of seeking God, and relying on the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome our heart’s desires and Satan’s temptations; gives us wisdom and discernment, teaches us the One and Only meaning of God’s Truth; corrects us when we disobey by following our thoughts; and guides us in using our faith to trust and obey God.

No, we will not understand His Highest thoughts and ways [Isaiah 55:8-9], but because He is The Sovereign God of the universe, Who sustains our lives, we honor and revere Him.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).

The Christian journey is the toughest experience that we will ever endure. To stay on the Path of Righteousness requires daily surrender, self-denial, and faithful obedience. But when we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, we receive Jesus’ Divine Strength, which is guaranteed to empower us to live as victorious overcomers. Hallelujah! Yes and Amen!

Bible Study: John 14:1-3

Lord God, we desire to receive Jesus’ promise of a Forever Home in the New Heaven and New Earth. Lord, we need your help! In faith, we obey Your command to come before Your Throne of Grace, because we need Your Divine Wisdom, Guidance, and Strength to continue our journey. We renew our commitment to follow our Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

Our Heavenly Citizenship

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 3:20)

God is making preparations for us to inhabit the Kingdom of Heaven. Yet, in the power of the Holy Spirit, we must do our part by striving to: “Be holy, for I AM Holy.” (1 Peter 1:16).

God’s Spiritual Conditions of Participation: We must meet the spiritual conditions required by God to be received into the Lord’s family: Daily surrender, faithful obedience, renouncing sin, self-denial, prayer, and Bible Study.

“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. 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 12:1-2, NIV).

We must strive to reach God’s higher standard by coming out of the world and separating ourselves from sin and sinful influences, including unbelievers and unbelieving believers [those who believe in God, yet practice worldly behaviors].

“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).

As believers in God’s Truth, we are to pray continuously and diligently study the Holy Scriptures, so we can represent the Light of Christ to an Earth overcome by the darkness of Satan’s evil.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).

Throughout the history of Christianity, God has always had the faithful: Moses, Abraham, Rahab, Esther, Job, Daniel, eleven of Jesus’ disciples, Paul, Timothy, and others who are resting in their graves, but will receive their Heavenly Inheritance when Jesus comes again.

To live a Christ-Centered, faith-based life requires a spirit of humility and a covenant vow of daily surrender, faith, and obedience to God.

Our Sovereign God still has believers who consecrate themselves to follow Christ every day, and we are living proof that through the Power of the Holy Spirit, it is possible to live righteously and to put God first.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9).

Christianity is much more than attending church. When our hearts are converted by the Holy Spirit, the Love and Righteousness of Christ permeate our thoughts, spoken words, behaviors, habits, and lifestyles. We live to please God.

“We have received the highest honor that God can give to mortals by adopting us into His family and giving us the privilege of calling Him Father.”

The Plan of Redemption reveals God’s overwhelming love for us. God lovingly gifted His only Son, Jesus Christ, to be born as a human, live in poverty, and suffer an excruciating death on Calvary’s Cross, so we would not have to die for our sins [Romans 6:23].

From consecrating ourselves to live a sacrificial life of self-denial, through the Holy Spirit, we receive Jesus’ strength to overcome the internal conflict of our heart’s desires and the external opposition of temptation.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body…” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, BSB).

The Holy Spirit’s Presence: The Holy Spirit dwells within believers who strive to live a holy, consecrated life, spiritually and morally acceptable to God. It is the Holy Spirit who converts our hearts and transforms our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ.

Because we inherited hearts that always desire more than God gives, following and obeying Christ requires constant self-denial and praying for Divine strength and guidance. Personal worship reveals our steadfast love and loyalty to our Shepherd and Triumphant King, Jesus Christ, and keeps our lamp filled with Oil [The Holy Spirit].

Preparation to receive our Heavenly Citizenship requires the spiritual commitment to think, worship, and live as “Temporary Travelers on a Temporary Earth,” who await with joyful anticipation the most Glorious Day of Jesus’ Second Coming. Yes and Amen!

“To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21).

Bible Study: Romans 12; Revelation 19-22.

Lord God, we consecrate ourselves to follow Christ. Teach us how to live a sacrificial life that honors You. We look forward to the day when we can leave this Earth and receive our Heavenly Citizenship for eternity. Lord, Jesus, we thank You for Your amazing sacrifice on Calvary’s Cross, and we look forward to the day when You will come and take us to our Forever Home. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of our Triumphant King, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sabbath Peace and Blessings – February 7, 2025

“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:24-25).

Overcoming Challenges In Jesus’ Strength

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:13).

When Jesus Christ appeared to the apostle John in visions [The Book of Revelation], He proclaimed Himself as the Beginning and the End, symbolizing Eternal Existence, Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Divine Sovereignty.

From Genesis to Revelation, we have written evidence of the righteous placing their faith and trust in God’s Sovereign Authority and Power, and God’s response, giving them victory.

In 2 Chronicles 20, when King Jehosaphat faced the three combined armies, his first response was a prayer recognizing God’s Sovereignty that also revealed humility and reverence for God:

“O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?…For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (2 Chronicles 20:6, 12).

The king readily acknowledged that they could not fight the armies using their strength. And from studying the rest of the story, God performed a supernatural miracle, giving them victory.

“Since God’s Eternal Truth has no place in such a world, with the rise of postmodernism we have witnessed a commensurate decline in Biblical knowledge.”

The failure to study the Bible results in the failure to recognize and revere God’s Sovereign Authority over this universe and our lives. Self-reliance excludes God, proclaiming that we do not need His Divine Help.

“My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2).

Yet, to live as followers of Christ, who are preparing for eternity with Christ, our Triumphant King requires that we honor, revere, and obey Jesus Christ, who is our Creator, Savior, Redeemer, Intercessor, and the Only Mediator between God the Father and humanity.

“Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do the things that I say to do?” (Luke 6:46). God, the Father, expects all believers to follow God, Jesus, His Son, our Shepherd, with faithful obedience.

Living as victorious overcomers requires a spirit of humility, accepting that Christ created us with limitations; we can only perceive life with limited knowledge, never knowing our future adversities. And we know this to be true because we can plan our day, yet unexpected challenges will always change our agendas.

Because God sees time as eternal, He already knows every adversity that will enter our lives. God’s original plan was for us to completely rely on His Strength and Divine Intervention before making decisions. Involving God is the only way we can enjoy the peace, happiness, and joy that come from Jesus’ Divine Strength.

We also cannot rely on human effort alone to resolve life’s unexpected events, such as bankrupt businesses, job loss, illnesses, financial insolvency due to disability, divorce, or the death of a loved one, which often requires new beginnings that may include relocation.

“…casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7). Praying and studying the Bible are faith-building activities. By including God in our daily lives, we enjoy peace and an unbothered mindset even in the raging storms of trials and life-changing events.

The Holy Scriptures strengthen our courage and confidence in God. When we face challenges that human effort cannot solve, our first response should be a prayer for Divine help, rather than succumbing to fear, anxiety, or despair. This is only possible because we use our faith to believe God’s promises of victory.

“And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. / And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14-15).

The Prayer of Faith: The most powerful prayer is the simple childlike prayer of faith, “Jesus, I need your help.”

“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3).

Children pray with the expectancy and excitement of knowing their prayers for God’s help will be answered. They do not think about how God will answer; they believe that He will answer, and they are willing to wait for His answer.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

The Scriptures reveal that Jesus loves us and desires that we live our best lives, which can only be done through His Guidance and Strength given to us by the Holy Spirit.

Lord God, we repent of our desire to follow our thoughts and exclude Your Divine wisdom and intervention from our lives. We realize that we cannot stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness without You leading us. Give us the strength to overcome the habit of self-reliance and to redirect our faith and trust from ourselves to follow You in our spiritual journey. In faith, we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

God asks, “Is there anything too hard for ME?”

We were created to rely on God and to have a mind filled with peace. How can we not trust God?

God is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory! God asks, Is there anything too hard for ME?

Like a child who trusts their parents, we simply trust God because “He is the Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnibenevolent, Sovereign God and we are not.”

At some point, in our Christian experience, we will face adversity that human effort cannot resolve. But why wait until extreme hardships enter our lives to trust God?

Surrendering control and self-reliance to God requires courage; and because of our obedience, God rewards us with perfect peace and victorious outcomes!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).

Lord God, we thank You for being Yahweh Yireh, God, our Provider. We thank You for always being faithful, although we are not faithful to You. Lord, we desperately need Your help and we thank You in advance for Your Divine Intervention. With faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

Yes, We Are Followers of Christ!

The Rich, Young Ruler “…came up to Jesus and asked, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?…'”

“All these I have kept,’ the young man said. ‘What do I still lack?'”

“Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” (Matthew 19: 16, 20-21, NIV).

“To join Jesus meant that this young man had to accept a life of self-denial. With deep interest Jesus watched him weigh the question. With keen insight the ruler understood what he’d been told, but it made him depressed. If he had sensed what he would gain in the gift Jesus offered, he would have become a disciple. Instead, he reflected on what he would lose.” (Commentary).

We have made it to the second month of 2026. Our goal is to have a closer relationship with Christ by any means necessary!

Are you a follower of Christ? Most Christian believers do not consider themselves to be “Followers of Christ.”

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

Daily surrender and faithful obedience are the defining characteristics of a true follower of Christ. Deep within our hearts, we know whether or not, God is our priority.

“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (Matthew 16:26, NLT).

Behaviors Revealing Earthly Pursuits

Misplaced Priorities: Focusing entirely on material success, greed, or selfish desires.

Neglecting the Eternal: Trading the eternal, priceless nature of the soul for temporary, passing worldly benefits.

Rejecting Spiritual Life: Failing to surrender to God’s will and instead chasing personal ambition, which results in a life lived without a right relationship with Christ.

If we are caught up in pursuing the distractions of earthly trinkets, pleasures, success, and relationships instead of following Jesus, then sadly, our desires will be our only reward.

To follow Jesus requires much more than attending church once a week. The apostle Paul tells us in Romans chapter 12 that we must live a sacrificial life of self-denial to be a true follower of Jesus Christ.

The Characteristics of the Sacrificial Life: Faith, Surrender, Obedience, Courage, and Commitment Are Required to Be a True Follower of Christ

“Every person is as close to God as they want to be.” (A.W. Tozer).

From praying daily for God to reveal His will and studying the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Spirit gives us wisdom, guidance, and teaches us how to live a holy and acceptable life, pleasing to God.

How close are we to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?

2 Timothy 3:1-5 gives us the answer: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”

From reading this description, one may think that the apostle Paul is referring to unbelievers; but unbelievers do not have a form of godliness. He is describing believers who have failed to commit to living the sacrificial life of self-denial that is required to be followers of Jesus Christ.

When we appreciate God’s love and Jesus’ great sacrifice, we love God; and, it is not a burden or an inconvenience for us to live the sacrificial and obedient life required to be a true follower of Christ.

“However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [this kind of persistent] faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8, Amplified Bible).

Lord God, does our lifestyle reflect that we are committed followers of Jesus Christ? If not, we ask you to reveal the habits and people, we must give up to live a God First, Christ-centered, Bible-based life. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The LORD Is a Great God! Sabbath Peace and Blessings

“For the Lord is the great God…Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.” (Psalm 95:3, 1-2).

Today is the last day of January, 2026. Because of God’s amazing Love and Mercies, we are still alive! How do we return our love for all that we receive from God?

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.” (Psalm 95:6-7).

The commitment of personal daily worship, Prayer, Bible Study, and Singing praises of gratitude reveals our love, loyalty, and reverence for God, whose Love, Grace, Mercies, and Provisions flow abundantly.

“Heaven is waiting to [give] its richest blessings upon those who will consecrate themselves to do the work of God in these Last Days of the world’s history.”

The richest blessings that we need to live as victorious overcomers are not material possessions, wealth, and success. We require the daily empowerment of the Holy Spirit to stay on the Path of Righteousness that leads from Earth to Heaven.

Lord God, You have Sovereign Authority over our lives, this earth, and the universe. We come to You in humility, surrendering ourselves to You, and asking for the spiritual blessings of peace, wisdom, and the strength to persevere in this tough journey of life filled with obstacles, temptations, and dangers. Yet, because of Your love, we have safety. Lord, you promised to never leave us or forsake us; and we believe in Your promises that when we run to You, we will have refuge because You are a Strong Tower. Lord, we seek the blessings of spiritual restoration, peace, contentment, and joy, as we worship You on this Holy Sabbath Day. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Loving Others Reveals We Love God

“Jesus replied: ‘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. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Matthew 22:37-39, NIV).

Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 13; and Ephesians 4:32 are the Christian Character Traits that we must have to be righteous followers of Christ. Peace and Blessings.

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“Do Not Worry About Tomorrow”

What is our ultimate purpose as Christians? To honor Christ with a sacrificial life of self-denial and faithful obedience.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

We also represent to the world that following Christ results in a Loving Character and the ability to live righteously through the power of the Holy Spirit.

“Cast your burden on the LORD [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail).” (Psalm 55:22, Amplified Bible).

Because of our faith and trust in God’s Love, Power, and Promises, there is a significant difference when believers who pray continuously face challenges and hardships; from trusting in God, we are confident that God will resolve our battles.

“Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24).

Yes, placing our faith in God’s promises prevents us from seeing our dark, stormy times as hopeless. We know that Jesus, the Light of the World, is ever-present, serving as our High Priest, receiving and answering our prayers.

Trusting God is the only way for us to enjoy the gift of Jesus’ peace.

“I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:9-10).

Because our Heavenly Father is All-Knowing, God gave us His Divine Plan for living happy and healthy lives: Put God First, Pray for Guidance, Live by Faith, and Trust and Obey His plans for our lives, and we will experience continuous peace and joy.

Despite God’s Instructions and Blueprint [the Bible] on how to enjoy peace and happiness [regardless of our circumstances], many Christian believers are not living Christ-centered, Faith-based, obedient, contented, happy, and healthy lifestyles.

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” (James 1:14).

Christ created us to depend on God; unfortunately, the worldview of self-reliance has infiltrated the Christian Community, resulting in the redirection of our focus, faith, and trust from God to ourselves.

If our response to personal challenges is, What strategies can I develop to produce favorable outcomes?; then we have assumed burdens of life that God never intended for us to carry.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46, ESV).

Self-reliance is dangerous because it leads to the spiritual dilemma of disobeying God. Not only are we separated from God, but we also lose our spiritual gift of Jesus’ peace, which produces a Domino Effect on the mind, body, and soul.

“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7). From attempting to resolve life’s continuous struggles without God, we begin to suffer from mental restlessness, unstable emotions, and incessant thoughts, which produce anxiety, worries, frustration, and sleepless nights, stressors that cause most physical illnesses.

“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).

Trusting God is not easy for most of us. Yet, God tells us in the Scriptures that He knows the end from the beginning and has plans to give us an expected end, which is Eternal Life in the New Heaven and New Earth.

Today, I attempted to contemplate what Heaven would be like. Although I have a creative mind, even with the Apostle John’s description in Revelation, I could not imagine the magnificent beauty that no human eyes have seen, except for the vision Christ gave to the Apostle John.

But we do know that perfect love, peace, joy, and happiness will exist. No anger, arguing, profane behaviors, hatred, violence, sickness, or death. And for those who say, No to a vegan diet, guess what? All will be vegans! Including the predatory animals.

“‘The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,’ says the LORD.” (Isaiah 65:25, NIV).

From studying 2 Timothy 3, we realize that we are living in the Last Days of Earth’s history. As time on Earth moves forward, we cannot afford to let our desire for self-governance jeopardize our reward of Eternal Life.

The Plan to Reconcile With Christ: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

“He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way.” (Psalm 25:9). “Submission to God’s will is honorable; in fact, it is the only way to be victorious in the spiritual war [Ephesians 6] in which we find ourselves.”

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). How would your life change if you prayed, waited, and used your faith to completely trust God? When we surrender to Christ, worry never enters our minds.

I am currently in my first week of using my faith to totally trust in God. Truthfully, the first two days, I felt anxious, but prayed often, “Jesus, give me the strength and courage to trust You.” I studied The Book of Ruth, Philippians 4, and memorized Isaiah 26:3-4.

For the next 14 days, utilize your time in personal worship to consecrate your life to Christ. Total surrender to God requires Divine strength and human effort. Ask Christ to guide you in every decision that you need to make.

“‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'” (Jeremiah 33:3). The consistency of daily surrender invites the Holy Spirit to give us the blessing of perceiving life through spiritual eyes.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16).

Separation, Solitude, and Silence is the worship posture that invites the Holy Spirit to speak to us through the Holy Scriptures and our thoughts. To live as overcomers, we need the spiritual discernment that only the Holy Spirit can give.

Each day, we are one day closer to when Jesus, our Triumphant King, will come for His faithful and obedient followers. We are nearing the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise in John 14:1-3. Yes and Amen!

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:1-5).

Lord God, we come to You in faith, surrendering our will, and asking for Your guidance. We believe in Your love and promises to give us resolutions that bring honor and glory to Your Holy Name. Speak to our hearts, and reveal any habit, behavior, character trait, or relationship that would prevent us from receiving our reward of Eternal Life. Lord, give us the strength to persevere through our challenges, and teach us how to distinguish Your Voice from our thoughts and other voices. Jesus, we look forward to the day when You will come again. In faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.