“Behold, I am the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me. (Jeremiah 32:27).
Brothers and sisters when we surrender ourselves to follow Jesus Christ, His power is unlimited! Preparing for eternal life one day at a time. Peace and Blessings.
Redirecting our faith and focus from our challenges to God’s Sovereign and Unlimited Power proves that we believe God is who He says He is, “I Am that I Am!”
Elisha Prays, “Lord, Open His Eyes”
“Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, ‘I will set up my camp in such and such a place.'”
9 “The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: ‘Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.’ 10 So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.”
11 “This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, ‘Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?'”
12 “‘None of us, my lord the king,’ said one of his officers, ‘but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.'”
13 “Go, find out where he is,’ the king ordered, ‘so I can send men and capture him.’ The report came back: ‘He is in Dothan.’ 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.”
15 “When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?’ the servant asked.”
16 “‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.'”
17 “And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
18 “As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, ‘Strike this army with blindness.’ So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.” (2 Kings 6:8-18, NIV).
This morning at 3 am, God awakened me to speak to my heart, and reminded me, that He is the God of all flesh, and nothing is too hard for Him.
God’s primary method of speaking to us is through the Holy Scriptures. Sadly, we have become too comfortable with only attending church once a week, and hearing second hand knowledge of who God is from others who dedicate their time and effort to studying God’s Holy Word.
Elisha was a great prophet, and in Biblical times, servants lived with their masters. Servitude was not like the atrocious enslavement that the Israelites suffered in Egypt.
Although Elisha’s servant had witnessed God perform countless miracles through His faithful and dedicated prophet, Elisha’s servant remained faithless.
How is it possible for someone to witness the power of God and still not believe?
“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).
To believe in God requires that our hearts are converted and we place 100% of our faith in God.
When challenges arise, instead of us thinking, What am I going to do? We immediately fall to our knees and pray for Divine Help, and in the same prayer, thank God for giving us the victory.
Why? Because we believe that God loves us, and we have a Heavenly Father Who is Sovereign and Omnipotent.
To have the faith and courage that God requires us to completely trust Him with our life. We relinquish self-reliance through daily surrender.
Whether we are facing dilemmas, or the routine duties of life, when we include God, we reveal that our love, loyalty, and trust is completely in Him.
“The joy of the Lord is my strength.” (Nehemiah 6:8).
It is wonderful to awaken with a mind filled with peace, joy, and happiness. Involving God in every aspect of our lives is a faith-building activity that removes all doubts, fears, anxieties, and worries.
From our willingness to trust and obey God, Christ promises to shower us with His greatest spiritual blessings of steadfast faith, courage, wisdom, discernment, endurance, and perseverance, which is required to run the Christian race and win.
Steadfast faith in God redirects our focus to God’s power instead of the circumstances. We can only live as Victorious Overcomers, if we stop trusting in our limited abilities.
How important is faith in God? Faith in God is the foundation of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Faith, or the lack of faith also determines our destiny.
Reflection: If we did not honor and revere God with steadfast faith in our earthly lives, can we expect to spend eternity with God?
If we did not trust God on Earth, it would also be impossible to trust Him in Heaven.
The character that we develop on Earth must reveal steadfast Faith and the attributes of the Character of Christ, written in Galatians 5:22-23 to receive Eternal Life.
Yes, we were given a mustard seed size faith, but God expects our faith to strengthen and experience growth based on our belief in His Sovereign Power, which requires knowledge of His Divine Character.
Our daily personal worship should consist of prayer and studying the Bible. The Scriptures feed our faith. The same God who parted the Red Sea and the Jordan River says, “I do not change! Trust Me.”
Those who trust in God are empowered with the Divine Strength of Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit.
Trusting God with your life produces spiritual growth and development. Not only will you begin to perceive life through spiritual eyes, but your character will also change to reflect the Righteousness of Christ.
David’s prayer reveals that humility, surrender, and obedience is worship: “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.” (Psalm 34:4, 6).
Preparing for Eternal Life One Day At a Time
Lord God, we come to You on bended knees, seeking Your forgiveness for redirecting our faith and trust from You to ourselves, and for not studying your Holy Scriptures. Lord, we confess that our faith is weak because we have failed to worship you in Spirit and Truth. We ask you for strength, wisdom, and discernment. And we thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).
In the Four Gospels of the New Testament, we find that Jesus reiterates the command for us to love God, the Father with all that we have.
Loving God is a personal desire and requires a daily commitment to put Him first. Heartfelt love for God is the catalyst required to serve Him with honor and reverence.
How is this accomplished when we face countless distractions, crammed schedules, and great responsibilities?
Loving God motivates us to modify our lifestyle by establishing boundaries. We do not let people, or pleasure seeking activities interfere with obeying God, which is our highest worship.
Christian Believers Are Followers of Christ
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ ” (John 14:6).
Jesus Christ, God, the Son is not only our Savior and Redeemer, but He is also our Intercessor receiving every prayer, and our Mediator bridging the spiritual chasm between God, the Father and ourselves.
The commitment to follow Christ requires living a sacrificial life. Since God’s goal is to give us Eternal Life, we do not waste our daily gift of time to pursue wealth, success, and material possessions [Study Matthew 6].
Separating ourselves to reflect on our daily blessings and our lives reveals that God has faithfully kept His promises to sustain us.
Worshiping God in Spirit and Truth
When our hearts are converted, we are loyal to God, continuously fighting against the spiritual warfare of distractions and the internal drive of self-seeking gratification.
Loving God requires our time. We should not try to squeeze God into a busy schedule, but from the moment we awaken, God receives the first fruits of our time.
Worship Is a Lifestyle: Recently, I did a big chop eliminating activities that contributed nothing to my spiritual and personal growth.
In Ephesians 6, the Apostle Paul tells us that we face many unseen dangers and the Great Controversy of Good and Evil.
“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Whisper short prayers silently, or audibly throughout the day. Prayer keeps us connected to Christ whose guidance, wisdom, and strength, we desperately need.
Active participation in our journey of spiritual transformation requires at least one hour every day in personal worship.
The ideal way to stay close to Christ is through morning and evening worship.
In the morning, we come to the Throne of Grace to pray for God’s plans to be revealed and to receive the Divine strength to fulfill His plans.
Evening worship gives us the opportunity to reflect on the given day, and express gratitude for the many victories, including the safe-keeping of ourselves and our family.
We should not limit expressing gratitude for God’s never-ending love, faithfulness, and the blessing of keeping us safe from spiritual and physical harm to only twice-a-day.
To live as Overcomers, we must stay connected to Christ. We ask God for the wisdom to distinguish His voice from the countless voices including our thoughts that would deter us from fulfilling His will.
The Holy Spirit keeps us on the Path of Righteousness by speaking to us through our thoughts, conscience, and the Holy Scriptures.
By any means necessary, put God first! Preparation for worshiping God eternally requires forming a lifestyle of worship in our earthly lives.
We serve a Loving, Protective, and Faithful Heavenly Father who deserves our honor, glory, and praise.
In the Book of Psalms, King David teaches us to praise God continuously for His many blessings. Our praise keeps us connected to Christ who gives us the strength to persevere.
Lord God, for guiding, protecting, and correcting us, we thank You. For giving us Your Son, Jesus Christ who redeemed and rescued us from sin’s outcome, we thank You. And for revealing your Ultimate Plan in Revelation to give us Eternal Life, we thank You. With praise and gratitude, we ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Prayer Guidelines: Acknowledge God’s Sovereignty; Live by His Righteous Commands and Principles; Ask God to Reveal His Will and Plans; Ask for Spiritual and Physical Nourishment; Always Ask for the Forgiveness of Sins; Tell God You Forgive Others Who Intentionally Mistreat You; Immediately Call for Jesus’ Help When Facing Temptations; Acknowledge that God is the Sovereign Ruler and Authority Over the Universe.
Our prayers should not be limited to these principles. Go to your secret place, and pray honest prayers, casting all of your burdens at the feet of Jesus.
There are many other specific needs that we have. Our Shepherd cares about every aspect of our lives. Make your prayers personal. Talk to Jesus as if He is your best friend because He is.
Lord God, we thank You for the privilege of Prayer. We thank You for the invitation to come to the Throne of Grace in our time of need. And God spiritually, we were always in need. As we redirect our faith and focus to You on this Holy Sabbath Day, we ask for the forgiveness of our sins, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, and anoint us with the Holy Spirit. Lord, we also ask You to give us the Triple Blessings of peace, rest from the stressors of this world, and the renewal and restoration of our minds, bodies, and souls. We thank You for the gift of 24 hours, in which we can reflect on Your amazing Love and Faithfulness. We desperately need Your Divine Help to make it through this journey of life. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.
“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).
When facing challenges, the immediate response of praying reveals that our faith and trust is in the Sovereign Power of God. ‘The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.’ ” (Proverbs 18:10).
Approaching the Throne of Grace not only reveals our willingness to surrender to God in total dependency, but demonstrates our cooperation with the Holy Spirit to actively participate in our journey of daily spiritual growth and transformation.
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).
If our challenges produce the immediate emotional response of “What am I going to do?” then God has revealed that our faith is redirected from God to ourselves.
“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7).
“This is what the LORD says: ‘Cursed is the person who trusts humans, who makes flesh and blood his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.’ ” (Jeremiah 17:5, GWT).
Trusting in human knowledge to resolve our problems also reveals that we are practicing self-reliance, which spiritually disconnects us from God.
As an employer expects employees to learn and adhere to the company’s policies and procedures, God also requires us to live by His Righteous Principles and Commandments found in His word, the Holy Scriptures.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7).
The decision to use our faith to trust and obey God by totally relying on Him to direct our steps is the commitment that will be rewarded with a Crown of Life when Jesus comes again.
Lord God, we thank You for being a Loving Heavenly Father. We approach the Throne of Grace because we desperately need Your help to and stay on the Path of Righteousness. We ask for Your Divine Help to resolve our challenges. We are following Your command to use our faith to trust in You and not to use our limited wisdom. Lord, we thank You for giving us the victory, and ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus, Amen.
23 “Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while He was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. ‘By what authority are you doing these things?’ they asked. ‘And who gave you this authority?’ “
24 Jesus replied, ‘I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 “John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin? ‘ “
“They discussed it among themselves and said, ‘If we say, From heaven, He will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.’ “
27 “So they answered Jesus, ‘We don’t know.’ Then he said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’ “
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).
The commitment to follow Christ has always required surrender and faithful obedience to His authority, which was given to Him by God, the Father.
When we fail to consecrate and commit ourselves to God through daily personal worship, our thoughts and actions supersede our spoken words.
But what we do not understand is that we are questioning God’s Authority, which places us in wilful rebellion against God’s Sovereignty.
“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8, NIV). Jesus’s earthly life reveals that obedience to God is non-negotiable.
Remain Faithful to God
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” (Proverbs 3:3-4).
Never Trust Your Own Thoughts
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Reverence God Through a Spirit of Humility
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones” (Proverbs 3:7).
Embrace God’s Promise of His Faithfulness
“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).
Honor God’s Sovereignty, Because He Is God
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the LORD. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’ ” (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Our Allegiance and Loyalty Is To God, or To Ourselves
Reflection: By whose authority are you living your life? Every day, we choose our destiny, our choices and lifestyles reveal if we are obeying God, or not.
If we live according to our thoughts and desires, then we choose to forfeit our reward of The Crown of Life. Our only reward will be whatever we pursued and accomplished in our earthly lives.
Jesus’ Promise To the Faithful
“To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with Me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21, NIV).
Bible Study: Revelation 19, 21-22
Lord God, we ask forgiveness for the sins of self-reliance and disobedience. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness, and remove the stubbornness in our hearts. We desperately need Your Holy Spirit to baptize our hearts, and minds, so we can see life through spiritual eyes, and live a sacrificial life of obedience. Lord, we consecrate our lives to follow Jesus Christ, our Shepherd, and ask for the daily Spiritual strength, wisdom, and discernment required to live as overcomers. God, we acknowledge that You are the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, and ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of our Triumphant King, Jesus, Amen.
“Be holy, for I Am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16). “Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11, NLT).
As a child, we received God’s blessing of growing up in a Christian home. My mother gave us the simple, but profound explanation that Halloween did not honor God, and we live to honor and obey God.
From a spiritual perspective, there is no reason to offer an alternative to Halloween, in the attempt to pacify children. God expects parents to teach their children the difference between what is Holy and unholy.
The Steadfast Decision is ours to Choose: Compromised Christianity, or Receiving Our Crown of Life.
“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, NLT).
For the next 24 hours, immerse yourself in the Holy Scriptures, asking the Holy Spirit to empower you with wisdom, discernment, and the strength to apply God’s Righteous Principles to your life.
In 2 Timothy 3, the Apostle Paul described the time we are living in, The Last Days. To keep moving forward in our spiritual journey with Christ, we must be anchored to Christ through the study of the Bible, and much prayer.
Lord God, we pray and ask for the wisdom to see life through spiritual eyes. We know that You are coming soon, and Lord, we ask You to give us direction, so we stay on the Path of Righteousness. We ask for a double blessing on this Holy Sabbath. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Righteous Name of Jesus, Amen.
“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.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding]. (John 16:33, Amplified Bible)
The External Opposition
“Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” (Deuteronomy 20:3-4).
God’s Answer: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7, NIV).
Spiritual Warfare is invisible to the human eye, still every believer is targeted. In the Great Controversy of Good and Evil, we are the focus. Satan uses people and temptations to fulfill His schemes in the attempt to separate us from God.
Internal Conflict: Our Minds [Hearts] Are the Battlefield
Internal: “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Since it is easier to choose wrong, we must pray to overcome our heart’s desires, which are never satisfied.
“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.” (James 1:14 NLT)
Though we can never be coerced to sin against God, every temptation is customized according to our desires and habits. Satan is not Omniscient, therefore he cannot read our minds, but he observes our habits and hears our spoken words.
The battles of Spiritual Warfare and the Desires of our Hearts are lifelong battles for which we desperately need Divine Strength to overcome!
The Struggle Is Real, but Victory Is Sure Through Jesus Christ
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12).
Although Satan has not changed his deceptive strategies since the Garden of Eden, his knowledge and wisdom supersedes human knowledge.
Yes, we were created in the Image of God, still, we were created lower than the angels. We cannot fight Satan, formerly known as Lucifer, the highest ranking angel, without the strength of Jesus, the Commander of Angel Armies.
True heart conversion reveals itself by acknowledging, “I was created to depend on God.”
Without involving God in our battles, we place ourselves in a spiritual dilemma, because we cannot win the war within, or the invisible warfare, without asking Jesus Christ, our Mighty Warrior for His Divine Help.
We Must Live As Prayer Warriors
“To pray without ceasing” means to pray continuously throughout our day for Spiritual wisdom, discernment, guidance, and strength. Prayer keeps us connected to Christ.
“The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:14).
The key to Victory is to possess a spirit of humility, always realizing your limitations. Before responding, or making decisions, always hesitate, and pray.
“Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7). To build our faith, and test our obedience, there is always a waiting period when we pray for Divine Help. Resist the urge to help God.
“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14, NLT).
Who can fight against Christ, our Mighty Warrior and win?
God’s Promise: “I will answer them before they even call to Me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” (Isaiah 65:24, NLT).
Bible Study: Exodus 14, 2 Chronicles 20, Psalm 37
Lord God, in these continuous Battles of Life, we desperately need Your Divine Help. We ask for the wisdom to use self-control when facing external opposition and internal conflict by persevering and waiting until you provide resolution. Lord, we thank You for Your Amazing Love and Divine protection. We ask this prayer in faith, and with joyful anticipation, we know that You will give us the victory. In Jesus’ Powerful Name, we pray, Amen.
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