The Believer’s Identity: We Are Sons and Daughters, Heirs of The Living God

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26). This conversation between God, the Father, and God, Jesus, His Son, reveals the Christian believer’s identity.

In John chapter 17, Jesus prays for Himself, His twelve disciples, and His future disciples, which included everyone who accepts Christ as their personal Savior.

“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, ‘Follow Me!’ And he got up and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9, NASB).

Matthew’s silence and his decision to abandon his corrupt job and lifestyle revealed that deep within his heart, he desired to give up sinful habits and follow Jesus Christ on an unknown spiritual journey.

Reflection: Do we perceive ourselves as committed disciples who desire to follow Christ with love, loyalty, and obedience?”

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). Yet for the Holy Spirit to live in us, we must fulfill God’s Spiritual Qualifier: “Be holy, for I AM Holy.” (1 Peter 1:16). How does holiness affect the minds and lives of true believers?

Can you imagine being invited to an event requiring formal evening wear, only to hear in the closing remarks an invitation to play volleyball in your finest clothing? As absurd as this sounds, many believers accept Christ as their personal Savior, but engage in the world’s sinful, filthy habits.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8). To be clothed with Christ’s Righteousness, we must renounce sinful thoughts, habits, behaviors, and spoken words, and live a Christ-centered, Faith-based life of daily surrender and obedience.

Since we cannot live holy without Divine Power, through daily personal worship, we establish a heart-to-heart relationship with Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit begins the lifelong process of Spiritual growth and transformation. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).

Every day, our priority is to renew our spiritual commitment to follow Christ, which connects us to our Shepherd and reinforces our status as Sons and Daughters of God. We ask God to reveal His plans for the new day, and the Holy Spirit instructs and gives us guidance on fulfilling God’s Will.

Yes, God knows that we have jobs and the routine duties of life to take care of, yet we are commanded to put God first. Time Management is God’s Specialty. With His guidance, we can accomplish our daily tasks and still have time and energy to fulfill our spiritual assignments.

The Challenge of Remaining Faithful and Obedient to God, Our Father

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). As Sons and Daughters of God, we have a spiritual requirement to always obey God. We honor God’s Sovereign Authority through faithful obedience because He is God, our Father, who loves us, and we love Him because we are His heirs.

“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23, NIV). Always pray for Divine guidance before making decisions. Although the challenge can appear insignificant, following our thoughts and solutions is disobedience to God, “I say, ‘My purpose will stand.'” (Isaiah 46:10).

When we love and honor God, how can we justify playing the Game of Chance by trying to resolve our challenges, which can result in escalation and consequences that we can avoid by asking God for the answers?

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9). God is always faithful! Each new day brings unknown obstacles, temptations, and dangers that only our Protective Heavenly Father knows and can resolve. 

Pray, Wait for God’s Answer, and Obey: Dependency on God is not a burden when we desire to follow Christ with love, loyalty, and faithful obedience. Obedience is the worship that keeps us aligned with God’s Will because God’s Intervention always ends in Victory!

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, NIV). Without Christ, we are no match for Satan. Praying for Spiritual Guidance keeps us aligned with God’s plans and invites Jesus, our Mighty Warrior, to send angels to intervene when we face daily unknown obstacles, temptations, and dangers.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1, NIV).

As children of God, we maintain our spiritual connection with Christ through Prayer and Bible Study. Every day, we pray for God’s Will to be revealed, relying on the Holy Spirit to instruct us in our Heavenly Father’s plans for each new day.

In John chapter 10, Jesus tells a parable of the loving and tender relationship between a shepherd and his sheep: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27). “But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” (John 10:5, NIV).

Not only are we bombarded by the world’s voices, promising that if we follow their suggestions, our lives will improve and we will live peaceful and contented lives, but we must also fight against thinking our own thoughts [Proverbs 3:5-7] and Satan’s temptations.

Let go of self-reliance! To avoid embracing Satan’s schemes, we must do as Jesus did in His earthly life; Jesus prayed continuously. Whisper prayers at work and throughout the day and night. Always pray for Spiritual Wisdom and Discernment, and the Holy Spirit will empower you with spiritual insight and guide your steps.

Loving God and Following Christ With Surrender Is A Daily Choice

In Matthew 22:37, Jesus reiterates the command given in the Old Testament to love God with immense love: “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5).

When we love God with our all, we will not hesitate to pray and obey our Heavenly Father, who loves us and desires to give us our best lives, including the reward of Eternal Life. Yet, we were created with free will, and we must choose to obey God, which reveals the true condition of our hearts.

Many believers have their own agendas, plans, and goals, never considering that we must love and obey God by following Christ, our Shepherd. Sadly, if we refuse to surrender, then we have chosen to disinherit ourselves as Sons and Daughters of God, for which there is no reward, except the life we are living now.

“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind.” (Jeremiah 17:9, ESV). “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21, ESV). Since it is impossible to hide secrets from God, He knows who genuinely loves Him and desires to surrender and obey His Will and Perfect Plans.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” (John 14:6, NIV). When we love God, we strive to follow our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, with faithful obedience. Jesus tells us that He is the Living Water and the Bread of Life, and that we should seek Him daily through Prayer and Bible Study.

“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). As Sons and Daughters of God, accepting our spiritual identity is the catalyst for making definitive changes. We no longer participate in worldly habits and behaviors, and our thoughts and spoken words reveal God’s Love.

Using our faith to trust and obey our Heavenly Father, we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, who performs the lifelong, daily spiritual process of Sanctification—Spiritual growth and transformation into the Righteousness of Christ.

By studying the Holy Scriptures, we learn Christ’s Character and how to live righteously. Prayer invites God, the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Truth and our Teacher, to give us spiritual wisdom and discernment of God’s One and Only Truth, instructs us on how to recognize Jesus’ Guiding Voice, and empowers us to stay on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.

God Speaks With a Quiet and Peaceful Voice: The Holy Spirit conveys God’s messages through our thoughts and the Holy Scriptures. God meets us where we are spiritually; His instructions are clear and concise, so that even a child can understand.

John 16:13: “When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth…” (The Holy Spirit reveals truth and direction). We recognize the difference between human thoughts and God’s higher thoughts and ways, because His instructions always glorify and honor His Holy Name.

From eliminating distractions and putting God First, we will see ourselves through spiritual eyes as Sons and Daughters of the Most-High God. Jesus, our Savior and Triumphant King, is preparing us [through the Holy Spirit] to receive the Eternal Reward of our Forever Home in the New Heaven and New Earth with Abba, God, our Father, and Jesus, our Triumphant King. Hallelujah! Yes and Amen!

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh…those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16, 21-25).

Lord God, with surrender, we acknowledge that we are the temple of the Living God, in which the Holy Spirit resides. Today, we accept our identity as Your Sons and Daughters, with the commitment to strive every day for righteousness by not embracing the darkness of worldviews or following the path of self-gratification. Lord, it is only through your strength that we can remain faithful, and today, we ask for Your Strength. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Powerful Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

© 2026 STEPS 2 Success With Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Remember the Sabbath – Exodus 20:8-11 – Prayer

Lord God, As we worship and honor You on Your Holy Sabbath Day, we ask for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This week has drained us physically, mentally, and emotionally. We thank You for renewing us during our daily morning worship. Lord, from ceasing our secular activities in obedience to Your Commandment, we ask for a double portion of the blessings of wisdom, discernment, and restoration. Refresh us spiritually, as we eat the Bread of Life and drink from the Well of Living Water. With love and faith, we ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Why Worry? The Future Belongs to God

“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24).

Why do we worry about the future? The only future event we should be preparing for is found in John 14:1-3 and Revelation 22:12.

Choosing to be grateful is a daily commitment, revealing that we are following Jesus’ Commandment to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Gratitude changes our perception of life from “I want” to “God has given me everything that I need for today.” Our most frequent prayer should be, Thank You, God, which reveals that we honor and revere The Giver of all good gifts.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17, CSB).

Reflecting on our blessings and whispering, Thank You, God is an intentional act of worship, recognizing that our Heavenly Father is always faithful and loves us unconditionally.

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.'” (Hebrews 13:5, BSB).

The future belongs to God. Praise and worship Him for the gift of today! Yes and Amen!

LORD God, thank You for this new day that offers new challenges and abundant opportunities. Thank You, for Your Ruach breath flowing through our lungs. And Thank You, that we are not hungry, can care for ourselves, and if not, we thank You for dedicated caregivers. With this new day, we recognize that our minds are alert and oriented, and with gratitude, we say, Hallelujah for Your Faithfulness! Lord, most importantly, we humbly bow, thanking You for the gift of Jesus Christ, who has redeemed us from the deathly consequences of sin. With immense gratitude, we pray in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

© 2026 STEPS 2 Success With Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Do Not Trust Your Thoughts – Pray, Wait, and Obey

Our backgrounds and life experiences have a major influence on the way we perceive others and situations.

Regardless of our knowledge, educational achievements, and stage of life, human reasoning, is still human and capable of misjudging people, circumstances, and Satan’s highly effective deceptions.

All of us have ignored God’s warning not to trust our thoughts when making decisions. We may think that we are capable of recognizing situations that place us in harm’s way, but statistics prove otherwise.

“God would surely have known it, for He knows the secrets of every heart.” (Psalm 44:21, NLT).

Relationships are absolute proof that the person that you thought you knew was actually a fabricated persona: The individual skillfully creates a false identity, deceiving others into believing the fake personality is who they really are.

“When pride is in our hearts, we feel important, confident, self-sufficient, and in need of nothing, which causes us to neglect our relationship with God.”

How can we avoid [life-changing] mistakes and consequences? God’s answer: “Do not be wise in your own eyes.” (Proverbs 3:7).

Do not trust your knowledge, strategies, emotions, or rely on your perception of an individual or presenting situation without praying for God’s guidance.

God never pressures us to make an immediate decision. The Bible tells us to pray and wait on the Lord [Psalm 27:14].

Satan is skilled in presenting opportunities that are only available right now. Never trust in everything you think. And Never follow your heart! Pray, Wait, and Obey.

Always involve God before starting relationships, getting married, making large purchases such as homes and vehicles, engaging in financial transactions, starting a business, changing jobs, and before joining a church.

In fact, to avoid mistakes and negative consequences, pray and involve God in every decision. Yes, our Heavenly Father loves us and even cares about the little details of our lives.

How do we know that we have received God’s answer? ”

“For my own sake…I do this. How can I let myself be defamed. I will not yield my glory to another.” (Isaiah 48:11, NIV).

We know that it is God’s answer when the  instructions and solutions reveal His Righteousness and honors His Sovereign Authority. God always glorifies His Holy Name. Yes and Amen!

Lord God, we thank You for loving us so much that You want to be involved in every little detail of our lives. We desire to rely on Your guidance. Please forgive us for any prideful self-importance that has kept us from praying and asking You to reveal Your Will to us. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

© STEPS 2 Success With Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Let Your Words Be Seasoned With Salt, Representing Christ

We live in tense times, where emotions easily escalate. Yet as followers of Christ, every thought and every spoken word must reflect God’s Love and Grace.

The following Devotional Video is Bible-based and encouraging.

God Is Love And God Loves You

“Because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.'” (1 Peter 1:16).

“God is pure Holiness, and when we come to Him, we must see Him as being Holy.”

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3, Amplified Bible).

“God is love. Love is His character. Love is the very essence of who He is. God is love, Jesus created us in His image (Gen. 1:27) to love and to desire love.”

“In Hebrew, one major word for love is hesed. This describes God’s covenant love for humankind, which encompasses traits of loyalty, protectiveness, steadfastness, and tenderness.”

“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). “God, the Father’s Love is revealed and given to humanity through Jesus Christ.”

The Holy Scriptures give us evidence of Jesus’ Divine Love for us. Each new day, we receive the phenomenal blessing of God’s Ruach breath, which keeps us alive.

Studying the Scriptures keeps us anchored in Christ. When life’s challenges and adversities arrive, our first response is a prayer for help. Faith and trust in God’s promises to help us gives us abundant peace, hope, and happiness.

“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).

The Christian journey results in a tough life that requires experiencing trials, overcoming temptations, and choosing every day to live a sacrificial life of self-denial, still Jesus commands us to be courageous:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9).

We have an unbreakable promise that God is with us. Daily surrender, prayer, and Bible Study strengthens our faith, keeps us connected to Christ, giving us comfort and peace despite our circumstances.

“How well do you know God’s Character and the history of His Divine Intervention?

Proof of God’s Faithfulness: The Bible gives us total access to the many stories of God’s intervention, protecting and rescuing the righteous from their enemies.

In fact, the Apostle Paul compares the Christian journey to a life of a soldier [Ephesians 6]. So we would never feel alone and discouraged, Jesus invites us to continuously ask Him for strength and help:

“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).

With God, victory is guaranteed, not only do we receive the spiritual strength to persevere and keep moving forward, Satan’s schemes are always defeated. Yes and Amen!

Reflection: What is our response to God’s Amazing and Endless Love? We respond with hearts that are filled with love, honor, and gratitude to God.

Yes, we have hope in God’s promises! On Calvary’s Cross, Jesus Christ won The Great Controversy between Good and Evil

Christian soldiers utilize prayer as our first response to every challenge. When personal worship is our priority, we receive angelic protection from seen and invisible spiritual dangers [Ephesians 6:10-13].

“For He will give his angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11).

From inviting Christ, our Savior and Triumphant King to have dominion in our lives, we receive the promise that all of Heaven is committed to helping us to live as overcomers.

Everything Has Its Time: “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

In Revelation chapter 19, Jesus reveals how He will remove sin and wickedness. Despite the escalation of evil on this earth, God’s loving promises give us hope, peace, and contentment.

“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). Loving God is the foundation of our relationship with Jesus Christ.

With joyful anticipation, we have this hope that we will live eternally with our Triumphant King forever in the New Heaven and New Earth. Hallelujah! Amen!

Lord God, for this new day of life and for the Holy Sabbath, we praise your Holy Name. We rejoice because Your promises are steadfast and You are always faithful. We are so grateful that You never change. Thank You for giving us Spiritual Stability, which strengthens our faith, and releases all of our anxieties and worries. We honor and revere Your Sovereign Authority and in faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

© 2026 STEPS 2 Success With Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Growing Closer to Christ – Striving For The Best Spiritual Health

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” (3 John 1:2)

Strive For The Best Spiritual Health: Christ created us to live in harmony with God’s Laws of Health. Our mental, emotional, and physical health impacts our spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2).

The concept “We are what we eat” is a reality, yet healthy intake extends beyond nutrients [food]. Every day, we use our Five Senses [sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch] to either build or tear down our Spiritual Health.

Satan entices us by appealing to our Senses; still, it is our hearts’ desires that propel us to say yes to temptation. “The mind influences the body and the body influences the mind.” We are shaped by what we watch, listen to, the habits we practice, and the people in our inner circle of family and friends.

God’s Standard for Believers: “Be holy, for I am Holy.” (1 Peter 1:16).

Because we live in a time when Satan has used digital and virtual platforms to covertly present compromising entertainment, many Christians are being deceived and engaging in sinful activities.

For example, I prefer playing logic games, so I chose one that had good reviews. All was well until it wasn’t. As I advanced to higher levels, I noticed an unusual number of words related to the occult, mythology, and criminal activity. And the Ads progressed from family appropriate to covert but suggestive immorality.

Although I diligently pray and study the Bible every day, I was focused on the game, which was challenging, and I had achieved a high score; I gradually became desensitized to the content. I thought, “It’s only a game, I don’t believe in those false teachings.”

Yahweh Nissi—Jesus Christ, Our Mighty Warrior Against Satan’s Deceptions

“I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8, BSB).

Jesus loves and protects those who love Him. On the day I dismissed the game’s promotion of false teachings, during evening worship, the Holy Spirit spoke to me, “Do not love the things of this world.” And yes, I knew that I had a decision to make: Obey God and let go of the game, or continue in disobedience.

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.” (1 John 2:15, NLT).

In 2026, Blended Christianity, the integration of “soft” worldly activities, has been accepted and is being practiced by many believers:

Hanging out with people who acknowledge that God exists, but do not serve Him, watching programming and playing games with violence, sexual content, or gambling, listening to secular music [Rock, Jazz, R&B, etc.], taking sleep gummies, recreational drugs, alcoholic drinks, using profanity, and the list is endless.

“Moral perfection is required of all believers. We should never lower the standard of Righteousness in order to satisfy our desires. We need to understand that nurturing character imperfections is wilfully sinning against God.”

Christ Is Our Righteous Standard and Role Model

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” (Galatians 5:16-17).

If unbelievers love and promote the activities, then we know they are not of God. Aggressive sports [hands-on contact], animal fights, parties with secular music, alcoholic beverages, and recreational use of marijuana, legal or not, are activities that will prevent us from receiving Eternal Life.

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). We may not agree, but Jesus loved us unconditionally, paying with His life to save our souls. We cannot afford to let this Earth’s temporary trinkets corrupt our minds, making us apathetic toward receiving our Crown of Life.

The habits and lifestyles that we practice now either allow the Holy Spirit to transform us [Sanctification] to live righteously forever in a loving and peaceful New Heaven and New Earth with God, or they do not.

Every aspect of our being, our thoughts, choices, activities, and friends must reflect God’s Holiness. And yes, it is a tough decision, but we cannot justify socializing with unbelieving family members. It is always the Christian who must compromise when they choose friends who do not follow Christ.

We must ask ourselves, Does this activity or individual represent the Righteousness of Christ? Pray before embracing fun and relaxing activities, and let God choose your friends.

Reflection: We cannot judge ourselves. Our lifestyle reveals if we are following Christ on the Narrow Path of Righteousness. Still, we should pray and ask God, “Does my heart and lifestyle represent the Righteousness of Christ?

“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).

Lord God, we ask You to reveal the habits, activities, friends, and family members who are preventing us from living holy and receiving our reward of Eternal Life. We ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to create a pure heart within us. As we honor Your Holy Sabbath, Lord, we ask for Your guidance, wisdom, and strength as we strive to live righteously. In faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Loving and Righteous Name, Amen.

© 2026 STEPS 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions Ministry

Knowing and Doing the Will of God

“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” (John 8:29)

The following are Sermon Notes on living a dedicated life of doing God’s Will. Every day, we must ask ourselves this profound question: “Am I really doing God’s Will?”

“Every moment of our lives, either we are living in the Will of God or we are living outside of the Will of God.”

“There is no middle ground. Either we are living a life of obedience to God or a life of disobedience to God.”

  1. “Is this decision consistent and in agreement with the Word of God?
  2. Is it a wise decision? If I do this, what will the consequences be?
  3. Can I honestly ask God to empower me to achieve this decision?
  4. Do I have God’s peace about this decision? Is it the right time?
  5. Is this decision consistent with the way God works? Is it consistent with the Scriptures?
  6. Does this decision or action represent who I am, a follower of Jesus Christ?
  7. Does this decision align God’s overall plan for my life?
  8. Does my action and conversation align with who I claim to be?
  9. Does my decision or action honor God? If you are thinking about doing something and you don’t have peace or cannot sleep, let it go.
  10. Will this decision result in unrest and regret for the rest of my life?
  11. Can I expect God to bless and reward me for making this decision?
  12. God has a purpose and plan for my life and He wants the best for me. Am I going to trust God with my life?”

The Believer’s Prayer of Repentance: “Lord, I have lived my entire life thinking my own thoughts and pleasing myself. And for this sin, I ask for forgiveness. I surrender my will to You and ask You to direct me in all my decisions for the remainder of my life. Lord, I want Your best plans for my life, and I am willing to change whatever needs to be changed. In faith, I ask this prayer in Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.”

© 2026 STEPS 2 Success With Spiritual Solutions Ministry