Adversity is part of suffering for Christ, who promised to give us the Divine strength to overcome. Nothing is too hard for God to resolve.
There are three facts you should always remember, God loves you, God has perfect plans for your life, and God, our Father resolves every challenge for your good and His glory.
We can identify with Christ’s sufferings, knowing that through Him, we will overcome. Our circumstances may not change, yet, we receive hope from receiving His Divine and Powerful Strength to keep moving forward one step at a time.
Will you allow God to fulfill His plans for your life? Character transformation is required to receive Eternal Life. Yes, we must endure trials, still, God never crushes us, which would serve no spiritual purpose.
“Are you in the midst of [what appears to be] hopeless circumstances? Jesus is gentle, patient, and kind, and He is not giving up on you; you can count on that!”
Our Triumphant King always gives us hope when we surrender to His will with faithful obedience. Praying in faith for Divine Help lifts our burdens. We do not have to figure anything out, God has the solution!
Prayer: Lord God, I want what you want for me. Please give me the strength to persevere through my hardships. Thank You for Your love and perfect plans. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Studying the Holy Scriptures reveals God’s Righteousness and His defining attributes of the Christian Character.
When we think of being “blessed,” our minds immediately think of prosperity, material possessions, and success, yet, Jesus refutes these earthly treasures by defining the righteous characteristics of the converted heart required to receive Eternal Life.
“I can come to Jesus just as I am, but I cannot stay just as I am.” Through daily personal worship, we consecrate ourselves to God through a prayer of surrender, and a renewed covenant to faithfully obey, and fulfill God’s plans for our lives.
Surrender invites the Holy Spirit to transform our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character, which is Sanctification.
Our spiritual goal is to “Separate Ourselves” from worldliness by following Christ on the Path of Righteousness.
“For it is written, ‘Be holy, for I Am Holy’ ” (1 Peter 1:16).
The Road to Living Holy is paved by the commitment to live a sacrificial life demonstrated by a spirit of humility, surrender, faith, trust, and obedience, only then can we possess the Fruit of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22-23].
“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.”
The Beatitudes: “He said:
3 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’
11 ‘Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you’ ” (Matthew 5:1-12).
Lord God, we pray for Your guidance and strength as we travel in this earthly journey of life. We desire spiritual growth and transformation and consecrate ourselves to pursue holiness. We are in need of the baptism of the Holy Spirit to cleanse our hearts from the innate drive to pursue worthless earthly treasures. In faith, we ask for Your Divine Help to keep us on the Narrow Path, in Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray, Amen.
Because we have embraced the worldview of self-reliance, believers are suffering from the same mental and emotional unrest as unbelievers who do not have true peace, joy, and happiness.
Faith is a gift from God. Sometimes we have to have a conversation with ourselves, asking, “What am I doing?” We were not created to function in a survival mode.
In John 16:33, Jesus warns us that staying on the Path of Righteousness is tough, yet, He tells us to be courageous because He will help us. Divine Strength is ours, when we ask for it.
Jesus is only a prayer away. Our prayers for God’s help are answered immediately! Stop carrying your burdens and give them to Jesus who promises, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Yes and Amen.
God is Sovereign, Omnipotent, Faithful, and a Loving Father. Trust Him with your life. Pray, Wait, Obey, and Persevere. Peace and Blessings.
Bible Study: Exodus 14 and 2 Chronicles 20.
Lord God, we desperately need Your help. We thank You in advance for Your Divine intervention and the victory we will receive. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray, Amen.
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.”
“For you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good and ready to forgive, and abundant in Mercy to all those who call upon You (Psalm 86:4- 5).
The book of Psalms reflects David’s love, faith, and trust in God. Throughout history, no musician, or songwriter can equal the heartfelt Psalms [Songs of Praise, Worship, and Petitions], which are prayers from the depths of David’s heart.
“In the day of my trouble I will call upon you, for you will answer me” (Psalm 86:7).
Many do not understand David’s prayers and feel that he was depressed. No, he understood God’s Love and Sovereign Authority, and the limitations of human effort to resolve life’s challenges.
David, the shepherd boy who played his harp in the fields was given the supernatural strength to kill bears and lions with his hands. Yes, young David tenderly cared for his sheep, matured into a mighty warrior, and was honored by God to become King over Judah and Israel, yet David was hated.
“O God, the proud have risen against me, and a mob of violent men have sought my life. Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to your servant. Show me a sign for good that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, because You Lord have helped me and comforted me” (Psalm 86:14, 16-17).
David’s petitions reveal an unwavering faith in God, reliance on the power of prayer, and the belief that humanity was created to depend on God, Jesus Christ, the Creator, therefore, he honored God by continuously crying out to Him for Divine help.
“For great Is Your mercy toward me” (Psalm 86:13).
We have received the mercies of a new day, will we pray and obey, or move ahead to fulfill our desires and plans? Sadly, many Christians have embraced the worldview of self-sufficiency resulting in the exclusion of God from their lives.
If our first response to challenges and adversity is to ask ourselves, “How am I going to resolve this?” then we have separated ourselves from God. Christ always prayed with the intent to seek and obey God, the Father’s will. [Read John 8:29].
The Bible teaches us that unless we love God more than ourselves, and like Christ, surrender daily by seeking His Divine will and plans, we will not receive the eternal reward that God desires to give us.
We accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior because we love and honor Him for His great sacrificial offering on Calvary’s Cross. Every day, we must remind ourselves that we desperately desire Jesus’ promise in John 14:1-3.
Yes, faith, reverence, and loyalty are fruits of a loving heart that readily acquiesces to God’s Sovereignty in total surrender and obedience.
“Teach me your way, O Lord” (Psalm 86:11).
God is Sovereign, Holy, Righteous, and Majestic, the angels cover their faces when worshiping Him. Daily surrender develops a spirit of humility, “God, not my will, but Your will be done” preparing us for a forever life of worship.
Our earthly lives are the only opportunity to invite the Holy Spirit to change our character into the Righteousness of Christ. Sanctification is performed by the Holy Spirit and is the spiritual process of mind, character, and personality transformation that requires a lifetime.
When our hearts are overflowing with love for God, our perception changes, and like David, we begin to cry out continuously with praise, worship, and petitions asking for Divine Help. Yes and Amen!
“Bow down your ear, O LORD, hear me; for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life…You are my God; Save your servant who trusts in You! (Psalm 86 1-2).
Lord God, we ask for forgiveness for not honoring you with the worship of surrender and obedience. Lord, we ask you to show us your mercy, and grant us Your salvation. We pray for Your guidance, which is the only way that we can stay on the Path of Righteousness. We ask this prayer in faith, and in the Sovereign Name of Jesus, our Triumphant King, Amen.
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him” (John 4:23).
Personal worship is a lifestyle of total surrender and faithful obedience to God. True heart conversion is manifested by seeking God’s will every day, we desire to please God because we love Him.
“He [Abraham] said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you’ ” (Genesis 22:5).
Abraham demonstrated an obedient response to God’s command to sacrifice, Isaac, his only son because he trusted God. Yes, it was the greatest test of Abraham’s faith, but Abraham believed that God would fulfill the promise He had given to him before Isaac was born.
From our devout love for God, the Father, and Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, we acquiesce to His Authority because He is God, the Sovereign Ruler of this universe who sustains our lives.
Through prayer, we ask for God’s plans to be revealed for our lives, and then we fulfill His plans through obedience and perseverance. God honors consistent worship, yet, the rejection of Cain’s sacrifice teaches us that we cannot offer God what we think He deserves.
From our willingness to surrender and obey, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through our thoughts, and the Scriptures, giving us the wisdom and guidance required to follow God’s plans, and to live righteously.
“But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6, Amplified Bible).
For personal worship, Jesus tells us to separate ourselves from everyone else. Personal worship should not include our cellular devices, or other people. Distractions prevent us from experiencing one-to-one communion in the presence of God.
God is Holy, and we reverence Him with the utmost respect. The power of God manifests itself through the Holy Spirit. We receive spiritual discernment, strength, and renewed endurance to run the Christian race, despite our obstacles.
Daniel prayed three times a day. When thrown into the lion’s den, Daniel’s faith remained strong because he believed that God is who He says He is, our Faithful, and Powerful Deliverer who promises us victory when we depend on Him.
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NLT).
Personal worship is the only way to maintain our relationship with Jesus Christ who covers us with His Righteousness. Worship begins in our hearts. From spending time with God, the Believers who consecrate themselves daily receive a life-changing experience from the Holy Spirit.
Eternal life will include worshiping God every day. Our earthly lives are the only opportunity that we have to establish the habit of honoring God through personal worship.
Because we live in perilous times, we desperately need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to overcome temptations, recognize false teachings, and to keep us the Path of Righteousness. We cannot fight spiritual warfare without angelic protection and intervention.
Many believers attend weekly church services, but never grow spiritually because they fail to maintain a heart-to-heart relationship with Jesus through the daily commitment of personal worship.
Ritualistic worship accomplishes nothing, we feel no remorse for our sinful lifestyles. One cannot experience spiritual growth from attending church once a week, which explains why many can live a double life of committing sin, but still attend church without feeling guilty.
Sanctification is the lifelong spiritual process of being transformed into the image of Christ. Daily worship invites the Holy Spirit to give us a deeper understanding of the Scriptures, and strengthen our faith in God.
Faithful obedience and surrender are the requisites for worshiping God in spirit and truth. Spiritual growth and maturity is the work of the Holy Spirit that requires our cooperation of humility, faith, and abiding in Christ through prayer and Bible study.
Praise and worship for God is manifested beyond external expression. We must love God more than ourselves. Love is the catalyst that propels us to present ourselves as a Living Sacrifice to God by exchanging our desires for His Perfect Plans.
“I appeal to you, brothers [and sisters], by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2, ESV me).
Lord God, we come to you in humility and surrender ready to fulfill your will and plans for our lives. We pray for guidance, wisdom, discernment, and the strength to persevere in our spiritual journey. We ask this prayer in the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.
“Through all our trials, we have a never-failing Helper who says, ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you.I love you with an everlasting love…'” (Jeremiah 31:3).
“He [Jesus] does not leave us alone to struggle with temptation, to battle with evil, and be finally crushed with burdens and sorrow.”
“The griefs that lie too deep to be breathed into any human ear, I know. Think not that you are desolate and forsaken.”
“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 filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]” (John 16:33, Amplified Bible).
Lord God, we desperately need Your strength as we travel through this journey of life. There are many believers who feel that You don’t love us, yet, You are who You say You are, a Righteous Refuge that we can run too, and receive help. Thank You for Your Abiding Love. We ask this prayer for help in the Worthy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
“Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:23-24).
The psalmist exclaims, “Love the Lord all you His saints.” Loving Christ is to live a life of daily consecration.
What is consecration? Consecration is the surrender of ourselves [our desires and plans] to God whose desire is for us to totally depend on Him by obeying His will and plans.
Consecration is not a one time decision, we must dedicate ourselves every day to God by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s plans to us. Obedience reveals our love and gratitude to God for each new day of abundant mercies.
Time with God in His presence through personal worship is the intentional decision to put God first, which requires a spirit of humility. Daily, we face the internal conflict of fulfilling our desires or following Christ.
Pride always separates us from God. It is the proud heart that demonstrates a lifestyle of self-seeking pleasures. Ritualistic worship of attending church, and even praying, and studying the Bible does not eliminate the sin of pride.
Surrender, humility, and faithful obedience reveals that we are ready to follow Christ who leads us on the Path of Righteousness when we cease pursuing our our thoughts and desires.
Following Christ as His disciple frees us from the bondage of sin. The Holy Spirit gives us comfort, spiritual wisdom, and discernment. From living a life of total reliance on God, our first response is a prayer of faith asking for Divine help when facing challenges.
“But I trust in the Lord, I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities…” (Psalm 31:6-7).
The righteous can rejoice! Trusting in God is rewarded with the gift of peace that permeates our mind, body, and soul. To be in right standing with God allows us to live with courage.
Yes, we have the assurance that Jesus, our Mighty Warrior will defend us when facing spiritual warfare, and resolve all adversity with His Miraculous Power. Yes, the faithful place their faith, trust, and hope in Jesus Christ.
“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39).
When facing storms, the righteous cry out, Jesus, help me! From placing our faith and trust in our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, He leads us to peaceful pastures, and restores our joy.
“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).
Living a Most Wonderful Life without fear, anxieties, or worries is God’s Divine plan for every believer.
Placing our confidence in God’s steadfast love goes beyond our earthly challenges, Jesus promises the faithful, To those who overcome will receive the Crown of Life when He comes again. Hallelujah! Yes and Amen.
Lord God, Great is your faithfulness! We give you the honor, glory, and praise that You rightfully deserve. Lord, we thank You for loving and caring for us. Thank you for giving us victory over our challenges. All that we need, You have provided. Thank you, Heavenly Father. With gratitude, we ask this prayer, in the Loving Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
You must be logged in to post a comment.