God loves us – Page 33 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

You Choose Your Final Destiny

The Believer’s Prayers of Self-Examination

The Believer’s Prayers of Self-Examination Devotional Reading July 31, 2023

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” —2 Corinthians 13:5

Every day with prayer and meditation, we ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the inner condition of our hearts. Only a committed believer who desires to be steadfast and faithful to God will pray these continuous prayers of total surrender.

It is indeed a humbling experience to examine ourselves using God’s Righteous principles as our standard. With deep introspection of our minds, characters, and lifestyles, we die daily to sin by placing ourselves on the altar of sacrifice to shun evil and go all the way with Christ.

The Amplified Bible says, “Test and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as [committed] believers.” —2 Corinthians 13:5, [first part]

Five characteristics reveal whether or not our relationship with Christ is growing and developing.

Our love for God is demonstrated by putting Him first. The time we spend every day in God’s presence through worship reveals our love and the desire to fully surrender our hearts and lives.
We are faithful and obedient by always praying for His will to be revealed through the Holy Spirit. We receive God’s blessings because our decisions are in alignment with His plans.
Our lifestyle reveals that we are striving for holiness. We let go of all worldly behaviors and relationships. Yes, we will fall, but with a repentant heart, we confess, ask for forgiveness, and continue to persevere by moving forward.
We study the Holy Scriptures under the guidance of our Teacher, the Holy Spirit, praying for discernment and the wisdom to apply the word of God to our lives.
We pray continuously throughout our waking hours —prayers of thanksgiving, prayers asking for Divine Intervention and Guidance, and the spiritual strength to overcome temptation.

When we are living for ourselves [still participating in worldly activities], yet attend church weekly, give tithe and offerings, and work in the church’s outreach ministries once or twice a month, but our prayer life and Bible study are inconsistent, the waters of our thought processes become muddy.

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” —Matthew 26:41

Yes, we love God, but we also love the things of the world! Our minds end up in a spiritual conflict that we cannot resolve—we are easily led astray because the desires of our hearts have led to spiritual blindness.

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” —James 4:3

The sins that we consider to be insignificant are the very sins that separate us from God. Chasing our dreams, disliking others, watching programs with profanity and sexual content, spending money on frivolous things, relaxing for hours on social media, online gambling, using recreational drugs or sipping on a glass of wine, working overtime to the point of exhaustion, unhealthy diets, and relationships with unbelievers are some of the sins that we overlook because they are enjoyable.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” —1 John 2:15

We measure ourselves by using unbelievers as the standard and console ourselves that our activities do not compare to the wickedness of the world. Sadly, we think all is well. But our appreciation of holiness disappears. Sometimes we fall into a routine of going through the motions of religious practices, but our thoughts and goals are influenced by worldly values.

Losing the ability to differentiate between truth and error, our relationship with Christ becomes stagnant. Eventually, we lose the desire to pray and consecrate ourselves to God. Focusing on a lifestyle of pleasing ourselves distracts us from recognizing the warning signs from the Holy Spirit that our relationship with Christ is failing.

Our spiritual decline continues because we have created a middle ground of compromise that prevents us from putting God first. We say that we love God, but no longer strive to live a faithful and obedient life. Jesus calls our status lukewarm [Revelation 3:14-18].

Something happens when we are caught in the middle—we begin to manipulate our prayers. In fact, “Manipulation of prayers is a covert tactic used by many Christians who enjoy the pleasures of sin.” The wording of our prayers change so the Holy Spirit does not have the opportunity to convict us of our sins.

Last Sabbath, I listened to the testimony of a young Christian woman who revealed that she intentionally manipulated her prayers. To avoid feeling conviction for her sinful actions, she carefully chose words that only expressed feelings of gratitude toward God, or she asked for material blessings. She admitted that her prayers never acknowledged or included the confession and repentance of her sins.

“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” —Isaiah 59:2

As time passed, she became discouraged which rapidly progressed to hopelessness. From studying the Bible, she knew that she was in a place of spiritual darkness that almost stopped her from serving God. Yet, she decided to pray a final prayer, asking for help from the Holy Spirit who revealed that her persistence of sinful activities led to her separation from God.

But Satan did not want to release her from sin’s bondage. Instead of feeling joy and peace from God’s forgiveness, she faced a mental and emotional roadblock. Although this young woman was aware of God’s love and immediate forgiveness, she was unable to move forward due to the thoughts of overwhelming guilt.

She began to ask herself, “How did I get to the point in my life where I manipulated my prayers to avoid the conviction of sin? I pretended to be a steadfast Christian, and lived a double life in front of my family.” Her past actions prevented her from embracing the promises of God’s forgiveness and complete restoration. After much self-humiliation, she disclosed her dilemma to her father who recommended that she study the book of Psalms.

The Psalms reveal David’s spiritual, mental, and emotional real-life struggles that Christian believers face today. Our nature is sinful! The thoughts, habits, and spoken words that we overlook and fail to perceive as sinful persist because we judge ourselves using unbelievers as our standard instead of Christ.

King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and ordered for her husband to be placed on the frontline in battle [knowing he would be killed]. Have you ever wondered why David did not feel guilt over his actions? Pride led him to believe that as a King he was entitled to everything he desired without boundaries.

Certainly, David continued to pray after committing these heinous sins, but most likely manipulated his prayers so he would not be convicted of his sins. Even so, God is Holy and Righteous! The prophet Samuel anointed David as king when he was a teenage boy. David was in his early 30s and the prime of his life when he became king. Still, a Righteous God did not tolerate, nor would God overlook the King’s open sins without confession and repentance.

God extended mercy to David by giving him an opportunity to repent. God revealed David’s sins to the prophet Nathan who used a parable to disclose to David that God was aware of his sins. “Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight?” (2 Samuel 12:9a). Until David was approached by the prophet Nathan [Study 2 Samuel chapters 11 and 12], he felt no remorse for his sins of adultery and premeditated murder.

The Confession: “So David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.” —2 Samuel 12:13. “For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight…” —Psalm 51:3-4

King David’s prayer of repentance is recorded in Psalm chapter 51. Like David, many believers have embraced sinful habits and fail to pray for repentance. Every day they manipulate their prayers to reflect gratitude or to make requests from God but fail to pray prayers of surrender, confession, and repentance because they do not want to be convicted of the sins they enjoy.

Day by Day and moment by moment, our lifestyles, spoken words, and habits either reflect our sinful desires or the righteousness of Christ. The choices we make reveal the condition of our hearts and those choices impact our relationship with Christ. Spiritual growth begins from the inside and expresses itself through our love, loyalty, and obedience to God.

Reflection: “Am I manipulating my prayers to avoid the Holy Spirit’s conviction of my sins against God?”

The power of the Holy Spirit is incredible! Every believer receives warnings that their lives are not in sync with Christ’s righteousness. God is calling for His people to disconnect themselves from worldly pursuits and social activities. We have one earthly life to prepare for the heavenly life.

The human effort of shunning evil habits and forming relationships with unbelievers along with the power of the Holy Spirit enables us to change the course of our lives. It is not enough to desire heaven! God has given us His Righteous expectation, “Be Holy, for I am Holy!”

The choice to use the covert tactic of manipulation in our prayers to reject the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin produces deadly consequences. An unholy earthly life will not result in receiving the reward of eternal life.

To receive eternal life, we must pray honest prayers of confession and repentance with the intent to renounce sin and its pleasures. Every day we must renew our covenant with Christ. We are not compelled to sin. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit for humanity—we are the only recipients who require spiritual strength. Through our prayers, we invite the Holy Spirit to cleanse our minds and hearts to receive the fullness of Salvation and the Righteousness of Christ.

By faith, surrender, and obedience, we receive righteousness through the grace of God. Every day we have the opportunity to choose right doing over sinful activities. When the Spirit of God is flooding our souls, we delight in living righteously. Our decisions, works, and lifestyles reflect the power of the Holy Spirit who is transforming our minds and characters.

Sanctification is a lifelong spiritual journey of the transformation of our characters into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character. Yes, we are saved by God’s grace through our faith in Christ Jesus, still, we cannot live holy and acceptable lives unless we confess and repent of our sins.

Our heartfelt prayers should reflect the desire for the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins. Because we face an internal battle of carnal desires versus living holy and acceptable lives, we must seek God in prayer every day by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal all hidden sins. The human requirement of daily spiritual self-examination is reflected in the words of our prayers.

In surrender, we ask the Holy Spirit to convict us of every thought, behavior, habit, and spoken word that will prevent us from receiving our reward of eternal life.

In humility, we pray, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.

Depending on the God Who Always Provides

Depending on the God Who Always Provides Devotional Reading July 30, 2023

At some point in life, we will have to depend on the faithfulness of God. Feeling confident because all is well and relying on our status of possessing financial wealth destroys our faith and trust in God. Our mindset and lifestyle proclaim that we do not need God’s Divine Help.

Reflection: How often do I pray and thank God for my daily provisions? Is studying the Holy Scriptures a priority in my daily schedule?

Studying the Bible is food for the soul
Without knowing God’s Character and
Promises, the Life of Christ, and the
Holy Spirit’s Purpose, we are in Spiritual Bankruptcy!

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33

Establishing a relationship with the God who provides when all is well prepares us for the tribulations we will suffer at some point in our lives. Studying the Bible lays the foundation of faith and trust in God and is strengthened day by day. Through the habit of daily prayer, our connection with God allows us to “Be of good cheer—to have steadfast faith and courage” when the seasons of life change.

Without a Spiritual Foundation of God’s Promises

We will fall victim to doubt, worry, and unbelief
We will accept false teachings as God’s Truth
We will not have faith and trust in God
We will not pray, believe, and patiently wait on God

Study 1 Kings 18 and 2 Kings 4

The Powerful God of Biblical Times who demonstrated His love for humanity reassures us that He does not change. Walk this earthly journey in faith and obedience. When unexpected circumstances arise, we have no worries because we have placed our confidence and unwavering faith in God.

Yes, Jehovah-Jireh who reigns with Majesty and Power not only gives us the daily spiritual strength to persevere, but He also promises to supply the physical provisions to sustain our lives!

Prayer: Lord God, we pray for those who believe that You exist, but do not know Your Character and Promises. Thank You for being the only Constant Foundation in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sermon—Four Strategies the Devil Uses to Control Us—Pastor Wintley Phipps

Sermon—How to Know God’s Will for Your Life—Pastor Mark Finley

God Resolves Life’s Toughest Issues

God Resolves Life’s Toughest Issues Devotional Reading, July 28, 2023

When studying the life of David, we learn that David had tougher issues in His life than most of us can imagine. As a fugitive, he lived in caves while on the run from the jealous King Saul for 15 years before he became King. And then his favorite son, Absalom turned the people against him to overthrow his father and take the position of King. Again, David fled for his life.

“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.” —Psalm 34:17

Throughout the book of Psalms, David prayed for God to intervene against his enemies. One of our toughest challenges is external conflict. How do we handle the supervisor or coworker who does their best to make our lives miserable? Strife is abundant in many homes often caused by a spouse, children, or extended family members who we must interact with every day.

In John 16, verse 33, Jesus reminds us that our lives will include many tribulations. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Spiritual Warfare: Satan uses people, especially loved ones and coworkers with whom we interact with daily to wreck our peace and joy. Conflict resolution is a Band-Aid, there are no human strategies that can change a person’s heart. Our response to conflict is determined by our intimate knowledge of God’s Character and whether or not we faithfully trust His promises.

One of my favorite Scriptures is found in Exodus chapter 14. The children of Israel perceived their situation as hopeless. But God reassured them that He would take care of the Egyptians. “And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall [remain quiet] hold your peace.’ ” —Exodus 14:13-14

David tells us the action we need to take: “This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.” —Psalm 34:6

Reflection: Do I believe in God’s power and promises?

David embraced the fact that only God can resolve our toughest issues, especially when the people we love or see every day are involved. Many times, we feel overwhelmed by our situation, perceiving it as unresolvable. But it is taking us too long to grasp this concept—the righteous have many benefits! Without studying the Scriptures, we do not know God’s Character or His steadfast promises to fight all of our battles!

There is a vast difference between the heart of a believer and one of unbelievers who have no boundaries. The love of God keeps the believer from returning evil for evil. Conflict with family and those in management positions abusing their authority produces hurt, disappointment, and anger. Yet, we must keep the negative emotions of worry, discouragement, hopelessness, anger, and thoughts of retaliation in check.

Human Effort: 1. Pray for spiritual strength to overcome counterproductive emotions., 2. Pray for God’s Divine Intervention, and 3. Study 1 Corinthians 13, the “Love Chapter.”

Learn how to love by God’s Righteous standards. The Fruit of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22-23] defines the characteristics of the Christian believer. Conduct yourself as a child of God by maintaining righteous behavior. Do not argue, or harbor anger, and unforgiveness in your heart. Be aware of your facial expressions and remain silent.

“But I say unto you, ‘Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. ‘ ” —Matthew 5:43–44

Jesus commands us to love our enemies, yet, we should not tolerate prolonged mental, emotional, or physical abuse. God sees what they are doing and He knows the evil in their hearts. Still, He waits for us to pray for Divine Help! Remain faithful and loving. We represent the love of Christ to others. And while we are waiting on God, we must hold our peace and fully rely on God! Remember, we do not have the power to fight spiritual warfare without Divine Help!

Praise to our Almighty God: Our Warrior God specializes in fighting battles! And you know what? He always wins the war! And He has already won your battle!

Scripture: “Do not rejoice and gloat when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad [in self-righteousness] when he stumbles, Or the LORD will see your gloating and be displeased, And turn His anger away from your enemy.” —Proverbs 24:17-18 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Prayer: God, we desperately need Your Help to resolve the hostile situation we are facing. With faith, we will wait on You, stand still, and be quiet. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

The Believer’s Heart

The Believer’s Heart Devotional Reading July 27, 2023

When the believer’s heart begins to lose its way, the Holy Spirit always reminds us that we are deviating from the Path of Righteousness. Losing faith and courage reveals our doubt and disbelief in the Sovereign God who is our only constancy in life.

Our human hearts are feeble and changeable. We allow our situation or concerns about an unknown future to cloud our trust in God. Without steadfast faith and trust in God, we trust our feelings. And then the domino effect happens, we develop plans that result in disobedience and produce disastrous results.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go, I will guide you with My eye.” —Psalm 32:8

This morning, as I reflected on the direction of my life, the Holy Spirit reminded me of my recent vow of surrender and to trust and obey God in all circumstances including the unknown future.

The morning Devotional was entitled, Trust and Obey. We serve an On-Time God! As I listened to the historical origin of the hymn, “Trust and Obey” the narrator stated, “Trusting in and Obeying God can only be found in the heart of a believer who is determined to maintain their faith in God despite the presenting circumstances.”

When we are unsure of the direction of our lives and where we stand in our relationship with Christ, all we need to do is to seek God through prayer, meditation, and study of the Scriptures. And then we patiently wait for His answer and guidance.

The Divine Plea: “When you said, seek My face, my heart said to you, your face, LORD, I will seek.” —Psalm 27:8

The Believer’s Response: “To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O, my God, I trust in You…Show me Your ways O LORD, Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation, On You I wait all day.” —Psalm 25:1, 2, 4-5

God is aware of the condition of our fragile hearts and how easily we forget that He has never failed us. Yet, in His overwhelming love, He picks us up even when we fall. Still, as believers, we have the responsibility to exercise faith and to trust and obey His Divine plan. Even in our anguish, we must never lose hope!

“Through the Lord’s mercies, we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’ ” —Lamentations 3:22-24

Our initial response to awakening to the mercies of a new day reveals whether or not we fully trust in God and possess the willingness to obey. Do we pray the prayer of surrender? David prayed, “Teach me your way, O LORD and lead Me in a smooth path, because of my enemies” (Psalm 27:11).

God has given us a sound mind to identify and perform life’s essential tasks, enter His presence through morning and evening worship, achieve excellent job performance, take care of ourselves, children, and spouses, complete our personal care, maintain a clean environment, purchase healthy food and modest clothing, and develop a financial budget.

“Who is the man that fears [reverences] the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way he chooses.” Psalm 25:12

Although we are capable of completing our routine tasks, in humility, we ask for God’s blessings and direction in our lives. We invite God into every aspect of our lives because we love and trust Him. Never forget that God promises to guide the righteous in His chosen path for us. With determination, take the stance that you are a believer in the Omniscient and Omnipotent God who can never fail!

“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

Jesus reminds us of the relationship we must maintain with Him to have spiritual growth. The fruit is the Fruit of the Spirit—Galatians 5:22-23.

Yes, we can go through the process of completing our daily tasks and making decisions by relying on our human wisdom. Without asking for Divine Intervention and God’s mercies, we are functioning with the same mindset as unbelievers who play the Game of Chance every day in their lives.

The Response of the Believer’s Heart: We love, trust, and obey God because He is the only Constancy [Always Faithful and Dependable] in our lives. God’s steadfast promises provide reassurance to our wavering hearts! No one else can proclaim, “I change not!” Is there anything too hard for Me? His promises are found throughout the Bible!

The Divine Promise: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God the Holy One of Israel your Savior.” —Isaiah 43: 1-3

Our Response: We surrender to the Sovereignty of God because He has promised to be with us throughout our earthly journey. The believer’s heart has faith and trust in Jesus’ Strength which we receive through the Holy Spirit. So, we pray in faith for God’s blessings and invite the Holy Spirit into our lives by asking for wisdom, guidance, and protection against physical and spiritual warfare.

“I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.” (Psalm 7:17).

Like David, we acknowledge our desperate need for the Divine Intervention of the Triune God. And because God is, “I AM that I AM”, the believer’s heart responds with love and loyalty which is demonstrated by our faith, trust, and obedience. Amen.

Prayer: Lord God, we come to You in faith renewing our covenant to trust and obey You. Forgive us for worrying about our circumstances and the unknown future. We believe that You are the only Sovereign Triune God! We love You and ask for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We need and pray for the blessings of wisdom, guidance, and protection. This prayer we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

Building Bridges of Love

Building Bridges of Love Devotional Reading, July 26, 2023

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” —Matthew 22:37-39

We live in a world full of chaos, confusion, and a pervading deficit of love. Where do we stand? Are we going with the flow of a loveless mainstream or are we in total opposition because our hearts are filled with Agape love? The status of our hearts is revealed by our demeanor [our outward behavior, how we interact with others] and our lifestyles.

“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” —1 Corinthians 13:2

Our relationship with Christ is based on love. When we possess the willingness to make Christ our first love, we are empowered by the strength of the Holy Spirit to love God with our hearts, souls, and minds. Not only do we put God first, but we also see others through the loving eyes of Christ.

Many Christians think they love God, but they are in love with themselves. The true condition of our hearts is revealed by our earthly pursuits and interactions with other people. Our spoken words, habits, behaviors, and lifestyles disclose who our first love is and the secret desires within our hearts.

“It takes the right situation or conversation to reveal our true character.”

“The young man said to Him, ‘All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?’ 21 Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” —Matthew 19:20-22

“The selfish, money-loving man lives only to secure for himself the riches, honors, and pleasures of this world. But with the follower of Christ…For Christ’s sake, he will…deny self, that he may aid in the great work of saving souls who are without Christ and without hope in the world.” EGW

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” —Romans 7:15

Even as Christians we are in the struggle of our lives. To deny self goes against everything our carnal heart desires. Our innate focus is always on ourselves—every day we suffer an internal battle to please our sinful hearts or to bow in surrender to God.

“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ ” —Luke 18:13

Yet, if in love and faith, we willingly repent and surrender ourselves to God by praying the publican’s [tax collector’s prayer] then the Holy Spirit will give us the spiritual strength to put our love for Christ into action.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” —Galatians 5:22-25

When we decide to love God with all of our hearts, souls, and minds, the power of the Holy Spirit enters our hearts. Not only do we receive spiritual insight and wisdom, but we also take the appropriate action to change our priorities and behaviors. We begin to worship God through prayer, fasting, and diligent study of the Scriptures.

The internal love we have for Christ is shown externally. We begin to treat others with love and respect. Our thoughts, desires, spoken words, and habits change because we are experiencing a transformation of our characters. Our old demeanor is replaced with the Fruit of the Spirit. We no longer react as we are treated. With a heart overflowing with love for Christ, we will love others as Christ does.

Now it is time for us to witness. The Holy Spirit will reveal opportunities for spreading the love of Christ through witnessing. Sometimes in a conversation, and at other times, we smile and only have the chance to say Good Morning.

Jesus’ earthly life demonstrated His love for everyone. Jesus gave the rejected, the impoverished, and all who were looked down on by the Pharisees hope for a better life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Building Bridges of Love is how Jesus conducted His earthly life.

The Beatitudes—Matthew 5:1-12

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Christ is truly our Role-Model. Abused and mistreated, He could have called legions of angels at any time, yet, in humility and total surrender, His life was filled with love and compassion for humanity. Even on Calvary’s cross, He bridged the gap with love for the thief on the cross and promised him eternal life.

Building Bridges of Love Requires the Human Effort of Humility, Love, Faith, and the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” —Ephesians 4:32

Our greatest opportunity for demonstrating the love of God is through our interaction with others. With love in our hearts and smiles on our faces, we always say good morning and speak positive words which reflect Christ. Our Christian demeanor gives others hope. Showing the love of Christ to others, it gives the recipient something to think about.

As they ponder on the experience, if their hearts are receptive then the Holy Spirit enters their hearts. Can you imagine meeting the people in heaven that you showered with the love of Christ in your earthly life? We may never know the outcome of our loving kindness to others. Still, our goal is to represent Christ every day to every person by Building Bridges of Love.

Prayer: God, we pray for the understanding and desire of Your agape love. As we perform our earthly duties, Lord, we pray that we represent You through a Christ-like loving demeanor and gently spoken words. In Jesus’ Loving name, we pray, Amen.

God’s Perfect Plan for You

God’s Perfect Plan for You Devotional Reading, July 25, 2023

Created in the image of God encompasses more than our physical bodies. We also have a mind that can acquire and process godly knowledge and apply it to our lives to achieve the highest quality of life. We were blessed with the ability to dream and pursue our goals, yet, God has set boundaries on our human wisdom. The future will never be ours to predict, so we live day by day and trust God with our unknown future.

In Psalm chapter 25, verses 8-10, David tells us that God’s Paths always lead to goodness. Divine Intervention: “Good and upright is the LORD…The humble He guides in justice And the humble He teaches His way. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth.”

It is wise to pray and seek God’s blessings before making all decisions [even the decisions that appear to be insignificant]. Otherwise, we will face negative consequences that can lead to discouragement and unexpected life events. To avoid making mistakes, it’s best to serve God with humility and pray while waiting for the Lord’s guidance.

Human Effort: We put all of our faith and trust in God’s plans and directions because His paths always produce victory and always bring glory to His Holy and Righteous Character.

Our Prayer: “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” —Psalm 25:4-5, NIV

Jehovah-Rapha, The God Who [Still] Heals

Jehovah-Rapha, The God Who [Still] Heals Devotional Reading, July 24, 2023

From Miriam to Naaman to the paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethsaida and throughout the Bible, we read of the many times that Jesus healed those created in His image. Not only did Jesus use prophets in the Old Testament as human instruments who received God’s Divine power to heal others, but in Jesus’ life on earth, His ministry was one of spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical healing.

The Apostle John tells us, “This is the disciple who testifies of these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.” —John 21:24-25

One of my favorite miracles is the one of Jesus raising the widow’s son from the dead in Nain found in Luke chapter 7, verses 11-17.

And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still.

And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17 And this rumor of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

After the people witnessed Jesus speaking the words for the young man to arise, the people feared and glorified God and those same people spread the message of Jesus raising the widow’s son throughout Judaea and the region. According to historians, Judaea was approximately 185 miles in length.

Whether we study Jesus’ life and His ministry of healing and raising the dead, hear others’ testimonies of healing or receive healing ourselves, there is a vast difference in our response to Jesus’ healing power, we tell very few individuals. The same Jesus who walked this earth with love and compassion, healing and raising the dead is the same Jesus in heaven who is our Heavenly Intercessor and Healer.

Testimony: In March of 2021, I relocated to the Eastern Florida Coast. After living in states with snowy winters, I was overjoyed because of the scenic ocean and the tropical weather. But my joy was short-lived. Two months later, I was in the hospital emergency room experiencing a full-blown asthma attack.

For the remainder of 2021 and 2022, I had multiple visits to the emergency room. I was prescribed a steroid nasal spray, steroid daily inhalers, a rescue inhaler, and around-the-clock nebulizer treatments. My diagnosis, Uncontrolled Asthma. All medications have adverse side effects ranging from minimum to maximum impact on the patient.

I experienced maximum side effects. Not only did the sound of my voice change to a raspy tone, but the medication also produced tachycardia [fast heart rate] and arrhythmia [abnormal heart rhythm], resulting in my pulmonologist changing my medication. My condition did not improve which resulted in additional prescriptions for oral steroids and receiving intravenous steroid medication in the emergency room.

In June of 2022, I had an Echocardiogram which revealed four abnormal heart conditions [side effects from steroids and uncontrolled asthma]. One of the conditions involved the pulmonary artery and is considered incurable and progressive. My prior medical history included a normal heart, yet, without the proper exchange of oxygen in my lungs, my life would be nonexistent. During the consult with my pulmonologist, we agreed that I would continue my current polypharmacy medication regimen.

On December 29th, 2022, I had an emergency room visit for another vicious asthma attack. The patient treatment area behind the double doors was full of patients diagnosed with COVID, so the waiting area was converted into an overflow area for the triage and treatment of additional patients. As a nurse, I was aware that my Immune system was compromised from two years of unstable asthma.

Although I wore a mask for the ER visit in December, on January 5th, I was back in the emergency room with a subsequent asthma attack and was also diagnosed with COVID. I was treated with more Intravenous steroids and given prescriptions for anti-nausea and oral steroid medications.

The COVID variant that I contracted included severe nausea and vomiting which impacted my ability to eat and drink. For three weeks, I lived off of fruit cups and sips of water and ginger ale resulting in an unhealthy weight loss of 15 lbs. My physical strength was greatly impacted. And I also lost my senses of smell and taste for eight weeks which finally returned at the end of February 2023.

Every day, I prayed a prayer of repentance and was prepared to die. But one day, while I was watching a video short on Isaiah 60:22, “… At the right time, I, the LORD, will make it happen.” I heard the words, “I will heal you.” And I believed!

“The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness, You restore him to full health.” —Psalm 41:3

Although my recovery was very slow, I did not die! Nor do I have any residual effects from COVID or the massive amounts of steroids that I received. My voice returned to its normal pitch and tone. I have regained my physical strength. But most importantly my faith in God has matured. I have come to totally rely on God’s will for my life. “Be still and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10).

Fast forward to June of 2023 for my second Echocardiogram which revealed that my heart is normal! The incurable, progressive condition involving my heart’s pulmonary artery no longer exists! And my asthma is controlled with the use of only one inhaler. I am no longer on nasal spray or oral steroids, nor do I have to use a nebulizer. And no more ER hospital visits since January 5th. I know who my Healer is and I praise the Worthy Name of Jesus every day!

When I felt that I would die, I did not pray a prayer of negotiation, “God, if You heal me, I will __,” [fill in the blank]. I focused on my relationship with Christ, praying for His will to be done with prayers of heartfelt surrender and repentance.

Although, Jesus spoke to me and said, I will heal you, there were times during my slow recovery period when I felt discouraged and forsaken by God. I had to learn to be faithful and totally depend on God. His timing is always the right timing! And it wasn’t until my faith strengthened and I committed my life to God that I received complete healing.

Does God say no to our prayers asking to be healed? Sometimes we do not receive physical healing.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” —2 Corinthians 12:9

The Apostle Paul prayed three times for the thorn in his flesh to be removed, but three times Jesus answered no. There was no bitterness in Paul’s heart, he accepted the will of God for His life. Despite his poor eyesight, 13-14 books of the 27 books of the New Testament are attributed to the Apostle Paul.

And when Paul knew that the end of his earthly journey was near, he proclaimed, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” —2 Timothy 4:7-8, NIV

Sometimes we must drink from the bitter cup, yet, never lose your faith in God. If we are faithful in adversity, remember that God is always faithful. He will sustain us even if we do not receive physical healing. Pray and believe! Jesus always gives us spiritual healing of peace, joy, contentment, and mental and emotional strength.

Our primary focus on healing must be on the spiritual condition of our hearts. “Lord, please cleanse me from all unrighteousness and fill me with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.” Are we preparing ourselves for the Second Coming of Jesus and eternal life where our minds and bodies will be made perfect?

If we receive healing, what will we do with our restored minds and bodies? Will we possess a heart of gratitude like the one of the ten lepers whom Jesus healed and returned to say, Thank You? Will we dedicate our hearts, minds, and souls to serving God till our last breath? Will we tell everyone about Jesus’ love, grace, and mercies—sharing our testimony of healing?

Our response to the healing power of Jehovah-Rapha should reflect the same response as those who spread the message of Jesus raising the widow of Nain’s son to life. In a world filled with mental and physical illnesses, despair, and hopelessness, someone needs to share that we have a Savior, Jesus Christ who is a Healer. Will that someone be you?

Jehovah-Rapha is a Healer! “And Christ is the same compassionate physician now that He was during His earthly ministry. In Him, there is healing balm for every disease, restoring power for every infirmity.” EGW

Scripture: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes, we are healed.” —Isaiah 53:5

Prayer: Jesus, by your stripes, we are healed. We thank You for Your love, grace, mercies, and healing power. We love You. Amen.