Tag: God loves us

The Mystery of the Holy Spirit—Receiving Spiritual Wisdom, Sabbath Devotional July 7, 2023

Jesus Promises to Give Us the Holy Spirit—”If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.” —John 14:15-17

Who has access to the Holy Spirit? Jesus’ answer: Everyone who accepts and loves Him as their personal Savior. Yet, there is an additional requirement, obedience as evidenced by keeping His commandments.

The Apostle Paul Speaks of the Holy Spirit Giving Us Spiritual Wisdom and Discernment

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” —1 Corinthians 2:10-12

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.” —1 Corinthians 2:13-14

Have you prayed for and embraced the power of the Holy Spirit in your daily walk with Christ? Many Christians avoid praying for the anointing of the Holy Spirit who provides us with spiritual guidance in our daily lives. Do I purchase the house, vehicle, change jobs, start the business, marry this person, or relocate? These are life decisions that will never bring negative consequences when we pray for guidance and answers from the Holy Spirit.

When facing the struggles of life-changing events such as major illnesses, divorce, the death of a loved one, or job loss, we cannot use our limited concepts and strategies to resolve these battles. Even in our grief and loss, we must remind ourselves that we do not know our future. Let the Holy Spirit guide you through God’s plan. Pray continuously for comfort and the strength to obey His plan to restart your life.

We cannot avoid catastrophic life events, but the Holy Spirit fulfills various roles in our lives. He is our Comforter and Teacher who is just a prayer away. We always need the Holy Spirit’s Help!

Satan is attacking us every day with spiritual warfare. Many believers fall victim to the temptations of sexual immorality, using substances to calm their nerves, pursuing success, purchasing earthly treasures, and many other forms of compromise. Who can stay on the Path of Righteousness without the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit every day?

Facing the Spiritual Warfare of False Teachings

“But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good…” —1 Thessalonians 5:21

Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot discern God’s [One and Only] Truth. We are living in the last days of perilous times. Confusion and strife are rampant in the Christian community due to varied interpretations of the Scriptures. Every day we hear the adulterated version of the Scriptures in which the speaker blends a little truth, their opinions, and many false concepts.

” ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.’ ” —Isaiah 55:8-9

Whether listening to a sermon online, in church, or viewing a [Christian] social media post, pray and ask the Holy Spirit if the message is Bible-based and an accurate interpretation of God’s Truth. Always search the Bible and compare the message to the Holy Scriptures.

Many speakers make social media reels who never pray for spiritual discernment. Listen carefully, if they fail to quote at least one Scripture and where it is found in the Bible or frequently use the words “I and me” about themselves then Christ is not being glorified.

A speech is not a sermon—Sermons always give glory to the Triune God! Even a personal testimony should glorify God, not ourselves. Without the Holy Spirit’s gift of wisdom and our effort to diligently study the Bible, we will accept erroneous concepts. Satan makes everything he uses to deceive us look and sound altogether lovely.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” —John 14:26

As believers, we rely on the Holy Spirit to not only warn us of false teachings but also to give us spiritual discernment when studying the Bible. However, we must remember to pray and ask for the gifts of spiritual understanding and discernment every time we delve into God’s Word.

Studying the Bible is teamwork—you and your Teacher, the Holy Spirit. We cannot rely on our cognitive processes alone to understand the Holy Scriptures. Our minds are overexposed to stimuli that influence our perspective of God and the Bible. We are living in a time when human wisdom is valued over godly wisdom. Even so, there can be no suppositions or guesswork when studying the God-breathed Scriptures.

Always pray before you open the Bible. Remember, we are never left to fend for ourselves when we invite the Holy Spirit into our worship and study of the Scriptures.

Testimony: Something phenomenal happens when we awaken and pray daily for the anointing, presence, wisdom, and discernment of the Holy Spirit. Humility and surrender reveals our heart’s desire for God’s continuous guidance. The Holy Spirit provides us with spiritual insight. We see life with open eyes. From the godly wisdom we receive, we honor the Sovereignty of God and value our relationship with Christ. Yes, we place God first and foremost in our lives.

Not only does the Holy Spirit reveal the deepest spiritual things that our human minds cannot normally comprehend, but we also begin to hear the still, small voice of God [through our thoughts and He brings the Scriptures we have studied to our remembrance].

“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” —Isaiah 30:21

Every believer has access to the inner voice of the Holy Spirit. At least twice a day, go to your secret place of prayer with the desire and expectation to hear from the Holy Spirit. Wherever we worship, even if in our vehicle, we reverently invite the presence of God into our worship. Get rid of all distractions. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10, first part).

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” —Matthew 6:33

The manifestation of the Holy Spirit is evident in those who ask for the spiritual attributes of His mysterious power. There is a peace that allows us to know that “It is Well” with our souls. We have the confidence and courage that we can rely on the Divine wisdom and guidance of God’s Spirit to keep us on the Path of Righteousness and to counteract Satan’s deceptive tactics.

Never forget, we are in a Spiritual War! Embrace the need for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can align our priorities with God’s plan and will for our lives. With humility and obedience, we become transformed into a disciple of Christ, one who perseveres and willingly follows their Savior.

Remaining consistent in praying for the Holy Spirit produces spiritual growth. Our focus changes, we no longer desire the foolish things of this world. Seeking righteousness comes from the mindset of, “I want to be transformed into the Character of Christ in preparation to worship God forever in a perfect and sinless world.”

Prayer: Lord, we ask You for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit in our daily walk with You. We need Your Divine Help to prepare us for eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth. We thank You for the gift of 24/7 access to our Spiritual Team. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray. Amen.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

Self-Denial, the Characteristic Blessed by God Devotional Reading July 5, 2023

“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.’ ” —Matthew 19:21

Benevolence: a loving and voluntary contribution, a free gift of time and money in helping others without the expectation of something in return.

At one time there were marked differences in the characters of Christian believers and unbelievers. We helped those in need because we loved Jesus. From the diligent study of Christ’s life, we acknowledged that it was our Christian duty to follow in the footsteps of Christ who ministered by alleviating the sufferings of others. We gave without hesitation! And God blessed us with all of our needs because of our heartfelt compassion to help others who were suffering.

The transition of giving of our time and financial resources has always been a focus of Bible-based churches. Community Outreach ministries had an overabundance of donations, clothing, household items, and non-perishable goods along with church members who willingly and actively participated in meeting the needs of others.

As we have progressed in our walk of life, our focus has turned from Jesus and helping others to ourselves. We have jumped into the worldview pot that started on simmer [not too much extravagance] but is now at a raging boil [buy everything you desire]. And inside the pot is only one ingredient “Me, Me, Me,” and one ultimate purpose, self-gratification.

Sadly, we have developed a spirit of selfishness without feeling any remorse. The line that is used to differentiate between need and greed is blurred. With a sense of entitlement, we keep purchasing earthly treasures. And with every unnecessary purchase to please our desires, we are separated from God and our spiritual reward of eternal life.

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” — 1 Timothy 6:9-10

Reflection: Do I have a heart filled with the pursuit of self-gratification?

Sin’s gift: “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” —Jeremiah 17:9

We were born with a heart [mind] that is out of control. We are driven to think sinful thoughts and easily perform sinful behaviors. Even the apostle Paul who strived to live righteously revealed his struggle, “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out (Romans 7:18).

“So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12, BSB).

The habit of Accumulation is a difficult habit to overcome. And we will never have victory without constant prayer. Tell yourself, “Enough is Enough!” Approach life with a spirit of humility always seeking God’s guidance before spending the money that He has blessed you with.

God is aware of the weed of sin and its desires that are always growing rapidly within us. We cannot overcome our sin of greed without God! Do we have the heartfelt desire to change? With the human effort of self-control and the Divine Help of the Holy Spirit, every sinful inclination, inherited tendency, and learned behavior can be eradicated.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” —Hebrews 4:12

Satan desires that we never study the Bible. He can present temptations to which we easily succumb when we lack spiritual knowledge! Change your perception of the Bible. God has given us the Scriptures for the protection and edification of our minds, bodies, and souls.

The Holy Bible, our Guide identifies the sinful condition of our hearts. Yet, we have Spiritual Guidance from countless Scriptures on living a victorious life through Jesus Christ. We are promised victory over the battle within when we forsake our inner desires and pray for the Holy Spirit’s intervention.

The Good News: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” —1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV

“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.” —Isaiah 30:21

God has also given us the ability to receive His guidance through our inner voice—our conscience. We have a soul-to-God connection that is never severed until our physical death. Go to your quiet place to pray and meditate when you feel the urge to spend money frivolously. If you are in the store, do not give in to the “Sale” sign. Pray for strength and walk away! Pray constantly for spiritual wisdom and discernment to learn the difference between necessity and want.

Our Heavenly Father’s goal is the spiritual transformation of our minds, characters, and personalities in our earthly lives. But He never forces us to change. We must decide to let go of all unrighteousness including wasting God’s resources.

Take immediate action to rid yourself of overage. Pray with conviction! And then look in your closet, storage containers, junk drawers, and garages for items that you have not used for 6 months or more. Donate to churches that have community programs and to non-profit organizations that resell at low prices.

Giving must become a habit to overcome our innate selfishness. Continual giving provides a double blessing, to the giver and the receiver. In giving, we become changed, our selfishness dies and the persons in need are blessed.

Scripture: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” —2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Prayer: God we confess and ask for forgiveness of wasting the financial resources You have blessed us with on the accumulation of earthly treasures. We ask for the strength and power of the Holy Spirit to overcome this sinful habit. In Jesus’ Worthy name, we pray. Amen.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

The Desire to Receive Your Heavenly Reward of Eternal Life Devotional Reading July 3, 2023

“Not My will, but Thine be done.” —Luke 22:42

Every person who accepts Jesus as their personal Savior must travel the Chosen Path which requires the humility of daily surrender and obedience. Jesus surrendered His will to God, His Father to take the cup of suffering which led to a horrendous death on Calvary’s Cross, and we must surrender our will to Christ to receive our reward of eternal life.

For many, the gift of Jesus’ life for our salvation and redemption from sin has lost its significant meaning. Our earthly desires have overpowered the desire to surrender and walk with Jesus. Our prayers reflect a half-hearted commitment to Christ, we pray, “Lord, bless me with…” as opposed to praying “Lord, I surrender myself to You today.”

Reflection: Am I willing to surrender and travel the tough [but rewarding] path Christ has chosen for me?

“…And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” —Matthew 28:20

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” —John 14:1-3

The Condition: “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 gave us these precious promises to keep our minds focused on Him. Our Loving Savior desires for us to know “Your earthly journey of following Me cannot be done without receiving My Strength and My Grace.” More than ever, we need spiritual strength, wisdom, and discernment from the Holy Spirit to recognize and fight off the daily and continuous attacks of spiritual warfare.

Reflection: How much time do I give to God in daily worship?

“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” —Matthew 6:6

Prayer, Bible Study, and Meditation require intentional time with God. The busyness of life prevents us from separating ourselves and having meaningful worship with God.

The Dilemma: Our hearts are filled with earthly desires. And we are continuously overwhelmed by the daily schedules overflowing with distractions [which is Satan’s spiritual warfare]. Every day Satan makes personalized plans of temptation to keep us from having a heart-to-heart relationship with Christ. His overall agenda is for us to be lost because his destiny of destruction is certain.

Human Effort: With the concerted effort of praying and studying the Scriptures even the weakest Christian receives strength from the Holy Spirit to overcome temptation. If we do our part by remaining faithful and obedient, we have the promise of Divine Intervention to keep us on our Chosen Path.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” —James 1:5, NIV

Without godly wisdom, we cannot recognize the distractions that steal our time away from God. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal every individual and personal habit that is preventing you from surrendering and obeying God. You will be surprised that your Chosen Path requires letting go of most of the people, places, and things that you enjoy. The spiritual reward of eternal life requires going deeper with Christ.

“I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose]…” Philippians 4:13, Amplified Bible

Distancing ourselves from the obstacles that prevent us from receiving daily spiritual growth and transformation is necessary to live righteously. Once the Holy Spirit has revealed the obstacles, we pray for the Divine strength, wisdom, and courage to take the earthly steps of surrender and obedience. Letting go is not an easy task. Add spiritual fasting to overcome the desire to keep anything that prevents receiving your crown from King Jesus.

Remember that our Chosen Path is decided by Christ who requires the same surrender and obedience that God required of Him in His earthly journey. Choose a time of seclusion and think deeply about your heavenly reward. Whom do you love more than Christ? What programs and online activities are you willing to give up?

The daily tests proving our commitment to Christ always require us to change our behaviors and lifestyles. We will be tempted to return to the former things that keep us from total surrender. The characteristics of Surrender and Obedience are not innate desires—pleasing our carnal desires is the battle within of good versus evil that we inherited and will face until the day of Jesus’ Second Coming. Yet, we can overcome with prayer, perseverance, and daily spiritual strength from the Holy Spirit.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” —2 Timothy 1:7, NLT

Witnessing to others by gently telling them you have decided to spend more time with God may not be received well, but do it anyway. One of the characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit is self-control. The human effort of telling ourselves no is possible because we were born with innate spiritual gifts from God.

“But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” —Hebrews 11:6

God created us to worship Him in our earthly lives which prepares us to worship Him eternally in the New Heaven and New Earth. The sacrificial gift of Jesus was an expression of love that we will never fully understand until we are changed and made perfect when Jesus comes. Yet, we can gain deeper spiritual insight by staying in His presence. Seeing life through spiritual eyes reveals that immediate change is required to walk on the Narrow Path with Jesus.

By our willingness to surrender, obey, and diligently seek God through prayer and study of the Scriptures, we have the promises of God, the Father, Jesus, the Son, and the Holy Spirit’s Divine Intervention to keep us on our Chosen Path that leads to a glorious, eternal life in Heaven.

Through the sacrifice of Jesus’ life, we are the recipients of God’s Grace and Mercies. The Human Effort of Surrender and Obedience is always rewarded by God. We receive spiritual discernment to recognize and resist temptation. From our prayer for Divine Help, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, along with our guardian angels, to fight the spiritual warfare that Satan masterminds to separate us from God.

Scripture Reading: “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness…’ “…That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.…” —2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Prayer: Lord, we ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and fill us with Your Holy Spirit. We commit to following You by dedicating ourselves to fully surrender and obey Your Will. Thank You for the gift of Salvation and Your grace and mercies. We ask for spiritual insight, strength, godly wisdom, and direction as we travel on the Narrow, Chosen Path of Righteousness. We ask this prayer in Your Worthy Name, Amen.

Pray, Be Still, and Watch the LORD Fight Your Battles! Devotional Reading July 2, 2023

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” —Jeremiah 29:13

Our Spiritual journey is one of continuous growth and development. We gain spiritual insight, discernment, and wisdom as the Holy Spirit works His transforming power in us. As we reflect on our lives, we are thankful that history is not repeating itself—we are not making the same mistakes that brought disruption and negative consequences into our past life.

“And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” — Psalm 9:10

Yes, the best feeling ever is to enjoy the calmness of peace and the happiness of joy in our minds and souls that comes from praying, obeying, and studying the Scriptures. Even in our trials, we never lose our peace because we receive spiritual strength from the Holy Spirit and have the utmost confidence that our God will deliver us.

“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” — Psalm 105:4

Those who worship God several times a day receive spiritual strength from the Holy Spirit. They have unrealistic faith and trust in God because their lives are in alignment with God’s will and plans. “Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the path chosen for him” (Psalm 25:12). The human effort of loving God with faithful obedience results in a thriving relationship with Christ who is the foundation for our salvation and faith. And the righteous always receive God’s benefits!

Reflection: You may think, I wish this was my life. If this is not your story then you are relying on your own strength which is inadequate for life’s journey.

Seeking God only in times of trouble reveals a spirit of self-reliance. Trusting in oneself produces overconfidence and we cease praying [in faith] for God’s daily spiritual blessings. Sporadic worship not only decreases our faith in God, but we also lose courage and the desire to persevere in hardships.

“The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.…” —Psalm 37:23-24, BSB.

Because we have distanced ourselves from God, we see ourselves as alone. The seed of discouragement flourishes and changes our perception of God. We have forgotten God’s promise, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Still, He is our Loving Heavenly Father who possesses unlimited POWER and is just a prayer away!

“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). When the righteous face adversity [whether from spiritual warfare, a trial, or our disobedience], in humility, we come boldly before the throne of grace for our Father’s Help. With confidence and faith, we rely on the LORD’s promise to intervene and give us a victorious outcome.

The Old Testament has many stories of humanity’s faith, failures, repentance, and victories which give us hope and substantiate that God loves us. And these real-life stories indicate that God is not expecting the impossible from us. God knows our human limitations. He desires that we love Him, and place all of our faith and trust in His love and Power.

King Asa’s Dilemma–2 Chronicles Chapter 14

The Human Effort of Obedience—”2 Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God, 3 for he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places, and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images. 4 He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. 5 He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him. 6 And he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest; he had no war in those years, because the Lord had given him rest.” Verses 2-6

The Impossible Dilemma—”And Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah who carried shields and spears, and from Benjamin two hundred and eighty thousand men who carried shields and drew bows; all these were mighty men of valor. 9 Then Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah. 10 So Asa went out against him, and they set the troops in battle array in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.” —Verses 8-10

King Asa’s Prayer of Faith—”And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, ‘Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!’ ” —Verse 11

The Warrior God’s Divine Intervention—”The Lord helped Asa and his army defeat the Ethiopians. The enemy soldiers ran away, 13 but Asa and his troops chased them as far as Gerar. It was a total defeat—the Ethiopians could not even fight back! The soldiers from Judah took everything that had belonged to the Ethiopians. ” —Verses 12-13, Contemporary English Version

King Asa had the confidence to bring his army out for battle. Yet, he prayed and waited for God’s answer before the soldiers moved forward against their enemies who outnumbered them. God always requires the human effort of a prayer of faith before He intervenes. Even if our faith is weak, we can approach God with confidence because He always answers our prayers.

Pray an honest prayer by confessing your fears, doubts, and sin of self-reliance to God—He knows the true condition of our hearts. To know God is to stay in His presence not only during times of private worship but throughout our waking hours.

There are prayers that God answers immediately, but most of the time, He requires us to “Be Still.” The waiting has a purpose—to build our faith. Do not attempt to rush God’s Divine Intervention by thinking of strategies for a quick resolution [that will always fail]. Wait in faith and trust God.

Something wonderful happens when we stop trusting in ourselves. We begin to totally rely on God for help in our adversities and dilemmas and our faith and trust in God increase. Despite the situation, we know that we know God never fails! We receive peace, courage, and strength from the Holy Spirit. No more worries!

Try God! In every aspect of your life including Him, faith will replace fears, anxieties, and worries. Your outlook will change and you will view life through spiritual eyes with confidence. God promises to give us spiritual joy, and peace and to provide us with a victorious outcome that demonstrates His glory and power! His promises are Yes, to which we proclaim in faith, Amen [It is so!].

Scripture: “It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” —Deuteronomy 31:8

Prayer: Lord, we confess that we trusted in ourselves and have not included You in our daily lives. Yet, today, we lay our burdens, trials, and hardships at Your feet asking with the meager faith we have for Your Divine Intervention. We thank You with a heart of gratitude for never leaving us or forsaking us. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

Careless Words and Whispers Devotional Reading June 29, 2023

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” —James 1:26, NIV

The ability to use words effectively in verbal sparring is lauded—highly praised as a priceless character trait. We love to demonstrate to others that we will not be taken advantage of and readily use our words to defend ourselves. We love to speak harmful words and we love to hear harmful words spoken about others. The entertainment industry has promoted gossip for decades. Nothing published attracts millions of views like “juicy gossip!” But the emotions of jealousy and hatred are the root causes of gossiping about others whether the information is true or false.

Careless words and gossiping whispers reveal the hidden sins of our hearts. “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” —Jeremiah 17:9

The journey of Sanctification is lifelong and we cannot be transformed without the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit. It takes the human effort of humility, confessing our unrighteous habits, and inviting the Holy Spirit into our lives for the spiritual transformation of our character that God requires.

Our God-given gift of a sound mind must take precedence over the emotional responses that we speak to hurt others or in retaliation because we are hurt. The truth is brutal so it must be spoken gift-wrapped in much love! Make prayer your first response! Praying for the power of the Holy Spirit to give us self-control and wisdom in times of conflict empowers us and builds our Christian character. Should we respond? Jesus used silence many times when He knew that His words would not change the hearts of those listening.

Gossiping is always damaging! It is a prevalent sinful habit among many Christians. When we engage in talking about others whether the information is the truth or lies, we possess an unrighteous spirit from Satan. Gossiping is destructive! It hurts others, destroys relationships, defiles our character, and separates us from God!

Take strong action against gossip! Be bold and let everyone know that you do not participate in gossiping by walking away [using silence effectively], if on the cell phone, text or verbalize, “I do not gossip.” Choose alternate programs to watch or listen to, and pray for Divine Intervention. Gossiping is one of the hardest habits to break.

We can never retract our spoken words nor can we soothe the hearts of the recipients of our harmful words. Replace careless words and whispers with prayer. And always pray before you respond! Remember to use silence as a weapon against the spiritual warfare of speaking harmful words.

Scripture: “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips [to keep me from speaking thoughtlessly].” Psalm 141:3, AMP

Prayer: Lord, we ask for forgiveness for the many times our spoken words were harmful. We admit that we need the Holy Spirit’s fruit of love and self-control to overcome our unrighteousness. We pray for the strength to be silent and to walk away from strife. In Jesus’ Worthy name, we pray. Amen.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman. You Are Loved by God Ministries

Overcoming the Pressures of Life Devotional Reading June 26, 2023

When we feel our lives are out of control and can’t see a way out or we try to live up to unrealistic expectations, either from ourselves or others, it’s common to experience pressure—which is just another word for stress. Change, even if it will give us future rewards also causes pressure in our lives, especially if it is unplanned or mandated by an employer.

As time goes on and our situation remains unresolved, this pressure can build up and take a toll on our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Prolonged stress is not sustainable for the mind, and it can even start to affect our physical health, leaving us feeling exhausted and weighed down.

“Expectations in and of themselves are not bad. And we all have them – for ourselves and others. But there definitely can be a problem when too much emphasis is placed on the expectations others hold for us.” Better Help

There are many sources of internal and external pressure, but we will focus on three:

1. Family Dysfunction
2. Cultural Traditions
3. Personal Learning and Development

Family Dysfunction: Most psychologists agree the family dynamics in today’s homes are dysfunctional. With the increasing number of children and adults with mental health conditions, something is awry in the home. Family dysfunction causes one to mature without the internal coping mechanisms to handle the uncertainties of life. Living in an environment of external chaos results in family members who perceive life as overwhelming. Even the normal ups and downs of life which require minimal decision-making skills produce pressure.

Cultural traditions are one of the greatest sources of pressure. We seek external validation from others because of an innate sense of belonging. Everyone desires to be appreciated and accepted by their families, neighbors, and society. Societies with prevalent cultural traditions expect that members will naturally accept the beliefs and lifestyles passed from generation to generation. Acceptance is based on the condition that one honor and obeys the morals, values, and social norms of said culture. The conflict arises when the individual seeks to live outside of the parameters of tradition, leaving them feeling pressured by the battle within—tradition or Biblical Truth.

Personal Learning results from the decision to acquire a higher level of knowledge that produces positive change by improving the quality of one’s life. Academic and on-the-job learning usually creates pressure! Academia and company policies cause us to modify our knowledge base through acceptance of “proven” theoretical information and promote discarding our morals and values, and belief systems. Since the pursuit of a degree and the business culture are long-term, we must carefully consider the secular information we choose to embrace—not every discipline of study or company that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in their policies coincides with the Bible. There is internal pressure when we are mandated to learn the knowledge required to obtain our degree and an employer’s worldly inclusion policies that oppose the Scriptures.

Because we have embraced the worldview that pressure is a normal occurrence in life, many Christians assume that God desires us to live and cope with unnecessary pressure.

Yesterday, I was listening to a motivational podcast by one of my favorite speakers on “Separation is God’s Protection.” As I reread my notes during morning worship today, the thought “something is wrong” resonated from within my soul. She gave various reasons for God separating us which were in alignment with the Scriptures. Yet, this statement “God is preparing you for the intense pressure of additional responsibilities when He fulfills your dreams” set off the “Not Biblical” alarm.

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

From the daily study of the Bible and praying for the anointing, discernment, and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, we will recognize the attributes of God’s Character. God’s blessings do not create or result in internal or external pressure within our lives. Still, I prayed asking for a revelation of the Truth. The Holy Spirit spoke to me through my thoughts and said, “No, God’s blessings do not include pressure.”

The countless times that God has intervened in our lives does not keep us from accepting erroneous beliefs, we easily forget the miracles and blessings of yesteryear. Definitive knowledge of the Bible and the power of the Holy Spirit who brings the Bible to our remembrance keeps us from the warfare of deception.

It is unimaginable that our Heavenly Father would give us the Spiritual Blessing of fulfilling our dreams and then cause us to be discouraged by the negativity of pressure. The God who reveals His love for us throughout the Bible is consistent and reiterates, “I change not!”

Although it feels as if “Trials and Tribulations” cause excessive stress and pressure in the Christian life, they are spiritual in nature and given to us to save our souls! There is nothing negative about character transformation.

“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.

Jesus promised us that we would have hard times in life. Yet, we are not crushed by our tribulations. The Apostles Peter and James refer to tribulations as fiery trials which are necessary to transform our carnal characters into Christ-like Characters. We can come to Jesus just like we are, but we cannot stay just like we are. To receive eternal life, we must travel the Path of Sanctification which is the daily spiritual growth that comes from faith, surrender, obedience, and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

We were created as free, moral agents. God never pressures us to accept His will for our lives. Even so, if we desire to go all the way, our prayer must be, Lord, whatever it takes for me to be like You do what is necessary to save my soul and give me the strength to endure. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What about studying the Bible? Doesn’t God requiring us to study the Scriptures create pressure in our lives?

Testimony: For most of my life, I lived under internal and external pressure. The external pressure was from working as a nurse when the work ethic of overworking nurses was the standard. But the internal pressure was the result of not having a foundation of biblical knowledge. I prayed twice a day, but, no one including my pastor or Christian friends emphasized that worship included the daily and diligent study of the Scriptures. The word of God provides stability in one’s life and gives us wisdom to avoid situations that produce unnecessary pressures.

In 2019, the internal pressure manifested itself physically, and I began to suffer from migraine headaches and insomnia. But our God loves us with a love that we will never understand. I attended a Wednesday night Prayer Meeting and the sermon was on studying the Bible. In 2020, God instructed me to take steps [Prayer, Fasting, and Bible Study] that would give me the courage to have faith in Him. In 2021, God restarted my life by relocating me 1400 miles from the state I lived in for seven years.

“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. —Psalm 34:17-19

God’s promises are true: “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” —Numbers 23:19

Overcoming the pressures of life requires experiential knowledge of our Omniscient, Omnipotent, Loving, Heavenly Father! We can always rely on God to give us victory over the vicissitudes of life!

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” —John 14:27

The Bible is our Spiritual Guide—Holy Words breathed by the mouth of God! Remain faithful and obedient to God, and He will intervene to rid us of every pressure that prevents us from receiving the blessing of His peace. Yet, we have to take the giant leap of faith by presenting our pressures to Christ and then obeying His commands. Moving forward in obedience requires courage!

Do not expect family and friends to respect your decision to go all the way with God. And I am speaking from experience, keeping the seventh-day Sabbath caused me to lose 99% of my friends. After three decades, my family has finally accepted that my commitment to God is first and foremost. If we remain steadfast and persevere, God always gives us a victorious outcome!

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” —Matthew 11:29-30

Living a faithful life in obedience to God replaces the need to be validated by others. Yes, at times, we feel discouraged. Do not nurture those feelings! Begin praying out loud for the Holy Spirit to give you comfort and strength. Choose a praise song and begin singing to the top of your voice! Listen to praise and worship music, and study God’s promises. Remember we can whisper a prayer to Jesus any time of the day or night. Memorize Revelation chapters 21 and 22.

“The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.” —Proverbs 4:18-19

The Righteous have the blessing of God’s Grace—unmerited favor on their lives. When nothing in your life is working out and you feel the pressure that threatens to make you break, Pray, Surrender, and Seek God’s Presence.

God desires that we live joyful, healthy, and productive lives. Every pressure will be alleviated when we worship God through surrender and obedience. With much prayer and diligent study, we will see our lives as blessed and highly favored. The Holy Spirit will reveal the necessary life changes required to remove all obstacles that prevent us from living a pressure-free, Hallelujah! life. Amen.

Prayer: Lord God, we ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and fill us with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. We pray for a spiritual makeover of our complex lives full of pressure from every angle. God, we thank You in advance for Your Divine Intervention. In Jesus’ Worthy name, we pray. Amen.

© 2023 Steps2successwithsolutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries