Tag: God loves us

Following Christ in Challenging Times

Following Christ in Challenging Times Devotional Reading June 25, 2023

The Battle Within Can Be Won!

“…but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice, but what I hate, I do.” —Romans 7:14-15

The Apostle Paul tells us that we were born with a carnal heart desiring the things that bring pleasure to our sinful hearts. Sin always appeals to our five “classical” senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch! In verse 15, Paul stated that he does what he hates. A major contrast between modern Christianity and the Apostle Paul is that we enjoy the sins we engage in.

Spiritual warfare had its beginning in heaven. Pagan concepts and idol worship have always threatened to sway Christians who are striving to live holy. Technological advances have bombarded us with pagan themes and concepts through advertising, online games, and social media. Unless one is viewing a Church’s Live Stream, the recording contains many ads which distract you from remaining focused on the worship service.

Reflection: Have I embraced pagan concepts and incorporated them into my lifestyle?

We cannot fight the battle of good versus evil and overcome our natural cravings for sinful pleasure because we have adopted gateway habits. Listening to secular music and watching programs with profanity and sexual overtures result in the inability to control one’s physical passions. Worldly activities change our thought processes and eliminate our desire to live righteously.

Even online games can pose an issue—demonic images, fantasy themes, and violence influence our minds and propel our senses into driving us to think and do unimaginable things–that believers should never engage in.

Why are Christian gambling in casinos or dancing in clubs? Why are Christians on the Internet Chats and Online Dating Sites? Why are we mean-spirited and readily use profanity when angry? Why are we drinking alcoholic beverages or using the gateway drug—marijuana? Why are we hanging out with unbelieving family members and friends?

When our hearts are not fully dedicated to God, we embrace and practice worldliness. Yes, we seek the people, places, and activities things that give us pleasurable entertainment.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” —Ephesians 6:12

Satan uses two false concepts to make us doubt God. First, that his power is equal to or greater than God’s Omnipotence. Secondly, God created human beings as a race of weaklings who cannot resist his ongoing temptations of spiritual warfare. Yet, we have Divine Intervention on our side! We can pray for Spiritual help 24/7.

“The LORD saves the righteous and protects them in times of trouble. He helps them and rescues them; he saves them from the wicked, because they go to him for protection.” —Psalm 37:39-40

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” —2 Thessalonians 3:3

Read Job Chapter 1—God placed limitations on Satan that he could cause devastation in Job’s life, but he could not cause Job’s death. God reveals His Love and Omnipotence throughout the Bible, most notably, in parting the Red Sea to save the Nation of Israel and Jesus demonstrating His Divinity [while on this earth] by raising Lazarus four days post-mortem.

God’s Gifts to Humanity: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” —2 Timothy 1:7

God’s Promise to Help Us Against Satan: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” —1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

God’s Grace: “Grace means favor to one who is undeserving, to one who is lost.” We are saved from sin by the Grace of Jesus Christ. Trusting in Christ as our personal Savior, we may be “more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37). Every prayer of repentance is received by Jesus, our Heavenly Intercessor who readily forgives us without limitations. Still, our part is to exhibit gratitude for Jesus’ death on Calvary’s cross by putting forth the effort to shun sin.

Victory Over Temptation and Sin Requires Human Effort and Divine Intervention: The Apostle Paul proclaims, “Put on The Whole Armor of God!”

Human Effort: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” —Ephesians 6:10-11, 13

Perspectives that keep us bound by Sin

  1. We do not understand Grace and Mercy, Holiness, Righteousness, or Sanctification.
  2. We do not understand the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.
  3. We view ourselves as helpless and do not exercise our God-given gifts of the power to say No or we fail to utilize self-control.
  4. We love our habits, family, and friends more than we love Jesus!
  5. We do not desire the reward of Eternal Life.

Because we exclude the Holy Spirit from our lives and attempt to define God’s precepts and standards with our perception of righteousness, we do not see our sinful condition as God does. ” ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8).

The Primary Obstacle Preventing Our Spiritual Transformation and Loyalty to God—” ‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.’ ” —Mark 12:30

We cannot surrender our will to God if we do not love Him with all of our hearts, souls, and minds. Covered by the Umbrella of Surrender to God are the human characteristics of steadfast faith, trust, obedience, much prayer, and diligent study of the Scriptures.

God’s Call to Righteousness: “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ ” —1 Peter 1:15-16

God’s Answer to Keeping Him First: “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. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” —1 John 2:15-17

Although the innate desire to sin produces a continuous internal battle, through unceasing prayer to overcome temptation and a deliberate change of worldly habits, and changing the status of our relationships with unbelieving family and friends, God will not fail us!

Family and friends can be a challenge when your relationships are close and socialize with each other frequently. Pray for strength!

There is a strategy that always works when separating yourself and severing close ties with unbelieving family members and friends, inviting them to church and Bible study. Either they will separate themselves from you or they have recognized a change in your behavior and will accept your invitation.

From our prayers for Divine Help, the Holy Spirit responds immediately and gives us the spiritual strength to say, “No” to our feelings” or “No thank you” to the people whom Satan is using to trap us. An interesting concept is that unbelievers are unaware that Satan is using them to tempt you to sin. Do not become upset or annoyed when your family and friends know that you are a Christian, but they ask you to go to worldly social activities.

To be tempted is not a sin! Even Jesus was tempted. Our response to the temptations reveals whether or not we will sin. Jesus died for us to have another option to the wages of sin. It takes courage along with the desire to live holy and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to live as an Overcomer.

Throughout the ages, we have men and women who have walked closely with God. Even the Scriptures reveal biblical characters who remained faithful and never sinned against God: Joseph, Enoch, Elijah, and Job lived sinless lives.

If they lived holy by exercising courage and making the decision to renounce sin along with continuous prayers for Divine strength then we can live holy in these challenging times. Use your God-given gift of a sound mind to make the decisions necessary to receive Eternal Life.

God is aware of the plight of humanity! His love and compassion are evident in the Holy Scriptures of the Bible and most importantly, He demonstrated His Perfect Love by giving Jesus to die for us. Embrace and express thankfulness for God’s never-ending grace and mercy every day.

When Elijah ran from a death threat, thinking he was the only one left serving God, our loving Father reminded him that He had many faithful worshipers. “So he said, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.” God’s Reply: “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him’ ” (1 Kings 19:10, 14, and 18).

For Elijah’s faithfulness, He was translated—God sent a heavenly chariot for His weary prophet that took Elijah to heaven without seeing death! [2 Kings Chapter 2].

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” —1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Brothers and Sisters, we need to view our lives from a spiritual perspective. If we die in Christ, we will be raised first! Many will be alive when Jesus comes again! But only those who have renounced sin in their earthly lives will be translated and receive eternal life.

Following Christ in these perilous times (2 Timothy 3) requires that we give up every sinful habit and distraction. We must continue to love everyone, yet, any person who prevents us from receiving our golden crowns, linen robes, and immortality in a perfect world has to be distanced.

God is calling us to be holy. Will you answer His call?

Scripture: “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” —1 Corinthians 6:20

Prayer: Lord God, we come as we are before You asking for forgiveness of our hidden sins and overt habits. We desire to follow Jesus in these challenging times. Lord, we need the strength, wisdom, and discernment from the Holy Spirit to renounce sin. Hear our prayer, Lord, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness and we will give You the honor and the glory that You rightfully deserve. In Jesus’ Matchless name, we pray. Amen.

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

The Hidden Spiritual Sins of Christian Believers

The Hidden Spiritual Sins of Christian Believers Devotional Reading, June 22, 2023

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh…” Romans 8:5, (first part)

We are in a continuous daily and intense spiritual battle against our carnal desires. With so few Christians studying the Bible, either Christian believers do not have knowledge of God’s expectations, or they possess biblical knowledge and are committing prevalent spiritual sins against God that are hidden from others, yet, they are not hidden from God.

Our Hidden Sins

  1. Failure to live Holy and Righteous lives as evidenced by our lifestyles.
  2. Failure to worship God every day through prayer and Bible Study.
  3. Failure to pray for wisdom and discernment before studying the Holy Scriptures.
  4. Failure to repent of one’s sins [intentional and unknown sins] every day.
  5. Failure to seek God’s guidance in every aspect of life.
  6. Failure to seek God’s will and plans through prayer.
  7. Failure to forgive or ask forgiveness for wronging others.
  8. Failure to witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others.
  9. Failure to use one’s spiritual gifts and talents.
  10. Failure to live according to God’s Righteous Standards.
  11. Failure to acknowledge that time is a precious gift from God.
  12. Failure to attend church if physically able.
  13. Failure to give tithe and offerings.
  14. Failure to use God-given financial resources to help those in need.
  15. Failure to live a healthy lifestyle—taking care of your mind and body which are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
  16. Failure to believe in the Triune God, God, the Father, God, Jesus the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit.
  17. Failure to believe in the Supernatural and Divine Healing and Delivering Power of God.
  18. Failure to believe that God breathed the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit spoke to righteous men to write the Holy Words of God.
  19. Failure to believe in the entire Bible—the Old and New Testaments.
  20. Failure to obey and acknowledge the Ten Commandments were never invalidated by God.
  21. Failure to honor the Creation Seventh-Day Sabbath—Friday sunset to Saturday sunset due to tradition, fear, or disobedience.
  22. Failure to accept the Creation biblical theology as the basis for this world and for all life.
  23. Failure to reverence and honor the Sovereignty of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
  24. Failure to live a Bible-based, Christ-Centered life.
  25. Failure to do one’s part in changing their character—seeking to possess the Fruit of the Spirit.
  26. Failure to acknowledge Jesus’ Second Coming by not actively preparing —striving to live righteously every day.

“Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God.” —Leviticus 20:7

If your thoughts are “then who can be saved?” Jesus’ answer: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” —Matthew 5:8

We can never make our hearts pure. The concept of self-government is a false belief and is unachievable! Because we inherited sinful minds, [our hearts] always gravitate toward wrongdoing. Yet, our situation is not hopeless! The human effort of praying and striving to possess a spirit of humility, obedience, and total surrender of our hearts and will to God every day demonstrates our willingness to do our part in the Plan of Salvation.

” ‘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

Our habits of impatience, having a mean spirit, a sharp tongue that speaks angry, hurtful words, telling the truth with the intent to hurt the other person, or becoming angry when another driver speeds up to cut in front of us may appear to be minor, but they are evidence of an unrighteous character. We humbly accept that we cannot judge ourselves by our innate unrighteousness.

The Bible is our Spiritual Mirror!

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

The Bible is the only Good Book that gives us God’s perspective of sin and righteousness. The Holy Scriptures not only give us the spiritual knowledge of God’s character but also His expectations of Christ’s followers. The false belief that we do not have to study the Bible originated from Satan.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” —James 1:22

Every employer, even the self-employed have and enforce structure and policy guidelines. We choose to accept Christ as our personal Savior. And with that choice, we do not get to live according to our desires or our version of God’s Truth. With Scriptural knowledge, faith, trust, and obedience, we proclaim our love and loyalty to God.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee…” —Hosea 4:6, [first part]

We will not have the desire to faithfully serve and obey a God who we do not know. Those who have access to the Bible and chose not to study will be held accountable by God at the time of Judgment.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” —John 3:16

With so many requirements who can be saved? Everyone who is willing to surrender and commit themselves to God. We need to pray several times a day to overcome the sinful habits which prevent our spiritual transformation from having the righteous characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit.

Through the blood of Jesus Christ, we receive daily the overwhelming love, grace, and mercy to live righteously. Our works alone can never achieve righteousness living and Sanctification—daily spiritual transformation. It is through God’s grace that we receive the Mighty Transforming power of the Holy Spirit to change our character!

To live righteously without Divine Intervention every day is impossible. But why are we attempting to live without God’s help when He has promised to never leave us or forsake us?

Reflection: Do I desire to obediently travel the journey [leading to the spiritual transformation] required to receive my reward of eternal life in Revelation 22:12?

From love, Jesus created us as free moral agents. And He will never intrude or coerce us to change. But, if we make the decision to renounce sin and go all the way with our Savior, Jesus Christ then we have Scriptural Promises that Divine Help is available for us 24/7 when we pray and ask.

God’s Gifts to Humanity: “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” —2 Timothy 1:7

God knows that we cannot save ourselves. The Human Effort of obedience, surrender, praying, diligently studying the Bible, asking for wisdom and discernment, and intentionally avoiding sinful activities are not above and beyond our God-given capabilities.

Scripture Readings

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” —Proverbs 3:5-6

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” —Matthew 7:7

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 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 4:15-16

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ” —Hebrews 13:5-6

Prayer: God, we come to You in prayer because we are weak and are in desperate need of Your Divine Intervention to save our souls. We ask for the forgiveness of living according to our sinful standards. We ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to anoint us with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Lord, reveal the changes that we need to make in our lives so that we may serve You in humility and obedience. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

The Gift of a Sound Mind

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 1 Timothy 1:7

A baby is born with the ability to thrive. In fact, the first twelve months produce an accelerated rate of growth and development. The only fear that develops is the innate “stranger danger” between six and nine months. Many children are exposed to counterproductive stimuli during maturity which prevents healthy spiritual, mental, and emotional development. The unhealthy atmosphere of a home void of love produces fear, unhappiness, and the failure to thrive.

Let me tell you a personal story. Many years ago, we had the privilege of our three grandchildren, ages 4, 6, and 9, living with us for one year. They were fearful, had insomnia, and constantly argued with each other. One day, I watched a few of their programs and was shocked at the physical violence and derogatory words in a children’s anime. We met to discuss a simple but effective performance improvement plan the next day.

We did a store run to purchase crayons, coloring books, scissors, markers, glue, construction paper, children’s books, balls, dolls, and containers of blowing bubbles. Since I had an extra laptop, they were taught the simple basics of navigating to Youtube to watch nonviolent programs. But their favorite activities were learning to swim and visiting the park to run and play. The complex had a pond with ducks where they lost their fear of animals by feeding them bread scraps. Watching and playing with electronic gadgets had a limit of two hours a day.

The change was immediate. Two of the children possessed an advanced level of artistic drawing. Spats and bickering became nonexistent, except for the struggle over specific colors of pencils, markers, and crayons. Yes, I could have purchased separate drawing utensils, but they needed to learn the values of cooperation and sharing. The refrigerator was covered with their art. Daily simple tasks were given to teach and assist their young minds in understanding gratification from a job well done. The reward of receiving hugs, kisses, and frequently hearing “I love you” changed little warriors into happy and loving children who respected each other.

Now, we focus on refuting the belief that our past defines our present and future. Your childhood determines your adult life because you do not know who God is. He is the Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnibenevolent, and our loving Heavenly Father.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 1 Timothy 1:7. Focusing on our limited abilities [because God gave us a finite mind] prevents spiritual, mental, and emotional growth.

1 Timothy 1:7 is a scripture that reminds us of the innate qualities that God created us with. A sound mind requires ongoing learning by seeking credible knowledge, discovering and developing your natural talents, and learning new skills. Biblical knowledge from studying the scriptures results in faith, trust, and confidence that God is in control. Power is courage! We are not afraid of life or the challenges that we face.

Satan desires to minimize God’s power and attempts to deceive us to believe that he is all-powerful. In reading Job chapter 1, it is evident that our archenemy has God-given limits: “‘All right, you may test him,’ the Lord said to Satan. ‘Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.’ So Satan left the Lord’s presence.” Job 1:12.

Just a side note: God can destroy Satan now if He desires. And Satan is aware of this and functions inside of God’s boundaries. Satan obeys God’s limits, yet the human beings created in God’s image have the irreverence and boldness fed from pride to openly and continuously disobey our Creator.

The Apostle Paul was young Timothy’s spiritual mentor. In 1 Timothy 1:7, Paul reminds and reprimands his protege for the fear he possessed, afraid to suffer for Jesus.

Fear is like a tornado producing destruction in all areas of our lives. Fear’s bitter, rotten fruits are anxiety, worry, nervousness, timidness, depression, sadness, and pessimistic thoughts. Fear impedes progress! Do not embrace this destructive emotion that is based on nonexistent realities!

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” “Deuteronomy 31:6, 8

Created from God’s Ultimate Love, we were born with everything required to live productive, happy lives. God is aware of the dysfunction that sin causes in our maturity from children to adults. How is retraining our minds and leaving the past behind possible? With God, ALL things are possible!

“Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old. Behold, I am about to do something new; even now, it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.….” Isaiah 43:18-19

Learning and reminding ourselves of these scriptures

  1. “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” (Psalm 139:14)
  2. “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” (Psalm 139:7)
  3. “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22)
  4. “No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.” (Psalm 91:10-12)

We are in a new season of our lives. It is time for us to become the soldiers God created us to be. Discover your hidden talents and spiritual gifts by praying and asking God to reveal your purpose. Disciples are fearless because we believe that God loves us and will always sustain us. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)

Prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24). In Jesus’ name. Amen. © 2022 Sonya Johnson, Steps2successwithsolutions.com and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

Living Faith Allows Us to Always Rejoice!

Living Faith Allows Us to Always Rejoice! Devotional Reading, June 20, 2023

It has taken a while, but finally, my Instagram account is showing 100% Christian content. As I watched each video, there was something that troubled my spirit, not one individual mentioned studying the Bible as part of our [faith] walk with Christ. We choose best-seller books written by popular Christian speakers rather than study the Greatest Book ever written.

As Christians we have access to countless resources and significantly more information than previous generations of believers. Yes, we readily seek, but sadly it is not the word of God that piques our interest. A best-seller [regardless of the author’s status] will never enable us to learn the character of God, feed our hungry souls, or give us a complete history of God’s miraculous love and redemption for humanity beginning with the creation of the world and our parents, Adam and Eve.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. —Hebrews 4:12, NLT

Today’s Christians no longer view the Bible as the only credible Source that is 100% God-breathed. To many, it is too complex to understand. Without praying for the Divine wisdom and discernment of the Holy Spirit, we cannot grasp the magnitude of the Holy Scriptures. Studying the Bible provides the foundation of our relationship with Christ, provides the spiritual knowledge and wisdom for righteous transformation, and acts as a catalyst for spiritual growth, especially our faith in God.

Without diligently studying the Scriptures, we have no idea who God is nor do we understand God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace. Without the word of God, we lack the spiritual insight that allows us to be anchored in Jesus Christ. Without knowledge of God’s precious promises, we falter and our faith fails when we need it the most!

Our faith in God allows us to believe and rejoice in His mighty power whether we are in a storm or all is well. The Bible defines God’s character and gives us hope from the real-life stories of humanity’s failures and victories that proves God is true to His Word.

Faith is one of the least understood traits of the Christian Character. The Scriptures tell us that God expects every believer to possess Faith!

“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

What is faith? What is the reason God requires us to have steadfast faith? Where does faith come from? And how do we obtain the characteristic of unwavering belief that God says, we must possess?

Faith is the foundation of our relationship with Christ. Without biblical knowledge, we cannot understand the definition of faith or experience the spiritual growth of our God-given measure of faith.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it, the elders obtained a good testimony.” —Hebrew 11:1-2, NKJV

What is faith? A simplistic definition of faith: Faith is believing and trusting in God as though you are lost in a forest and blinded by the darkness that surrounds you. You admit that you are lost and do not have the slightest idea of which direction to walk. All you know is that it is impossible to get out without God’s help! In desperation, you cry out to God, believing that the light of Christ will intervene and direct you through the darkness to a victorious outcome!

Financial predicaments, loss of employment, vehicle needing major repairs, diagnosis of a terminal illness, marriage falling apart, and failing academic classes are just a few examples of things that happen in our lives that we cannot solve without Divine Intervention. Faith requires us to acknowledge God’s Omnipotence.

What is the origin of faith and how did we receive it?: “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” —Romans 12:3

A Measure of Faith: Faith is an innate gift from God—we were born with the character trait of faith. The Apostle Paul tells us that God has given every individual a measure of faith. For clarity, let’s compare our measure of faith to the size of a mustard seed.

Additional proof that God has given us faith: There is another aspect of faith that is rarely spoken of, when we accepted Christ as our personal Savior, we used our measure of faith to believe that Jesus is the only way to God, and the only One who can provide salvation and redemption to sinful humanity. The Holy Spirit spoke to our hearts, and we responded by saying yes. We confessed our sins, surrendered our lives, and commit ourselves to Jesus Christ whom we embraced through our innate faith.

We must admit that there is no rational explanation for believing and accepting the Gospel of a Savior who suffered, bled, died on Calvary’s cross, and arose from the dead who is now in heaven sitting at the right hand of God the Father serving as our Heavenly Intercessor. God’s gift of a measure of faith makes it possible for us to believe in His Divinity, Jesus Christ, His Son, and the [Mystery] of the Holy Spirit. It makes one shout, “Hallelujah!”

Our Responsibility: The measure of faith that allows us to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, is the same measure of faith that requires continuous spiritual growth. Without Divine Intervention, no amount of human effort can produce growth in the God-given character trait of faith.

In John 16:33, Jesus tells us that our commitment to follow Him will result in many trials and hardships in our earthly lives. Whatever the situation or challenge, Jesus allowed the trial to happen [that is always beyond our human capabilities to resolve]. The unexpected and continuous trials that make us suffer disappointment and sorrow are necessary to produce the spiritual growth of our faith.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” —James 1:2-4

Proof that our faith is growing or declining: When adversities arise that are impossible for us to resolve, our reaction demonstrates whether or not our Saving Faith has grown into Living Faith.

Acknowledgment: The definitions of Saving Faith and Living Faith are from a sermon that I watched from Pastor Charles Drake.

Saving Faith—This is the measure of faith that the Holy Spirit uses to speak to your heart. You responded by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Signs that your saving faith is not maturing: You still worry about today’s problems and the unknowns of tomorrow. Instead of having the joy, peace, and confidence that comes from faithfully believing in God’s promises and power, you are anxious and worried. And you become easily discouraged by the tests and trials in your life.

Living Faith—Despite the challenges of today and facing an unknown future, you place all your faith and trust in God’s Love, Promises, and Power. You have confidence and courage, and although the situation looks bleak and impossible. You are rejoicing because God is maturing you and transforming your character and your life to prepare you for eternal life. Yes, you may shed tears and endure loss, yet, you rely on God’s Sovereign Power even if the outcome is not what you imagined it would be.

“A nominal faith in Christ will never bring healing to the soul.” EGW

Long-lasting Trials: When fiery trials remain for an extended period, we begin to lose hope and end up feeling discouraged. Last week during a time of discouragement, I prayed for comfort and peace. Yes, I received the comfort and peace that I prayed for, but the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “Narrow Your Focus! And begin fasting along with praying.” The human effort of keeping our focus on Jesus while experiencing hardships does not come easily, especially during long periods of tribulation. Many times we must take additional steps of faith to receive spiritual strength.

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.” —1 Peter 4:12

In the books of James and Peter, both apostles speak of suffering as Christians and having steadfast faith in fiery trials. The warfare of doubt and discouragement will attempt to rise up in your spirit. But brothers and sisters, when you are in the furnace of fiery trials, pray a simple prayer, “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief that is trying to rise up and eliminate my faith in Your Love, Your Promises, and Your Power!”

Additionally, pray for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit to give you Divine Strength to run the Christian race that keeps your feet planted on the Path of Righteousness. We are nearing Home! Strive everyday by surrendering your will, much prayer, and searching the Scriptures. Only the faithful will receive their eternal reward from King Jesus! Read Revelation chapter 22, verses 12 and 13.

God will do whatever is necessary for us to have unwavering, thriving, and abundant Living Faith! God gave His only Son, Jesus for our redemption. Never lose sight of Jesus’ great sacrifice and your reward of eternal life.

Our trials bring us closer to God who never created us to live without His daily Intervention. We pray in faith and believe that God is allowing our tribulation for the specific purpose of transforming us into righteous sons and daughters who will remain faithful through all circumstances.

The Apostle John was taken into heavenly visions when writing the book of Revelation. When discouraged pray and study Revelation chapters 21 and 22. Narrow your focus! Our Christian duty is to pray, study the Scriptures, and have steadfast faith and trust in God.

Learn to Rejoice! God desires that every believer’s faith matures into a Living faith that allows them to rejoice in the dark valley experiences. Believe with all your might that God’s power and options are unlimited! Stand firm in your conviction that God is the “I AM that I AM!” Trust His promises, obey His directions, and patiently wait for His Divine Intervention, no matter how long it takes.

“At the right time, I, the LORD, will make it happen.” —Isaiah 60:22, (last part)

Never forget—When we are out of options, God has the POWER to rescue, give provisions, provide healing, and deliver us!

Just like the woman with the issue of blood, we can Reach Out and Touch the Hem of Jesus’ Garment through faith-based prayers and petitions. Study the Bible to learn the unbreakable promises of our Father God. The human effort of doing our part to possess Living faith and the Divine Intervention of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ means Victory from now until eternity.

Scripture Reading: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:8-9

Prayer: God, we desperately need You! Our faith is weak and the waves of doubt and discouragement are tossing us like a row boat on a raging sea. Lord, we are praying for You to save our souls, and give us strength, comfort, and peace. We pray for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In Jesus’ name, we ask this prayer, Amen.

In Adversity, The LORD is Our Fortress

In Adversity, The LORD is Our Fortress Devotional Reading June 19, 2023

“I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, My God in Him I will trust.'” —Psalm 91:2

David lived as a fugitive for many years, running and hiding from King Saul who was jealous of David’s God-given strength and wisdom. Without faithfully relying on God’s promises of deliverance and protection, David would have quickly developed feelings of hopelessness from the adversity of living in caves.

“…While they take counsel together against me, they scheme to take away my life. But as for me, I trust in you, O LORD, I say, You are my God. My times are in Your hand, deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me. Make Your face shine upon Your servant, Save me for Your mercies’ sake. Do not let me be ashamed, O LORD, for I have called upon you, let the wicked be ashamed…” —Psalm 31:13-17

Every believer has to travel down a path filled with adversities that cause us disappointment, sorrow, and frustration. We lose jobs, our plans fail, marriages end in divorce, health issues arise, the children act up, and friends and family avoid us because we are always going through trials. And to make matters worse, we begin to feel that God doesn’t love us.

During hard times, we easily forget God’s promises. But James, Jesus’ brother tells us, “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing.” —James 1:3-4.

Trials are not punishment! None of us are acceptable “as-is.” Adversity produces spiritual growth and transformation if we remain faithful to God. There is something that I have come to realize during my hard times—I become fixated on my circumstances instead of the POWER of God.

Nothing that we experience is a surprise to God. In a recent sermon, the speaker stated that Satan has to have Jesus’ permission before any spiritual warfare can come into our lives. It makes perfect sense that God has placed boundaries on Satan or he would take our lives whenever he felt like it. Thank You Jesus for your love and never-ending protection against the evil one!

Jesus gave his life for us! His magnitude of everlasting Love is a love that we will never fully understand in our earthly existence. Still, change your perception of God and make the commitment to see yourself differently. You have a Heavenly Father who knows the number of hairs on your head! You are a righteous believer of the Most-High God and the righteous have privileges!

Read David’s prayer in Psalm 31, verses 13 to 17. David reverently prayed for God to deliver him from his enemies. Even on the run, hiding out in caves, David prayed with confidence. He knew that God would deliver him from his enemies. Wait faithfully for your promise of deliverance! God never fails!

Our Father God is Watching and Listening: “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.” —Psalm 34:15-16

God’s Unbreakable Promise: “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” —Psalm 34:17-19

Prayer: LORD God, “…how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You. Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men. You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence.” Heavenly Father, we come to You praying for Your help and the strength to persevere in these hard struggles of life. We believe that You will lead us through because of Your promise to never leave us or forsake us. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

Narrow Your Focus in 2023

Narrow Your Focus in 2023 Devotional Reading June 18, 2023

The prevalent lifestyle of today’s Christians is filled with the pursuit of tangible items, financial stability, and information acquisition. The busyness of our lives continues to escalate because we have embraced too many worldviews. We are more concerned about the earthly problems that we cannot resolve than the Second Coming of Christ.

  1. Too much on our plates—we keep adding responsibilities that eat up our valuable time.
  2. Too many distractions—social media, political unrest, climate change, future acquisitions of houses and vehicles, economic instability, and social injustices.
  3. Too little rest and relaxation—we have embraced and adapted to a lifestyle of excessive busyness and noise that eats up our time.

Our present lifestyles have no middle ground! Either we are striving relentlessly to achieve goals or have embraced a lifestyle of leisure, without ever finding a balance between the two. The stressors have increased to the point that someone has recently developed a new worldview—creating a life that resembles a never-ending vacation.

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” —Colossians 2:8

We face many roadblocks of spiritual warfare that we do not recognize as keeping us from having a biblical view. Although the apostle Paul gives us the defining characteristics of living in the last days in 2 Timothy chapter 3, we continue our activities of daily living as if our lives will continue forever in this present but temporary earthly habitat.

Reflection: “Am I living a Christ-Centered, Bible-based life?

We hear many biblical concepts that are self-interpreted on social media. Because it sounds credible, we accept it as the Truth of the Word of God. Yes, hearing a 3-minute video is more convenient than attending a Bible-based church service or watching an entire service online. We have lost our tolerance for spending quality time worshiping God.

Yet, the greatest impact on believers is the postmodernism viewpoint. Truth is relative. Your truth is not my truth. How did we progress to develop this lethal mindset? There are hundreds of Christian denominations with opposing viewpoints and interpretations of the Scriptures. People are fed up with the dissension that has arisen in Christianity, so they have developed a standard of truth based on their own concepts.

“Thus, the statement: ‘True to you but not for me.’ The deadly poison spewed by postmodernism is treating the Bible not something unique or distinct from all other books.” https://asburyseminary.edu/elink/post-modernism-its-influence-in-the-church/

False Teaching: Studying the Bible is not relevant to your Christian experience with God.

We have pastors who teach prosperity messages, assume the role of therapists by only focusing on the emotional well-being of their members, or they choose certain Scriptures that promote the false concept that we can give ourselves the Peace that only comes from God.

One of the most striking changes in recent times is the emergence of churches that conduct services led by a team of worship leaders. These services typically last for two hours and are filled with songs of praise and worship that encourage a happy and harmonious life. The study of the Bible has been eliminated from their church services!

We have generations of individuals who are confused and questioning whether or not the Bible is relevant. Satanic influence has greatly impacted the Christian community to accept the premise that studying the Scriptures is optional for one’s salvation. Only one in nine Christians study the Bible. Human-made theories have more credibility than the God-breathed, Holy Scriptures!

“…knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold…but with the precious blood of Christ…” —1 Peter 1:18-19 [partial verses]

Narrowing our focus to place our relationship with Christ as our priority is a personal decision that God will never coerce us to make. The heart filled with overwhelming love for Jesus strives to fulfill its Christian duty to God.

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” —Joshua 24:15

We have been given the most precious and free gifts of Salvation and God’s love, grace, and mercy. God knew the intense struggle that we would face in the 21st Century—too many responsibilities, distractions, and meaningless worldviews that would result in mental, emotional, and physical fatigue and weariness.

God knew that our time-consuming lifestyles would prevent us from spending quality time praying and studying the Scriptures. Yet the Bible that we fail to study has many precious promises from God that give us hope in a world that is filled with spiritual darkness!

Scripture reading: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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. 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. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” —John 14:1-4

With determination, we can narrow our focus on Christ, our Savior who loves us and is preparing a forever home in the New Heaven and New Earth! Amen.