When we make prayer an intentional habit, we invite the presence and power of the Holy Spirit into our lives. We have challenges that require Divine Help! Praying once or twice a day is never enough. It is not necessary to pray long, tedious prayers. Use honest words from your heart. Tell Jesus. He loves to hear from us. Begin praying every hour, not always asking but also expressing gratitude 🙏
Prayer: Lord, we come to You, not asking for anything, but to say Thank You for being our Best Friend, our Provider, and our King. We ask this prayer in Your Holy Name. Amen.
Sabbath Devotional Reading and Podcast—Crowns and Robes for the Righteous
“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…’ ” —Matthew 25:34
We are not only in a continuous struggle against spiritual warfare but must also fight against the inner desires of our hearts. Satan promotes the pleasures of this world because he knows his destiny. His goal is to prevent us from receiving our crown, robe, and eternal life.
Our situation may appear hopeless because we failed to overcome spiritual warfare and the battle within from inheriting deceitful and desperately wicked hearts. Yet, we are not in a losing predicament because we have a Savior, Jesus Christ.
“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
As our Heavenly Father, Jesus protects us from the many satanic attacks that we know nothing about. Christ has assigned His army of angels to fight our spiritual battles [seen and unseen]. To receive Divine help in our activities of daily living, we place our thoughts and strategies aside by praying every day for God’s Divine Intervention for guidance and protection.
“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
The word, “Abide” may be a mystery to us. What does it mean to abide in Christ? Self-reliance is not included in the Plan of Salvation. Throughout the Scriptures, we read that Jesus stayed connected to God by praying without ceasing. He always sought to do His Father’s will even unto death. To abide in Christ is to surrender ourselves and rely on Him through prayer and consecration.
Total Obedience is required to receive our crown and robe. We were created to be spiritually dependent on God. Without the human effort of staying connected to Jesus by surrendering ourselves in faith, trust, and obedience, we do not have a fighting chance of overcoming the temptations which are designed to make us sin. Pray to stay connected to Christ!
“If you love Me, keep my commandments.” —John 14:15
A relationship with Christ is based on love. And from our love for Him, we make a covenant to become a disciple. We are followers of a Savior who created us from love. Jesus was aware that Adam and Eve would fall. Yet because of His love for all of humanity, He gave His life—for us to overcome sin and live eternally with Him in the New Heaven and New Earth.
The Apostle Paul tells us, I die daily. And we must also commit to die daily to the sinful desires and temporary pleasures of this earthly life. To remain steadfast requires the strength of Jesus Christ. Our commitment is renewed every day through our prayer of surrender.
Starting the day off with God requires our first prayer to be one of surrendering to God’s will. In humility, we admit our weaknesses and ask for the anointing, power, presence, and guidance of the Holy Spirit. “Lord, I belong to You, please reveal Your will for me today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
The Holy Spirit gives us Divine strength to overcome covert temptations. Yet, we must put forth the effort to live holy and acceptable lives that are pleasing to the Lord by rejecting sin. Staying on the Path of Righteousness is not easy! Never limit the times you pray throughout the day and evening! We may have to pray several times a day to gain victory over sin. In prayer, present even the little things to Christ for His Divine guidance.
For today’s Christians, Satan is using another obstacle to prevent us from receiving our crown and robe. Worrying and feeling anxious about the declining status of our global economies distracts us and diminishes our faith in God. Violence, famine, social injustice, and climate change are not in our power to change.
This is our Father’s world! Biblical prophecies forewarn us of the changes which indicate we are moving forward toward Jesus’ Second Coming. Study Matthew chapter 24 and 2nd Timothy chapter 3.
Facing opposition is harder when our minds are overwhelmed with life’s challenges. Nor can we focus on Christ when constantly thinking about the pending status of the future. We do not have to watch or listen to every newscast. Yes, the global economy is failing. Without warning, we may lose our jobs and earthly possessions. Worrying about our lives and the future prevents preparation for eternal life. Jesus says, “Take no thought for tomorrow.”
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles [Unbelievers] seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:31-34).
Many lose out on their blessings of daily strength and the gift of peace because they are overthinking tomorrow, the next month, and the next year. Never allow the vicissitudes of life to make you lose sight of receiving your crown and robe. Verbalize your faith, “Today, I will have Victory through Christ!”
The Apostle James gives us wisdom on the downside of making plans for the future without God’s Divine blessings.
Do Not Boast About Tomorrow [The Sin of Presumption]
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow;’ we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil (James 4:13-16).
Two important aspects of living as a follower of Christ are our love for Him as demonstrated by our daily Prayer of Surrender and living day-by-day. The future belongs to God. Faithfully trust and obey the guidance of the Holy Spirit for this day.
Tomorrow is not promised to us. One future event requires intentional focus, preparation, and joyful anticipation—the Second Coming of King Jesus. Surrender and Faithful Obedience to Christ will be rewarded with a forever Crown and the Robe of Righteousness.
Scriptures: “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” —1 Corinthians 15:51-52
“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. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” —1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” — James 1:12
Prayer: God, we are inundated with the worries of tomorrow. Lord, our faith is weak. We desperately need Your Divine Intervention to change our focus. Today, we surrender ourselves to You. We pray for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit. Please give us peace and spiritual direction. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
The Little Things [Our Tests of Obedience] Devotional Reading and Podcast
Scripture: “So the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.’ ” —Genesis 4:6-7
It is hard to imagine that Cain had a heart full of hate against his brother and Christ. The murder of Abel was easily committed because every day his rebellious heart produced hatred that grew like an uncontrollable weed that overtakes that which is planted in the ground [unless it is removed]. Cain could not worship God with obedience because of the desire to please himself.
Disobedience begins with self-will and manifests itself through little compromises that do not include God’s guidance and blessings.
We begin our day with a rushed prayer and the promise to study the Bible after work or worshiping God becomes ritualistic. Our free time is used 100% for pleasurable activities. We make purchases without praying for guidance, or we invite bad company into our lives. By excluding the daily Prayer of the Surrender of our Will and Obedience, we half-heartedly serve God as evidenced by our decisions and lifestyles to please ourselves.
According to many pastors, most of today’s Christian believer’s disobedience is demonstrated by the wilful use of our time and money. Truthfully are we praying for God’s Divine guidance regarding our daily schedules or do we plan our to-do list without ever thinking of including God? “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done” (Luke 22:42).
“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother or sister in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” —1 John 3:17
Are we watching our bank accounts and investments grow without a thought of people we know whose life circumstances have changed, yet we never offered to help? Christ was our Ultimate example of helping others. “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 21:25).
Helping those in need extends beyond the tax-deductible church contributions of our tithes and offerings. The Great Commission includes sharing our earthly blessings. Just as Cain’s disobedience began with the compromise of the little things which represent our daily love and loyalty to God, we also place ourselves in the same dilemma of receiving God’s rejection by not obeying His commandments and precepts.
“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” —Jeremiah 10:23
From Cain’s act of rebellion and disobedience, we can safely say that he did not possess a heart full of love for God. The first step of obedience is to surrender your will to God. Loyalty to God is evidenced by every act of obedience. When we obey God, the Holy Spirit molds and shapes our character to become closer to the likeness of Christ’s character—Sanctification is a lifelong spiritual journey.
“He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much.” — Luke 16:10
Too many of us stumble at the simplicity of the small things God tells us to do. God has called us to be faithful in the little things. If Jesus had to learn obedience then so do we. Obedience is Sanctification. Obedience is a continuum of faithfulness. Faith must be accompanied by Obedience. Every time you choose to obey God’s will, the Potter shapes and molds you into a closer likeness of the character of God. Pastor Wintley Phipps
A change of heart begins with an overwhelming love for Christ and a spirit of humility. Every day, go into your secret closet. Begin to pray differently by committing to obey God. Ask God to teach you how to hear His voice. Sanctification—the daily spiritual transformation into the likeness of Christ requires us to live a holy and righteous life demonstrated by continuous obedience.
Prayer: God, I choose today to walk in obedience. Like Cain, I have given You the sacrificial offering of my choice. I ask forgiveness for a heart filled with rebellion by living to please myself. Please reveal the ways that You desire for me to use my time and money to glorify You. I desire to change by living a life of total obedience.
The Company We Keep Devotional Reading and Podcast
“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character…’ ” —1 Corinthians 15:33
The title, “Solo Female Traveler” was an introduction to keeping van lifer’s physical safety as a priority. The most important advice was to beware of strangers, whether they are male or female when living on the road. As I listened to the various strategies for keeping oneself safe, I thought about keeping ourselves safe from the warfare of having relationships with unbelievers.
Is it possible to avoid the danger of bad company by using our mental and intellectual faculties to develop spiritually safe strategies? Does our overconfidence empower us to think we can have social interactions with worldlings and not compromise our relationship with Christ? No, we cannot overcome our natural inclination to sin without Divine Intervention.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” —Romans 12:2
The New Living Translation explains Romans 12:2 in plain English: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
Most often Satan uses the familiar people in our lives to draw us into temptation. Because we have love in our hearts for spouses, significant others, family, and friends, our guard is down. The invitation to attend a social function, dinner date, or a shopping trip as a get-together causes us to assume that our status as Christians will be respected. But Satan has no boundaries in using undercover strategies to pull us into sinful situations.
Can we keep ourselves safe from spiritual warfare when interacting with unbelievers? No. We receive wisdom and discernment only through diligent prayer, studying the Scriptures, and asking for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit. Total obedience to every Scriptural command and warning demonstrates our love for God and proves that He is first in our lives.
Compromise begins by rationalizing and making excuses to hang out with those living in darkness. Beyond casual interactions or witnessing, we will fall! Although we accept others for who they are, Christians have nothing in common with the unrighteous [even if they are family members]. Using prior life experience, having overconfidence, or relying on self-derived boundaries to maintain an unequal relationship places us in opposition to God’s commands to remain separate.
Prideful strategies are not enough to keep us from falling into temptations that compromise our relationship with Christ. The apostle James tells us “Humility is the Cure for Worldliness.” “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:7-8).
Guard your heart by standing your ground! We must not place ourselves in predicaments where we are being pulled away from our earthly journey on the Path of Righteousness. Our strength is in Christ Jesus, guard your hearts [and your salvation] by staying away from bad company.
Prayer: Lord God, we pray for the strength to overcome the temptation of socializing with unbelievers. Help us to draw close to You as we prepare for Your soon coming. In the Matchless Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen
Living the Victorious Life Devotional Reading and Podcast
There is only one way for us to have victory: through Christ Jesus. Winning the battle between self-reliance and dependency on God requires human effort and Divine Intervention. The human effort of surrendering oneself to God is simply declaring your total dependence on your Heavenly Father. But how do we rely totally on God?
“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. Do not be wise in your own eyes…” —Proverbs 3:5-6
The practical application of King Solomon’s words of wisdom is for us to pray over every aspect of our lives and as King David admonishes us, “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! (Psalm 27:14).
Living a victorious life is guaranteed when we choose Jesus Christ as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords over our lives.
Prayer: God, we surrender our minds and souls to You. We ask You to lead, guide, and direct us in the daily activities of our lives. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray, Amen.
God Is Always Faithful Devotional Reading and Podcast
Lamentations Chapter 3, Verses: 22 to 26, and 55 to 57
Verses 22-24: “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’ “
Verses 25-26: “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord.”
Verses 55-57: “I called on Your name, O Lord, From the lowest pit. You have heard my voice: ‘Do not hide Your ear From my sighing, from my cry for help.’ You drew near on the day I called on You, And said, ‘Do not fear!’ “
Without intentional effort, the human mind easily forgets the greatest blessings our loving and merciful Heavenly Father gives us. Every day, we receive breath in our bodies, our minds function without concerted effort, and we choose the foods that we will eat and enjoy.
Developing a heart filled with gratitude doesn’t come naturally. We tend to focus on our heart’s never-ending desires. Decide to begin your day with prayer and praise to the Most High God for His gifts of mercies.
“What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me?” —Psalm 116:12. Praise the Lord!
Prayer: God, we thank You for the mercies of a new day in our lives. And we thank You for all of the blessings that You lovingly give although we do not deserve them. God, we love You. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.
Receiving the Reward Not Based on Merit Devotional Reading and Podcast
Cambridge Dictionary defines work-life balance as “the amount of time you spend doing your job compared with the amount of time you spend with your family and doing things you enjoy.”
If you created a time log for hours spent working, preparing yourself [personal hygiene and dressing], and roundtrip travel would it exceed 60 hours a week? Then you may need to consider other career options. God always requires us to put Him first. He never places us in a situation in which we do not have time to worship and fulfill our spiritual assignment.
What are the chances of your employer rewriting your job description after hiring? The chances are very slim. The job description is specific and outlines the expectations of each employee. Unless specified, no variables or negotiable terms exist in the contractual agreement between the employer and employee. Job descriptions legally protect the employer as well as the employee.
The salary and specific time of merit raises are also included in the job description. Merit raises are based on an employee’s performance. Every employee who has not received disciplinary action can expect to receive a merit raise annually for a job well done.
Certainly, God created us to work and have the provisions for the requirements of everyday life. Yet, we also need sufficient rest for spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical restoration. Spiritually, we require intentional time with God in personal worship that should be part of our morning and evening routines. Love for God, faith, trust, humility, and obedience along with praying, studying the Bible, and witnessing are Christ’s requirements of every Christian believer.
Many Christians feel that the Great Commission of witnessing is optional. Every follower of Christ has a work to do: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20). Although we will not personally baptize, we are required to spread the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Like the employer who remains steadfast in their contractual agreement, God also expects that we will obey and complete our daily spiritual task of witnessing. We have limitless options to use our talents. Residents in nursing homes love sing-a-longs, teaching others how to paint or do crafts, joining a church’s outreach ministry, volunteering in a food pantry, or even in the store telling someone “Jesus loves you.” Our love and kindness displayed by a smile, and saying good morning are also nonverbal ways of witnessing.
Contrary to trendy beliefs, it is not enough for us to attend church, give tithe and offerings, and strive to live righteously. The reward of receiving eternal life also requires daily witnessing. Through the advancement of technology, we can witness of Christ’s love and saving power through various platforms. Share Scriptures, make reels, place an ad to do free lawn mowing, or make a meal for an elderly person. Helping others demonstrates our love for God.
There is no middle ground between obedience and disobedience. Either we love God with all of our hearts, souls, and minds or not!
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” —James 2:14-17
Although our spiritual gifts and talents vary, every believer has a spiritual assignment with one goal, “To tell others of the love of Christ who died for the redemption of our sins.” Faith allows us to believe in and obey the Triune God. Every Scripture in the Bible applies to us including Jesus’ command to witness and make disciples. Who will tell them, if we don’t?
Faith plus Works shows that our hearts are bursting with love for Jesus. The followers of Christ who pray and surrender themselves every day to the will of God reveal humility, faith, trust, and obedience. Works alone can never save us, yet, works validate our faith and indicate our spiritual status with God.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. —1 Corinthians 15:58
Our spiritual raise will be given when Jesus comes again, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:12). For our faithful obedience along with fulfilling our commission, we will receive immortality and life in a perfect, sinless, New Heaven and New Earth where the atmosphere is filled with Agape love. Let the redeemed of the Lord, say Amen!
Prayer: God, we ask You to reveal our spiritual gifts and talents so we can further the work of Jesus in these last days. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Scriptures of Encouragement—Jesus Will Never Forsake Us!
Commit to putting all of your faith and trust in the only Loving, Powerful God who always keeps His promises.
“The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. He does not forget the cry of the humble.” —Psalm 9:9-10, 12
“In my distress, I cried to the LORD, And He heard me.” —Psalm 120:1
“The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand.” —Psalm 121:5
“…Thus says the LORD to you: Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” —2 Chronicles 20:15
“…as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage…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 1:5, 6, 9
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” —Jeremiah 29:11
“Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all of your heart.” —Jeremiah 29:12-13
“…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
“The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.” —Nahum 1:7
“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
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:6-7
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:19
“Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” —Philippians 4:20
Believe in God’s promises! Be not dismayed, God will take care of you!
Three Prayers Guaranteed to Change Your Character Devotional Reading and Podcast
We struggle to become better people. Many are doing their best to get rid of their learned behaviors and hereditary characteristics, yet they never quite make it. Although spiritual transformation requires a lifetime, we make it more complicated. By attempting to change we leave out the most important factor—we cannot change ourselves without God’s help. And that is the issue, we need Divine Intervention to develop a Christ-like character.
Praying is our connection to the Power Source, Jesus Christ who sent the Holy Spirit to lead us through our earthly lives. The intervention of the Holy Spirit orchestrates the change of our hearts. Only those who surrender and obey God’s will can experience a transformation of mind and character.
The three prayers that act as spiritual catalysts for changing our hearts are the human effort required before we can receive the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit who changes us.
The Obstacle: “The heart is deceitful above all things And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9. “For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, those evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person” (Mark 7:21-23).
TheSpiritual transformation of our Characterrequires Faith, Love, Humility, Obedience, Knowledge, Prayer, Bible Study, and the Holy Spirit.
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
Love: “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). The greatest commandment to love God with everything you have was given in the Old Testament. Leviticus 19:18 states, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD”.
The emancipated Israelites did not have loving hearts. Not only did they fail to love God, but they also hated their neighbors and mistreated their parents. Because we are born sinful, and our backgrounds and life experiences differ, God has not left us to define His Righteous Standards. Study 1 Corinthians, chapter 13 for a description of love and its’ characteristics.
Love, Humility, and Obedience: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” —Micah 6:8
To give us a foundation, in the book of Micah chapter 6, verse 8 describes three character traits, “to do justice—treat others with fairness, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” which describe acceptable and righteous interaction with others and God.
“But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ ” —Jeremiah 7:23
Obedience is surrendering our will to God every day—this is the spiritual meaning of taking up our cross which is mandatory to receive spiritual transformation and eternal life. “Lord, speak to me and reveal Your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Knowledge: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” —Matthew 11:28-30
From the pages of the Holy Bible, we learn the righteous traits that God requires and we see them demonstrated in our Role Model, Jesus Christ. Change requires knowledge. What are we striving for? What are God’s expectations of the righteous? The Bible is our first Resource when seeking change. It is God-breathed and written for our edification, to instruct and improve, especially in moral and religious knowledge.
Three Daily Prayers: 1. Prayer of Confession, Repentance, and Surrender, 2. Prayer to Receive Guidance and Power from the Holy Spirit, 3. Prayer for the Strength and Wisdom to fulfill God’s will and purpose for your life.
“Now it happened that at this time He went off to the mountain to pray, and He was spending the whole night in prayer to God.” —Luke 6:12. From this prayer, Jesus received an outpouring of Divine power and He healed every sick person in the multitude of people.
Praying: If we learn nothing else about Christ, we know that praying to God was always His priority. Jesus always kept close communication with His Father for strength and, most importantly, to align with God’s will. Something that many have never thought about, Jesus had to learn obedience. Yes, the Commander of the angel armies had to acquiesce to His earthly parents until He matured and was fully into His Divine purpose on earth.
Put God First! Jesus clarifies that God is first and holds the highest status, even above His [and our] earthly family. “Then one said to Him, ‘Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.’ But He answered and said to the one who told Him, ‘Who is My mother and who are My brothers?’ And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.’ ” —Matthew 12:47-50
Prayer keeps us on the Path of Righteousness. Prayer keeps us from falling into the spiritual warfare of earthly distractions. Prayer keeps us in alignment with God’s will and purpose.
Our deceitful hearts cannot stay focused on Jesus without surrender and intervention from the Holy Spirit. Nor can we have victory over hereditary tendencies and learned behaviors without consistent and fervent praying. Yes, change requires intentional prayers that verbalize our desire to mature into the likeness of Christ.
Prayer: God, we are in the struggle of our lives. We need Your help. Lord, we pray for the forgiveness of our sins. We acknowledge that we cannot change our deceitful and wicked hearts without surrendering and receiving the strength and power of the Holy Spirit. We desire to have the characteristics of Christ. We ask this prayer in the Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.
God Always Wins the Battle Devotional Reading and Podcast
“The Lord is a Man of War; the Lord is his name.” —Exodus 15:3
Surrendering our hearts to Jesus places us in the Army of the Lord. Every day, Christian soldiers face the battles of spiritual warfare, disappointments, and unexpected hardships. “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).
To prevent discouragement from life’s challenges Jesus forewarned us that we would have many tribulations. The word tribulation is defined as a state of great trouble or suffering. To be honest, most of us sink into the despair of disappointment or grief when we face hardships. Yet, our Fearless Lord is aware that our first response will be emotional.
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28
Jesus is compassionate and long-suffering. We are not expected to be stoic—a person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings. Yet as soldiers in the Army of the Lord, we have a Mighty Commander—Jesus Christ who we can rely on. Jesus describes Himself as Lord, a Man of War!
Even so, Jesus also gives us another description of Himself, “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…” (Matthew 11:29).
Let’s analyze why we cannot get beyond our emotional responses when surrounded by life’s challenges. The Number One [and only] Reason: We do not know who our Commander, Jesus Christ is and what He is capable of doing. Without studying the Bible, and learning who Jesus is, we can’t have faith and trust in Him nor do we understand His love and Divine power.
The Outcome of our Knowledge Deficit: We do not feel close to Christ because He is a stranger. Without a heart-to-heart relationship, sadly, we miss out on enjoying the peace and reassurance that Jesus is always with us throughout the duration of our tribulations. The good news is that we do not have to stay in the dilemma of not knowing Christ.
“…Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household. ” Acts 16:3, NIV
It’s you and me standing in the need of Jesus, our Savior and the Lord, a Man of War to fight our battles. Having a relationship with Christ requires faith—believing He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus says, “Learn of me.” Until we put God first in our lives by staying in His presence through daily worship [praying and studying the Scriptures], we will not become dependent on Christ.
What will it take for us to make prayer our first response when facing tribulations? Just like military recruits who pledge allegiance to their country, accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior is a covenant vow. Tell yourself, I can do nothing without Christ. With a humble heart, we acknowledge our dependency on Jesus by involving Him in every aspect of our lives.
Pray often! Much prayer brings much power into our lives. Have little talks with Jesus throughout your day. Prayer and learning God’s promises not only strengthen our faith and trust during hardships, but we also stop worrying. We begin to notice a change in our mindset. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
Depending on Christ changes our outlook. When challenges come into our lives, we don’t give up, we remain steadfast and maintain our hope. Yes, we gain confidence as we do our part in building a meaningful relationship with Christ. Our goal is to become dependent on His supernatural strength as we live courageously despite tribulations.
Although spiritual growth is silent, our love for Christ flourishes and we grow closer to our Lord, the Man of War. Whether it is a short trial or a long journey of tribulation, we will immediately cry out “Lord, I desperately need Your help. Do not let these overwhelming waves of tribulations drown me!”
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Ephesians 6:10).
Prayer: Lord, we need You every day in this earthly journey of life. We surrender our hearts to You and pray for the strength to accept our position as a soldier in Your Army. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, we pray. Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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