God loves us – Page 56 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Faith in God

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Life is tough. But Jesus told us that when we committed to serving God that we would have hardships.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world, you shall have tribulation. But be of good cheer [have courage]; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

We can never have peace and joy without Jesus, nor did God create us to be alone and on our own.

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Colossians 1:9

Do you have a prayer partner? It is vital to our spiritual, mental, and emotional growth that we bond with at least one person excited about serving God and is preparing for eternal life.

Yesterday, I spoke to my sister-in-Christ, Linda, who lives 1500 miles away. We chatted, spoke on the goodness of God and the blessings and miracles that we have received. We ended our conversation with a prayer. Both of us felt refreshed. Pray for God to connect you with someone who loves God and loves others.

Believer’s Alert: Start a prayer group to serve those in need.

God loves us. No one is excluded from God’s love. Please remember that we are required to serve others. One of the greatest blessings is to encourage others through prayer is not an option.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

Love God, Love Others, and Love Yourself.

Bible Study: Colossians 1

Prayer: God, we thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus who died that we may have eternal life. Please bring people into our lives who love you and are committed to serving others. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Happy Sabbath!

Remembering Jesus’ great sacrifice should produce prayers of forgiveness and thankfulness every day. Our Savior suffered, bled and died for you and me. Jesus gave His life to prevent the destruction of the human race.

Oh, how He loves you and me. He gave his life on Calvary, what more could He do?

Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Revelation 22:12-13

Prayer: God, we thank you for giving your only Son, Jesus Christ who died for the redemption of our sins, but rose again. And Jesus, we thank you for your unconditional love and willingness to sacrifice your life for humanity. Thank you, for being our Heavenly Intercessor. As we prepare for your soon coming, we pray for perseverance, and the desire, and obedience to live holy and righteous lives. We ask this prayer in your Worthy Name. Amen.

Seeking New Opportunities?

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33

Our desires and how we pursue those goals indicate our priorities and relationship with God. When we seek God first, He opens up doors of opportunities that we could never open for ourselves.

I could not find a clinical program in New Jersey without a two-year waiting list when pursuing my nursing degree. I presented the problem to God, and He provided above and beyond my expectations. Acceptance into a nursing program in Upstate NY included a scholarship along with full-time status as a student. I did not work for two years. God provided scholarships and money for all of my necessities of rent, utilities, food, and car maintenance.

As I share this testimony of what happens when we seek God first, I have to ask myself, why isn’t my faith in God stronger? God has supernatural power that we are unaware of because we fail to seek Him first. Align your desires and plans with God’s plans for your life by praying and asking Him to reveal his plans for your life.

Seeking God includes loving and obeying Him with all of our hearts.

1. He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
2. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27
3. Bring all the tithes (10% of all income or increase) into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. “If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in. Try it! Put me to the test!” Malachi 3:10

Jesus declared, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment.… Matthew 22:37

Seeking God means loving Him with all of our hearts, soul, and mind. Giving of our love, time, and money are tremendous opportunities that we may have on the bottom of our to-do lists. When we put God first, the blessings of peace, contentment, and inner joy will change our lives immensely. Please know that our finite minds can never imagine what God is ready to do to transform our lives.

Bible Study: Malachi 3

God, we admit that we are chasing our desires. We acknowledge that we can do nothing compared to the blessings you are ready to give to us. We desire to seek you first and wait for the plans you have for our lives. Thank you for hearing and answering this prayer that we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

You Should Do It!

In the summer of 2001, I lived in the Catskill mountains for three months, working as a camp nurse. One day, I had some extra time and went to the Arts and Crafts lodge to look at the girls’ projects. It was then that I met a fascinating person, Matt, the Art Counselor. The young man shared his background and how he pursued a dream that left him estranged from his wealthy family. Matt was from California, a self-proclaimed hippie who was vegan, an activist, and did not use drugs or alcohol. Because of his long, sun-bleached blond hair, most people thought of him as a beach bum and avoided contact with someone they perceived as looking for a handout.

Matt invited me to sit down and continued sharing his story. As a young child, he began to draw landscapes and animals. Years later, one day at the beach, a beautiful young woman sat looking at the water with a sad expression, which prompted him to sketch the contrast of beauty and grief. Although hesitant, he walked over and handed her the picture. Because the drawing reflected the sadness of her soul, she encouraged him to pursue his talent. Matt shared that hearing her positive words was the catalyst to starting his own business.

Then the focus turned to me, “If I had money to start a business what would it be?” I laughed, stating that would not be possible. But Matt was persistent. He told me to think about something that I was very good at and develop my talent into a business. It took me a minute to look beyond my creative abilities, and finally, I mentioned that I had tutored several of my classmates while in nursing school. And that was the motivation to begin my educational tutoring business for nursing students and nursing program graduates struggling with their classes and those who failed the licensure exam.

God has given each of us spiritual and natural gifts that remain unexplored for various reasons. Meeting Matt was an eye-opening experience. He insisted that discovering my purpose would add a new dimension to my life. All of us have dreams because God gave us the ability to dream. One of the significant obstacles in pursuing our goals is that we share them with the wrong people who discourage us with toxic words.

Yes, it was hard work to learn how to develop a business and marketing plan. The research revealed many tutoring competitors. How could I compete with the established tutors? That question almost stopped me from moving forward. But I prayed for guidance, and God answered my prayer. All of the tutoring companies were in brick-and-mortar locations. My niche was that I would travel to the clients at the closest bookstore or library and include the mileage in the contractual fee. I also tutored virtually via the Messenger app. After twelve years of successfully helping others to become Registered Nurses, I fulfilled my goal to give back to the nursing profession. Did I mention that I was in my mid-forties when I pursued my dream as an entrepreneur? I started my business with $500 and God’s blessing of approval. He said yes!

Our relationship with God has the potential for unlimited growth. The Lord says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, “Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name. Isaiah 65:1. God is available to us at any time of the day or night. We spend our time getting to know people for possible relationships, which may or may not work out. Please remember, we have a guaranteed relationship with God when we do our part because He can never fail us.

Whoever said, “Life is hard, and then you die” did not have a relationship with the Trinity Godhead, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. God did not create us to live empty, meaningless lives, nor is He the “Punisher” that Satan portrays Him to be. God created a beautiful world complete with vibrant colors, oceans, and natural wonders that should bring us to our knees in praise and worship. So, if we are created in God’s image, then He has blessed us with spiritual gifts and creative talents. Our lives will always involve struggle. But as long as we have breath, we can move forward, to build and to rebuild.

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

Present your plans to God in prayer. When our desires align with His plans, we see miracles unfold, and our dreams come to fruition. Talk to God first, and ask Him to direct you to the right people who will offer positive feedback and realistic direction to pursue your goals. You should do it!

Bible Study: Acts 16 tells us about Lydia, a wealthy woman from selling purple cloth. Remember that most women did not have the opportunity to become entrepreneurs in biblical times.

God, we admit that we are sharing our dreams and goals with everyone except you. Please reveal the path for our lives and bring the right people into our lives that we may achieve the plans you have for us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

The Challenge

We are 15 months into the pandemic that has impacted our lives like a passing storm or a devastating tsunami. Yet, God has always been here. He never left us alone nor did we have to guess or figure out how to move forward.

If you do not feel that God was there for you, then it’s time to give Him more of you. Studying the Bible provides us with a complete bio of God. We learn of His love, character, and most importantly, God reveals his promises to humanity.

Prayer is our most powerful resource!

God always answers our prayers for forgiveness, grace, to love others, and the strength to make it through the day. But most importantly, God listens intently to our prayers for help! Whether the enemy is attacking us or our basic needs are running out, God is alert! His eyes see all, and his ears are especially tuned-in to the cries, “God, I need your help.”

I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! Isaiah 65:24

The Challenge

“Be still (cease striving) and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

We have to make sure that we understand the true meaning of “To be still.” Love, faith, trust, obedience, knowledge, and wisdom are the requisites to have a strong bond and loving relationship with God.

Bible Study: 1 Kings 17:7-16

God, we are in the struggle of our lives spiritually and financially. We desperately need your help. We ask for your divine intervention and blessings in our lives. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

The Journey for Love

I watched a documentary entitled “Forbidden Love” last evening. The title made me somewhat uncomfortable because I was expecting the worst such as pedophilia, etc. But I was pleasantly surprised when I began to watch, and the content was nothing like I expected.

This well-made documentary was about young love between upper-class young women for lower-class young men in a society where interaction is strictly forbidden. Even speaking to the lower-class is considered taboo. Still, unconditional, innocent love flowed from their young hearts, which knew no boundaries. Their deep-rooted love touched the depths of my heart because the journey involved leaving their families who had raised them with love and in financial comfort.

Despite being disowned by their families, the young women proclaimed, “I would rather kill myself than to leave the man that I love.” Not many of us could have endured the extreme conditions and poverty the young couples faced from staying together. Still, they stayed with each other and raised happy and healthy children.

About the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46

The journey of love involved harsh, bitter treatment and the death of Jesus Christ on a cross for you and me. We have the opportunity to experience a love relationship like none other. Yes, we say that we love Jesus and that He is our Lord and Savior, but how far are we willing to go to serve God? What are we willing to endure?

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

One day all who believe in the Lord will have to prove their love for Jesus Christ. Will we be faithful and face persecution, or will we deny knowing Jesus like his disciple, Peter?

Bible Verse: Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” Matthew 26:34

God, we say that we love you. Yet, many times we fail in our words and actions, which are sinful against you. Please teach us how to accept your love for us that we may love you and others unconditionally. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

The “We” Concept

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

Walking humbly with God

To “walk humbly with God” is the basis for loving mercy and doing justice. Because of what God has done, we fully invest in healing the world around us through mercy and justice. Cultivating our walk with God provides the power and passion for us to fully engage—it grounds everything else we do. David Kool and Andrew Ryskamp.

Many individuals embrace the duty of alleviating the burdens and poverty of those in need. Simply put, they dedicate their time and money to helping others. We have nonprofit organizations, soup kitchens, sidewalk showers, street barbers, and the list goes on and on. If you have a good heart, unselfish and caring, you naturally desire to extend your helping hands.

But there is a qualifier that distinguishes the believer from the philanthropists or those who perform good deeds. We share our faith in God. We represent the love that God has for humanity. We bring hope to the discouraged and demonstrate that God is real because He cares and provides for us.

To walk humbly with our God takes a willing heart and daily perseverance. Love is the foundation for humility. Yes, we love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind, and we can freely love others under the right conditions. But would we continue to try to help the homeless person who curses at us or says, “get away from me”?

It is the challenging circumstances that produce endurance. Who hasn’t used anger or isolation to protect oneself from the painful adversities of life? All of us require meeting the basic physiological needs of our bodies, of which food and water are mandatory.

Brown bag lunches are simple and effective in helping those who are homeless. A peanut butter sandwich, banana, a bottle of water, and a couple packets of hand wipes meet basic needs.

Start a mason jar bank and place the amount of money you would use to spend for personal desires that bring no real value to your life. Research for safety precautions when interacting with the homeless population. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways…. Psalm 91:11. Find a partner with the same “we concept” values and your life will be fulfilled in ways that you never imagined. 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

Love God, Love Others, and Love Yourself

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” Acts 20:35

It takes love outside of ourselves to produce the “we concept.” Yes, we like to think of ourselves as good people. But God tells us in Jeremiah 17:9, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” Ouch! So, now that we are aware of the impact that sin has on every one of us, we can take steps to change our hearts.

We have a helper, the third person of the Trinity Godhead, the Holy Spirit, to help us walk humbly with God. How important is the Holy Spirit to our lives? But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.… Galatians 5:22-23.

Walking humbly with God requires character development. It is our character that must go through a total makeover. Think about a house that is broken and battered. All it takes is a person with a dream, the desire, and money to refurbish the fixer-upper house that nobody wants into a beautiful and livable home. God planted the seed inside of us to stay connected to Him (the dream), we must possess the (desire), and Jesus paid the price (through His death) to reburbish sinful humanity.

God also functions on the “we concept.” God, the Father, Jesus, His Son, the Holy Spirit, and the messenger angels are always ready and available to intervene for our spiritual makeover. When we give our permission by inviting Jesus Christ into our lives, we experience a complete transformation. The Bible teaches us what is acceptable and pleasing to God. Our awareness elevates, and we strive to rid ourselves of the thoughts, actions, and habits that do not reflect our love for God.

Bible Study: As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” Matthew 14:15-16

Prayer: God, we ask forgiveness for thinking of ourselves first. Please teach us how to walk humbly with you. We desire a spiritual transformation in our lives, and invite you into our lives. We pray for the Holy Spirit to teach and lead us to live righteously. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Our Lives Matter

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Philippians 1:27

A thought-provoking question, “Do others see the love of God through my behaviors, habits, and lifestyle?” Nonverbal communication can speak louder than our spoken words. Do they know that we are believers by our clothing, mannerisms, and cheerful disposition?

We may not respond with words to various situations, but whatever is deep in our hearts will eventually be revealed. It takes the right situation to expose our true character.

Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny. Lao Tzu

Living for Christ requires that we have wisdom, which we must ask for because wisdom is a spiritual gift that only comes from God.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave if the sea driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-7

Just as our relationship with God requires daily prayer and study of the Bible for spiritual growth, our character is always a work-in-progress. To live in sync with God remains a daily challenge. We must be filled with the Holy Spirit to withstand the challenges and to be overcomers.

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17

Because we believe in grace and forgiveness and love, it is all too easy to think that God is so easygoing that it doesn’t matter how we live or what we do. That is not so. Because He cares about us to be as whole as possible in a sick world. Above all things, God wants our happiness, both now and eternally. And because He desires for us to be happy, He takes our needs seriously. We are important to Him. Excerpt from Turn your Eyes Upon Jesus, George R. Knight

Living by faith, and fully trusting and obeying God requires 100% dedication to Jesus Christ. When we do our part to love and serve God we receive salvation through His Son, Jesus.

Who am I? I am a child of God who has been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus. Every thought, action, and behavior must represent God and His definition of righteousness.

Bible Study: James 1-2

God, we acknowledge that our hearts are not close to you, and that has prevented us from representing your godly standards. We desire to have a deeper relationship that we may love you with all of our heart, soul, and mind. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

We are Never, Ever Alone!

Yesterday, I listened to a Christian radio station that was 100% inspirational music. To be honest, I was surprised by the lyrics of a couple of songs that expressed despair.

1. “All is not well with my soul, I am feeling alone, empty, and…”

2. “As usual, I awakened feeling like I just couldn’t get out of the bed today.”

Many believers are expressing more despondency than the unbelievers and that should not be the case. We have “Forever Love” by our Spiritual Team, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, along with angels who protect us. If anyone should be feeling alone and empty, it should be the worldlings who worship themselves and other idols.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Unfortunately, we are the problem. Remaining connected to Jesus is all about action. Our relationship with Christ is dynamic, constantly changing due to spiritual growth. Studying the Bible diligently and praying throughout the day keeps us connected. Because we have allowed people, going places, and other things to create chaos in our daily lives, we are disconnected from Jesus Christ.

The answer to reconnection is easily accomplished. Make the decision to eliminate everything that pulls you away from spending quality time with God. We allow too many distractions in our lives. Serving God involves boundaries. Do not get caught up in busyness or allow others to consume your time that should be spent with God. Our connection to God is easily broken when we cannot say “no.” The ability to let the call go to voicemail, or text back, “getting ready to have worship, ttyl” are examples of how we manage our lives in making certain that we put God first.

Will you lose friends? Possibly, but if they do not respect your relationship with God, then you are unequally yoked.

One of our greatest struggles is pulling our minds away from our jobs. Yes, our jobs provide the finances that we need, and definitely are a blessing, but many believers are hungry and thirsty for money and tangible possessions. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33. The expectation from God is that we will have complete faith and trust in His promises and worship Him everyday, all day long. Whisper a short prayer throughout the day thanking God and expressing your love for Him.

Back to the modern lyrics of hopelessness, we are warned that we can do nothing without our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Make the necessary adjustments to your lifestyle. Jesus willingly died that we can be redeemed from our sins. No one deserves more of us than we give to God.

Through His love, grace and mercy, our Creator is aware of our weaknesses. He knows that most of humanity responds to challenging situations with emotions. So God gave us the Book, the Holy Bible is complete with stories of victories and defeat, along with the plan of salvation, and wonderful praises and promises. Make the commitment to learn more about God, and your life will change. And like David, even when hardships arise, we can smile through our tears, and praise our Heavenly Father.

I will praise the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. Psalm 34:1

Bible Study: Isaiah 43

Prayer: God, we recognize that we are too distant from you and for that sin of omission, we ask forgiveness. It is our desire to serve you by giving you the time that you rightfully deserve. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.