For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Today, I read in Matthew chapter 27, the words spoken by Jesus just before His death on the cross:
At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Matthew 27:45-46 NLT
If you are in a time of darkness, please know that God has not forsaken you. God has promised: He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. Psalm 147:3. I know that God keeps His promises. In October, I experienced loss, which left me as a family of one. Through my tears, many times, all I could do is pray, “God help me.” And just as God promises, the gaping wound in my heart has healed. It is said that time heals all wounds, which is not true. There is only one, our Heavenly Father, Jehovah Shalom-the God of Peace who brings us peace, comfort, and above all, healing.
Yes, I am grieving my loss. Still, I did not stop reading the Bible at Matthew 27. I continued to read Matthew chapter 28, which tells us of Jesus’ resurrection. God did not forsake Jesus, nor will He ever abandon those who He created in His image. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11.
Never give up the hope that we will have a better life. God gave us His best, His Son, Jesus Christ. No, human beings did not kill the Son of God. Jesus willingly gave His life to redeem humanity. Our greatest need was a Savior who would save us from our sins through forgiveness.
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11
The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords is coming soon:
12 “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
Do not let any situation leave you hopeless!
20 He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! 21 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people. Revelation 22:20-21
Hold on! Continue, even in the midst of your tears, grief, and suffering, praise and worship God.
O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. Psalm 95:6
God, thank you for loving us and giving your Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Please help us remember that you have glorious plans, promising us eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth. We love you, and we ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
At least once a week, I participate in online surveys. Two questions appear in every survey: Are you influenced by your family and friend’s experiences with a particular product or company? If you were offered a job equal to your current job, would you be proud to work for this company? All companies that expect to thrive in the current economic decline environment are very concerned about their reputation and the consumers’ perception of their business culture.
We can also perform a self-survey. Do other individuals influence your commitment to serve God? What opportunities do you seek out to share your faith by telling of the goodness of God?
God has given us a commission-a work that He considers our duty in serving Him. We must witness to others! Not only does sharing our testimony of spiritual transformation strengthen our relationship with God, witnessing is a faith-building activity that encourages others to include God in their lives.
Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20
Read verse 17. Although the disciples were with Jesus and eyewitnesses of His ministry, which included the healing power of physical ailments, casting out demons, and providing food for a multitude, some of the disciples still had doubted the divinity of Christ. What is the road-block that kept them from having 100% faith and trust in Jesus? In verse 18, take notice that Jesus had to remind them that He was the Son of God, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.”
Even though we live in times of economic instability, we have total faith in our employers that we will receive our salary, or the supermarket we shop at will always have food for purchase. And certainly, we believe in our abilities. Who doesn’t enjoy completing goals in which we entirely relied on ourselves to accomplish? How many of us think about the gift of God’s grace for a new day of life and the ability to function with mental and physical strength? We receive many blessings that God lovingly provides, yet, our doubt is targeted at Jesus, the Son of God who sacrificed his life for our salvation.
1. Taking the Giant Leap of Faith-serving God is a spiritual decision and requires an unwavering faith-wholehearted belief that God will do exactly as He says he will do. 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
2. Self-forgiveness and God’s forgiveness-Forgiveness is often an area of intense struggle. Perhaps we have hurt others who will never accept forgiveness because they refuse to interact with us. Even so, we can always pray and ask God to forgive us, and then we must forgive ourselves and move forward in the power of Jesus’ name. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19
3. Human Effort-Serving God always requires action on our part. We must put forth the determination to fulfill our role in the Plan of Salvation. …and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open, and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.…2 Chronicles 7:14-15
4. Remaining Motivated-Accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior brings many low in the valley experiences. 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. Trusting in Jesus provides us with the confidence to enjoy the sweet peace and comfort from knowing that God will bring us through victoriously.
5. Perseverance-Never become weary in serving God. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11. The plans that our Heavenly Father has for His faithful children end with living in a perfect New Heaven and New Earth.
Many are fearful of sharing their testimonies with others. How has your life changed since accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? As unique as our fingerprints, so are our testimonies of the transforming power of Jesus that has touched our lives.
Sharing our testimony is essential for spiritual growth. When the Apostle Paul was before King Agrippa, he testified of his conversion from Saul to Paul.
“‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future. Acts 9:5-6
The Apostle Paul always shared the powerful story of his spiritual transformation with unbelievers. When we can tell our personal experience of how God has transformed our lives by accepting us, usually at our lowest point, then our testimony proves that God is real. And that He is waiting for each and everyone to come to him.
Our spiritual eyes must be fully open before we can tell others about Jesus Christ. We must possess a firm foundation of belief, trust, and faith in God. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance when testifying of your deliverance from sin. For example, if you have a history of child molestation, most individuals do not need the intimate details of the suffering you experienced. Your focus is to bring glory to God and how He provided deliverance by giving you complete mental and emotional healing.
From my experience, I have been told many deep, dark secrets while witnessing. Because there are many atrocities that I have never suffered, I often share the story of the Apostle Paul’s transformation. Read Acts chapter 9. Saul had a thirst to seek and kill Christians who believed in the saving power of Jesus Christ. And the worst part is that Saul thought he was doing this under the cloak of religion. Because of his level of wickedness, God physically blinded him, and for three days and nights, he did not eat or drink. But, our God always brings a victorious end. God not only took away Saul’s desire to kill, to complete his spiritual transformation, but God also changed his name from Saul to Paul. Hallelujah!
Do not be discouraged if the person you are sharing God’s love with does not accept God. If they have taken the time to listen to your testimony, then their heart is open to change. The Holy Spirit will minister to them as they reflect on the words of truth they have heard. It is not only spoken words that convey our relationship with God. We may never know the burdens that lift from the persons to whom we said a joyful “Good Morning,” or performing a kind deed when it was least expected. Our smiles and cheerful disposition are an outward reflection that we have the inner joy that comes only from serving God.
Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, we can use social media for witnessing. It has been a rough and turbulent ride in 2020. Pray and ask God to reveal the opportunities to share your faith with or without words. Your relationship will continue to grow deeper with God, and your faith will strengthen. In a world filled with hopelessness, we must proclaim that we serve a mighty and loving God who delivers us. God is always faithful! Despite our trials and sorrows, like Job, we can proclaim, But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end, He will stand upon the earth. Job 19:25
God, we thank you for the Sabbath. We ask in your name to grant us the holy boldness to tell of your great love and plan of salvation to others. Please fill our hearts with compassion and the desire to serve you with all of our heart, soul, and mind. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
What is your first thought when you hear the word surrender? Many think of giving up or defeat. After-all the dictionary definition is: to cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority. And yes, in the case of interaction with an adversary, the dictionary definition accurately describes the situation.
“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 NLT
Take my Hand
Surrender takes on a totally different meaning when God is involved. When the storms of life have beat us down, and we feel as if we cannot deal with another problem, if we allow ourselves to surrender to Jesus Christ, He takes the impossible and performs miracles. Surrendering is asking Jesus to be a part of our lives by confession and repentance of our sins. Having a relationship with God is not complex, nor is it complicated. The spiritual component in humanity and the seed of faith that God has given to everyone automatically connects to God when we commit to serving Him.
We do not have to understand or attempt to analyze the peace and inner joy we receive from serving God. It is in the midst of our raging storms of trials and sorrows that all we have to do is say, “God, help me.” And the hands of Jesus reach out, and the spiritual bonding begins as our hearts start to calm down from the reassurance that we are no longer alone to bear our burdens.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
With our Heavenly Father, defeat or the feelings of being overwhelmed are part of our past. We decided not to ever surrender to our harsh trials and tribulations again. Feeling empowered and victorious is the outcome of giving ourselves to the only One who can tell our storms, Peace, be still! Who else would know exactly what we need when we need it? Never forget who you belong to: Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us… Genesis 1:26
Make your life complete by surrendering to God. It takes human effort to nurture the seed of faith. By believing, trusting, and obeying God in all circumstances will guarantee that you will never be defeated again.
God, we are ready to surrender to you. We confess and ask forgiveness of our sins. We commit to love and serve you with all of our hearts, souls, and minds from this day forward. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
Who is Jesus? Without having an up-close and personal relationship, our initial answer would probably be, “He is the Son of God.” But for those who have a testimony of deliverance, Jesus Christ is much more than the Son of God. Prayerfully, today we will learn who Jesus is and how we can grow closer to Him.
To establish, build, and maintain any relationship, we must possess unconditional love, utilize healthy, ongoing communication, and be willing to serve. Yes, there are many other characteristics, but these three traits form the foundation for the building blocks, such as mutual respect, trust, forgiveness, etc.
Before we move forward, study and memorize 1 Corinthians 13, the Love chapter that identifies the traits that grow from the tree of unconditional love:
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT
Who does Jesus say that we have to love?
“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” 37 Jesus declared, “ ’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:36-39 BSB
Self-evaluate: If you can verbalize these words: “I don’t like him, her or them,” then God has a message for you:
19 We love because He first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God, but hates his brother and sister, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother and sister, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother and sister as well. 1 John 4:19-21
Loving others is not based on ethnicity, physical likeness, socioeconomic status, or religious preferences. Nor do the participation in peaceful protests, rallies, or giving financial support indicate that we possess the love that God requires of us. Loving others unconditionally (without stipulations) is a core character trait that we must possess, or we do not have a love for God, nor can we have a relationship with God. In fact, God says we are “liars” Ouch!
Finally, we must believe that God is Unconditional love, and He is Omniscient-all knowing. Let’s use our creative abilities to script a probable conversation between God, the Father, and Jesus His Son before the Creation:
Son, you know if I create human beings, they will disobey and fall into sin by pursuing self-seeking pleasures. The relationship they need to have with us will be a constant struggle because the “Seed of Faith” that we give them will remain the same size because of their doubt and unbelief in our power. They will be distracted by the things that Satan will present to them, and their greatest love will be for money. You know that they will not love us and they will hate each other. Jesus, are you sure that you want me to create human beings? Yes, Father, I will give my life for their redemption from sin. But, Son, you will be born as a human into poverty, have a life of suffering, you will be rejected, despised, hated, and falsely accused of blasphemy against me. And the most terrible thing is that you will die on a cross with large spikes driven through your hands and feet. Yes, Father, I understand. Still, I am willing to die for all of humanity.
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1
God, we want to say thank you, and we love you. Please forgive us for our sins against you and each other. Help us never forget the gift of your Son, Jesus that died and was resurrected so we may have eternal life. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” 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 22:36-38 BSB
As Believers, we are to think, act, and live differently from those who do not believe in God. The pursuit of financial gain is the goal of those seeking to satisfy their desires. Unfortunately, many who profess to serve God have boarded the “Prosperity Ship” because of greed. Our overabundance is not to be used to purchase the latest fashion or trends. One of the most discouraging things I have ever witnessed was an individual who was a Pastor’s wife and had converted one of their bedrooms into a closet.
At Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon, he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” Acts 10:1-4 NIV
Loving God means that we strive to stay in alignment with His plans for our lives. We have primary responsibilities to help those in need. God has given everyone spiritual gifts and talents. Consider the elderly, living alone because spouses preceded them in death, and their children live in other states. Certainly, they could use a prepared meal or help with cleaning their homes. Local Churches involved in community service require monetary donations beyond the tithe and offerings from their members.
Currently, with the pandemic, many children are engaged in virtual learning. Two of the most challenging courses are math and science. If you are gifted in these subjects, you could offer virtual tutoring to assist the learning process and alleviate the burden of parents who cannot help their children learn the new and updated versions of these subjects.
When we love God with all of our hearts, souls, and minds, we have a natural desire to reach out beyond ourselves.
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Luke 22:42
Until Jesus was born as a human, He never experienced suffering. In His Divine Nature, Jesus did not have prior personal experience of the mental, emotional, and spiritual anguish that accompanies harsh trials and tribulations. Contrary to popular belief, there is not biblical support of Jesus or the angels crying in heaven. Sorrows, trials, and tribulations are part of the earthly journey of humanity.
Nevertheless, in the short span of 33 years, Jesus’ desire was always to please, honor, and glorify God, His Father. the Bible is full of stories of our Savior always helping and healing many of physical illnesses. The life of Christ demonstrates that He broke the barriers of all the “isms” that prevent many of us from reaching out to those in need.
Jesus gave Himself for us and to us, paying a holy and precious price on the cross. After giving His all, is it too much for Him to ask us to do the same thing? No man or woman will ever amount to anything in God’s kingdom or ever experience any of His power until this lesson of prayer is learned–that our personal considerations, no matter how important or precious to us, are secondary. Dr. Francis… From the Devotional Streams in the Desert
Study the Life of Christ in the book of Matthew, and reflect on the great sacrifice that Jesus willingly made for us. We cannot say that we are followers without possessing knowledge of Jesus, His character, and the manner in which He lived.
We are in a holiday season where the focus is placed on spending money and gift-giving. Although we do not have Biblical support indicating the actual day of Christ’s birth, many accept the celebration of Christmas day as His entry on earth as a human. Make every day a celebration of Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection by committing to serving God and serving others.
Bible Reading Plan for December: Matthew chapters 1-28
God, we thank you for our spiritual gifts and talents. May we always put you first, and have a loving and giving spirit. Thank you for always providing our needs and blessing us with additional resources that we may help others. As we celebrate the season of giving, we thank you for giving your life that we may have redemption from our sins and receive the reward of eternal life. We pray in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
Within the past two years, a trend developed to find out where your ancestors were from. It is a lucrative hype with 26 million individuals paying at least $99 for an in-home ancestry test that reported conclusions outside of our human capacity. Even though one person says that she took nine tests using aliases, and three different companies reported three errors and six different results, the falsehood behind finding a person’s ancestry is ignored. These deceptive companies continue to thrive off of individuals who require validation from a DNA test and accept manmade fabricated results.
I found the following ad in a google search for Ancestry DNA testing:
Dear Reader, Where are you from? For many of us, that question can be hard to answer. Ancestry records can certainly help part of the way.
Would you like to know where you are from? Then we will explore the Bible to find out what God, the Creator of humanity, tells us about our origin.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being. Genesis 2:7
And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. Genesis 2: 18, 21-22
And Adam called his wife’s name Eve because she was the mother of all living. Genesis 3:20
From the hands of God, Adam, a human man, was created. And from Adam’s rib, God created the first human woman, and Adam named her Eve because she was the mother of all human beings. There is one aspect that we can agree on: “Only humans can reproduce humans.” Although scientists are attempting to graft or propagate humanity, God has not given us the intellectual or scientific knowledge, wisdom, or ability to create human beings without the union of egg and sperm.
Studying the Bible is the key to our existence. Knowing the story of the Creation of humanity provides all of the validation that we need to live peaceful and anxiety-free lives. God has provided a Book, the Holy Bible, with 66 books that relay the beginning of the world, our origin, what led to us losing immortality, the story of redemption, how this present earth will end, and the reward for the faithful.
We will receive complete restoration, which includes Eternal life along with living in a sinless and perfect New Heaven and New Earth in the presence of God, forever and ever. Amen.
Still, human beings have a serious problem. We have attempted to bring God down to our level of existence and thinking. How can the creation be greater than the Creator? We are not the first generation who has been bold enough to think that they know more than God and have the wisdom to determine life’s origin.
21 These things you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; But I will rebuke you, And set them in order before your eyes.
22 “Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And there be none to deliver:
23 Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.”
Making the decision not to belong to your parents does not change the fact that they are your parents. God reiterates that all of humanity belongs to Him:
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. Psalm 24:1
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 1 Corinthians 6:19
We are God’s property! Do not let others measure your worth or attempt to determine your origin.
Whether or not your parents decided to reproduce you intentionally or your birth was from an unplanned conception, know who you belong to. We are children of God who is our Heavenly Father. In fact, we hold a special place in God’s heart. God gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us that we can be forgiven of our sins and live as the holy and righteous sons and daughters of God. What manmade information can compare to Jesus sacrificing His life for you?
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us–none can compare to You–if I would proclaim and declare of them, they are more than could be numbered. Psalm 40:5
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 NKJV
El Shaddai–the Almighty God took the dirt off the ground with His hands and lovingly and skillfully made the first human being. Claim your birthright! Take your rightful place and allow God to love you and uphold you with His righteous right hand.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
God, we thank you for creating us in your image. Please give us the strength to accept your unconditional love and the future planned for us that we may live with you forever in the New Heaven and New Earth. We thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
Do you remember playing the game, Hide and Seek? The child assigned to find the others would close their eyes or at least pretend to close their eyes and count to 20. It was a simple but exciting game that would make us giggle when the seeker quickly found the others before us. But we didn’t realize that our laughter gave the seeker the exact location where we were hiding. There was always one child, Jimmy, who we could never find. Jimmy was never found because he didn’t mind getting his clothes dirty, nor did he laugh when his playmates were found in their hiding places. And when it was Jimmy’s turn to seek, he quickly found all of us and won the game. Jimmy knew something that we failed to realize, finding places to hide required going above and beyond what we were willing to do.
Then with a humble heart, 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 your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13.
When God tells us to seek Him, it’s not because He is hidden. Seeking God allows us to have an up-close and intimate relationship with Him. Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer. Romans 12:11-12
Serving God should bring excitement. We have access to God at all times, and in every circumstance, we can approach God in prayer. Our desperation to remain close to God reveals that we possess the love, faith, trust, and obedience, (which are fruits of humility), to obey His will. Loving God with all of our heart, soul, and mind proclaims that we honor His Deity-He is our Creator and Supreme God. We also acknowledge that we are incapable of living without His presence in our lives.
God never requires more of us than we are capable of doing. He knows that His Divine Intervention is needed for us to be victorious overcomers. Serving God on His terms reassures us that He will resolve our challenges according to His will. 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
We have many tangible desires and devise strategies and develop plans to pursue our wants. But are we zealous for God? “Zeal is dedication or enthusiasm for something. If you have zeal, you’re willing, energized, and motivated.” (vocabulary.com). How often do we possess the desire to desperately seek God? Do we maintain zeal when we are enjoying excellent or great times, or do we become discouraged and seek God only when our circumstances change and harsh struggles overwhelm us?
God never leaves us to guess or self-determine what is required to seek and serve Him. Love for our Heavenly Father keeps us motivated to be in His presence continually. We are to go above and beyond in our prayer, praise, and worship to our Most-High God every day and throughout our day and night.
Making the habit of keeping a song on our lips and speaking praises of thanksgiving allows us to stay in the presence of God. Abiding love, abundant grace, and never-ending mercies are freely given to us. Not because we can ever do anything to deserve those gifts, it is a testament of God’s love for humanity. Often it is the distractions of our everyday lives that separate us from seeking God and staying in God’s presence.
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
If you are having difficulty staying in contact with God, then I encourage one change in your life. Satan loves individuals who live a disorganized lifestyle. Make a much-needed change by structuring your life. Pray, commit, and ask God to help you break the nonproductive habit of disorganization. Take a moment to write goals for the next three days and include worship sessions to begin and end your day. With prayer and diligence, chaos will turn into calm, and your lifestyle will reflect that all is well. With a peaceful mind, and organized environment, you can meditate on the Word of God and worship freely without distractions. Present your plans to God in prayer, asking for His blessing.
Ask God to give you wisdom. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 NIV. Do not fret if your plans worked out differently. If it was not because of a distraction that kept you from fulfilling your goal, then know that Divine intervention kept you in the direction that God desired for you.
Approach God with humility and practice the powerful habit of diligent prayer. Seek Him in the joyful, good times and in the stormy, sorrowful times. God is waiting for us to faithfully come to Him. God’s Promise: Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24
Bible Reading: Isaiah 65
God, we thank you for giving us the answers on how we can live according to your will. We pray for the zeal, and the love to serve you with all of our hearts, souls, and minds. God, we need your help to change the obstacles that are keeping us from desperately seeking you. We love you and ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
There are some quips and quotes that produce a downward spiral of our inner joy and happiness. Although the reality is that the words may summarize the situation, they still leave a bitter impact on the mental and emotional well-being of the person who embraces these counterproductive statements. Let’s explore a couple of examples:
“Good karma versus Bad karma.” If you are kind and do good, then good things will happen to you. But if you do bad things, then you will get back worse than you’ve given out.
“Bad things happen to good people.” Because our perception of what constitutes “bad” differs from our life experience, I will only give one example of a tragic event. We can certainly agree that the premature death of a baby or child ranks as one of the highest on the list of bad things.
The reality is that both of these statements can easily be disproven. “Good karma versus Bad karma.” We have been given an innate drive to provide for our basic needs. So if a child never had enough to eat and learned that stealing was a method to diminish hunger, then certainly their perception of stealing is that it is a vital part of life. These children mature into adults with a skewed value system. As we differ, so do our definitions of “bad and good.” But the reality is that suffering impacts all of us.
“Bad things happen to good people.” Tragic events happen to everyone and are not dependent upon our good or bad character traits, personality, ethnicity, social, or financial status. Death is one of the cruelest events that humanity faces every day, and death is no respecter of persons.
How Negative Thoughts Are Ruining Your Life
“Whilst we know that a person’s genetics and life circumstances contribute to mental health problems, the results from this study showed that traumatic life events are the main reason people suffer from anxiety and depression. However, the way a person thinks about, and deals with, stressful events is as much an indicator of the level of stress and anxiety they feel,” said lead researcher Peter Kinderman, Head of the Institute of Psychology, Health, and Society. psychologytoday.com/us/blog/compassion-matters/201408/how-negative-thoughts-are-ruining-your-life
“Don’t say things like that!” “Why would you say that?” “That was really a terrible thing to say.” Have you ever been told that something you said was inappropriate? It was not a slip of the tongue, nor was it based on an emotional response. Your innermost thoughts that were hidden in the deepest recesses of your mind finally erupted like a volcano. The vicissitudes (a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant) of life will make us better or bitter. Focusing on our circumstances produces anxiety and worry, which cancels our Faith in God.
Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. Psalm 103:1-2 NLT
For those who are following my blog, you are aware that I place a lot of emphasis on studying the Bible and maintaining constant communication with God through prayer. The Bible provides the way and the means for us to live a faith-based life. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15. And prayer is so vital that we are admonished to always pray, whether in times of peace and prosperity or turbulence and poverty.
Believers in the Most-High God, this is the expectation that God has for us:
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
There is something that I love about the Bible; there are no secrets. No, we do not know the date that Jesus is coming again or the cause of the Apostle Paul’s thorn in the flesh. Nor has the physical appearance been described when the righteous receive immortality at the Second Coming of Christ. Still, the Bible is a complete guide to living a victorious life as Overcomers!
The scriptures reveal the tribulations that we must face in our earthly journey:
“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.
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 3:3-5
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:19
The trials that I have suffered have been harsh, and if it were not for my faith in God, I probably would be institutionalized from a severe psychiatric disorder. But I am not! God delivered me and gave me complete mental and emotional healing, and I am sure that in those tribulations, my faith was only the size of a mustard seed.
The book of Job tells us of the extreme, harsh sufferings that Job, a righteous man, endured because Satan challenged God that Job only served Him because of his wealth.
9 Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. 10 You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! 11 But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” 12 “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 1:9-12
The “wall of protection” is a gift from God that we have, or Satan would cause a continuous flow of tragic events, including death, to destroy the Believers in God. While we are blinded by our circumstances, the army of angels are protecting us, For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; Psalm 91:11.
In studying the Bible, I have never found a command for self-help in the “good or bad” times. We are admonished to have love, faith, trust, and obedience in God. Yes, we will cry many tears because of the hardships in our lives. Even so, I have learned to cry and pray at the same time. While the tears are flowing, I begin to feel the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and my prayer of distress becomes a prayer of thanksgiving and praise.
Human effort is required to remain joyful! Trust in God’s process because our times of struggle will produce necessary spiritual growth and development. After all, what is the purpose of faithfully serving God? We are eagerly awaiting our reward of Eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth. God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
Make it a rule never to utter one word of doubt or discouragement. You can do much to brighten the life of others and strengthen their efforts, by words of hope and holy cheer. Steps to Christ 119, 120. Ellen G. White
God’s promise to His Believers:
But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:1-3
Bible Reading: Psalm 91
God, we thank you for providing for us and for guiding us through the vicissitudes of life. We ask forgiveness for our lack of faith, focusing on our circumstances and thinking and saying negative words. We desire to live with a spirit of gratitude. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Matthew 6:26-27
Throughout the Bible, God expresses and validates our value to Him. We are priceless!
Yes, God knows that we are priceless, but how do you feel about yourself? We are of such high worth that Jesus Christ died for us. We have been gifted with a seed of faith that has the ability to grow at phenomenal proportions. And God never stops giving His abundant love, grace, and mercies. Would God patiently wait for us to come to him, and give us unmerited gifts if He did not value us? Believe and receive: For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9.
It is by our faith that we become part of the family of God. Faith believes in God, at all times, in all situations. We must believe that God exists, and we are His children. And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6
During this wintry season, do not place yourself in a season of darkness. God is our Heavenly Father. In the vastness of this universe, God knows you personally: Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:7.
I encourage you to study the Bible diligently. The Bible reveals God’s character and is the Voice of God. The Bible is complete with real-life stories of humanity’s struggles, defeats, and victories. Most importantly, God consistently reveals His love for us, despite our failures and shortcomings. The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. Psalm 24:1
Prayer is vital to deepen our relationship with God. Prayer provides an ongoing connection to God. The next time that distressful emotions overcome you, begin to pray. Do not focus on the amount of faith that you have or that you do not have. It is by faith that we even have the desire to pray. When we believe, our invisible God becomes visible in various ways. We serve a God who meets us where we are and ministers to our individual needs. Prayer is powerful. Remember, it takes the human effort of prayer to tap into God’s infinite love and power.
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid. John 14:27
God, we pray for the ability to see ourselves as you see us. Thank you for fearfully and wonderfully creating us in your image. Indeed, you are an awesome God! As we continue our spiritual journey, we pray for increased faith and trust in you. This prayer we ask in the Worthy Name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
At the age of 5, I was taught a simple song: “Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me for the Bible tells me so.” As a young child, I did not understand the significance of those words, nor did I realize that Jesus agreed to make the ultimate sacrifice, and He died on the cross to redeem humanity from sin. I understood that Jesus was in heaven with God, His Father, and He loved me even more than my parents. Jesus invited a little child to stand among them. 3 “Truly I tell you, He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2-4
Fast forward almost six decades, and one would think that my faith is rock-solid strong, and I live a worry-free life 100% of the time. But sadly, that is not my testimony. There are times that I lose my spiritual strength when the going gets tough. Still, I faithfully pray and ask God to forgive me for my faithlessness. Recently, God intervened by allowing a sermon entitled, “Lord help my mind,” to show up on my social media page. It had to be Divine intervention because I was not familiar with the Pastor, and I have filters set to block channels that I have not subscribed to. Even so, God always answers our prayers and provides when we need His help! Hallelujah!
When Jesus chose the 12 disciples to follow Him, they were required to leave their homes, families, and jobs. Jesus called together his twelve disciples. He gave them the power to force out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and sickness. Matthew 10:1 CEV. If you can take a few moments, please read the chapter. Pay close attention to verses 5-15, which are entitled, “Instructions for the Twelve Apostles.”
Don’t take along any gold, silver, or copper coins. 10 And don’t carry a traveling bag or an extra shirt or sandals or a walking stick. Matthew 10:9-10. Stretch your imagination, and apply these directives to a recent job offer. If the employer offered the job with these requirements, would I be presumptuous in saying that most of us would decline the position? Even if we accepted the job, we would have many questions that needed concrete answers before leaving our personal effects at home.
Do you believe that God is your Jehovah-Jireh, Our Provider?
Often, there is a wall of “Doubt and Disbelief” that surrounds our minds from the front, back, and both sides. We only believe as far as our eyes can see, or we rely on the methods that we used to resolve our previous challenges. It is easy to convince ourselves that our actions from self-reliance gave us the positive outcomes. But faith requires trust and obedience in God while we patiently wait for His answer. When we accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we experienced a spiritual transformation and became His disciples. Sadly, even though God has blessed us with all of our necessities; a job, shelter, clothing, and food, still, we do not possess unwavering faith in God when hard times arise.
Uncertainty, fear of failure, and self-reliance places us in direct conflict with God. Our lack of faith puts us in a spiritual dilemma: And without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11:6.
Jesus’ disciples did not question their instructions, nor did they complain about their lifestyle restrictions. It was by their faith-believing in God and His promises-that they readily accepted the conditions of discipleship. Jesus has told us in advance that if we become His disciples, we will have many trials and sorrows. “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” John 16:33 CSB
Faith brings the Holy Spirit, our Comforter.
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. …18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. John 14:16-18
Before Jesus’ death, He gathered the disciples together to tell them that although he was physically leaving, He would send the Holy Spirit to lead, direct, and provide comfort to them. Believing in and being filled with the Holy Spirit is part of our spiritual walk of faith. Have you ever felt distraught and prayed, and then you experienced peace and felt the assurance that everything would work out according to God’s plan? It is the Holy Spirit that provides the inner spiritual peace that a software app that uses guided imagery to provide temporary tranquility can never offer. Are you unable to discern truth from misinformation? Then pray and ask for understanding and wisdom. Yes, giving us knowledge and discernment are functions of the Holy Spirit. Are you experiencing sorrow from the loss of loved ones? Pray and ask God to provide you with comfort, and the Holy Spirit will initiate the healing of your broken heart.
Faith brings Victory
God is transparent, He does not tell us that our lives will be easy. Because of His unconditional love, God prepares us for the struggles ahead. In studying the Bible, we do not have to guess what our lives will be like as His disciples. Traveling down the narrow Path of Righteousness is a bumpy ride with many potholes (our trials and tribulations). Even so, if we keep our minds focused on Jesus through faith, trust, and obedience, He has promised to lead and guide us safely through. It is the loving hands of Jesus that comes to our rescue and lifts us out of the potholes. All He asks of us is that we have steadfast and immovable faith, the consistent faith that causes us to believe in Him in every situation and under all circumstances.
Faith brings Joy
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:1-5
Faith brings Peace and Contentment
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11. We do not have to feel anxious or worried. Our commitment to serve God includes living a peaceful life as long as we fulfill His Divine purpose for our lives.
Faith brings Provisions
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?” 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:25, 30, 33-34 NLT
God knows everything about us, even the number of the hairs on our heads. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Luke 12:7. In our neighbothood, we have the privilege to hear the birds every morning and evening chirping as loud as they can; even the birds know that God is their Jehovah-Jireh. Never forget who we belong to, God knows our every need. Let us embrace our Heavenly Father and give Him the praise, the thanksgiving, and the honor for being our Jehovah-Jireh.
Human Effort + Divine Intervention = Victory
God, we want to thank you for being our Heavenly Father who continues to provide for us even when we forget to thank you. Please forgive us for our doubt and unbelief. Thank you for your love, your grace, and your mercies. We commit to building our faith and trust in you by praying and patiently waiting for you to provide and resolve our problems. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
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