Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 20, 2024
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands…” —Revelation 7:9
God created and gifted us with faith, love, power, and a sound mind to worship Him. Our acceptance and commitment to Christ changes our status from an unrighteous believer to the royal priesthood that will reign with Him forever and ever. God has predestined us to enjoy a perfect, sinless life in the New Heaven and New Earth.
The conditions: We are to honor Christ as our First Love, obey God’s will by remaining loyal, and worship Him in spirit and truth by renouncing our thoughts, and inclinations, and saying no to sin. “Behold, it is better to obey than to sacrifice.” We demonstrate our love to God as Christ did in His earthly life, one of daily surrender, Not my will but Your will, Heavenly Father be done.
“What is man that You are mindful of him?” We are the only recipients of salvation. Not even the angels understand why Christ would die for humanity—a race who refuses to obey His commandments and do His will through a life of sacrificial self-denial for which we would receive many blessings including the precious gift of eternal life.
With joy and thanksgiving, we should freely worship the Ancient of Days and the Triumphant King with overflowing love and reverence because their very Names are Holy and the Plan of Redemption required Jesus’ death on Calvary’s Cross. The theme of the Bible is God’s Agape Love for us. Jesus promises us provisions, tells us we are more valuable than sparrows, and He will never forsake us.
“The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” —Zephaniah 3:17
Our prayers rise as sweet incense to Jesus Christ, our High Priest, and Heavenly Intercessor who invites us to boldly come to the Throne of Grace for forgiveness and His Divine help. Holy Spirit, give us the wisdom and discernment to comprehend the faithful love of our LORD who rejoices over us with singing and quiets us with His peace. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, Amen.
We cannot keep Christ’s love to ourselves—someone else needs to know that Jesus’ blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Genuine love for God gives one a burden for souls. Agape love is the catalyst to fulfill our commission of witnessing to a broken and hopeless generation who desperately seeks peace even when they are deceived into purchasing the world’s version of false peace. It is our assignment to tell them, “Jesus loves you!”
“Be holy, for I AM Holy!” “…Without Me, you can do nothing.” The Holy Spirit empowers us with Christ’s strength to use self-control to renounce sin and overcome temptation. Yes, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” In faith, we follow Christ on the Chosen Path that leads to the heavenly reward of eternal life.
“In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer…I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.” —John 16:33
Time is fleeting. Our trials will never cease—our characters must change to reflect the Righteousness of Christ. We face many challenges and temptations, often presented by familiar people and situations. Every day we choose our destiny as reflected in our thoughts, spoken words, behaviors, habits, and choices of friends. To remain safe, Never choose the familiar over the Divine.
Our heart’s desires prevent us from understanding the love that God has for humanity. Though sinful, we are redeemed by the blood of Christ and enjoy the privilege of entering His Most Holy presence with prayer and supplication, which His sinless angels enjoy, therefore, we should bow and honor God as the angels who cover their faces and cry Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!
“For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.” —Psalm 91:11
And speaking of the angel armies, they are Christ’s messengers and our guardians whose duty is to protect the righteous from physical harm and spiritual warfare [they fight and stand down Satan’s evil angels]. We have all in heaven as our Spiritual Reinforcements, still, we decide if good or evil will prevail by our choices.
The LORD’s Grace and Mercies!
“If only, I had prayed or waited for God’s answer.” When all is well, we easily become overconfident in our abilities, and fall into temptation. Immediately, the Holy Spirit sounds the alarm of Conviction. Bowing our heads in humility, we cry out, Against You, O Lord, I have sinned, please forgive me. Great is His faithfulness, we are never abandoned: “Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand” (Psalm 37:24).
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth…” —John 14:16-17
From our turbulent history of following our hearts, we acknowledge that we can only live an obedient and righteous life through the Divine power of the Holy Spirit. In our earthly lives, we will remain on a forever spiritual learning curve. To keep us on the Right Path, our struggles are intense. But suffering from disobedience differs from the trials given to change our characters.
Suffering from consequences wearies us to the core of our souls, thankfully, we eventually come to our senses and acquiesce to the Sovereignty of God. Through prayer and study of the Scriptures, we learn to hear the Voice of God and fully rely on the Holy Spirit. Our faith in God directs us to ask the Holy Spirit for the wisdom to understand Christ’s Righteousness, to teach us how to live holy, to lead us to the Narrow Gate, and to guide our steps to stay on the Narrow Path.
Jesus Warning: I come, like a Thief in the Night! “And behold, I am coming quickly and My reward is with Me to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last” (Revelation 22:12-13).
Covered by God’s Grace, we receive New Mercies every day. Our gratitude is demonstrated by remaining anchored in Christ through continuous surrender, prayer, and praise. Our response of faith to God’s love is to live a Christ-centered, faith-based life and to give our best effort as we prepare daily for Christ’s soon return. Our surrender invites the Holy Spirit to empower us to live a victorious life through the Strength of Jesus Christ.
Lord, we pray for Your strength in this journey of life. We thank You for sending the Holy Spirit, our Teacher, Helper, Comforter, and Transformer. May we continue to possess a heart of gratitude by consecrating ourselves daily to serve You with surrender and obedience. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
“And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them…” —Jeremiah 45:5
When studying the Creation Story, we have evidence that God loves abundance and beauty. “Scientists estimate that there are about 8.7 million animal species on Earth, with 2.2 million of those being marine. However, only about 1.2 million species have been identified and described, mostly insects.” God is still giving humanity an abundance and desires that we develop and nurture a spirit of contentment.
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” —Micah 6:8
Develop a spirit of contentment—Be content with what you have. Our character matters to God. If we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, we will develop a character overflowing with love, justice, mercy, and humility, and focus on the needs of others instead of our desires. Remember, God never withholds what is good and necessary for us to enjoy a fruitful life.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” —James 1:17
Lord, we pray for a revival in our souls to prepare for Your soon coming. In Your Holy Name, we pray, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 16, 2024
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” —1 Thessalonians 5:18
The grateful heart continuously reflects on God’s loving character: “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). God’s loving promises and daily mercies are the catalysts to thank Him daily with a renewed covenant to live righteously and serve Him with a surrendered, obedient, and grateful heart.
We Are the Recipients of Every Good and Perfect Gift
God’s love and gift of His Son, Jesus, and Jesus’ willingness to rescue us from the wages of sin through the perfect Plan of Redemption, cover us with His Righteousness, and restore our characters through the process of Sanctification is much more than we deserve. Because human effort can never achieve righteousness, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to teach and empower us in our earthly journey.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” —John 14:26
The gift of the Holy Spirit, our Teacher and Comforter is responsible for our spiritual transformation [which requires our cooperation]. He is the Giver of wisdom and discernment of the Holy Scriptures, teaches us how to live holy, opens our eyes to recognize temptations, and to perceive sin as treacherous. The Holy Spirit also convicts us of our disobedience.
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” —Jeremiah 17:9
“For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” —Romans 7:19-20
Throughout the Epistles, the apostle Paul expressed immense gratitude for Jesus’ sacrificial offering, yet, he also shares his continuous struggle with sin. Born into sin and shaped by iniquity, we fight inner turmoil and external warfare all day long. It is easier to sin than to live righteously. Because we can never fight sin without the Holy Spirit, we should never minimize the devastating impact of sin.
“Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.” —Psalm 37:4
We love God and express gratitude for His goodness through our praise and worship, still, we fall. For the faithful believer, it’s usually something we perceive as insignificant that causes us to fall. Thank You, Jesus, for Your great sacrifice! God’s grace and mercies are beyond our comprehension. Yes, we sinned, but Divinity acts immediately, the Holy Spirit uses His convicting power to reveal our transgressions.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” —1 John 1:9
Yes, we are sinners saved by grace, but God’s grace is a privilege. Although we repent, sin mars our character, and as a result, our spiritual struggle escalates. With humility, we fall to our knees and utter David’s prayer of repentance, “Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2).
“No one who abides in him keeps on sinning…whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God…” —1 John 3:6, 10
The grateful heart cherishes Jesus’ blood sacrifice. How do we view sin? When we reflect deeply on Satan’s never-ending deceptions and how the wicked one has impacted our lives, we should desire and prepare for eternal life with zeal. Praying for the Holy Spirit to open our eyes allows us to perceive sin for what it really is—the loss of eternal life and experiencing the fate of the second and final death.
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Our praise of Thank You, Jesus! for the Plan of Redemption must extend beyond spoken words, our gratitude is demonstrated by striving to live holy.
“But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct…” —1 Peter 1:15
With overflowing gratitude, we rejoice in God’s promises to keep us on the straight and narrow Path of Righteousness. Living in perilous times exposes us to the intentional warfare of busyness and distractions designed to divert our attention from God and steal our precious time. Our battle plan includes separating ourselves and praying for the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom to see life through spiritual eyes.
With our souls at risk, we desperately need to give God our attention and time through meaningful worship. True worship places us in the presence of God. To enter the presence and power of a Holy God is to experience spiritual transformation and heart conversion. We worship God in Spirit and Truth by possessing a pure heart filled with thanksgiving and ready to do His will. God rewards us with blessings of spiritual renewal and the strength to overcome Satan’s temptations.
“My grace is all you need, for my power is the greatest when you are weak.” —2 Corinthians 12:9
The grateful heart readily admits the wretchedness of inheriting a carnal heart and wholeheartedly believes Jesus’ warning, “…you can do nothing without me.” We live with the conviction that we were bought with a price, and our strength is from Christ, our King, therefore we willingly give ourselves away to Christ to live a life of servitude. “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master” (Matthew 10:24).
The Promise of Eternal Life: “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” —John 14:2
The grateful heart responds with honor and adoration to our Savior and King who is waiting for every living being to choose who they will serve, and “when the gospel is preached to all the world then will the end come.” With heaven ever before us, we must live as one who is forgiven. We are grateful sojourners—just traveling through this earthly life by preparing for eternal life with Christ Jesus.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” —John 3:16
The grateful heart is filled with immense love and gratitude because humanity is the benefactor of God’s love, grace, and mercies. We know that our identity is through Christ, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” (1 Peter 2:9).
“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). The grateful heart truly loves and appreciates God’s Divine Gift of His Son. Every day, with humility, we whisper the covenant words, “Lord, not my will but your will be done.” When Jesus is our First Love, our grateful heart reveals itself by following in His footsteps to live a sinless life of total surrender and obedience.
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” —Revelation 22:12-14
Daily our resounding proclamation is, “I am going to heaven!” Not only in words but also in deeds, we consecrate ourselves to live holy. From our commitment, the Holy Spirit transforms our characters into a Christ-like character. Our thoughts, spoken words, habits, and lifestyles reflect a life hidden in Christ Jesus. Preparing daily for eternal life results in a life filled with praise and worship. We do not fear because we will receive our reward when Christ comes.
“The righteous are people who have entered into covenant with God by faith and seek to live according to his Word.” Jeane Jones
Lord, we thank You for Your life and Your love. We pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our lives that we travel this journey with conviction and courage. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – May 1, 2024
Sola Scriptura: The Scripture is our Supreme authority in all spiritual matters and gives us the God-breathed Truth necessary for our salvation and spiritual transformation. The Scriptures reveal the Eternal Triune Godhead: God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, God, the Holy Spirit, who has no beginning and ending and the attributes of their Righteous Characters.
History of the Bible
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” —2 Timothy 3:16-17
“…knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” —2 Peter 1:20-21
From Genesis to Revelation, the theme of the Bible is God’s Agape Love for humanity and every living animal and plant. Yet, as humans created in their image, we are the apple of His eye. To save our souls, God gifted Jesus, His only Son to step down from His throne to suffer, bleed, and die so that we would not experience the penalty of the wages of sin.
God’s love, grace, and mercies are abundantly revealed in every promise, Divine intervention, and corrective discipline. The Holy Scriptures were given for us to know God’s Righteous Character, His Commandments, and Precepts, and is the only Standard of Truth by which we are commanded to live. Great His is love, faithfulness, and mercies.
Martyrdom Paved the Way for Us to Receive the Bible
The history of Christianity includes the Bible’s translation into English by William Tyndale in the 1500s for which he was condemned of heresy and burned at the stake in Germany. Although he was called to be a martyr, God demonstrated His Sovereignty and proved that despite Satan’s evil plans, He is the Supreme Ruler of this world. Four English translations were published within four years following William Tyndale’s death.
Before his execution, William Tyndale prayed that God would impress upon King James to complete the English translation, interpretation, and printing of the Bible. A group of 54 Bible scholars were appointed to be used by God to complete the task. In 1611, the King James Version (English) of the Bible was printed. Tyndale’s sacrificial offering of his life for the Bible to be made available to millions of people globally gives us something to reflect on, how far are we willing to go in taking up our cross to follow Christ?
The Light to Guide Us on the Narrow Path
The Bible is our Spiritual Guide to living holy. Our desire to study and obey the Scriptures has waned. Without Scriptural knowledge, we cannot experience spiritual transformation or know the will of God. Many are studying the Bible for intellectual knowledge instead of praying for God to give them a clean heart.
We require astute knowledge and spiritual discernment to understand the Scriptures and strengthen our faith. God, the Holy Spirit is not intrusive, we must pray for His presence, power, and Divine wisdom before we study the Scriptures.
The Holy Spirit will only enter a clean temple. We ask for forgiveness of sins before we open our Bibles—an unclean heart cannot be in God’s presence. The Bible is Holy—filled with God-breathed words of life. Studying the Scriptures invites the presence of God into our worship.
Full cooperation is required for the Holy Spirit to convert our hearts and transform our characters. We are saved by Grace through faith. Our faith is the spiritual conduit that connects our hearts to Christ’s heart. It is Christ who imputes and imparts His Righteousness to every surrendered believer to live holy, sanctified lives pleasing to God.
Satan’s Deceptions
Satan age old trick is to plant the seed of doubt in our hearts. He deceives many believers with “Did God really say?” How are we falling for his lies? He begins with the Scriptures. By twisting and blending a little Truth with his interpretations, he uses others to entrap us into believing false doctrines. Many believers refuse to study and obey the Old Testament because someone preached a sermon that the New Covenant abolished the law given at Mount Sinai.
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” —Matthew 5:17
“And on the seventh day, God ended His work which He had done…and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” —Genesis 2:2-3
God clearly states the Old Testament is still valid [not one jot or tittle will change]. The Ten Commandments are the Moral Code we live by. The first four commandments are man’s duty to God and the remaining six are man’s duty to one another. Satan’s first attack was to place doubt in Eve’s mind and he continues to make us doubt that God’s Original Plans are not valid in 2024.
The 24-hour rest from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset is a God-given time of Spiritual Restoration in which we enjoy the highest level of spiritual worship with God. All secular activities are ceased. Sabbath rest, restoration, and relaxation increase our dependency on our Heavenly Father and provide optimal spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health.
The Sabbath is Holy. The Fourth commandment is a covenant between God and the righteous. God was fully aware that we needed to give Him one-seventh of our week to break the bonds of spiritual warfare and draw us close to Him. Satan is cunning, he knows that if we believe the seventh-day Creation Sabbath was changed, he can easily convince us to live a life of compromise and disobedience.
Still, one must consider that if Jesus says all of the commandments are valid then all of Heaven observes and has worshiped on the Seventh-day Sabbath every week since Creation. The seventh-day Sabbath is eternal, we will worship on the Creation Sabbath in Heaven and the New Heaven and New Earth. God never abolishes what He deems as Holy.
When conflict arises between human modifications and God’s law, it is best to obey God. What difference does a day make to God? Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal if God changed His command to keep the seventh-day Sabbath Holy. All human-made thoughts result in disobedience. Cain offered the sacrifice that he determined God should receive, “Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain…” (Jude 11)
When Christ cried, “It is finished!” His sacrificial offering for our Redemption was accepted by God, the Father. The veil tearing from top to bottom indicated the Ceremonial Law—animal sacrifice was done away with. We do not acknowledge the magnitude of false doctrines and the impact of satanic evil on believers as the Apostles Paul and Peter did. How far will we allow Satan to go in appealing to our heart’s desires and separate us from God?
Every day, our love for God is challenged by the raging war within our hearts, prevailing worldviews, and the delightful earthly treasures that appeal to our senses. Some believers are so hypnotized and spiritually blinded that they no longer worship God in Spirit and Truth. We cannot think wrong and do right. Without daily consecration and fasting, the enticement of temptation and sinful desires will always gain victory.
If we truly love God then our love and loyalty are evidenced by changing our mindset to obey every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. The righteous live by Sola Scriptura—by Scripture alone, therefore our agonizing prayer is for God to search our hearts and reveal any evil thing that results in disobedience.
From the Scriptures, We Learn These Truths
God is love and He is Just. Faithful Obedience to His Righteous commands and precepts are non-negotiable. We were created with the free will of choice, but cannot save ourselves through self-governance. Faith produces spiritual works, but our works will not save us.
The Evolution theory is a feeble attempt to replace the Power, Glory, and Majesty of Jesus Christ, our Creator, Sovereign King of kings, and Lord of lords. The anatomy and physiology of the human mind and body are a replica of Divinity and will always supersede every human-made technological advancement that attempts to minimize the spiritual wisdom we receive from the Holy Spirit.
The Bible is our road map. We do not have to develop counterproductive strategies when facing hardships, we pray and study to receive God’s guidance even in our daily routine activities. Through the Scriptures, God reveals His will and plans for our lives. When we give God our best, our prayers change, in faith, we not only pray a daily prayer of surrender, but saints of the Most High are praying, Come, Lord Jesus, and take us away from this sin-cursed earth.
Some study for intellectual knowledge, “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). How is it possible for us to delve into the Holy Scriptures and remain the same? Only one obstacle stands between us and the conversion of our hearts—disobedience to God. How long will we tread on God’s love and mercies?
“For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times” (Proverbs 24:16). “Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand” (Psalm 27:34).
Even in our disobedience, we receive our Father’s loving mercies. God is not punitive or vengeful. Yes, we suffer the consequences of disobedience, still, we are never alone or abandoned in our spiritual journey whether we are suffering consequences or the hardships of trials.
In John 16:33, Jesus forewarned us of a life of trials. Tribulations and suffering are not punitive actions of an unjust God—they pave the way for our characters to be transformed into Christ-like Characters. Every surrendered and obedient believer receives Jesus’ strength and the power to endure and persevere through their fiery trials and to live as Overcomers.
We open our Bibles, pray for the anointing, presence, and power of the Holy Spirit, and receive God’s Divine resolution for our challenges and we receive the strength to walk on the water in faith when suffering from tumultuous trials and tribulations. Although our trials can be severe and lengthy, God gives us the strength to endure.
God does not withhold blessings. Every good gift is from the Father above. God’s blessings always glorify and honor His Holy Name. His answer of no reflects the things we ask for in the long run will compromise our salvation and reward of eternal life.
We must give up the pursuit of earthly prosperity, The love of money and tangible possessions demonstrates the worship of mammon—the idol of materialism. God does not choose our final destiny, we decide or not to live as Christ lived, a sacrificial life of humility and obedience to God, the Father which is required to receive our Crown of Life.
How deep the Father’s love for us! Through His Divine Love, the Spirit of Truth was sent to teach us the absolute Truth of every Holy Scripture. We can renounce sin, abolish all false doctrines, and with a made of mind, worship God with immense gratitude in the power of His might!
Not one book or human-made theory can challenge the authenticity of the Holy Writ. The Scriptures are all-inclusive, not only do we receive the spiritual power to “Be holy, for I am Holy,” but Jesus promises, “I will heal the broken-hearted and bind up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).
The Scriptures shine joy upon our sorrow, hope upon our discouragement, light upon our darkness. They give direction for our confusion, certainty in our perplexity, strength in our weakness, and wisdom in our ignorance. When we meditate upon the Word of God and by faith trust its promises, God’s life-giving power energizes our entire being physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. ssnet.org
“And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, ‘Strike this army with blindness.’ So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.” —2 Kings 6:17-18
Our unfailing duty to God is to revere and honor Him through faithful obedience and to live by Scripture alone! It is the contrite and surrendered heart that receives the deepest spiritual discernment. The Holy Spirit works great and mighty feats of imparting wisdom and discernment to open our eyes to perceive the Power of God. We serve the same Mighty and Powerful God that Elisha served. It’s time to live a faith-based, consecrated life that brings God’s unlimited power into our lives.
The Bible is the greatest Book of all. Our faith and trust in God are strengthened when we study the faith and courage of our Biblical heroes. They prayed in faith because they believed in the Mighty Power of God. The Old Testament reveals God’s love and Divine Intervention to give victory in the most daunting situations. From living a consecrated and obedient life, our God will demonstrate that He is God alone, every day He is still parting Red Seas.
To surrender is to receive Jesus’ peace. Live by Sola Scriptura: The Holy God-breathed words of Righteousness.
Christ is waiting for us to turn our focus from distractions, discard false teachings, and live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. We have an enemy working overtime to steal our souls and our reward of the Crown of Life. Fight using the Scriptures as Jesus did when tempted in the wilderness.
“Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.” Jude 24-25
Our greatest act of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ is based on love. Because God is Sovereign and Omniscient, in humility, our daily prayer is, Lord, what do you want me to do?
Daily surrender not only reveals our love and faithful obedience to our Great God and Loving Savior, but also proclaims our desire to live forever in the presence of our High and Holy King, Jesus Christ. Amen!
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 28, 2024
“Be strong and of good courage…Only be strong and very courageous…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 1:6-7, 9
When Moses died, God allowed a time of mourning for His beloved servant to be fulfilled. Immediately after, Joshua received his commission from God: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel” (Joshua 1:2).
Yes, God knew that Joshua’s heart was filled with fear, still, He commanded Joshua three times to be courageous and to move forward because “the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” God never justifies our fears. He gives us the only remedy, to put our faith and trust in His power.
“Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom…” —Deuteronomy 34:9
To serve as a courageous soldier in the army of our Mighty Warrior God, we must first possess godly wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). Wisdom gives us godly perception and discernment. We perceive matters with spiritual insight.
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting…” —James 1:6
Faith in God is the catalyst to accepting Christ as our personal Savior and faith sustains our relationship with Christ. By faith, we please God. By faith, we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness. By faith, we surrender and are transformed into the likeness of Christ. By faith, we live courageously upholding the banner of righteousness. Every spiritual attribute that God requires of us is based on the foundation of steadfast faith.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” —2 Timothy 1:7, NLT
Courage is an innate spiritual gift and a virtue we must possess in our walk with Christ. The Hebrew word for courage is chazaq—”to show oneself strong.” The Holy Spirit uses our God-given attributes of love, faith, and courage to prompt us to surrender and accept Christ.
From our commitment to discipleship, our love, faith, courage, power, and self-control are used by the Holy Spirit to facilitate spiritual transformation, empower us to renounce sin, and live a faith-based, Christ-centered life that honors God.
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” —1 Corinthians 16:13
Does courage matter? Throughout the Bible, God places a great emphasis on possessing courage. Courage is rarely addressed in sermons. Courage is not only required to put our faith in action, but courage is the remedy for overcoming anxiety, worries, and life’s hardships. It takes courage to refuse to sin when compromise rules.
Jesus says: “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” —Revelation 21:8
“If cowardice belongs to unbelievers, the implication is that one mark of a true Christian is courage (Ligonier.org). Jesus not only identifies cowardice as a mortal sin but it is the first sin listed that will cause unbelievers to experience the second and final death. If courage is vital to our lives as overcomers then why is it the most overlooked Christian virtue?
Courage is the catalyst that activates our love and faith in God to be practicing Christians. Courage is the spiritual fuel that feeds our choice to surrender and obey God when our hearts are driving us to sin. We use courage to choose God’s truth over false doctrines, live a sanctified life in a world filled with abject wickedness, and stand on holy ground when faced with offers of compromise.
“In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might.” —Ephesians 6:10, Amplified Bible
“If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray…” God has always required human effort before He intervenes. We exercise our inner strength to remain steadfast and courageous, still, we must rely on Jesus’ strength given to us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Every day, we fight to stand down our carnal desires and pray for the Holy Spirit to keep us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness. To resist our heart’s desires and renounce worldviews is a daily decision based on the courage to surrender, will we choose God?
Many are plagued with spiritual instability in their Christian journey. Sometimes they are courageous and on fire for God; other times their lights are flickering as if burning out. The inner struggle of our hearts will never cease. Yet, with determination, we must “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” (Joshua 24:15).
God will never coerce or beg us to obey Him. I can come to Jesus just as I am, but I cannot stay just as I am. God requires a complete spiritual overhaul of our minds, characters, personalities, habits, and behaviors. Our fight to live holy is severe! Still, we have the power to choose holiness! From our prayer of surrender, we receive the supernatural power to resist temptation and live as overcomers.
Living By the Power of His Might
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. —Ezekiel 36:26-27
To surrender is a prayerful decision that calls for faith in action. Most of us establish life goals and live accordingly to complete them. Every morning, set a spiritual goal, “I will not sin against God today.” Pray for spiritual strength. We can do nothing using only human effort. Living a faithful and obedient life requires full cooperation with Divinity.
It takes courage to pray and ask God for a desire of our heart and remain obedient when He says no. It takes courage to love the disagreeable. It takes courage to remain silent and walk away from conflict. To deny ourselves of forming relationships when loneliness arises because Christ has separated us for spiritual growth requires courage and much prayer for strength. To overcome the sin of disobedience, we must have the courage to practice self-denial and self-control.
“Do not be unequally bound together with unbelievers [do not make mismatched alliances with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” —2 Corinthians 6:14, Amplified Bible
Today’s believers are fighting one of the greatest battles—loneliness. Satan has increased his strategic warfare in the areas of Christian dating and marriage. Single men and women of all ages feel their lives have no purpose because they are not in love. Our enemy dresses the wolves in sheep’s clothing, but church attendance and saying, Lord, Lord does not indicate a man or woman of God has a converted heart. Pray and wait on the Lord!
The Increase of Conflict in Christian Marriage: Marriage is a holy union consisting of three cords, Christ, the husband, and the wife. Conflict in the marriage always originates from one or both spouses having an unconverted heart. Seeking marriage counseling does not change and purify the heart.
“Create in me, a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” —Psalm 51:10
Dissension in a marriage requires the husband and wife to bow down in humility and surrender fully to God. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church and the wife is to honor and respect her husband. The spiritual goal of marriage is to lovingly help each other receive their crowns of life.
Downsize Your Social Circle: Consistently perform a mental-spiritual review of your social circle. Every person should be a man or woman of God who is dedicated to Christ and can pray for you. They should lovingly but boldly use the Scriptures to address areas of compromise [iron sharpens iron].
“I can [and will] do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Compromising believers weaken our resolve and lead us astray. Let go of everyone who cannot pray and help you on your spiritual journey. It’s a tough decision, but never choose the familiar over the Divine!
“Be holy, for I am Holy” is God’s command to every believer who accepted Christ as their Savior. Not only do we fight against spiritual warfare, but every day, we fight the inner battle of a carnal heart that opposes all that is good and holy. The human effort of exercising steadfast courage, surrender, and faithful obedience are the spiritual virtues required to live a sacrificial life holy and acceptable to God.
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” —Acts 1:8
The life God commands us to live can only be accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit. As the jailer asked Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved?” every day we should separate ourselves from spouses, children, family members, and friends by going into our secret closets and seeking God’s presence through meaningful worship.
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” —Revelation 3:11
Do not let your faith waver! The spiritual journey of Sanctification compares to no other earthly hardship. Get ready for Christ’s return and stay ready. Either we will live our best lives now or in the New Heaven and New Earth. If we desire to walk with God like Enoch [who courageously stood on the Righteousness of Christ in wicked times] then we give God our best by making Him our priority.
“And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.” —Revelation 15:2
Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 26, 2024
“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…’ ” —Genesis 1:26
When hardships, sickness, and death enter our lives, we need Christ’s Healing Balm to soothe our anxieties, emotional or physical pain, and sorrows. Jesus, the Man of Sorrows lived a bittersweet life. He knows the extreme side of suffering. Trust Jesus, God the Son to give you His Divine peace and strength. Only His love and power can provide the Spiritual Touch to heal our mental, emotional, and physical infirmities.
We do not have to pray lengthy prayers. The prayer of faith, “Jesus, help me” receives an immediate response from our Loving Savior. Jesus, the Great Physician is meek, loving, and compassionate. Although we are not promised physical healing, we always receive the Divine strength to persevere. All of heaven is involved in the believer’s Chosen Path of suffering. Never stop praying!
When Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane, in response to His prayers, God, the Father sent angels to minister and impart Divine strength to His Son needed to complete the Plan of Redemption for you and me. Our prayers for Divine Help receive the same heavenly response.
The Holy Spirit intercedes by taking our prayers of faith to Christ, our High Priest and Intercessor. We receive Christ’s supernatural strength and peace from the Holy Spirit, and the Commander of angel armies sends His angels to refresh our minds, bodies, and souls with His Living Water. Oh, what love the Father has for us.
Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions 
You must be logged in to post a comment.