God – Page 18 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Well Done, Good, and Faithful Servant

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 24, 2024

“As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” —Deuteronomy 33:25

The perplexities, lengthy trials, and hardships we endure will never overpower us. “We have the promise that…God is faithful. “He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT). (Joy in Tribulation).

The converted believer’s earthly journey is tumultuous because all unrighteous character traits, sinful desires, and habits must be removed. The journey on our chosen paths differs, yet, God’s goal of the spiritual transformation of our minds, characters, and personalities will reach completion until the day before Jesus comes if we are living.

We are granted the mercies of enough time to choose Christ and experience spiritual growth, but the moment we close our eyes in the sleep of death, our spiritual transformation ceases. “For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward…” (Ecclesiastes 9:5). The Apostle Paul explains the state of the dead in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4.

Salvation is a gift but includes Spiritual Conditions of Participation—we embrace and align our lives with God’s Righteousness. Our human cooperation with the Holy Spirit is manifested by daily surrender and faithful obedience. The Holy Spirit transforms us if we place our faith and trust in God, only then can our hearts be connected to Jesus, our High Priest, and Intercessor. The Holy Spirit teaches, imparts wisdom and strength, and convicts us of our cherished and hidden sins.

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” —John 14:2-3

When planning spiritual goals, we look beyond our present circumstances, this earthly home is temporary. We must let go of our love for the life we have on Earth. Few believers memorize Revelation chapters 21-22 and reflect on Jesus’ promise to have true happiness in a sinless, most beautiful New Heaven and New Earth. Nothing should distract us from reflecting on the fulfillment of Christ’s promise to see Him face to face and receive our Crown of Life.

In times like these [the last days of Earth’s history], we desperately need to study and memorize the Scriptures that convert our hearts and reveal God’s will for living righteously. We cannot face spiritual warfare without the Spiritual Ammunition of the Word of God. Now is the time to ask the Holy Spirit to fortify our strength so we can live as overcomers destined for heaven.

Our trust and obedience to God must be solid and built on Christ the Solid Rock. Jesus has not only brought us through past trials, but He also promises to hold us in His Righteous Right Hand to guide us safely through our present hardships, temptations, and future tribulations.

Christ rewards our faithfulness by giving us His strength to keep us moving forward on the Narrow Path. We receive Divine wisdom from the Holy Spirit to recognize and overcome satanic deceptions that we cannot discern with our human ability. Our role is to pray and filter the stimuli of the many voices who proclaim their messages are God’s Truth.

“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24). Never place your confidence in human wisdom. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal all beliefs that are not in agreement with God’s Bible-Based Truth. Jesus’ battle plan of sending the Teacher, the Spirit of Truth prevents us from accepting Satan’s erroneous interpretations of the Holy Scriptures.

“The conditions of receiving spiritual discernment and wisdom require that we have an honest, pure heart, and the desire to know God’s will, which can only happen when we surrender to God.” Pastor M. Finley

Pray before you study. Our love, loyalty, and allegiance are to the Most High God. The Spirit of Truth supersedes all human interpretations of the Scriptures. One of our greatest challenges is letting go of beliefs not substantiated by the Bible. Only an unconverted heart refuses to acknowledge their belief system does not coincide with God’s Truth when the Holy Spirit reveals error. We cannot worship God in Spirit and Truth by holding onto misinterpretations and false beliefs that hinder our spiritual growth.

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” —Jeremiah 33:3

Our goal is to hear well done. Monitor the time spent on entertainment, disruptions, and distractions by creating a Spiritual cease-and-desist order to take back control over your God-given time. Make Jesus your Best Friend. We form an unbreakable bond by talking to Christ throughout our waking hours. Our spiritual goal is to grow stronger and become part of the remnant who have the Faith of Jesus Christ.

“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ.” —Revelation 14:12

According to the Daniel and Revelation prophecies, we face a future of end-time prophetic turmoil with intense spiritual conflict that will challenge our faith in God. Preparing now through consistent prayer, fasting, and study invites the Holy Spirit to give us a continuous outpouring of spiritual reinforcement. The Holy Spirit is our only guarantee of remaining steadfast. We desperately need to go deeper in our spiritual walk with Christ and like John become the disciples that Jesus loves.

“Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters…” Revelation 1:12-15

The Roman Emperor Titus exiled John the Revelator [affectionately known as the disciple that Jesus loved] to the Isle of Patmos. Even so, John’s banishment was part of Christ’s perfect plan. The disciple’s tribulation of isolation was for our benefit—the book of Revelation contains the history of the early Christian churches to the future End Time prophecies that foretell a repeat of Christian persecution.

Covered by God’s grace and living off of abundant mercies is a blessed privilege that we do not deserve. We have received Jesus’ warning and directive to His Apostle for future believers: “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7). Praise God, Revelation ends with Christ and the righteous as Victors standing on the Sea of Glass and Satan and all evil destroyed!

Since Jesus cast Satan and his angels to the Earth, we have always been his focus in the Great Controversy between good and evil. Now is the time to cultivate an aversion to the evil of sin. The truly converted heart does not suffer from an internal conflict of choosing Christ over Satan. We know that we cannot save ourselves and our only hope is Jesus Christ!

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” —James 4:10

God has given Christ, His Son, and sent the Holy Spirit, our Teacher so we can live as overcomers who receive their blessed reward of immortality when Christ comes again with majesty and glory. Take sufficient time and study the book of Revelation under the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Revelation’s plain truth prophecies will impact you as no other book of the Bible.

If you truly desire Eternal life then study the books of Daniel and Revelation. Your perception of this Earth will radically change, and you will strive to live a sacrificial, surrendered life pleasing to God. From our failure to study Bible prophecies and the Old Testament, we only have a limited understanding of the Characters of God, the Father, and Christ, God, the Son.

The lack of knowledge of Redemption, Sanctification, the Judgment, and Eternal life makes it impossible for us to live holy and surrendered lives because there is missing knowledge vital to our salvation. Not knowing the complete story tempts us to fill in the blanks with our interpretations, leaves us vulnerable to Satan’s many deceptions, and we do not possess the spiritual enthusiasm for the Second Coming of Christ.

Throughout the Old Testament, God revealed the earthly arrival of the Messiah. From Adam and Eve to Jacob, Daniel, and King David, to Malachi chapter 4 which describes the Great Day of God, we have Scriptural evidence the plan of Salvation was revealed to those living in the Old Testament times, “The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever” (Psalm 37:29).

Our Triumphant King is coming soon! One day the righteous will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Yes, the King of Glory will introduce us to our Heavenly home, “…’ Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…’ ” (Matthew 25:34). Amen and Amen! © 2024 SDJ

Lord God, we pray for the strength to persevere in this earthly journey and to keep our eyes focused on You as we walk on our Chosen Path. In Jesus Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Integrity: The Righteous Standard

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 22, 2024

“Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. (2) With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.”

“Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? (4) Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.’ “

“When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. (6) Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.” —Acts 5:1-6

Integrity reveals righteousness. Believers live by God’s righteous standards—always speaking and acting according to the righteous moral and social laws given by God. The lack of integrity is a heart issue. It reveals that sin is ruling our hearts instead of the righteousness of Christ.

“When it comes to human integrity, the Apostle Paul, quoting from various Psalms says, “There is no one righteous, not even one….for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:11-23), so the opposite of righteousness is sin. As much as this word is avoided, and even hated today, the truth is that lack of integrity is not merely an issue of behaviour that can be improved…”(Cross Current).

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

Many years ago, I was hired for a nursing management position in one of the best nursing homes. After many years of clinical nursing, I was very excited that God blessed me with the opportunity to develop my skills. When I was introduced to the Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), all but one welcomed me. One of my responsibilities was to make supervisory rounds to assess staff challenges while rendering resident care. As I slowly opened the door to *Mr. Smith’s room, I witnessed an act of horror—the CNA slapped the patient’s face in response to his combative behavior. The CNA was unaware that I had entered the room until the patient cried out, “Miss help me, she hit me in the face.” She let go of his arm, turned to me, and stated, “I did not hit him! He hit me!” My response was, “Yes, you did slap his face!” As I turned to leave, she immediately followed me and without remorse stated, “I have five children to support.”

The Outcome: I reported the incident to my Director who informed the Administrator. Not all of the state agency’s protocol was followed, yes the CNA was reported to the State Department responsible for Certification, but the facility’s responsibility to file criminal charges for assault and battery was not carried out [a decision by the home’s administrator]. The reason given was to protect the facility’s reputation.

The restoration of humanity’s lost righteousness is a central theme of the Bible. The only person in human history whose life was absolutely integrated, in whom there is nothing to blame, whose beliefs, words, and deeds were in perfect harmony was Jesus Christ. His character and life is a perfect example of integrity. (Cross Current)

“So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him” (verse 14 NIV) “…beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:17-18, NKJV)

Our faith and righteousness are tested when facing situations that require a compromise of integrity. To possess spiritual integrity under all circumstances is not a work we can accomplish without the Holy Spirit. From praying daily for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, we receive the spiritual wisdom and discernment to recognize and respond to corrupt situations as Christ would respond.

“The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.” —Proverbs 11:3

We have to make a decision. The courage to do what is right in God’s eyes is not given to us by the Holy Spirit. Courage comes from within. Will we stand strong although we may endure loss? Choosing right reveals our love for God and our true character. The decision to stand for God’s Righteous moral code reveals that we faithfully trust in God’s promise to never leave us or forsake us. We boldly proclaim, “No, I will not agree to do that!” when our morals and values align with the holiness of Christ, our Rock of Righteousness.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” —Matthew 7:13-14

Without the humility to surrender and be led by the Holy Spirit, we will live a life of compromise, never growing spiritually. Because our hearts are desperately wicked, we were born with the inner drive to choose evil over good. Yes, the Christian life is a continuous struggle! Temptation is covert—always concealed as the best option, but sin requires a compromise of sanctified holiness.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” —Matthew 5:6

Integrity flows from a converted and committed heart that seeks after the Righteousness of Christ. Christ completed His spiritual mission on earth. God clearly defines our responsibility in the plan of Salvation, to seek righteousness. To overcome the enemy’s tactics, we need Divine Help continuously.

Prayer invites all of heaven’s supernatural power to give us the strength to face every struggle and overcome it! Our mindset must be one of spiritual awareness which only comes from a life of prayer on bended knees. When we do our part by remaining steadfast in the Lord, the Holy Spirit anoints us with the power to live holy, sanctified lives possessing uncompromised integrity. © SDJ April 2024

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” —Matthew 5:8

Overcoming the Sorrow of Emotional Loss

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 18, 2024

“For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation…” —1 Corinthians 1:5-6

Why We Suffer in Our Earthly Lives: During a pastoral panel discussion, the questions of why God allows bad things to happen to dedicated believers and why He doesn’t intervene to protect the earth’s natural resources were addressed. Answer: God does not interrupt the natural courses and effects of sin. The original sin of disobedience created a continuous negative domino effect on humanity and the earth which will not cease until Jesus comes.

Understanding God’s Purpose for Trials and Enduring Hardships

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. … In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33

Jesus forewarned us the righteous will suffer many trials and tribulations in their walk with Him. God knows every hardship we will experience in our earthly lives including the heartbreak of emotional loss. The fulfillment of our dreams can be cut short by a breakup, divorce, or the passing of a loved one. Emotional loss is life-altering because we love the individuals who are no longer a part of our daily lives which leaves a void in our hearts.

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” —James 1:12

Although we cannot process the loss of a loved one as a privilege to share in Christ’s sufferings, no hardships arise in our lives without Christ’s approval. Emotional loss is a byproduct of the original sin. Only suffering produces the spiritual growth and transformation required to inherit our reward of eternal life.

Because we inherited corrupt hearts [it is easier to do wrong than right] God allows severe trials in which no amount of human effort will bring resolution. Why? To save our souls! And to draw us into a heart-to-heart relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. God has a goal—To give us Eternal life.

Our spiritual journey is unique according to the growth required to change us into the likeness [character] of Christ. Every day we receive tests of faith that require a decision, will we use our faith to depend on His Divine Help? Active faith strengthens our relationship with Christ and fosters a spiritually dependent mindset that prevents our grief from overpowering us.

To be of good cheer is often misunderstood, we do not express joy and happiness over our devastating loss. To be of good cheer is to remain hopeful despite our circumstances because we use our faith to rely on Christ’s never-failing love and power.

Overcoming the Emotional Loss of Relationships

“…I will never leave you or abandon you.” —Hebrews 13:5, CEB

Emotional loss [usually] cannot be recovered, those who are impacted face disorienting grief and sorrow. Grief is a natural emotional response to the loss of someone close and cannot be measured. Believers often are challenged in the area of emotional loss. Because we pray daily for God’s Divine Intervention we expect that we will be spared from the devastating loss of a loving marriage due to the death of a spouse, divorce, or separation, or experience abandonment. Yet, we are not spared—the marriage ends, the engagement is called off, or the best friend walks out of our lives. Will we turn to Christ and allow Him to heal our grieving hearts?

Christ Comfort to Parents—The Death of Children

“He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces…” —Isaiah 25:8

The greatest blow from the sting of death is when a child passes away. Losing a baby, child, or children permanently changes the trajectory of their parent’s existence. A parent’s love for their children, living or deceased, is steadfast and protective. No spoken human words can comfort the sorrow of losing a child. Only God’s promises in the Scriptures will provide peace and calm the raging storm of grief.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:8). Continuous prayers of faith asking for Jesus’ strength to move forward [in little steps] must be spoken often during immense grief. Only Divine love and power can give parents the strength to press on despite their shattered hearts.

Life can be so unpredictable—joys and sorrows, beautiful blessings and distressing difficulties can come unexpectedly. Our life’s dreams and plans can change in an instant. We all know this to be true. So how can we find peace amid such turbulence? Lloyd Newell

The song, It is Well with My Soul was written by Horatio Spafford following the loss of his son from scarlet fever and the loss of his four daughters from the collision of the ship they were on with their mother. “Upon arriving in England, his wife sent a telegram to her husband that read: ‘Saved alone. What shall I do?’ “

“Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me” —Isaiah 27:5

Emotional loss is the most devastating loss we experience. We face two challenges, 1. We desire for the loved one to be with us again., 2. Grief is a powerful and uncontrollable emotional response—grief penetrates the mind, heart, body, and soul. The very core of our existence is shaken. The human response to the loss of a loved one is not predictable. Many have lost their will to live from losing their spouse, soul-mate, children, or parents, and best friends.

“I lift my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” —Psalm 121:1-2

Christ is our only hope when overwhelming sorrow fills our lives. He is the Giver of Peace and the Holy One who prevents our grief from escalating into a hopeless state of despair. We acknowledge that our hearts are broken, we do not have the strength to move forward, and we continuously pray for Christ’s Divine Help.

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” —Revelation 21:4

We rely on our faith in God to accept His will even when the death of a loved one occurs. For those who died in Christ, they will be raised first when He comes again. For strength, we meditate on the Scriptural promises of God is with us. Yes, believers also experience the deepest sorrow from death, divorce, and breakups, yet, we embrace our loving Savior’s invitation, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

From the depths of our grieved and weakened hearts, we pray, Jesus, I need Your help and Christ begins our journey of healing and restoration. Amen.

“And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.” —John 21:25

Enduring the loss of loved ones is a spiritual struggle. Christ suffered from a broken heart. He humbled Himself to live an earthly life that was so grievous, that He called himself, A Man of Sorrows. Only Jesus has the power to discern the magnitude of grief and soothe the mother’s heart who lost her only child and bring peace to the widow or widower who lost their lifetime forever love.

Truly, Christ loves us. Our love for Christ joins our hearts to His heart. Remain faithful through much prayer. Search the Scriptures every day to learn the loving characters and promises of God, the Father, and God, the Son. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter who gives us the supernatural strength to keep pressing forward in Jesus’ Name.

Overcoming the Natural Responses to Emotional Loss

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” —Isaiah 41:10

Our response to emotional loss reveals the true status of our relationship with Christ. If we ask, How could God allow this to happen? then we blame God for the failure to intervene which nurtures unbelief. The escalation of anger or depression easily overpowers faith. Do not believe the psychological theories that lingering anger, unforgiveness, and depression are normal responses to emotional loss. Immediately, seek Christ through fervent prayer. Sustained anger, unforgiveness, and sinking into the darkness of depression indicate our rejection of Christ’s love and prevents us from receiving spiritual, mental, and emotional healing.

Restoring Our Will to Breathe and Move Forward

“But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds…” (Jeremiah 30:17). Although we focus on the physical healing of Jesus’ earthly ministry, His divine priority was spiritual healing and restoration. Emotional loss requires spiritual healing that is only available through Christ. We pray, Christ, our Heavenly Intercessor responds, and the Holy Spirit anoints us with supernatural power and peace.

God is love! He never allows even the severest trial to crush us which would serve no purpose in our journey of spiritual transformation. Christ promises healing when we faithfully trust Him. Although it seems impossible, I am a living witness that our grief dissipates, and the emptiness in our hearts is filled with Christ’s love and peace.

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in him I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” —Psalm 18:2

During our journey of healing and restoration, day by day, the Holy Spirit imparts Christ’s strength to carry us through. Yes, you will experience days that leave you breathless. And on those days, call His Name out loud, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

The spiritual comfort we receive from placing our lives in Christ’s hands is life-changing! He fills our empty void with His love, joy, and peace. If we pray without ceasing and faithfully depend on Jesus, we will receive complete healing and restoration. Each day, Christ patiently guides us through our journey imparting His healing, abundant love and peace into our hearts.

” ‘…Do you want to be made well?’ ” —John 5:6

Spiritual Healing is Supernatural and Divine! Grief and sorrow cannot stay in our hearts when we place our faith and trust in Christ. One day we awaken and we know that we are healed because our hearts are free from pain and sorrow! And our tears express our gratitude for His love, long suffering, and the time we were given with our loved ones.

Jesus’ Divine healing power abolishes the residual of emotional loss and we are made whole. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” —Isaiah 53:5

Lord God, we pray for those who are hurting from losing their loved ones. We ask You to shower them with love and strength and to give them peace as You bring healing and restoration to their broken hearts. We ask this prayer in the Loving Name of Jesus. Amen. © April 2024

Restructuring Our Time to Put God First

Our Daily Walk with Christ – Sabbath Devotional – April 12, 2024

Did you know that the busyness of life is a significant strategy of spiritual warfare? Distractions are Satan’s number one tactic to keep us from maintaining a close relationship with God. Social media, cellular devices, and the little unexpected but obsolete things that provide entertainment often waste our valuable time.

Well-meaning individuals who ask for favors can also add additional burdens to our already full schedule. At the end of the day, we are too exhausted to worship God. So, we promise to do better tomorrow, say a quick prayer, and fall asleep.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” —1 Corinthians 10:31

Reflection: What exactly am I doing with my time?

Certainly, it is not our intention to waste the blessing of each new day. Yet, every believer is accountable for how they use the 24 hours received from God’s faithfulness and mercies. Take immediate action! Pray a prayer of repentance and ask for the wisdom to restructure your life. Thinking about yesterday and how we failed to accomplish the important tasks on our to-do list and feeling guilty over days of missed worship is counterproductive. We can never retrieve lost time.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” —James 1:5

Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal all time-eating obstacles including the behaviors of procrastination. Be honest! Do you allow others to interrupt your daily schedule? Pray for the courage to respectfully decline and say no [even to your whims of spontaneity].

With enthusiasm, approach your plan to identify and eliminate time-wasting activities, and move forward with determination. Begin today by making a written time log of the activities you have completed and the unfinished tasks. Revise your schedule and make worship with God your number one priority. Be consistent with the designated times that you choose for worship.

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” —Matthew 6:6

Restructuring your life to achieve the highest level of productivity appears to be the goal. But spending time in worship with God every day is our spiritual goal which is the believer’s priority. Minute Devotionals are fine for a quick read while taking a work break, but do not substitute for the Prayer and Bible Study needed daily to enrich our relationship with Christ.

Every morning and evening, we need uninterrupted time with God [which includes spiritual meditation] to receive the blessings to replenish our minds, bodies, and souls. A hurry-up mindset produces ritualistic worship. As a result, we miss out on spiritual blessings necessary to maintain our relationship with Christ. No time for God results in spiritual depletion. Rushing through worship does not include time for the Holy Spirit to respond to the needs of our soul.

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.” —1 Peter 3:12

When I transitioned from direct patient care to a corporate setting, the constant grind produced extreme mental fatigue. By 2 pm, my stamina was down, and I had little energy to work for three more hours plus drive the hour-long journey home. The overwhelming fatigue threatened to overpower my ability to cope with the complexities of the job.

When I applied for the job, I prayed and was confident that transitioning to a non-clinical setting was God’s blessing. But my faith was weak, and I began to doubt whether or not God had blessed me. Discouraged, I made plans to look for another job. When God blesses us, He does not allow Satan to rob us of our blessings.

Holy Spirit to the rescue! One evening, I read a Devotional on using one’s lunchtime and work breaks to pray for strength. Believe me, I never thought about having worship while on the job. On my afternoon breaks, I separated myself and prayed for the blessings of mental acuity and physical strength.

Does God answer our prayers for help? Yes, He does! The Holy Spirit gave me the spiritual strength to complete my day and the guardian angels watched over me as I drove home.

Although the Quality versus Quantity concept does not apply to worship, we do not have to conduct lengthy worship sessions on our jobs. From the whisper of short but meaningful prayers, we receive supernatural power for our minds and bodies.

“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” —Matthew 14:23

One thing is for certain when we invite the presence of God to come into our hearts through prayer, we will always receive the spiritual blessings of strength, wisdom, and peace. We have the privilege of praying any time of the day or night. With Divine Intervention, the activities of daily living and meaningful worship can easily be accomplished when our lives are in sync with God’s plans.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” —Jeremiah 29:13

Scripture: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” —1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Prayer: God, we love You and we just want to say Thank You for your amazing love, grace, and mercies. We need help in identifying and eliminating the behaviors and activities that are consuming our time and keeping us from having meaningful worship with You. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen. © April 2024

The Victorious Life – Happy Sabbath

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 5, 2024

“From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised.” —Psalm 113:3

Prayer and Praise are the actions that connect us to the Lord. We can praise God through spoken words, singing, musical instruments, and worship videos. And our praises should not be limited to only audible praise. In the quietness of the early morning hours, when others are asleep, we can silently praise Him by reflecting on His love and faithfulness. God’s promises assure us that He is actively involved in our lives.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God…” —Philippians 4:6

“Do you have a special need in your life? Tell it to Jesus. Where there is sorrow, He brings comfort. Where there is fear, He brings peace. Where there is guilt, He brings forgiveness. Where there is weakness, He brings strength.”

Do not hesitate to pray! Our prayers do not have to be elaborate. Many times we can only breathe, God, I need Your Help. Jesus extended an open invitation to come to the Throne of Grace to receive help in our time of need. We need spiritual power daily, not only to resist temptation but also to live a holy life.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:7

God is the Source of Life and the Giver of every good gift which is always wrapped in love and mercy. Living with a mindset of gratitude [even when facing impossible challenges] and expressing, “Thank You, Jesus, for my life” is the key to living a victorious life. Praise Him! Praise Him!

“When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.” —Isaiah 65:24

Sabbath Blessings—Pray for Peace

Globally Mental Health has reached a Crisis. While Christians have their faith in God to rely on, many individuals who know nothing about Jesus are suffering. They ask, “What is my purpose in life?” Many are losing their will to live.

“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.” —Romans 10:1

As a Christian believer who worked as a Behavioral/Mental Health Nurse, I am asking every believer to pray for those who are fighting mental and emotional diagnoses. Jesus died for every human being that has lived and is living on the planet Earth. “For this reason, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is powerful in what it can achieve” (James 5:16, CEB).

Lord God, we come to You this Sabbath asking for Your healing touch for those who have no hope. We pray for Your Divine Intervention to touch the hearts of the believers who are eager to be disciples and tell others that Jesus loves them. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.

Heaven is Real!

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 25, 2024

This morning, I read a Devotional on the New Heaven and New Earth. Although the author included many Scriptures from Revelation chapters 21 and 22, her descriptive words expressed a deep longing, joyful anticipation, and excitement from the thought of living forever with God, Jesus, and the heavenly angels in a perfect universe. Upon reading her written words, I felt overjoyed. Yes, the Holy Spirit ignited a fire in my heart.

“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” —Revelation 21:10-11

After the Devotional, I opened my Bible to study Revelation chapters 21 and 22. Why did it require someone else’s desire for heaven to ignite the desire in my heart? As I reflected on Jesus’ promise of coming soon and His description of the new replacing the former sorrowful things, I had a come-to-Jesus right now experience. My spiritual focus needed realignment because the heartfelt desire for heaven is not based on intellectual knowledge.

Truthfully, the embers of my enthusiasm for eternal life were nearly extinguished by earthly concerns. I know that I am not alone. Sermons and digital content on the Second Coming of Jesus are rarely found. How did the Christian Community lose our joyful excitement over Jesus’ promises in John 14:1-3 and the book of Revelation?

What earthly magnet is pulling us away from excitedly preparing every day for Jesus’ Second Coming and receiving our heavenly reward of eternal life?

We are sojourners traveling on a chosen path that is tedious because God requires every believer to be transformed into the likeness of Christ. But we must never forget this temporary journey has an eternal heavenly destiny. The earthly life that we love is a distraction that has led us to feel comfortable with our present spiritual status.

Reflection: Is our answer a resounding Yes? “Am I living a sacrificial life holy and pleasing to God? If Jesus came today, would I receive eternal life? “

“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” —2 Peter 1:10-11

How do we make our calling and election sure?

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” —2 Peter 1:5-7
“For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” —2 Peter 1:8, NIV

How do we prepare for Jesus’ Second Coming? Jesus reminds us that the gate is narrow and few enter in. We choose to renounce sin. And we ask the Holy Spirit to rekindle our fire and desire for heaven. Our love for God is manifested by daily consecration, surrender, faithful obedience, much prayer, Bible study, and daily preparation for eternal life which reveals true heart conversion.

Like David, we pray, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).

“…the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people…” —1 Samuel 13:14

David was the appointed ruler who replaced the disobedient King Saul. God honored David by identifying him as, “A man after His own heart.” From studying his life and the Psalms, how was it possible for sinful David to hold such a high spiritual status with God? King David always acknowledged the dilemma of being born into iniquity—we have a deceitful heart and without the Lord, we are helpless to change ourselves.

“Lord, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.” —Psalm 141:1, 4

David’s response to his sinful nature was to persistently approach the Throne of Grace with humility and surrender. The Psalms are not only songs, but, they are prayers [desperate cries for God’s help] for the deliverance of inheriting a carnal heart that is driven to sin against God. David acknowledged, confessed, and repented of the sinful thoughts that dominated his mind.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” —Psalm 51:10

The Spiritual transformation required to receive eternal life occurs in our earthly lives. Until Christ comes again, we will face the internal battle of good and evil. Our response to overcoming a heart that is driven to please itself is to consistently fall to our knees. The Holy Spirit empowers us to change learned behaviors, inherited character traits, and secret desires.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” —John 15:5

We are the only obstacle that prevents us from becoming men and women after God’s own heart. Yes, we must strive to live righteously, yet, the breakthrough to victory over sin is to acknowledge that we desperately need Jesus Christ. When we stay before the Throne of Grace, Jesus our Heavenly Intercessor covers us with His Righteousness, and we are presented as righteous to God, the Father.

“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” —John 17:24

When our heart-to-heart connection with Christ is strong, we will naturally desire to be where He is. A pure heart gives us the courage to remain steadfast and to look upward despite our earthly struggles. With Christ as our First Love and King, the Holy Spirit sharpens our spiritual focus—Christ’s goal for us to overcome is also our goal. The fire for a heavenly life burns within our hearts and at the forefront of our minds is the desire to hear, Well done!

“This world is not my permanent home, heaven is real, and with God’s help, I will receive my reward of eternal life!”

“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.’ ” —Revelation 21:5-7

Praising God with Gratitude

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 20, 2024

Praise Him! Praise Him! Whispering little prayers of great gratitude throughout our waking hours keeps us in God’s presence.

Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

True Religion Produces Humility

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 18, 2024

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” —Matthew 5:3

By possessing a spirit of humility and compassion, Christ presented a marked difference between Himself and the religious leaders of His time who felt they were the source of knowledge and rich in spiritual treasure. “The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector’ ” (Luke 18:11).

“As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.’ ” —Romans 3:10-12

Although most Christians would never utter the Pharisee’s arrogant words, we suffer from the silent sin of self-exaltation. We measure ourselves using earthly standards—we are knowledgeable, and do good works, but we compare ourselves to others by measuring the various sins on a scale. Like the Pharisees, we console ourselves by thinking, “At least, I am not committing those great and terrible sins.”

“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” —Proverbs 14:12

God desires for us to understand that we are in a state of continuous spiritual poverty because our hearts are naturally carnal. We may deny the reality of our plight, however, our greatest battle comes from within—we inherited desperately wicked hearts [Jeremiah 17:9]. Self-perception will always be in opposition to how God sees us with His Holy eyes. Truthfully, we can receive abundant blessings and sin against God on the same day.

The Plan for Overcoming Our Enemy Within

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” —Romans 7:15, NIV

To receive victory, our first action is to acknowledge and accept our struggle with faithfully trusting and obeying God. The human effort of self-control along with asking the Holy Spirit for spiritual strength gives us the ability to rebuke and stand down the desires of our hearts. Still, our fight is daily. We must choose who will be the master of our lives. Either we will submit to God or we will continue to please ourselves.

Living the Victorious Life!

Jesus demonstrated Spiritual humility to God. What is Spiritual humility? To faithfully follow God requires a loving heart, surrender, and obedience. Serving God eliminates passivity. God has always required human effort in the plan of Redemption. “Not my will, but Your will be done” was Christ’s daily prayer. The spoken words of “God, I love You also require the dutiful action of obedience. We prove our love by acquiescing to God’s Sovereignty through a daily prayer of surrender and we choose to follow His directives.

Love for God requires reinforcement! Much prayer and Bible Study keep us in the presence of God. Dedicated love prevents us from disobeying God. Our mindset is one in which we fully trust God to do what is best for our lives. The heart filled with Spiritual humility is totally reliant upon Christ who is the Lord of our lives.

“The Lord GOD has opened My ears, and I have not been rebellious, nor have I turned back.” —Isaiah 50:5

Spiritual Humility is the instinctive desire to surrender ourselves to God. Our worship includes a time of meditation whereby we strive to listen to the Voice of God. The Holy Spirit enters our hearts and we respond with deep conviction and obedience. When we truly love God, we acknowledge that obedience is our only acceptable sacrificial gift.

True religion is found in the heart filled with overwhelming love for God which is the foundation for possessing a spirit of humility. We do not think our own thoughts, fulfill our desires by following our inclinations, or determine the steps of our earthly journey. Christ shepherds our Chosen Path and the Holy Spirit reveals the steps of our predestined journey to us through prayer and the Scriptures.

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” —Philippians 2:8

The Reality: “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” —2 Timothy 3:1-5

The Invitation: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16

The Reward: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” —Revelation 3:21

God, we ask forgiveness for our refusal to surrender and humble ourselves by seeking Your will and casting aside our earthly desires. Lord, we thank You for the sacrificial offering of Your life that we may receive our inheritance of eternal life if we abide in You. We love You, King Jesus, and ask to be filled with the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit. Lead us in our earthly journey as we prepare for Your soon coming. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

God’s Divine Nature is Love

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – March 17, 2024

“And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” —1 John 4:10

“We love Him because He first loved us.” —1 John 4:19

For an understanding of the origin of love, we refer to the Scriptures. The Characters of God, the Father, God, Jesus the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit are Love. Only human beings were fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. We are the only living beings for which Christ died which is a powerful indicator of His overwhelming love.

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

God gifted us with the innate characteristics [present at birth] of power, a sound mind, self-control, free will of choice, and a heart filled with love. Because of the ravages of sin not everyone has a sound mind but all can freely love God and others. Even those who are developmentally disabled can love and respond to love. If we prayed for the wisdom to grasp the magnitude of God’s love and appreciated our gifts, we would readily consecrate our lives to Him.

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’ ” —Matthew 22:37

Christ’s Divine Nature is Love—”Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” —John 15:13

Every believer is commanded to love like Christ: “No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us” (1 John 4:12). Because we are impacted by our various backgrounds and life experiences, we must learn God’s definition of Love by studying 1 Corinthians chapter 13.

God’s character and Divine nature reveal that He is a Holy and Righteous God. “…because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy…’ ” (1 Peter 1:16), God requires that we strive for righteousness. The Holy Spirit with our cooperation empowers us to accomplish above and beyond our human abilities.

Our steadfast love for God and the commitment to make Jesus our First Love results in the Holy Spirit guiding us every step on our Chosen Path of spiritual transformation. We are never alone in our spiritual journey. Our love for God produces devout faith and obedience which overrule our natural desires and we acquiesce to His Sovereign plans.

Surrender and obedience are the fruits of love that keep us grounded in our relationship with Christ. If we love Christ then our hearts are connected to Him. And from that connection, we receive our Savior’s abundant love which acts as a spiritual catalyst to dedicate ourselves to God. Daily consecration and surrender to God’s will requires courage and perseverance. When we proclaim, “Jesus, I will follow You,” we may lose the support of family and friends who will not understand our spiritual commitment.

What does it mean to commit ourselves to God? The Apostle Paul’s answer is “…to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God…” (Romans 12:1).

The simple answer is that we must stop choosing sin. Is it possible to live a sin-free life? Enoch and Job are two men of God who lived a sinless life. How can we walk with God? Spiritually, we are never alone. God honors our decision when we dedicate ourselves to following Christ. Not only do we receive God’s Divine promises of resolution in our hardships, but we also receive wisdom, strength, and comfort through the Holy Spirit.

Christ the Commander dispatches angels who fight the evil forces of spiritual warfare and assist us in staying on the narrow Path of Righteousness. The righteous are truly loved by God.

As long as we stay spiritually connected to Christ, we are promised the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit to live as victors. Through daily worship, we reinforce our love relationship with Christ. God opens the windows of heaven to give us the blessings of spiritual guidance, wisdom, strength, and discernment. Making prayer our first and continuous response keeps us connected to the Source of Life.

The Win-Win Spiritual Strategy: “But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion].” —Luke 16, AMP Bible

In studying the life of Christ, we are given the key to keeping our love alive and remaining loyal to God, much prayer! Twice daily worship is not enough. We cannot run and win this Christian race using spurts of spiritual energy. Stay in God’s presence by whispering short prayers throughout your waking hours.

The Nature of God: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” —Galatians 5:22-25

To be like Christ, the Holy Spirit with our cooperation transforms our minds, characters, and personalities into the likeness of Christ’s righteousness. The believer’s journey includes praying morning, noon, and night. Much prayer reinforces our love for God, forms an unbreakable bond that allows us to abide in Christ, and invites the Holy Spirit to empower us to live righteously!

“…You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.” —Psalm 40:17

To receive spiritual strength, use your time wisely. Fight the enemy’s plans with prayer. The earnest prayer of surrender that we offer in morning worship requires a prayer of reinforcement for Divine Help when the afternoon and evening temptations arise. Every prayer we speak even when all is well should include the request for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

The mercies of a new day will always require a struggle against our carnal desires. When facing temptation, respond with prayer, ask for the Divine Help of the Holy Spirit, and stand your ground by declaring No to sin. We can proclaim much love for God and live disciplined lives, but we were not created with the ability to overcome temptation and sin without the Holy Spirit’s power.

The Holy Spirit [our Teacher] empowers us with Jesus’ spiritual strength to perceive life through spiritual eyes and to overcome temptation. Still, we must use our God-given attribute of self-control to rebuke our heart’s carnal desires. The Holy Spirit always warns us of temptation before we step into sin’s danger zone. The decision is ours to make. Either, we use our free will to choose righteousness or we succumb to sin.

“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” —1 John 3:9, NIV

If choosing between right and wrong is a struggle then we have a heart issue. We cannot measure love for God in increments—loving God is all [100%] or nothing [0%]. When our hearts are overflowing with love for Christ, we do not have the desire to willingly sin against God. Our love for God remains steadfast because we remember Jesus paid for our freedom with His blood sacrifice that God, the Father required for our redemption.

Loving Christ fuels our desire to remain loyal and to stay in the safety of Jesus, our Shepherd. We steadfastly proclaim, Because I love God, I will not compromise! Every believer is dependent on the Holy Spirit to change us into the image of Christ. The heart filled with love for God, others, and self [in that order] is the only heart that is acceptable to God and the only heart that the Holy Spirit will enter.

The Human Effort of Love + Surrender + Obedience + The Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit = God’s Goal of Our Spiritual Transformation

God, teach us to love. We desire to have a heart overflowing with Agape love for You and others. We ask for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit. When we are thinking our thoughts, we ask the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins. God, we love You, worship You, and praise Your Holy Name. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we pray in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.